Goodson Tenor Questions

[Stacey]

Hi everyone,

I've sent Steve Goodson an email, but he's evidently (and understandably) been too swamped with personal and business matters to get back to me. Then it occurred to me - I've got the whole SOTW community to help answer my questions!

I have decided to get a Steve Goodson tenor. AND, in a moment of distracted weakness last night, my wife said "sure - no problem, you deserve one". I think she may have forgotten about the soprano, alto, and C-melody littering our former dining room...

Anyway, I'm still not quite ready to order a Goodson tenor, but when the time comes, I want to know exactly what I want. And I'd prefer to order it straight from Steve, rather than a dealer. So here are my questions:

- Does anyone have any sort of photo gallery illustrating the various finishes? Some of them are illustrated on Steve's site, but it's hard for me to tell what's what, and they are not labeld. I'm most interested in vintage lacquer, black nickel with silver keys, satin silver, and bright silver, and would love to see photos of these four finishes. I would also love feedback on those finishes - what do you think of them?

- What pad/resonator combination would you folks recommend for someone who simply wants the horn to sound mellow, sometimes romantic, and blend into settings like classical or church music? I won't ever be using the horn to scream out solos with a rock band, and I'm sure my jazz use of it will be fairly limited as well, to be honest. (FYI - I've played "classical alto" for 24 years, and have messed around with soprano for about 4.)

- What does an optional solid silver neck accomplish? Would this $300 option get a silver neck IN ADDITION to the normal neck, or INSTEAD OF the normal neck?

- Roughly what would shipping charges from New Orleans to Arizona be, for a tenor (I'm in zip code 85249)?

- How does one actually "order" something from Steve Goodson, Inc? Once I've figured out what I want, I really don't want to annoy him with 25 emails back and forth, just to get an order worked out.

Anyway, any advice from any of you would be appreciated.

[Fun Bun]

I think the Kangaroo skin pads/metal dome resonators will give you the sound you want. I got the Goatskin/Noyek combination and it is bright and punchy. That is what I wanted. However, my alto will have Kangaroo skin/metal dome combo. because alto is my main classical horn.

You will have to contact Steve about the finishes. The vintage lacquer has a cool honey color. A lot like the Mark VI. The new Selmers has a clear lacquer which is a bright yellow the same color as the metal.

I believe the $300 Silver neck is in addition to the standard neck. So if you bought the Goodson tenor with silver neck you would have two neck in all. For me a second neck has more practical value than anything else. I play jazz and classical so it would be easy for me to have a neck that fits my classcal mouthpiece and a neck that fit my jazz piece. I have not played the silver neck so, as far as differences in sound, I don't know.

You really have to talk to Steve about ordering and shipping info.

[Stacey]

I'm trying to talk with Steve... :cry: ...but he's just SO busy!

Any thoughts about the other finishes? I have a satin silverplated C-melody, and love the finish, but am worried about the maintenance of it. I like the thought of the black nickel with silver keywork, but that shares the same problem when it comes to keeping the silver keys untarnished.

FunBun, I assume you must have bought the vintage lacquer with the "standard" neck, then? Considering how much you've said you love the horn, perhaps all I would really want to do is go with the "kangaroo dome" setup, and I'd have a horn that gave the sound I want and had a nice look to it. It would also be several hundred dollars cheaper, if I skipped the silverplating and the silver neck.

So is the vintage lacquer kind of a "naturally dull, but glowing" look, versus the "shiny as hell" look on my newish Selmer Serie III soprano? If so, that would be nice. I would equate that to the satin silver look of my C-melody, as opposed to a glaring burnished silver look. Am I thinking along the right lines? (It's hard for me to tell much from the pics on Steve's site, and it's very unlikely that I will be in New Orleans any time soon.)

Thanks for the info, and any more you can provide...

[MonchMan]

Quicks Music in Phoenix, is a dealer, maybe they have a few in stock

[StevenW]

I think Steve G is off lecturing/presenting to NAPBIRT's convention.

[Fun Bun]

I like silver plated horns because of the way they look. Silver has a sparkle to it. But I wanted the horn more than anything else so I bought the standard neck vintage lacquer.

[Stacey]

Fun Bun,

I hate to admit this, but I don't really remember what the lacquer finish on a Mk6 looks like (Father, forgive me - I have sinned). I haven't actually hung out with a Mark 6 since 1988.

Does the vintage lacquer finish look at all like the Reference 54 finish? If so, I'm sold!

And how does one actually "order" something from Steve? Just give him a call, credit card in hand?

[Fun Bun]

The vintage finish is shiny. It is not like the Reference 54. It's just not yellow like a Series 2. It looks like honey. The Goodson horn come in a satin gold or silver finish which, although I have not seen them, have that matte finish that some on the new Selmers have.

[Stacey]

Thanks for the info.

Those satin Goodson finishes bump the price up pretty nicely, too, though. And to be honest, if I go for one of the higher priced finishes, I would go with satin silver rather than satin gold. I don't know why for sure - I think I'm just really growing to like the look of my satin silver C-melody.

[Santee>]

I've heard that the Goodson models sound even in all registers and are very altissimo friendly, etc... and the keywork is amazing, but what do these saxes sound like??? Similar to a Series III? Kind of like a Keilwerth??? Like an early VI (I hope!)??? I know the reg. Unisons are brighter than Yanagisawas and don't have too much resistance...how's the Goodson model different from the reg. model? I know the Masterpiece's bore is larger than the current Selmer bores, so it probably has a nice Full sound, but just wanting to know from those of U who've played 'em and have 'em what U think they sound like compared to other saxes out there.

Thanx!

Aaron ><>

[Stacey]

Aaron,

I haven't played one yet, but you'll have to keep in mind that the horn comes with a choice of pads/resonators. That will certainly affect the tone.

As will the decision of whether to use the Runyon mpc shipped with the horn or your favorite old XYZ brand mouthpiece.

As will the player - their talent, embouchure, breath support, and musical background.

If these are, in fact, pretty flexible horns, then they will sound "however you make them sound". I don't mean that to sound condescending, and I apologize if it does (I'm a big fan of personal respect).

Having said all that, and at the risk of sounding like a total hypocrite, I agree - I'd like to read more reviews from people who have actually purchased these horns and played them for a few days/weeks (rather than just 15 minutes at a horn shop).