Got a new soprano!

[Andrew]

I have finally got a new soprano. I believe it's the best soprano I've ever played on as well. I got myself a brand new Selmer Series III Matte Finish soprano. WOW this thing can blow! I brought along my 3 mouthpieces...a Refaced Bari, Runyon Quantum, Selmer C*. It gives off the SWEETEST sound I've ever gotten off of a soprano. This makes me want to play soprano more! And to think...I thought the soprano saxophone was the most evil instrument in the world...not anymore :D

Anyone else play on a series III?

[Gordon (NZ)]

I agree. Every one I service is a joy to play.
Then I check again my personal Yanagisawa, and that is an equal joy to play.

But I hate working on the Selmers. The keys are tangled up and must be removed in groups, manipulating like a wire puzzle. Expect servicing not to be cheap! Taking the G# key off to install a spring of adequate stiffness is a major exercise, taking far more time than for a well-designed mechanism. I could write a book about other things too, and come to think of it, pretty well have done here in the past.

So enjoy it to the max while it is going so well. :D

[Tears June]

Andrew

Selmer Series III soprano has two type of Matte version - One is With engraved, another is Without engraving. Which one you bought?

Have you also test and compare with the lacquered version? Any difference in sound?

Yes, how much you got this Matte horn?

:cry:

[Noel Mac]

Andrew,

I'm glad to hear you finally got a decent soprano. I play a yani which gives me the same feeling your series III gives you. But I have also played a series III matte. Wow it's a killer horn. It can just scream. But at the same time it can get very warm and beautiful. That's probably why the classical sax prof at my school plays one. If you can get the money I highly suggest you try a lamberson Fmaj7 on it. I don't own one but I have tried one out and it blew me away.

[Andrew]

It's the engraved model. I tried it against maybe 15 or so other Series IIIs, and a lot more other models of different brands. It came dnwn to a Silver Plated Series III, a Regular Lacquer Yamaha YSS-62R and the Matte Finish III. I tried a bunch of other stuff though...

The Matte Finish soprano had much more character than any other soprano I played on. The regular lacquered IIIs that I played on...maybe 2-3...they each played pretty much identically. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing though. They played pretty well. But, it just wasn't "that horn." You know?

[Tears June]

Andrew

Just compare with sound, could you please tell what are the difference between a clear lacquered & Matte (Brushed) Series III ?

If any difference, it should be same in alto & tenor. I'm interested a Series III Brushed Engraving tenor.

Clear Lacquered = More bright?

Matte = More warm , rich & dark?

What about the tone color and sonic characteristic ?

:cry: