First couple of times I saw a curved soprano (including Garth Hudson in the Last Waltz), it threw me. It’s easier for me to distinguish the traditional soprano. Do people really mistake it for a clarinet, even though it’s made out of brass?
I've always thought Jim should be a primarily soprano player. He definitely has the most personal sound accompanied with impressive technique on a small mechanism. Great review as always.
Very expensive toys and not to be played by someone who doesn't know what they're doing or you will experience very costly repairs. But, to the preference of the saxophonist, you can get the same quality sound out of a straight or curved soprano saxophone as long as it's not to be played like a alto or tenor saxophone because the soprano saxophone is not a blowhard instrument and it's used to play soft mellow tones. So in my opinion you can use the curved or the straight soprano saxophone to play all types of music
Very ironic, Jack Pilutti, when you think about Branford Marsalis playing both tenor and soprano after having been teased as a kid for playing the clarinet.
Sounds marvellous to me! Never cared about saxello,but really dig your sound. Thanks again for the great post! All the best from Ont. Canada Mario Malette
Would a straight or curved soprano be better for jazz? I've doubled on a straight soprano in high school for a couple big band tunes, but for small group, would curve be better? I love the brightness sound the curve usually provides. Also, you should open a store in Chicago. 😀
Curved might be better for small groups, but I've personally found that I can project more on a straight (so it's a bit better for big band stuff). But that's just me.
There is PM Woodwinds in the Chicago area. Lots of instruments (albeit not as many saxes and other woodwinds), but it is more of a repair shop than store. Still worth checking out. That being said, plz come to the Midwest, and Chicago could be a good spot
To be honest, I'm pretty confident that it doesn't matter at all sound wise, and this video reaffirmed that for me. He played slightly more aggressively on the curved at times, but the core sound was the same. So, play whichever one you like better. The curved soprano has the openings closer to your ear so it'll probably sound fuller and louder to your ears, but the keywork can be cramped. They also look a bit like toys and will raise more eyebrows than a straight will. Curved cases are smaller for obvious reasons. Of course, don't underestimate the power of perception. The curved will not the sound the same as a straight to your ears, and that can definitely make you actually play brighter with more edge.
Funny, I have both a straight and curved soprano. The straight is way more biting and bright than the curved. The intonation on the curved is a lot more consistent than the straight.
I would think different brands, materials, pads and player would all come into affect plus style of play. J Boykin plays a curved Cannonball with Leaky mouthpiece and it is plenty bright.
I own and play both straight & curvied Soprano's and for long playing session's and for traveling the Curivied works best for me. I find I can work the plam keys faster on the Curivied Soprano, both have a dark tone but the is due to my set up.
All of your locations are in the UK, right? I'm over in the US and I would absolutely love to visit your store sometime. It looks like a heaven. Big fan of your channel and stores. Keep up the great reviews
Logan Wright lol same, it is my dream to go there and try out some instruments and mouthpieces, in my country you have to buy the instrument if you try it
Hi guys, I'm a tenor player and I'm thinking of taking up soprano but before I take the plunge I was just wondering, is the skill set needed very different? Obviously the embouchure needs to be tighter etc, but how different is it? Ps, beautiful straight sop there!
Dark Side of The Saxophone You will be fine, they have the same fingering. You just need to get used to you embouchure as you mentioned. 1 or 2 month will be enough to be used to it
After studying the alto sax for 6 years, I needed to study the tenor sax for 6 minutes before playing in a band. Then I needed 6 months to do the same with the soprano... Controlling the pitch is harder.
Great job explaining the difference between those two kinds if soprano. Does Ramponi & Cazzani still exist? I thought it closed a long time ago. Do them have a website.. I do have an euphonium. It is so old that it doesn't have a serial number :)
There's something different in the tone: is it that the straight can sound slightly more brass-like and open, the curved more constrained and sweeter in the way that clarinets can? Of course the microphone may pick up the sound of these two differently because of how they project. I first saw a soprano sax (straight) played by a cone-headed Italian clown in the mid-1960s, and from there to Weather Report and Coltrane etc. But somehow the curved looks more suitable for clowns, despite sounding very good in the right hands. These days I'm happy with a 1920s Buescher (straight), so much lighter than a Selmer Super 80 I had for years. But I'm tempted to try a curved, and get a conical hat, too. Thanks for a great vid!
Very true. I was wondering since I have grabbed your attention, are customers able to play on the instruments if they're buying because in a year or two I'll be coming to buy a new sax since the current one I have now is a beginner sax that I've had for 9 years now, also keep up the great work and maybe consider putting in some more sax covers of pop songs or something like that :) thanks
Yes, you can try any saxophone you'd like in one of our demo rooms. Thanks for the kind words, we'd love to do some more covers but haven't managed to find the time recently! Hopefully we'll get something done soon. All the best
I might’ve been motivated to get s curved soprano sax, particularly after hearing Garth Hudson play one (as well as a bandleader of mine), but I gotta admit for my personal esthetic, the straight variation is more unique to what it is.
wonderfull playing, but the microphone position is not good for this test, you don´t hear the sparkel from the curved soprano because the mike is to low
I’m a pretty experienced alto player for the grade I’m in. I’m in 8th grade and have been playing since the summer in between 5th and 6th grade. I’m really interested in the curved soprano but people have said I should get more experience with the alto. I think I’m ready but wanted your opinion. Thanks!
Important question. I am tenor, alto musician. I wanted to see what I could do with a sop. I put down a thousand, bought a German horn from Europe. The rebuild was crazy. I had to teach myself. My wife said, “loud and obnoxious.” It was my thousand, I was going to learn. Almost 2 years later- I love the sop. Actually, same note, against same note on alto, the lower register- yep, soprano is more beautiful (lower reg). Try it, you’ll like it! Go for a pro horn. Non pro horns aren’t worth your time or money, and they’re harder to play! I kept my alto, and 10M tenor
Mr. Australian Shepard - You'd think that NYC would be perfectly capable of opening their own saxophone shop! I thought you guys considered yourselves as the centre of the universe? (Yes, I said "centre" not "center").
He never played a straight soprano. He played a saxello and a curved soprano. The saxello has a much mellower sound. I'm not sure what you do with the saxello if you are playing multiple reeds. Do they make a custom stand that holds a saxello? Anyway, this guy is just a salesman. I'll take my Yamaha 82Z straight soprano over a Rampone anyday.
Curved is better because people don't call it a clarinet.
haha
But then people will call it a small alto saxophone
First couple of times I saw a curved soprano (including Garth Hudson in the Last Waltz), it threw me. It’s easier for me to distinguish the traditional soprano.
Do people really mistake it for a clarinet, even though it’s made out of brass?
Agreed
Lol, its real. You avoid stupid questions also 😂😂
I've always thought Jim should be a primarily soprano player. He definitely has the most personal sound accompanied with impressive technique on a small mechanism. Great review as always.
Love the sound ,specially the straight model.
Just a marvelous rich tone .
Thanks
Regards from Ont. Canada
Mario
Starts playing at 5:11
Thx
So much talent Jim, it's impossible to ignore. And always a really polished review. Many thanks.
Curved sopranos look like toys in my opinion
Jack Pilutti i felt like it was meant for small children, or midgets...
or to play higher
don't be fooled by appearances. I personally prefer the sound of the curved soprano.
Very expensive toys and not to be played by someone who doesn't know what they're doing or you will experience very costly repairs. But, to the preference of the saxophonist, you can get the same quality sound out of a straight or curved soprano saxophone as long as it's not to be played like a alto or tenor saxophone because the soprano saxophone is not a blowhard instrument and it's used to play soft mellow tones. So in my opinion you can use the curved or the straight soprano saxophone to play all types of music
Very ironic, Jack Pilutti, when you think about Branford Marsalis playing both tenor and soprano after having been teased as a kid for playing the clarinet.
Wow Jim, you have a really nice soprano tone! Good one mate!
Sounds marvellous to me!
Never cared about saxello,but really dig your sound.
Thanks again for the great post!
All the best from Ont. Canada
Mario Malette
I play French Horn why am I watching this
because you want to learn a real instrument? ;)
Sax .co.uk
everybody loves a sax man. especially the bari sax man
SHOTS FIRED!
FRENCH HORN DOWN, FRENCH HORN DOWN...oh wait, it's only a French Horn, move along people, nothing to see here!
lololololololololol I play bass trombone but sax is awesome especially contrabass and sub-contrabass
Wonderful naturalness of sound!
Love the sound of this R&C over the other curved sopranos out there. This one sounds bigger & warmer!
Would a straight or curved soprano be better for jazz? I've doubled on a straight soprano in high school for a couple big band tunes, but for small group, would curve be better? I love the brightness sound the curve usually provides.
Also, you should open a store in Chicago. 😀
Curved might be better for small groups, but I've personally found that I can project more on a straight (so it's a bit better for big band stuff). But that's just me.
There is PM Woodwinds in the Chicago area. Lots of instruments (albeit not as many saxes and other woodwinds), but it is more of a repair shop than store. Still worth checking out. That being said, plz come to the Midwest, and Chicago could be a good spot
To be honest, I'm pretty confident that it doesn't matter at all sound wise, and this video reaffirmed that for me. He played slightly more aggressively on the curved at times, but the core sound was the same.
So, play whichever one you like better. The curved soprano has the openings closer to your ear so it'll probably sound fuller and louder to your ears, but the keywork can be cramped. They also look a bit like toys and will raise more eyebrows than a straight will. Curved cases are smaller for obvious reasons.
Of course, don't underestimate the power of perception. The curved will not the sound the same as a straight to your ears, and that can definitely make you actually play brighter with more edge.
curved
no not Chicago, Spokane Washington
A late comment Jim....Killa sop player!! :-) Very nice! Love the Saxello's character in particular but both horns sound great. Cheers!
It would really cool, if you did a review of the Rampone and Cazzani curved sopranino! 🎷
I like the sound of the saxello in particular - what reed/mouthpiece are you using on that Jim, and what is the microphone you are using to record it?
Funny, I have both a straight and curved soprano. The straight is way more biting and bright than the curved. The intonation on the curved is a lot more consistent than the straight.
Might be the branding of sax....
I would think different brands, materials, pads and player would all come into affect plus style of play. J Boykin plays a curved Cannonball with Leaky mouthpiece and it is plenty bright.
What brand are they?
Beautiful tone. I have a straight Yamaha with a Selmer S80 mpc. Can't get such a sweet tone as you Jim. Probably me overblowing.
Ищите мундштук ))
I own and play both straight & curvied Soprano's and for long playing session's and for traveling the Curivied works best for me. I find I can work the plam keys faster on the Curivied Soprano, both have a dark tone but the is due to my set up.
Very helpful cheers
I would love to come to one of your stores to try out some stuff but I live in California lol
Hey Jim, how would you compare these sopranos to their Selmer or even P.Mauriat counterparts as far as tone-quality and responsiveness ?
All of your locations are in the UK, right? I'm over in the US and I would absolutely love to visit your store sometime. It looks like a heaven. Big fan of your channel and stores. Keep up the great reviews
Logan Wright lol same, it is my dream to go there and try out some instruments and mouthpieces, in my country you have to buy the instrument if you try it
Hi guys, I'm a tenor player and I'm thinking of taking up soprano but before I take the plunge I was just wondering, is the skill set needed very different? Obviously the embouchure needs to be tighter etc, but how different is it? Ps, beautiful straight sop there!
Come and have a try of one :)
Dark Side of The Saxophone You will be fine, they have the same fingering. You just need to get used to you embouchure as you mentioned. 1 or 2 month will be enough to be used to it
I also play tenor
After studying the alto sax for 6 years, I needed to study the tenor sax for 6 minutes before playing in a band. Then I needed 6 months to do the same with the soprano... Controlling the pitch is harder.
Aren't straight sopranos more common?
x Hades Stamps yes
great video, what's that second instrument you were playing?
Loved it, those bad comments oviously they don thave a clue what soprano sax its all about
whenever I play a e or d with octave on soprano, I keep getting higher overtones. could you possibly tell me how to fix this/ improve it?
this could be anything, but, worth trying a slightly softer reed?! Anyone else with any other suggestions?
Leah B which sax do you use?
Great job explaining the difference between those two kinds if soprano. Does Ramponi & Cazzani still exist? I thought it closed a long time ago. Do them have a website.. I do have an euphonium. It is so old that it doesn't have a serial number :)
Yes and yes. Their website should be the first google result for "Rampone and Cazzani" or "Rampone & Cazzani"
Sounds great! Especially the Fully Curved R&C! How much?
He just couldn't pick up one of the normal straight sopranos
I thought the same thing. All those instruments in the background, he didn't have a true straight one?
He was comparing sopranos from the same brand and category, just curved vs straight
There's something different in the tone: is it that the straight can sound slightly more brass-like and open, the curved more constrained and sweeter in the way that clarinets can? Of course the microphone may pick up the sound of these two differently because of how they project. I first saw a soprano sax (straight) played by a cone-headed Italian clown in the mid-1960s, and from there to Weather Report and Coltrane etc. But somehow the curved looks more suitable for clowns, despite sounding very good in the right hands. These days I'm happy with a 1920s Buescher (straight), so much lighter than a Selmer Super 80 I had for years. But I'm tempted to try a curved, and get a conical hat, too. Thanks for a great vid!
Beautiful tone with both designs but the straight one would be my choice.
The straight soprano looks better. So I'll choose the straight soprano.
I love my curved 'Yani' 901...
is that a green screen being used for the background?
Nope, it's filmed in our store.. I think the shallow aperture and the lack of movement in the background give the impression of a green screen!
Very true. I was wondering since I have grabbed your attention, are customers able to play on the instruments if they're buying because in a year or two I'll be coming to buy a new sax since the current one I have now is a beginner sax that I've had for 9 years now, also keep up the great work and maybe consider putting in some more sax covers of pop songs or something like that :) thanks
Yes, you can try any saxophone you'd like in one of our demo rooms. Thanks for the kind words, we'd love to do some more covers but haven't managed to find the time recently! Hopefully we'll get something done soon. All the best
@@saxworldwide Also, the light shining on your hair makes it look like a border.
The curve sound more on tune
I might’ve been motivated to get s curved soprano sax, particularly after hearing Garth Hudson play one (as well as a bandleader of mine), but I gotta admit for my personal esthetic, the straight variation is more unique to what it is.
Cool vid
which uses mouthpiece model?
The song he's playing is it just a random composition if it isn't what's the name?
Darude - Sandstorm
What about for mantainence?
what reed and mouthpiece are tou using
What are the song names?
I don't know why but I watch to many of the videos and I play Flute
If u play flute y is your name baritone saxophone and image a baritone sax 🎷?
@@arjub1595 its called a alto sax on his pic dummy
@@arjub1595 or it might be tenor sax
I play the tuba but if i played a sax,it would be this one!!I feel like it's flashy and the best saxophone.It also weighs nothing so yeah!!!
Curved sopranos seem to have a bad reputation but man does he play it beautifully.
nicr saxophone... how much?
How much do your saxellos and curved sopranos run for?
All this can be found on our site, sax.co.uk
how much would a bari sax cost in ur store
lmgtfy.com/?q=Sax.co.uk+Baritone+saxophones
wonderfull playing, but the microphone position is not good for this test, you don´t hear the sparkel from the curved soprano because the mike is to low
I’m a pretty experienced alto player for the grade I’m in. I’m in 8th grade and have been playing since the summer in between 5th and 6th grade. I’m really interested in the curved soprano but people have said I should get more experience with the alto. I think I’m ready but wanted your opinion. Thanks!
Is there such a thing as a straight tenor or baritone?
as of matter of fact, there are straight altos and tenors and theyre quite big lol. For that reason, I dont think theres a straight bari.
There are straight baris, just very very rare and absolutely monstrous.
www.saxpics.com/buescher/pics/straightbari.jpg
Sax .co.uk
looks like Vince Giordano, if I'm not mistaken
Should I switch form alto to soprano?
Important question. I am tenor, alto musician. I wanted to see what I could do with a sop. I put down a thousand, bought a German horn from Europe. The rebuild was crazy. I had to teach myself. My wife said, “loud and obnoxious.” It was my thousand, I was going to learn. Almost 2 years later- I love the sop. Actually, same note, against same note on alto, the lower register- yep, soprano is more beautiful (lower reg). Try it, you’ll like it! Go for a pro horn. Non pro horns aren’t worth your time or money, and they’re harder to play! I kept my alto, and 10M tenor
arent you in lucky chops
lol he looks like him
Nah it ain’t daro
I liked the datker fuller sound of the straight better but I play a curved because I like the look
great compare and the Rampone a sweet. Love the straight, would be interesting to do the Rampone vs. Yani vs. Yamaha
metamurph I don't know anything about rampone but i can tel you that yamaha has a bright sound and yanagisawa has a dark sound.
I like the curved one because it's small and cute
lit
Open store in New York!
Mr. Australian Shepard - You'd think that NYC would be perfectly capable of opening their own saxophone shop! I thought you guys considered yourselves as the centre of the universe? (Yes, I said "centre" not "center").
Center*
What is that mouthpiece?
Maverick FNAF Jesus is the way
It's a neck not a mouth peice
I like how at 0:33 they have some computer error
You hear some sort of computer sound
you like that, do you?
Saxophone Batman *WINDOWS ERROR*
Same
Same ? Both are so pretty's.
I have a straight sop.
thanks to grandmother
He never played a straight soprano. He played a saxello and a curved soprano. The saxello has a much mellower sound. I'm not sure what you do with the saxello if you are playing multiple reeds. Do they make a custom stand that holds a saxello? Anyway, this guy is just a salesman. I'll take my Yamaha 82Z straight soprano over a Rampone anyday.
Hi
What your holding is an ARC Soprano Sax not a curved
There are 2 kinds of curved soprano sax... In the video you show us only the one... The shape of other one you dint show us is like alto...
Manost Sakelaris you mean like at 6:47?
omg
Would get a much better sound if he were playing an old Conn or Buescher etc.
Please stop looking at you camera screen :')
no way my comment gets pinned
Way too curvy for Kenny G.
I play Clarinet why do I care bout sax so much
Curve sopranos sound good but they look like a toy. Straight sopranos look cool.
Straight soprano "oboe like" 😱 oh god !!! Mine doesn't thank goodness. IF IT SOUNDS OBOE THEN YOU NEED TO WORK ON YOUR SOUND.