Aaand it's screwed. New pads, everythings lovely...then 10 minutes in a pearl detaches. Upon further inspection, there's some noticeable spots of dirt and minerals on keys, when I was told it would be taken apart and cleaned properly. I paid 1.1k for the revision (which is normal where I'm from).

Thoughts? What should I do?

Obviously, it’s a Selmer Soloist D tenor mouthpiece. It came with a bunch of other stuff in a box from an estate auction. I have no idea what this metal addition is on the top! Maybe an experimental resonator or something? Anyone know? Does it still have any value? Thanks in advance!

Hello fellow saxists,

I have a parade coming up this saturday for my marching band and it’s a community halloween parade. My band director is allowing us to decorate our instruments, (well actually it’s mandatory to), and I’m not sure how to decorate my bari!

Any advice or ideas are greatly appreciated!

Also probably would want something not too expensive lol.

It seems like "ta" scrapes the tip edge of the reed. Isn't that bad for it? Getting back into playing and dusting off the old Conn alto from HS days.

My son has played in the local city Honors Band 6th-9th grade, and now auditioning for All State. Practicing, he sounded (to me) amazing but said he goofed up several times here in the audition due to nervousness with the process. He didn't record the scales portion of the audition.

The all state band is about 140 students, so maybe 14 saxophones if a 10% density is assumed. I'm wondering his chances of making the cut. For those with an ear for music (not me), how would you rate his performance? Appreciate any polite critical or constructive criticism.

Yeah, i got you.

Intermediate and professional classical sax advice preferred.

My mid E (1,2,3L + 1,2R + octave key) makes a growling noise that I’m constantly having to fight by over-tightening my embouchure. You’ll see when played in context to the other surrounding notes, my normal embouchure is fine, but for some reason once I hit E, the sound starts growling - like it’s flickering with the reed vibration between two notes - E and something ungodly. lol. Physically, as someone who’s played sax for a long time (albeit I’m coming back from a long break) the physical sensation is like there’s some sort of seal issue? I just don’t know where.

Yes tightening my embouchure can fix it but it’s not preferred as it is certainly too strained/tight of an embouchure for the rest of my playing and it’s only this note that I have an issue with. Current theory has to do with the octave seal on the neck pip pad and if I had a third arm I’d try and force it closed to see if the seal feels better.

The issue goes away immediately playing an octave down (no octave key).

So Ive played bass clarinet for two years and clarinet for a couple years and I recently decide to pick up the alto sax and its been about two weeks and i got the basics down but for the life of me i cant play the low f e or d and sometimes g they start high and I have to focus them down by moving my mouth but I can play them when starting from a I’ll attach a audio ps. sometimes I can get it if I’m continually playing anyway I would really apreaciate it if Somone could give some tips and I’m not sure if it has leaks I got it from Somone who had it in their closet in the case for years

So I was HAMMERED a few hours ago and shared an xl cloth swab into the neck and now it's stuck. I have a jazz improv gig in 2 days. What can I do

I purchased a factory sealed yts-480, generally are they ready to play out of the box or should it be serviced by a technician before playing? Not sure what QC is like on them.

I play tenor sax, I would love a new piece to work on I've been playing for 4 years. I can’t find anything though and id like some recommendations.

I am trying to sell my high school saxophone (locally) but I have no clue what brand it is as it seems to have no serial number or brand engraving. I’m just looking for a decent range I could sell it at to make a little extra cash. I got it secondhand in 2015. It was last played in 2021. Adding photos for a quality gauge.

ETA: there is literally no engraving on the saxophone except for the filigree. There is no name, no serial number, nothing.

Was curious does anyone else feel a connection to a particular player? Personally more so than their playing-learning about my guy Paul Desmond I realized how our personalities were similar in ways it seems especially when I was younger. The expressing ourselves more in music and writing vs speaking in particular. And I guess I feel like his temperament would be similar to mine…but there’s that AND the fact that I love his music and sound and am working on emulating that tone…

i play bari and i have play tested a BSS reed before and i really liked the feeling. it was a white label 2 reed and it had a great sound and feel.

right now i want to get some BSS reeds but i want to either get black or blue label because of the music i mainly play. between the two labels which one would people overall recommend. i know it depends a lot on the person and the gear but overall which one may be nicer if that makes any sense!

sorry if this is a little confusing i just needed to ask this quickly soo...

Hello! I’ve been trying to learn how to play with my front altissimo fingerings. However, I cannot get a front E to come out, but I can easily get a Front F to. I’ve tried changing my voicing and air, but no matter what I do it just won’t come out. Does anyone have any advice?

I'm improving my style/technique/sound and have been finding etudes. Do you have any favourites? Ideally a book of etudes? I play alto sax.

Tysm

Looking for some advice on where to spend my money for a second sax.

I am a beginner, been playing for about 5 months; and I play a super cheap tenor sax that’s starting to show its low quality. Still, mostly a learning tool.

I’ve been told to get a Yamaha but at this point I can’t really drop on a whim the money for a YTS 280 so I thought to try Alto as it is more affordable; and keep both horns; since I am interested in playing both. So the questions would be:

Is having both as a beginner a bad idea, should I just tank it, spend big cash on a YTS 280 and then have 2 tenors or get rid of the cheap one?

And, is a YAS-280 good as a second instrument or is it mostly a “first” sax; and if so, is it worth saving and getting a 480; which is similar in price to the 280 tenor.

Do I have more options that are worth exploring?

Worth mentioning; I really have no frame of reference the only sax I’ve played is the one I own right now. I don’t know much worse my tenor is to a YTS or how either Altos feel or compare so I’m looking for a more experienced player’s advice.

This happened on tour in the Loft in Columbus, Ga with my band Dionysus.

Link to my bands Instagram:

https://instagram.com/dionysus.band?exln=MXVmMnk4cTZqa3R5NA%3D%3D