Which Saxophone Sounds the Best to YOU???

#bettersax #saxophone #tenorsax
Jay Metcalf plays and compares 4 tenor saxophones to see what viewers like best.
The Saxophones heard are (not in this order):
➤Buescher Big B Aristocrat (built in USA 1940s)
➤Selmer Mark VI (built in France 1960s)
➤Yanagisawa T880 (built in Japan 1980s)
➤Yanagisawa TWO2 (built in Japan 2010s)
Mouthpiece played in this video: Phil-tone Intrepid 7*
Reed played in this video: Rigotti Gold Jazz 4S
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Пікірлер: 618

  • @nhr27
    @nhr275 жыл бұрын

    A and D were my favorites. They just sounded warmer.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the input Nate.

  • @phasitkhamphuk763

    @phasitkhamphuk763

    5 жыл бұрын

  • @neilperko8882

    @neilperko8882

    5 жыл бұрын

    I agree! D was my top pick, and I actually thought it might be the W02 lol. Oops

  • @josequins9099

    @josequins9099

    4 жыл бұрын

    Those 2 were my faves too.

  • @multimartinmusic10

    @multimartinmusic10

    3 жыл бұрын

    Agree, A and D were best to my ear, B was my least favorite.

  • @ethanhui669
    @ethanhui6695 жыл бұрын

    In my opinion, the best sound is : 1. C 2. D 3. A 4. B

  • @BSMusicS111
    @BSMusicS1115 жыл бұрын

    I liked B the best, not much of a difference really but I think it stands out because its a bit darker. Plus I have a Buecher.

  • @deemoore97

    @deemoore97

    5 жыл бұрын

    Bruce Samons Music I have a Keilworth but I also loved hearing the rich and dark sound of the Buecher

  • @isaacbushnell2663

    @isaacbushnell2663

    5 жыл бұрын

    I love my buescher

  • @ryanthomastew

    @ryanthomastew

    5 жыл бұрын

    I went with B as well - I've never heard of the brand but it has like a richer - juicier sound to me that's a bit more mellow. They all sound DAMN fine and I'd be happy with any..

  • @extradimension7356

    @extradimension7356

    4 жыл бұрын

    I picked B but maybe 'cuz I play a Selma Super 80 action II I bought in 1986 … ? Liked it 'cuz it was not harsh , nice in the low end , rounder sound not tooooo bright. (Not sure what B is as I'm half way through the vid.).

  • @nf_prod7522

    @nf_prod7522

    4 жыл бұрын

    Same here.

  • @steverackley7871
    @steverackley78715 жыл бұрын

    "You're gonna sound like you" ... I think that just about sums it up!

  • @preetdhillon2972
    @preetdhillon29725 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video Jay and your emphasis on ease of responsiveness is spot on. When I first tried an entry-level pro horn I was amazed at how easily it responded and how little effort it required to play compared to my cheap student sax. The ergonomics and comfort of the keys under the fingers was also so much better. The same applies to reed/mouthpiece combinations - I play a synthetic reed on a Sigurd Rascher mouthpiece because it is the most responsive and effortless combination I've found. The easier the horn+mouthpiece+reed is to play, the more attention you can bring to playing beautiful music without fighting the instrument.

  • @Baboon4215
    @Baboon42155 жыл бұрын

    Nice demo, thanks for posting :) He sounded pretty much the same on all 4 Saxophones. It's all about the concept of sound, our internal anatomy, our embouchure, & the MP/Reed set up that affects our sound. I don't know how much more proof you need than this video.

  • @marcilynn1697
    @marcilynn16975 жыл бұрын

    Well stated Jay. Always appreciate your perspective.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Marci!

  • @tomward5003
    @tomward50035 жыл бұрын

    Excellent and informative video. Thanks Jeff. I liked the Yani Wo best - but very subtle differences -

  • @tpontificator4183
    @tpontificator41835 жыл бұрын

    A and C were detectable as the Yanis. It is amazing how close the Big B and Mark IV sounded. I mistook one for the other, and I have a Top Hat and Cane; It is a really great horn. Love the videos, thanks Jay!

  • @richsteevo9924
    @richsteevo99245 жыл бұрын

    Didn’t like B. A was ok. D sounded dull but I loved how rounded and “classic” horn C sounded - beautiful man !

  • @rogersalles200
    @rogersalles2005 жыл бұрын

    Man I guessed right on the C option, new it was the Yani W02, sound so close to the Mark VI, the A,B were nice too, focused sound C,D more spread in my opinion- all great and you are right Jay, practicing is the key and gear comes next. cheers

  • @johnwhitehead3685
    @johnwhitehead36855 жыл бұрын

    I've been playing alto since 1966. I've owned a Selmer Mark VI up until just a few weeks ago that I purchased new in 1973. I earned a degree in saxophone performance in 1980. I've been a band geek all those years in one form or another, the most recent in a National Guard Army band from 2005-2016. I honestly could not tell enough of a difference to decided that one sounded "better" than another. It's all about the person standing behind the horn. Very nicely done.

  • @paulready8897
    @paulready889711 ай бұрын

    Thank you very much for this video. As a person in their 60’s with no music background what you said about the mouthpieces and reeds makes a lot of sense. At first I liked the sound of the Big B and the C, but after the second play through they all sounded similar. I was interested in getting a Yamaha or a Selmer, but now I know it doesn’t really matter as to the brand, so I will get one that I can afford. I do like the deepness of the sound that a Tenor makes over the Altos.

  • @javiarraiz
    @javiarraiz5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for all your videos!, definitely in my case I love the sound of the "Saxophone B", and I think the same as you in relation to the work that we saxophonists should do with our setup, invest in studying with him and exploit his full potential looking for the best responds.

  • @ralfputz6076
    @ralfputz60767 ай бұрын

    Hey Jay, thanks for this timely video, made 4yrs ago, as I’ve been looking at a Yanagisawa tenor T880 in mint condition for $3000aud, and I think I’ll be going ahead with the purchase. Love your work. 👍

  • @ralfputz6076

    @ralfputz6076

    7 ай бұрын

    Hi Jay, what are your thoughts about the Yanagisawa tenor T500, as good as the T880?

  • @doctormaccoy
    @doctormaccoy5 жыл бұрын

    Interesting as always. All horns sounded great! However, the comment that time spent and the mouthpiece and reed set-up as difference makers is vital.

  • @colinevans9377
    @colinevans93775 жыл бұрын

    It's A and D for me. The older Yanni sounds much better the the new one, and as a MKVI player myself that subtle sizzle in the upper mid is recognisable. You sound great on all of them.

  • @TheTimelessBeacon
    @TheTimelessBeacon4 жыл бұрын

    I preferred Sax C the most, thanks for the channel. I’ve always wanted to learn and will be purchasing one soon. Just doing my due diligence beforehand on what I don’t know.

  • @jazzguy1304
    @jazzguy13044 жыл бұрын

    Hey Jey, love those tests . Keep up the good work. My choice was C and A. Cheers

  • @oldviolins9912
    @oldviolins99123 жыл бұрын

    Very helpful, thank you very much!

  • @Thedondurrett
    @Thedondurrett5 жыл бұрын

    I liked "B" the best for the overall range of the horn. Sounded great on low and high range. I'm currently playing a Vito student horn which was all I could afford. I still had my OttoLink Super tone master 5 with Java 21/2 reed. had a T901 Yani years ago and was playing an Armstrong Kielwerth that my teacher who played a Mark VI said had a great sound. Looking to upgrade as soon as possible to at least a solid intermediate horn. Just started playing again after several years and never really got beyond the intermediate level. Love your play sax by ear series.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Don, interesting you liked B the best. I love the sound of that horn... definitely the most different.

  • @r.g.saxone
    @r.g.saxone5 жыл бұрын

    Excelente comparación ! Thanks for sharing ! It’s not about the gear, it’s about how much time you spend with ! 👍🏼

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Roberto!

  • @ChrisSmithSaxophone
    @ChrisSmithSaxophone5 жыл бұрын

    Great video Jay - lots of fun, but as you said, they all sound great, because you sound great. Back to my long tone practice. :)

  • @L1nkGR
    @L1nkGR5 жыл бұрын

    The brightness of the C sax is remarkable and that's why i thought that it was the Selmer one. Frankly, C & D were my favourite ones. Once again great video Jay !

  • @capailldubh
    @capailldubh5 жыл бұрын

    Have to admit they all sounded quite similar to my rookie ears. Love the one you're with.. a T800 Elimona from 1979. A lucky find. Hope I can make it sound as good as Jay can some day. Doing his Pentatonic course at the moment. Brilliant fun.

  • @jasmineduran6731
    @jasmineduran67315 жыл бұрын

    “If you can’t be with the one you want, love the one you’re with. If you can’t have the saxophone you want, love the saxophone you got.” I’m gonna remember this when I get my saxophone in the future. I was wondering which one I should get, whether Tenor or Alto, and I think Saxophone A will work best for me. Thank you for posting this! 🙏🏼❤️

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    That is my main horn, so I'm glad when people choose that one.

  • @gabrielapratas7707

    @gabrielapratas7707

    5 жыл бұрын

    I've just to learn how to play the saxophone last year and I was recommended to buy the Alto Saxophone for beginners then developing from there.

  • @gabrielapratas7707

    @gabrielapratas7707

    5 жыл бұрын

    ( started) to learn ...

  • @jpaltoego
    @jpaltoego5 жыл бұрын

    Great exercise Jay! Loved it! Could not choose which one sounded the best...felt like saying « Jay is being a smart ass »🤣🤣🤣 but I proud to say that I recognized the M6 which is my instrument by the way, since 1971! Keep up the good work Jay!

  • @rautibo
    @rautibo5 жыл бұрын

    i instantly said WOW when B sounded. nice round sound... so, i guess first impressions matter

  • @robwood6759
    @robwood67595 жыл бұрын

    A was my favourite, followed by C/D with equally nice tones, and bottom was B.

  • @gwildor8543
    @gwildor85435 жыл бұрын

    I chose D just because of that gorgeous full warm sound that I felt in my heart was a Selmer...But you sounded great on all of them, but their is just something about Selmer's that I just love!

  • @timmoore7258
    @timmoore7258 Жыл бұрын

    hi. Love your videos. I am looking to start playing again I have a Yamaha intermediate tenor from the 80s. A and B seemed to respond best to you. I watched your embouchure as you went for the low note. they all sound great. I cant agree more about mouthpiece. I used to play a pretty wide open chrome dukoff. Im looing for a hard rubber type mouthpiece for someone that hasnt played much in years. Used to play daily in military bands and at night.

  • @BGroveski
    @BGroveski5 жыл бұрын

    A was my favorite. D was a close second. I was completely right on which was which, but all shows is that I spend too much time researching horns😅 Also, you are completely right with what you said about the response. A saxophone will sound like a saxophone, but how it feels and connects with you as an individual is what matters most. That is different for everyone, which is why different people prefer different horns.

  • @waynewojnarowski3697
    @waynewojnarowski36975 жыл бұрын

    Jay You Sound Great! I Always loved your tone I liked c

  • @adamsaunders790
    @adamsaunders7905 жыл бұрын

    This was entertaining! Great idea. With mostly luck and logic I pegged all of them (Had to hit rewind a few times and could only toss a coin between the yanis). But as you said, the key is response--it helps to listen through the reverb for how the horn is responding. I thought the low notes were key.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Interesting, thanks Adam.

  • @yukihash1613
    @yukihash16135 жыл бұрын

    Loved your playing! And thanks for a nice comparison! Huge difference in all four saxophones, yanagisawa had some kind of recognizable and unique resonation around the core sound. I felt that the buesher horn had a very pure sound and a strong characteristic. With the mark vi, I thought that every single part of the horn resonated the most, and it probably is my favorite of all.

  • @yukihash1613

    @yukihash1613

    5 жыл бұрын

    I think the core of the sound is pretty much the same with all the four horns, but each horns gave you different colors and characters to your sound. I also think the differences with the horns will be more recognizable in acoustic situations! I am terribly sorry for a long comment and terrible English, I am still a student in Japan!

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    I agree with you Yuki, they are all very good saxophones and have a beautiful core sound. Yes they have their own character, but it is very subtle.

  • @bobpremecz5429
    @bobpremecz54295 жыл бұрын

    Buescher Big B Aristocrat was my favorite, probably because of my old ears. But I agree with you that the mouthpiece and reed contribute highest to the sound you produce after you develop your chops (embouchure & breathing), which remains paramount. I had the opportunity to play Paul Cohen's new Bass Saxophone for a recent Saxophone Festival in Allentown. He offered two different mouthpieces, a modern one and an old Buescher. I ended up loving the Buescher as it gave me more control over the whole instrument. Sometimes new doesn't mean better, but in the case of the reeds, both he and I agree that the Legere Signatures do provided a consistently great experience, so sometimes new wins, too. Great video to drive home a very important lesson. The player matters!

  • @cecilomartinez1362
    @cecilomartinez13625 жыл бұрын

    thanks for all this

  • @TheMusicalEvents
    @TheMusicalEvents5 жыл бұрын

    I appreciate very much your sober advice. Went through that unnecessary process of deliberating which sax is best myself. I had guessed the Buescher and the Selmer right, but wouldn’t be able to hear a lot differences between the yanagisawas...

  • @sa8vsaxman
    @sa8vsaxman5 жыл бұрын

    Ah man great video! the number one take away is that you sound like you on every horn. Massive thumbs up fella. Sax D is my favorite right out the gate which was so surprising as I always considerd myself a Yani sax man, and having avoided selmers and written them off as overpriced, I think I might need to reevaluate my position on that!

  • @neilperko8882

    @neilperko8882

    5 жыл бұрын

    Man, I loved D also. And, like you, I didnt think it was the VI. I thought it might be the W02. I thought C sounded very modern, and came in 3rd. Number 2 for me was the T-880. Very nice sound, too, but that VI was amazing.

  • @edwardquentin2363
    @edwardquentin23635 жыл бұрын

    Sample A was the brightest of the four to me; B, C and D were so close in the short comparison as to be almost interchangeable. It was interesting to register the differences when the individual horns were shown. It was easier to classify the four distinct sounds when I knew which horns were actually being played.

  • @mikebotton3200
    @mikebotton32005 жыл бұрын

    I picked D first as the one I preferred and then as the MkVI. The differences are subtle but the Yanagisawas definitely sounded a bit brighter to me. The MKVI just has that unique timbre especially in the low register. Great stuff, Jay, you sound brilliant on all of them.

  • @tommartin1068

    @tommartin1068

    5 жыл бұрын

    Same for me... All Great, but MkVI a bit more on the breathy side with the mouthpiece and reed set up.

  • @clarencelim212

    @clarencelim212

    5 жыл бұрын

    My exact thoughts and I’m not even a seasoned sax player but an avid audiophile. I trust my ears more now!

  • @alivstyson1864

    @alivstyson1864

    5 ай бұрын

    D sounded nice and Mello to me. A sounded a bit sharp

  • @marcvandeneynden
    @marcvandeneynden5 жыл бұрын

    Gret video and good advice, as usual :) I could identify the saxes, except that I mixed-up the T880 and the MarkVI. And I prefer sax A ... it says it all : keep the 880 :)))

  • @MattWillisBagpiper
    @MattWillisBagpiper5 жыл бұрын

    C has my vote. Wow. It's both present and full. Thanks for doing this!

  • @Funkdumpling
    @Funkdumpling5 жыл бұрын

    Excellent advice! long tones all the way, throwing cash at expensive kit is never the solution. I completely agree on working with the gear you have. A great player will sound good/like them on any horn. Nice use of the Dexter solo! I orchestrated the whole solo for my big band for a show we did earlier this month. Keep the vids coming, I enjoy sharing them with my students. They like hearing the same things I teach them coming from another horn player! :)

  • @RatPfink66

    @RatPfink66

    6 ай бұрын

    Super slow ballad playing is the best long tone exercise I know of. Mix it up! Long tones are too important to be a bore. Try for your best tone for, say, 8 bars...then your best intonation against your tuner...then your most efficient breath control and longest phrase per breath. Then you can do the same tune in a lower/higher range...vary dynamics, cres/dim, the possibilities are many.

  • @melb5996
    @melb59965 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Jay, you confirmed my thoughts prior to this. Personally I would be more interested in how it plays and the ergonomics of the layout. The problem that cannot be ignored is that we are hearing an acoustic instrument "SECOND HAND" We are really listening to sounds emanating from the exact same source sound equipment! Whilst there might well be a slight variation from horn to horn the recording gear may not be capable of replicating this. Even worse is the fact that most , if not all players will blow through some form of amplification often set up by a third party. My point is when an audience listens to any sax they are actually hearing an 'electronic' facsimile. They are impressed by the players much more than "a bit warm or a little dark or bright" plus a great deal of players now perform with some sort of echo or reverb effect completely cancelling out any fine detail.

  • @vincita51
    @vincita515 жыл бұрын

    I picked sax A because my first sax was a T880 and I love it. I reached the best (for me ) setup and so I'm happy to play with the sound I like. I Agree with you that are also very important neck-mouthpiece and reeds.

  • @derycktrahair8108
    @derycktrahair81085 жыл бұрын

    Jay, you proved your point. Isn't it interesting that so many of us are so passionate about our sound that we do a quizz? On 1st hearing D = Selmer. But the Beusher was great too. Stan Getz?..you didn't mention him, but on a good day, I nearly get there. Trying for it has helped, but I always sound like me. It's not all bad news, I'm still getting gigs, but I worry about that "PERFECTIONISM". This qizz is a lesson on how we HEAR ourselves. All the great players have a uniqueness about them. We have to make the best of ours. Thanks Jay.

  • @URKOVAI97
    @URKOVAI974 жыл бұрын

    Loved the A. It has that brightness and color that I love...

  • @MagnumLapua338
    @MagnumLapua3385 жыл бұрын

    I couldn't be happier with my Antigua Power Bell. I am still working on which mouth piece and reed setup.

  • @getzfan1258
    @getzfan12585 жыл бұрын

    I think there were little differences between them. The Buescher sounded darkest.,the Yanagisawas sounded overall best, and the Selmer sounded the thinnest. I played a Selmer SBA for 30+ years and loved the sound but now depending on who's playing it I like others better. Nice video.

  • @ericbataska1010
    @ericbataska10104 жыл бұрын

    It seemed that A was brighter for sure, the difference between B, C, D was a lot more subtle

  • @tlahnala
    @tlahnala5 жыл бұрын

    They all sounded great. This is a testament to Jay's playing. Nice job. I selected A and D as the best sounding horns and chose as a wild guess D as the Mark VI.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, much appreciated.

  • @mhtube01
    @mhtube012 жыл бұрын

    I played Tenor Sax in concert and jazz band for years and loved it. My dad played when he was in school too and kept both is horns in our basement so when I went to middle school, we had them cleaned and refurbished and they served me great. One is an old Bundy that's probably over 50 years old now and the other is a Selmer Mark VI that's almost as old. Both are great instruments with the Mark VI having a beautiful tone to it and still in great shape. The Bundy has some scratches and dings since my dad used it for marching band and it's a cheaper instrument but still plays great. I haven't played them on several years now so I'm inclined to get them out and tune them up them again since they both are in need.

  • @garrettbabcock9024
    @garrettbabcock90245 жыл бұрын

    So close... You're absolutely right though. While I loved it when I was lucky enough to gig and tour with a mark vi, alas it was a school issued instrument and I had to turn it in recently. I've really liked the ottolink tonemaster 8 that i've been playing on for over 7 years now and I really just want to find a horn that pairs nicely with my set up and has some of the brighter qualities that I felt I got out of the mark vi. That being said I thought initially that the mark vi was either A or C so maybe I'd like trying out one of those horns with my set up and no longer have the hole in my soul that I've felt has been there since losing my vintage horn.

  • @Mr_Yalikejazz
    @Mr_Yalikejazz5 жыл бұрын

    Once you play a Buescher, their amazing dark tone really sticks out. Never heard another horn that comes close.

  • @robstevens9590
    @robstevens95905 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Jay! I had my eyes closed for the first round (until you got to D) so I did not realize you were playing different horns. Which confirms the thought that the musician makes the difference. The second time around I saw when you changed. (I chose "A" as the best, but thought "D" was the Mark VI. I agree that the main difference is in the player, not the instrument. Also I think the mouthpiece and the reed often (but not always) make more of a difference than the instrument. By the way, I appreciate every post you make.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Rob, I think if I didn't edit that video and watch it many times, I would have a difficult time identifying them, and if you didn't tell me that the horn changed, I wouldn't have guessed.

  • @aricp21
    @aricp215 жыл бұрын

    awesome video, i thought that the T880 sounded gorgeous

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, that's my main horn.

  • @ntxmt
    @ntxmt5 жыл бұрын

    My choice is A but C isn't far behind. I quite agree with your analysis that the mouthpiece and reed combination has more impact than all the legends out there. Your video on different mouthpieces showed me that. I still liked the Link mouthpiece the best. Thanks for all the great videos.

  • @defi71zh
    @defi71zh5 жыл бұрын

    I picked A for the mark VI because I liked the sound the best and figured I would recognize it.. but I realize now that I like the sound the best because it is the horn you are most comfortable with and that most brings out your sound.

  • @kostasp945
    @kostasp9455 жыл бұрын

    You have right in many things. I had a very very low badget so after months of searcing I searched for a good responce and well made sax i finaly bought a reblican sax of reference 54. After 8 months of playing it i can tell that is a great saxophone. If you want i will send you a video of it.

  • @TownHouseFilms
    @TownHouseFilms3 жыл бұрын

    I loved B the best. A smoky warm earthy sound. Lovely!

  • @benjameek
    @benjameek4 жыл бұрын

    The Buescher one had such a lush tone!

  • @Velobetty
    @Velobetty5 жыл бұрын

    I liked C best and then A, B, and D. I was delighted then to find out that my fave is a Yani as they're amazing saxophones and will be my next one. I have a TJ horn at the moment and while it's not the most amazing in the world it is mine and I love it. :)

  • @EriksWorld14
    @EriksWorld145 жыл бұрын

    I liked D the best, and having played on a Yamaha and Selmer my entire student life, I knew the Mark VI as soon as I heard the first phrase. It's really an indistinguishable sound, but that may because I grew up thinking that it was the holy grail of classical saxophones :)

  • @michaelbaker3228
    @michaelbaker32283 жыл бұрын

    As usual, very sound advice: learn to play well on a well maintained, decent sax; and then move on if you feel the need. I have a Yamaha 23 student model that is nicely reconditioned. It’s not the instrument, it’s how much I devote to learning and practicing. Thanks for reinforcing that!

  • @lukasmakesmusictoooldtolea8122
    @lukasmakesmusictoooldtolea81225 жыл бұрын

    Hey Jay, great video! I've been following your videos for quite a while, but u seriously earned yourself a new subscriber! :) I wanted to pick your brain on the cheap amazon saxophone that you ordered in one of your videos (the one for 300€~) and one of the entry-level saxophones by Yamaha (i.e. Yamaha YTS-280 or YAS-280). Thanks! :) Keep it up, Lukas

  • @heribantomas
    @heribantomas5 жыл бұрын

    im new to SAx ( got my daughter on it and fall in love too ) great video. thanks for it !! and sound no 1 or A to me sounds best based on my 20 years of Bassplayer experience :D

  • @jacquelamontharenberg
    @jacquelamontharenberg5 жыл бұрын

    I agree with you .. It is hard to tell by the sound. For me it is all about the playability and tone. Before I bought my Keilwerth SX90R in 2002, I played a Selmer, Yani, Yamaha, LA Sax and a Cannonball, all pro saxes, and there was definitely a difference in playability. It took me all day at a store in South Bend, Indiana to make a decision. Tone was hardly distinguishable. The Keilwerth had the best playability, especially the ease to play low C, C#, B & Bb. There was definitely a difference in playability. Between the horns, the altissimos fingerings also changed slightly for me. I also believe that no one horn is exactly alike even if the same exact model. You can get a " bad" one. I played 5 different SX90R's before I found the one I really wanted. My opinion is: the Buescher you played had the best sound, the mouthpiece is 90% of sax playing and you should play a professional model horn. The shape of your mouth and throat cavity, along with the mouthpiece ( ligature is very important also) and the neck of the horn will determine most of the quality of your sound. Your right, someone listening to me in the studio the day I tried out all those horns probably could not hear much difference in the horns, but may have recognized my personal sound. I gotta say.... The best horn I ever played was a 1960's era King Super 20 Tenor with a silver neck. Altissimo and low notes jumped out so easily and intonation was great. Why didn't I buy it.....?

  • @alanhirayama4592
    @alanhirayama45925 жыл бұрын

    This was great! I thought A and C sounded brightest and most similar so guessed those would be the Yanis and that was correct! D sounded the most "stuff" and thought that would be the Buescher and B to be the MK VI, and got those mixed. Interesting! Thank you!

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Interesting Al, thanks for your input.

  • @saltpeppertofu5871
    @saltpeppertofu58715 жыл бұрын

    Honestly i agree, all sounded great but D seems to have some kind of magic omph to it

  • @heldercoelho5403
    @heldercoelho54035 жыл бұрын

    The "C" seems to have the rounder sound of the bunch! I would bet that that's the Selmer!

  • @kporshnev
    @kporshnev5 жыл бұрын

    I liked the 4th one sound. And at the end, it was Selmer Mark VI. Interesting to compare Selmer Mark VI with Reference 54.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    If I had one, I'd do it...

  • @jaywills5776
    @jaywills57764 жыл бұрын

    All sounded fine, which pretty much was expected. My working hypothesis is that the sax is all about the mechanics, the resistance, the key weight, and especially the balance. Sound, like you say, is mostly the player, but mouthpiece is a big part... which makes sense since the sax is just a big horn, amplifying the sound from the mouthpiece and reed.

  • @MrCparking
    @MrCparking5 жыл бұрын

    You forgot to give your mouthpiece and reed setup!?! ;-) I am happy to have identified the Buescher correctly, they are great responding, slightly darker horns, if one can cope with the ergonomics. That being said that new Yanagisawa sounds awesome. Cheers!

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Marco, it's in the description. That Buescher does play great, and if it was my only tenor, I'd be fine with that.

  • @cathycuccia3385
    @cathycuccia33853 жыл бұрын

    My ears could not discern an appreciable difference. Jay made all sounds wonderful to me.

  • @penkkikone
    @penkkikone5 жыл бұрын

    Interesting comparison. Sound is a matter of personal preference. Now even more happy to be have Yanagisawa T991.

  • @alexbehlmann3258
    @alexbehlmann32585 жыл бұрын

    I have a beucher alto from 1958 it sounds great

  • @KrisVComm
    @KrisVComm4 жыл бұрын

    Coincidentally, I liked them in A, B, C, D order. A had really nice sharp attack on the tone and sounded like it would cut through a band well. Also, the correct lyrics are “...And if you can’t be with the one you LOVE, honey Love the one you’re with.”

  • @leifpeterson7397
    @leifpeterson73975 жыл бұрын

    I'm so happy! I thought that sax A sounded the best by far (and consequently I thought it was the Mark VI) and then it turned out to be the T880 which is the tenor that I play! Whohooo :-) Generally speaking I am surprised to hear that there was such a big difference between the horns.

  • @DansYellMusicArts
    @DansYellMusicArts5 жыл бұрын

    C sounded better for me but I really agree that a good reed and a good mouthpiece are big factors on how you will sound great no matter what type of saxophone you happen to play on..

  • @albertoguerrero3659
    @albertoguerrero36595 жыл бұрын

    I got the Selmer sound right. The sound is unmistakable.

  • @timobesamusca9332
    @timobesamusca93325 жыл бұрын

    Man you sound great on each of them! But I liked C the best. I think you are right in that you will always sound like you, no matter what horn you play, and do agree that responsiveness of a horn is key. BUT I do think the build quality and blue print of a saxophone can influence its responsiveness. I asked my SuperGuru repairman to set up my Mauriat the same way he had set up my Selmer (which is freaking excellent), but “there was only so much he could do” (his own words) given the way the Mauriat was built.

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Timo, yeah for sure, the responsiveness is built in to the horn and some will be limited out of the factory. Thanks for your input.

  • @garrettbabcock9024

    @garrettbabcock9024

    5 жыл бұрын

    I've been looking into getting a Mauriat. Of all the more contemporary horns I've liked that one the most. What model do you have? What are your thoughts on your overall experience with the horn? I've had a mark vi but I didn't own so I no longer have it and really just want a horn that I can afford and pairs well with my ottolink tonemaster 8.

  • @timobesamusca9332

    @timobesamusca9332

    5 жыл бұрын

    Garrett Babcock I play a Mauriat System 76 2nd edition with the vintage lacquer. It is a horn with straight toneholes, unlike all the other Mauriat models. I tried those also, but just thought the System 76 had the focused, centered sound I was looking for. The sound is also dark and steady which I really like. I really fell in love with it’s sound, and still really love it, but the way it plays ergonomically and setup-wise is just not as well as the MarkVI that I was fortunate to be able to buy. The Mauriat is a great instrument nonetheless!!!

  • @garrettbabcock9024

    @garrettbabcock9024

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@timobesamusca9332 do the ergonomics have a noticeable impact on your playing? Or is it more of a feel thing? I feel like if I'm saving 3k plus up for a mauriat i might as well save another few thousand and go for a mark vi.

  • @timobesamusca9332

    @timobesamusca9332

    5 жыл бұрын

    Garrett Babcock I do think it has some impact on my playing. The setup on the Mark VI gives me more responsiveness. Some lines are easier to play, physically I mean. Which leads to me feeling more secure, having more control over the instrument and what I want to play. But you know I love to play the Mauriat as well. It is a great horn and worth every penny imho. And although I was fortunate to be able to buy a really nice playing Mark Vl (not all are good), I think a lot of modern horns can put up very well against the Mark VI, it all comes down to the player in the end. You should also look into the Trevor James Custom Signature Raw tenor sax. I played it recently and though it played absolutely great 👍🏻

  • @bbster73
    @bbster735 жыл бұрын

    as an owner of a Selmer mark 6 from the 1950s and love it .. I was more impressed with your C & D saxophones ... both A & B sounded alike .. both C& D also sounded very much alike.. all are actually good sound quality , I just prefer brightness and use a Van Doren ZUMA mouthpiece with only fiber cell reeds .. Bobby G...

  • @blazedkromer8922
    @blazedkromer89224 жыл бұрын

    C hands down i love its classic sound and has such a crisp sound

  • @HCL991
    @HCL9915 жыл бұрын

    Haha nailed it. I can always hear a Mark VI. It sounds so different than the other ones to me.

  • @JohnCampbell-hn5cl
    @JohnCampbell-hn5cl5 жыл бұрын

    I agree that they all sounded similar and good. As a comment below requested - the mouthpiece/reed setup would be good to know. I play a buescher aristocrate 1950. Plays great with a metal Otto Link. I forced myself to choose and I thought B and D were warmer/darker having more character than the other two. I picked B as the Selmer and D as the Buescher. I had heard a similar test with four altos (which is my main instrument) and picked them all! I think there is a greater difference in the Altos. I also agree the important factors for sound are - the player, the mouthpiece, and then the insturment. Thanks for the advice about necks. That will be my next area of investigation as my MkVI bari plays out of tune. (I'm not an expert, just a sax fanatic)

  • @scratchedvinyl8462
    @scratchedvinyl84625 жыл бұрын

    I chose sax A as my favourite - which turned out to be the new Yanagisawa. But they all sounded very good with only slight variations in tone.

  • @tenblinkers3173

    @tenblinkers3173

    Жыл бұрын

    A was the old Yanagisawa - C was the newer one.

  • @79mupoh
    @79mupoh5 жыл бұрын

    They all sound pretty much the same to me! Nice Dexter feel btw!

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @coilhead
    @coilhead5 жыл бұрын

    Good demo and good point. Develop your sound. From behind the horn I can tell. Recorded? I can't even remember which one I was playing that day, and my choices are Selmer BA, Buescher Aristocrat and Conn Chu. I sound like me. But I do find it funny that my bias showed right up when the blindfold was off. The Selmer suddenly sounded like a Mk6 and the Buescher was sweeter/ more raw if that makes any sense. The Yanagisawas just sounded like good horns. Anyone else experience that?

  • @joanncarey226
    @joanncarey2264 жыл бұрын

    I chose the Mark Selmer as the best sound and it was D as I chose. However, you made an excellent point when you said so much depends on the player and mouthpiece. I think you can make any sax sound good. That is a concern for me as I anticipate playing my (hopefully) soon to be here Roland Aerophone AE-10. It won't allow me to play a real sax with a real mouthpiece. I would have gotten the Jean Paul Alto Sax from Amazon if I could have found a nearby safe place to practice. I may still end up getting it eventually, even if I have to drive somewhere in my car to play it.

  • @emmashell1356
    @emmashell13565 жыл бұрын

    Hello from France ! I liked this blind test a lot ! It seemed to me that the B sax didn't reach the highest notes as nicely as the 3 others. In the deep notes, I didn't hear a real difference : they all sounded very nice ! I bought a tenor sax on Thomann.de, it is a Thomann one, and my SAXO teacher is amazed by the sound I play on it. It changed the mouthpiece last Christmas: it isn't the original one, o chose a Bari hybrid one, and it's still much better ! Best regards from France! Marie-Hélène Lachaud (I've been playing for 1,5 years now! I'm still learning...)

  • @rdaugherty52
    @rdaugherty525 жыл бұрын

    I am listening with my ph and ear buds but I like A the best seems to project the sound out better. If I wanted a Smokey sound might pick C or D. Thanks Jay cool comparison.

  • @Jesse_Sutton
    @Jesse_Sutton5 жыл бұрын

    I recently inherited my dad's old Buescher Aristocrat alto. I haven't played it since I was 12, and moved to tenor. I'm gonna break that bad boy out, right now! Inspired.

  • @brycebaliko7050
    @brycebaliko70505 жыл бұрын

    I loved your sound on C the best. Still haven’t finished the vid so idk what horn it is. Totally agree with your point on sounding like “you” regardless of the horn. My guess is that the VI is in slot D but I accidentally read someone say that earlier in the comments so it could be bias lol

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Bryce, it's not a scientific study anyway....

  • @gilsontopfstedt3554
    @gilsontopfstedt35544 жыл бұрын

    Interesting, I got it. And btw..the best sounding on my ears was just the one I intend to buy... the T-wo2 Yana

  • @rk702
    @rk7025 жыл бұрын

    I understand you played each horn using the same recording set up but I would have liked to hear a comparison like this without reverb and a more natural dry sound. I enjoy your videos.

  • @lukeutterback7073
    @lukeutterback70735 жыл бұрын

    I know nothing about sax and yet the Selmer Mark VI was the one that sounded best to me. I didn't even vote on which one was the Selmer because I had no idea. I find that very interesting.

  • @christerhenningstedt6939
    @christerhenningstedt69393 жыл бұрын

    Hi, Jay couldn't say wich one sounded different from The other, it's " your" sound and it's always good , you are a fantastic player.

  • @parker550
    @parker5505 жыл бұрын

    Perfectly stated as usual..... Good vid.... Preferred no1 but nowt in it ... Surprising result for me🎷💣👍

  • @bettersax

    @bettersax

    5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, that's my main horn so good to hear...

  • @uteboy86
    @uteboy865 жыл бұрын

    I own a buescher aristocrat tenor saxophone as soon as you played B I knew it was a buescher. You can hear it in the lower notes sounded just like mine when I play it. Funny enough it's the one I liked the most they all sound beautiful though.