Antigua Curved Soprano

[doctorsax]

I want to buy a curved soprano sax. I do not want a straight sop, I do not want a vintage sop, I cannot afford a Big 4 straight sax. What else is available? What about the curved Antigua soprano. I have heard great things about the straight antigua but little on the curved. I have also looked at EM winston and wwbw, but the antiqua intrigues me the most
Please any and all responses will be appreciated

[Morry]

I have a curved soprano, brand name Musica. It is made by one of the better Taiwanese manufacturers. The same folks that make Antigua, and a few others. NOT the ones who build Monique and the like. Very good intonation, and built like a little tank. The local retailer where I got mine has another in stock. I'll give you info if interested. Bootman also has one of these.

Here's a pic of mine:

http://www.bellsouthpwp.net/m/o/morrypayne/musica1.JPG

http://www.bellsouthpwp.net/m/o/morrypayne/musica2.JPG

[doctorsax]

i live in foley, alabama, i might would be intested in the musica is other people are favorable about it. What store in birmingham sells it?

[Morry]

Hey there. Nice to talk to another Bama resident on here. George Prewett at Alabama Music Center in Homewood (205-879-9191) just got another one in. I was talking to him Thursday, and said it just arrived. You will be amazed at how well-built and in tune this little horn is. Back in the 80s, I owned a Yamaha YSS-62 and intonation on the Musica is better, and I think it has a more complex sound than the straight Yamaha did. It comes in a nice padded case with a Selmer S80 mouthpiece. Overall, I thought it was a great value.

I think MojoBari also has one of these.

[doctorsax]

i lived in homewood for 2 years. what does he want for the musica sop?

[Morry]

I think it lists for $995, and he normally discounts 20 to 30%, I think. I wouldn't want to give you a wrong quote. I bought mine with a JK SX90R tenor, so I'm not sure exactly what I paid. Give him a call. He's forgotten more about playing sax than I'll ever know. What a great airy subtone sound he has when he's just noodling around. Tell him I sent you, and he'll do you right.

[water baby]

Morry...

Do you really like the intonation on your Musica better than your old YSS-62?

was it a 62R or a straight neck? I often hear you extoll the virtues of the Yamaha...

I myself own a mint 62R and wouldn't trade it for anything..

I am curious about playing a curved sop VS straight to form my own impressions

I am gonna look for a Musica dealer hear in AZ where I live and try to play one.

Anyway..I like your style Morry...hey, where should I post a trade offer?

I have a nice Dukoff D-6 and wish to trade it with anyone who wants it...I would rather have a Berg Larson...

I love this forum!!! you guys are really full of knowledge and I am grateful for what I glean from these threads. :)

[pknight]

There are a couple of messages about the Antigua curved soprano from people with first-hand experience in this thread:

http://saxontheweb.myforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=3363

Dave Kessler is not as impressed with them as he his with the straight Antiguas, although I am sure he will sell one to you. I am not certain, but the curved Antiguas may not be made by the same factory in Taiwan as are the straight models. Dave would know.

Paul Coats owns both curved and straight Antigua models. He characterized the curved sop as "quite good," and the straight one as "outstanding."

[Morry]

I really do like the sound and intonation of this little curvy better than my YSS-62 that I had in the 80s. Being a mostly alto player, the 62 always felt like a doubling instrument to me. When I picked this little Musica up in the store and blew on it, it just sounded right. Granted, that was 15 years ago in my development, so you have to figure that in. It was the plain 62, not the 62R. I've seen where you have a mint 62R. I would certainly hold on to that. Unless you want to part with it..... :-)

Something else about the curved model...it just sounds like a sax to me. With my bari HR mpc and a V16 reed, it really sounds like a tiny alto, with no oboe-like quality that I get so often when trying a straight soprano. It's very possible, though, that the difference is merely the proximity of the bell to my ears.

As far as Yamahas go, that's all I ever played from 1976 until a year or so ago. I still sometimes play the YAS-61 alto that my folks gave me during my Sophomore years of HS. I had sold mx 875B tenor a while back and needed a new one. I tried another 875B, and a 62II along side a JK SX90R, and my life changed. I found a robustness in my sound on the Keilwerth that I always felt was lacking. I'm really anxious to try a SX90II soprano. Hmmm....if they just made a curved model.....

[Morry]

One other thing that is a nice touch about these Musica sopranos is that they ship with a Selmer S80 mouthpiece. No more throwing away the stock mouthpiece upon purchase.

[Morry]

doctorsax...I checked with George, and he said the one he got in is a silver plate, rather than black nickel like what I have. I kind of wish I'd seen that one first. He wants $800 for it, tax and all.

[DaveKessler]

Clarification: I simply stated that we have not tried the Antigua Curved soprano in recent history. In the past, we were not thrilled with the curved models. From what I have been told, they have been improved in recent history.

I have not gotten one of the new designs in recently to try. We are contemplating getting one in if they are indeed improved from previous versions.

Best to my knowledge, the curved model is made in the same factory as their current straight models (which we agree are outstanding).

[Paul Coats]

I have played the Antigua A558 Curved Soprano for 3 or 4 years now, and have really enjoyed it. I don't think it has been changed, as far as I know. Intonation is quite good, with good octave to octave intonation. That is, the upper register is not sharp in comparison to the low register. The upper register A is not sharp. The palm keys play easily in tune.

Low C and B were slightly flat, but I opened the bumpers on the low B and Bb, and this is OK now. I also had to do this to my Mk VI tenor when it was new.

I would say that this model compares very favorably with another modern curved soprano selling for much more. I have played it side by side with the other model, as have others, and could tell no difference in either tone or intonation.

Tone... to the player, a curved soprano sounds much brigher than straight sopranos. Also, it will sound much brighter, louder, to a listener standing right in front of you, such as a friend listening while you try it out. This effect is simply because the bell is pointed up, and bouncing off the music stand back in your face. When you get onstage, to a listener out in the audience, there is almost no difference.

Where this little horn really shines is playing with a microphone on a floor stand. Anyone who plays a straight soprano knows how difficult they are to mic. With the curved soprano, you just place the bell of the sax a few inches from the mic and play, just as with alto or tenor.

[luck]

I'd really like to pickup a curved soprano. Would truly love the SC902 but don't and won't have that kinda cash for a while. It seems the Antigua curved is getting some mixed reviews, but I don't see anyone saying it stinks. Does anyone know what these cost?

[SuiZen]

Does anyone know what these cost?

There's one on eBay, buy-it-now price $800.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2366911134

Bill

[Morry]

A good alternative is my Musica black nickel curved that I have for $500. Fine playing horn, and is in mint condition. Pictures and info in the For Sale area.

[tjnett]

After reading all of the favorable posts on Antigua's straight Sopranos, I find myself torn between the purchase of one of their straight Sopranos vs. their curved 558. My preference would be for a curved Soprano, given the benefits that are noted by Paul Coats (http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/Soprano.html), but I'm wondering if all of the favorable characteristics that have been attibuted to Antigua's straight sopranos (tone quality, built quality, etc.) carry over to their curved 558 Soprano? Can anyone make this direct comparison?