Low E problem on new Antigua. Is it me?

[spol73]

I just received a new 590LQ. All sounds exept for the low D,E and F sound perfect. Sound E is the worst. I have to lip it down in order to produce a sound. It's a struggle and I find it hard to believe that even though all sounds are so easy to play, the three squeek like B2 on a leaking clarinet. Did any body ever experience the same problem. By the way I'm new to sopranos. Clarinet and recently alto sax (about 4 years) are my main instruments.

[Fred]

Do you have a leak light you can check the sax with? If not, try a C or D-cell flashlight inside the bell. Close the keys and look for leaking pads. My 590 plays great, but I did have an adjustment screw which loosened which made 2nd octave G be about 1/2 step sharp and very weak. Chuck Kessler correctly predicted the problem over the phone, and I'm back in business.

Don't worry about the sax. It's a good model; something is just misadjusted.

[spol73]

Well, all I can say is that the more I practice the better less problems I have with the low E. Also the intonation has improved significantly. In short my jaws are getting used to the new instrument which in this matter is slightly different from clarinet and alto/tenor saxes. I'm just curious whether any body else experienced smilar problems when first played a soprano. In spite of all the difficulties I'm already falling in love with the instrument, however it will take 2-3 weeks before I feel as comfortable as I am with the alto.

[Jack W.]

From my limited experience, I can say that soprano sax is definitely a beast, especially at first. Paul Coats had some good advice somewhere about starting on soprano, the one piece of which that sticks in my mind most is that the horn must be held STRAIGHT OUT in front of you, so that the mpc enters your mouth at the same angle as it does for alto sax. It is NOT held downwards like a clarinet. I seem to recall Paul talking about how students of his would immediately go from not being able to produce the low notes, to sounding great down there. Hopefully he will chime in since he can say it better than I can. :)

By the way, I just had my 586BC out yesterday and I have no regrets about having bought it. Yesterday I compared it to a friend's 1980s Yani (the type that looks like a Mark VI, with the non-independent palm keys and no front F), which played great but I thought my Antigua had a "broader" sound and equally good or better intonation.