[VSadmin]

Originally Posted by puddlejumper

Please excuse my ignorance, but is there a thread containing slanguage, lingo, or vocabulary of Sax on the Web or of musicians and sax players in general? A place that defines terms that a newcomer might not know? Like SBA, big bell, stencil. Rehab/repad/regulate. Noodle. Low A. et cetera. I ask because I was looking for an explanation of what a big bell horn is. Obviously it has something to do with the bell of the horn, or something related to the bell, being bigger. But specifically? If there is such a discussion I have not found it, could someone direct me to it? If there isn't one, I request we start one. Right here in this thread. Most or all the terms you list are not specific to this forum. Rather, they are part of the general saxophonic vocabulary. Thus, your best bet is simply to do some outside reading. You can easily find discussions of these terms elsewhere. Within SOTW, perhaps the best place to look for introductory material of this kind would be one of the forum sections for new players.
Anyway, to get you started:
SBA = Super Balanced Action, a name of one of Selmer's vintage sax lines.
Big bell = A saxophone bell that is a little larger in diameter than average. Some makers believe this contributes to a richer tone.
Stencil = A sax built by a reputable manufacturer but sold under the brand name of another company. E.g., some Vito saxes were Yanagisawa stencils.
Rehab = To fix up a horn that needs to be fixed up.
Repad = To replace the pads (the flat leather circles that cover the tone holes when the player presses down a key).
Regulate = To make the necessary adjustments to key movements, pad opening heights, etc., to put a working sax into top playing condition.
Noodle = To engage in rather aimless, gentle improvisation.
Low A = As an adjective, it means a sax with a slightly longer tube and an extra tone hole and key, so that it can reach the A below the Bb that is normally the sax's lowest note. Low A baritone saxes are now the norm. Low A versions of the other standard saxes are rare.