Roaring tenor

[SteveS]

A friend from work let me borrow some CD's filled to the brim with Big Band era remasters. I notice two distinct kinds of "vintage" tenor sounds -- A kind of nasal, stuffy tone... And a DARK, powerful, blow-the-walls-down sound.

Rough guess is that the huge sounds are coming from Conn 10M's... sweeter sounds from Selmers. Any other thoughts out there??

[JL]

I think it's more likely you are hearing differences in PLAYERS, and perhaps to some degree in setups (mouthpieces & reeds), than in the horns. A good player can make any tenor roar or whisper, given the right setup.

[Mitch A]

Other differences include the microphone, distance from the horn to the mic, size of the room, accoustic properties, recording medium, quality of the electronics, and the sound techs mood that day.

Mitch

[KeithL]

I would agree with the statements above and would add that this was also about the time that guys started experimenting with larger tip openings on mouthpieces. It's not easy to get that big open tenor sound using a mouthpiece with an .080 tip opening.

[OnyxSax]

Having spent a lot of time playing Conns and Selmers, in my opinion, each does have a specific sound. Even though the playing styles, setups and recording techniques may differ, both Conns and Selmers have certain tonal characteristics that seem to transcend any outside influences. I think you're generalization is probably close to being right on. I'm a lot better a picking Conns out of a recording than Selmers, though. Conns just have that sound.

[SteveS]

Hiya Onyx!

I guess that's my point. I'll totally agree that the player and the setup make up a large portion of the sound - as well as the recording technique. But there is no doubt that certain horns - Conns in particular - have "that sound." My understanding is that Martins are of that same character.

I love seeing old films of players, because you can actually match what they are playing with the sound.

Ever look at a grainy black and white film of a guy wailing on a 10M, and wonder if that horn is still out there somewhere? :-)

[Bootman]

Don't forget the Buescher tenors too, they are as loud but will still retain focus and centre. Try them out for yourself and you'll find many things out, some of which will surprise you.

[JL]

The Conns are known for their power, but I traded off between my Buescher Aristocrat tenor and a friend's Conn 10M at a blues jam session and the 'Crat definitely outwailed the Conn!! I used the same mpc, so that wasn't a factor. The Buescher had more power, more brilliance, and cut through the guitars much better. Believe it or not. All the talk about Bueschers being classical horns comes from the great intonation they have, not because they can't roar.