Wednesday, September 3, 2014

What To Look For In A Custom Saxophone Maker

By Marlene Blevins


If you are a saxophonist, there is nothing more rewarding than owning a sax that is designed specifically for your particular style of playing. A company that creates customized saxophones should have many years of research into acoustics and plenty of feedback from professional musicians. A high quality sax should have a immediate response, wide dynamic range and be comfortable with good ergonomics. You can fins many reputable musical instrument makes that have custom built saxophones for sale.

Any saxophone need to be made to high quality standards. Buying a custom built sax will ensure that the instrument is made to the highest mechanical standards with precise acoustic refinement. A good custom made sax will play beautiful and sound wonderful through the life of the instrument. Many sax players prefer to have a custom made saxophone instead of one of the established brands. This is because the instruments playability and sound can be tailored to the musicians needs.

The mouthpiece is a very important part of any saxophone and a custom built sax should have no limitation on variety of sound, flexibility of tone and provide the sax with a dynamic range. The mouthpiece should also make the instrument easier to play at all registers from dark and lush to vibrant and bright. The mouthpiece should respond immediately and play in tune while accommodating a wide range of embouchures. They should also be comfortable and require little adjustment time.

The ligature is also an important part of the saxophone. A good ligature will be springy so the natural vibration of the reed is enhanced. This will improve the saxophones timbre, intonation and response allowing the saxophonist to create emotional effects while playing.

The heart and soul of any saxophone is its neck. This part of the saxophone is responsible for the instruments sound. Good quality necks will have perfect pitch definition and be even through all of the registers. There should be immediate response and give the sax rich and resonant tones.

All good manufacturers of custom made saxophones will be experts in saxophone acoustics and psycho-acoustics so they can help saxophonists find their perfect sound and tones. Consultation time should be provided where customers can play the instrument so that acoustical and mechanical recommendations can be made.

As well as a well made saxophone, customers should also receive a well made case. A poorly designed case will cause damage to a saxophone over time, as it will move inside the case. A good case will hold the saxophone securely in place with no movement. The case will also be made from high quality materials and protect the instrument should the case be dropped on the ground.

For most professional saxophone players owning a custom made saxophone is incredibly rewarding and they are a joy to play. This is because they have been designed according to the musicians specific style of playing. A high quality custom made saxophone will also last for generations and carry a lot of history. If you are a saxophonist why not consider getting a saxophone made specifically for you? You can enjoy playing an instrument that is tailored to your needs and your style of playing.




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