Bass Saxophone versus Bass Saxophone - Martin & Conn

Comparing 2 bass saxophones
http://bertbrandsma.mysites.nl/mypages/bertbrandsma/517522.html

http://www.dixielandcrackerjacks.com
Two bass saxophones, one Martin from 1921 and a Conn 14M Ladyface with rolled toneholes and keyed till high F.
In fact, the Martin also came out of the Conn factory, since Martin never made basses themselves. It is a stencil.
You will be able to hear the Martin in a medium swinging Blues and Conn in the Preacher.
There are also some parts of old historical recordings featuring bass saxophones in this Video.
Hear Coleman Hawkins in his best performance on Bass sax, Hop Off, the obscure version where Fletcher Henderson's tuba player didn't show up and Hawkins improvises his bass lines through the ensemble.
Also two fine contributions by Adrian Rollini, the ultimate bass sax meastro.
Part of Jazz Band Ball, with Bix Beiderbecke can be heard and his own composition: Dixie, dedicated to his wife, who had that name!
Bert Brandsma tells stories, introduces the saxophones and playes them!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bass
• saxophone
• bassaxofoon
• martin
• conn
• ladyface
• coleman
• hawkins
• adrian
• rollini
• bert
• brandsma
• preacher
• blues
• rolled
• tone

[JolleSax]

Little question: I'm thinking about buying my own, but I'm not too sure about the reeds. Do you use baritone reeds and mouthpiece, or do you cut your own?

[ABrandsma]

@JolleSax There are still brands that sell bass sax reeds, Vandoren has reeds that fit a modern (smaller) bass sax mouthpiece. If you have a vintage, say 1920's real bass sax mouthpiece, you'd better choose Marca, they are larger.

[InBy9OutBy5]

Bert, very good presentation and as always great playing. Your english is much better that many people who have lived in the United States for many years ! I have to respect your ability to play these old instruments so well because I know I could not play them well, the keywork (placement) feels very unnatural to me. I had an old Conn tenor and really struggled with it. I much prefer the feel of the Selmer keywork and its knockoffs. Have you tried the IW661 ? Very curious what you think.

[ABrandsma]

@InBy9OutBy5 It is true that the keywork of most vintage saxes is not as comfortable as on modern horns. My alto and tenor are Conn Connquerors, and they at least have an improved left pinky table. As I do have pretty large hands I don't have too much troubles though with the vintage horns. What I like a lot about Conns is their sound. I can get something close out of a Selmer, but it is very hard working. On the other hand, modern horns are much more flexible in sound, you can color them.

[wizard100115]

Bass sax is mainly in the key of Bb?

[ABrandsma]

Yes, there are a few Adolf Sax originals in C, I believe, but they are in the museum.

[goochstank67]

@danny55531 subcontrabass

[MrCarboy10]

you said sexophone and sex whitch is saxophone and sax you said it wrong

[JolleSax]

@ABrandsma Thanks! I don't want to imagine how much they cost, but well... A bass sax isn't the cheapest one around either. Thank you by the way for the wonderful vids you make, I enjoy them very much.

[thinkbigize]

Preach!!!!

[danny55531]

Sopranino

soprano

alto

tener

bari

bass

contrabass

[P1B1U1H1]

This is a great series. Played alto & baritone. The family is quite large.

[rabbitsmom]

What incredible sounds! I'm just discovering bass saxs (and all the other saxophones as well) because of Rainer Fox. (I'm an old vocalist so wind instruments are not something I ever had to deal with). Thanks for posting this.