Not joined yet? [Archive] - Sax on the Web Forum

martysax

12-12-2007, 03:17 PM

Here's why...
http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=71669

Sure, all roads lead to TJ!

Dude, that elf is getting me more scared every time I see your posts! It is, however, an improvement from your caricature.

The You-Tube was wicked pissah! Thanks for the follow-through! Me, I would have done anything you requested with my friends in the drunken/Irish/punk band, and mooned you!

Back on topic: Buy a Mark VI! You know you want one! Get it over with!:!:

tjontheroad

12-12-2007, 03:43 PM

Sure, all roads lead to TJ!

Dude, that elf is getting me more scared every time I see your posts! It is, however, an improvement from your caricature.

The You-Tube was wicked pissah! Thanks for the follow-through! Me, I would have done anything you requested with my friends in the drunken/Irish/punk band, and mooned you!

Back on topic: Buy a Mark VI! You know you want one! Get it over with!:!:

Dude, don't follow my road if ya' know what's good for you. It's full of sink holes and loose gravel ;)

I don't want any more horns. I just want to quit my job and play the ones I have all day long.

SuperAction80

12-12-2007, 04:19 PM

Why spend 6 or 7 grand when you can get the same thing out of a horn for 2 grand or less? I'm very content with my horns and I would only be nit picking if I was looking for more. There comes a point where every player has to admit that they have to take responsibility for what sounds are coming out of the horn. Is the Mark VI a good horn? Yes. The ones I have played are very good horns and there is a hand made vintage look that has been lost from horns since the Mark VII. Does this mean that every horn post VI is bad? NO not at all. In fact I absolutely adore the serie II and reference altos. And there are a slew of modern tenors that I love as well.

My point of this rant is that any horn I play (considering that it is in good working condition) is only as good as me. Now the collector in me on the other hand...

Hernan123

12-12-2007, 04:32 PM

What stefank said.

amoram

12-12-2007, 08:01 PM

Maybe we can start a club: 'the MKVI haters!'

Bootman

12-19-2007, 10:35 AM

I do have a Flamingo though and two Selmer Clarinets.

playitfunky

12-19-2007, 10:45 AM

If I was going to buy another horn it would either be an YTS82Z or a YBS-62

playitfunky

12-19-2007, 10:47 AM

I would like to have a MkV1 but the ones I like are always 6500.00 bucks or more.

Saxplayer67

12-19-2007, 12:11 PM

I will never join the Mark VI club. Who wants an overpriced hunk of metal that you can get just as good a sound out of any other well maintained sax?

Hurling Frootmig

12-19-2007, 02:03 PM

While I have an alto and a tenor I have never been tempted by the VI sopranos. The Bari's are alright but I think I have found better options.

heath

12-19-2007, 02:03 PM

I will never join the Mark VI club. Who wants an overpriced hunk of metal that you can get just as good a sound out of any other well maintained sax?

That might be true if your playing isn't up to a certain level. Still 99% of the top pros play the VI and SBA.

Equipment matters. Would anyone question someones favorite mouthpiece or reeds.

For me personally the cost of the VI has gotten prohibitive and the horn is not a necessity for probably 99% of the saxophonists out there as far as getting a better sound.

If you're putting in 10 hours a day practicing and you need the best, then by all means get the best VI or SBA your can find and don't look back. That is if you like selmers, which if you're a top tier player is pretty much automatic.

gary

12-19-2007, 02:48 PM

That might be true if your playing isn't up to a certain level.
LOL. Well in one regard that's good to know. Looks like I won't be needing to trade in my Serie III anytime soon. :D

Saxplayer67

12-19-2007, 03:06 PM

That might be true if your playing isn't up to a certain level. Still 99% of the top pros play the VI and SBA.

Equipment matters. Would anyone question someones favorite mouthpiece or reeds.That is if you like selmers, which if you're a top tier player is pretty much automatic.

That is very insulting and defamatory, mush. My playing is at an excellent level.

And if you think you're so clever, how come Phil Woods plays Yamaha and Ernie Watts plays Keilwerth?

Hurling Frootmig

12-19-2007, 03:31 PM

I love Phil Woods but I have to admit that I like his tone a bit better pre 82Z and I love the 82z's.

gary

12-19-2007, 03:37 PM

General comment - I've heard a lot of clips of players on the forum and I've worked with professionals all my adult life. I would be very careful with the relative terms, good, excellent, outstanding, burning, and sucky.

heath

12-20-2007, 03:59 AM

That is very insulting and defamatory, mush. My playing is at an excellent level.

And if you think you're so clever, how come Phil Woods plays Yamaha and Ernie Watts plays Keilwerth?

I knew I could ruffle your feathers Saxplayer67.

And yes Phil is getting a paycheck from yamaha and Ernie is getting a paycheck from Keilwerth. That aside both of these guys have played VI's in the past. They both sound great on any horn.

Most of the pros playing VI and SBA's don't have endorsement checks coming in from Selmer.

Still it doesn't matter. Give me a room full of vintage horns and I'll be in heaven as they do have a flavor, but for day in and day out playing I'd still rather have a really nice 5 digit VI or the holy grail SBA.

Martinman

12-20-2007, 04:27 AM

Still it doesn't matter. Give me a room full of vintage horns and I'll be in heaven as they do have a flavor, but for day in and day out playing I'd still rather have a really nice 5 digit VI or the holy grail SBA.

I thought you played a Ref. 36:)

heath

12-20-2007, 07:05 AM

Yup a Ref horn. I'm not practicing 10 hours a day so I haven't earned the right to own a VI or SBA.

hakukani

12-20-2007, 07:12 AM

Yup a Ref horn. I'm not practicing 10 hours a day so I haven't earned the right to own a VI or SBA.

I'm not practicing 10 hrs a day either. You'd have to be nuts (OCD) to practice that much. There's a whole world beyond saxophones (and bikes, and the city, and neuroses).

I have MkVI's because that's what I like. I have a yamaha sop and bari, cause that's what I like.

I have sufficient funds to buy any sax I want.

I ain't buying the 'I'm not worthy' stuff.

Saxplayer67

12-20-2007, 08:27 AM

I have sufficient funds to buy any sax I want.

I ain't buying the 'I'm not worthy' stuff.

Well bully for you! ;)

You don't have to be a wonderful player to own a Selmer :notworth: . It's the chicken and the egg I guess. Those players who own a Selmer VI :notworth: just think they're wonderful players becsuse they own a Selmer VI :notworth: . Heath blows his theory out of the water when he says Woods and Watts 'sound great on any horn'.

Many (note, many not all) own them because they have more money than sense. I don't own a Selmer :notworth: because I have more sense than money.

Here's a joke my saxophonist granddad used to tell, it's not exactly as he told it, I can't remember exactly how:-

There's this young man with a shiny new saxophone busking on the street and he sounds dreadful, he can't play at all. Then an old man with a battered old case comes along, opens it up, gets out a battered old saxophone and... he can't play either.

heath

12-20-2007, 08:40 AM

I'm not practicing 10 hrs a day either. You'd have to be nuts (OCD) to practice that much. There's a whole world beyond saxophones (and bikes, and the city, and neuroses).

Yes it may seem like OCD to practice that much. I was reading the other day that Bergonzi said he used to practice 8 hours a day and then go out and play, did that for years. He also plays a VI, SBA or 10M and has earned the right to.

Saxplayer67

12-20-2007, 08:51 AM

Yes it may seem like OCD to practice that much. I was reading the other day that Bergonzi said he used to practice 8 hours a day and then go out and play, did that for years. He also plays a VI, SBA or 10M and has earned the right to.

Earned the right?! You're a bit of a ********, aren't you?!

You say a Selmer :notworth: is the best and all the best players have them, then you mention a Conn!

Further Edit: I think really the less offensive term sycophant applies (which means an unwell elephant!), since it is a real word, not a slang term...

heath

12-20-2007, 02:31 PM

Earned the right?! You're a bit of a ********, aren't you?!

You say a Selmer :notworth: is the best and all the best players have them, then you mention a Conn!

Further Edit: I think really the less offensive term sycophant applies (which means an unwell elephant!), since it is a real word, not a slang term...

Saxplayer67 please take care of yourself. I don't know if you're having a hard time or just a bad reed day, but take some time to relax and enjoy life. Let those of us that play selmers enjoy the finest saxophone ever made and those that don't, look on with envy and lust in their hearts. :)

Billt4mn

12-20-2007, 02:43 PM

I don't own a Selmer :notworth: because I have more sense than money.
That's fine. But why are you so juiced up about it? So what if some guys have more money than sense or skills? Your rants are starting to sound a little like jealousy.

Saxplayer67

12-20-2007, 03:01 PM

That's fine. But why are you so juiced up about it? So what if some guys have more money than sense or skills? Your rants are starting to sound a little like jealousy.

It's not jealousy, dude but sadness - I feel sad for them! :twisted:

heath

12-20-2007, 04:23 PM

Why do you feel sorry for us Saxplayer67.

Remember I've posted in the past that I have no credit card debt, no car payments, very modest house payment and have no women to bleed and suck the life out of me. I own a few really nice Selmer horns, two ref tenors, II alto and a III soprano and a piano and that's it. I'm 33 going on 34 years of age and have acquired this lifestyle through being as lazy as possible and avoiding responsibility where ever it rears it's ugly head. I'm living the american dream.

mkvi_tenor77

12-20-2007, 04:31 PM

Anybody not joined the Mk. VI owners club yet and why not.
Me - I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member (apologies to Groucho Marx).
Dave

I was in the club for almost 30 yrs, but bailed out earlier this year because I realized, at least for my Mk VI, that it was mostly about mystique/perception, and the sound quality just wasn't there. I'm much happier with my current horn, a Martin Committee.

Sasquatch

12-20-2007, 05:49 PM

Overpriced. Not enough value for the $$$.

Next question please.

hakukani

12-20-2007, 06:03 PM

Well bully for you! ;)

I'm also not trading my horns in to buy a handmade Inderbinen either.

hakukani

12-20-2007, 06:10 PM

Yes it may seem like OCD to practice that much. I was reading the other day that Bergonzi said he used to practice 8 hours a day and then go out and play, did that for years. He also plays a VI, SBA or 10M and has earned the right to.

Playing a certain model of horn isn't a 'right' that is earned. Anyone with sufficient funds can buy one.

Horns aren't alive ( unless you're an animist--then everything is alive). A person can be sentimental about a horn, just like they can be sentimental about any object that they associate with some positive experience.

I have a sentimental attachment to my alto MkVI and Yamaha soprano.

Otherwise they're just a hunk of metal.

Mark5047

12-20-2007, 06:26 PM

have no women to bleed and suck the life out of me.
I feel slightly sorry for you in that regard. Those of us who have found partners to share life with know what I mean.
I know you and I have had discussions on this topic before, and I think we need to agree to disagree - but I digress

To answer the initial question - I am not in the club because I don't need to be!!

Thomas

12-20-2007, 07:37 PM

Overpriced. Not enough value for the $$$.

Next question please.

Not so for us who got on the wagon early, in my case 1959, when my new VI tenor was around $450.00 and has enabled me to earn a very comfortable living for decades. I do have other VI tenors that I've paid more for but again they've earned it back for me many times over.

Sasquatch

12-20-2007, 07:57 PM

Not so for us who got on the wagon early, in my case 1959, when my new VI tenor was around $450.00 and has enabled me to earn a very comfortable living for decades. I do have other VI tenors that I've paid more for but again they've earned it back for me many times over.

No doubt they are great horns, but according to the first inflation calculator (http://www.westegg.com/inflation/)I pulled up on Google, $450 in 1959 was roughly equivalent to $3030.51 in 2006. Fortunately your talent has turned what still must have been a hefty sum at the time into a solid investment that has at least held it's value.

If I were to spend $3000 today, I probably could not find a MkVI in great playing condition, but I could pick up a brand new TenorMadness adjusted PM with enough left over to buy an overpriced mouthpiece.

Somewhere in there I think I have a point (must be about cocktail hour here).

SuperAction80

12-20-2007, 08:39 PM

Jorns Bergenson

12-20-2007, 09:30 PM

Sadly, I sold off several MK VI's over the years since my vintage Bueschers were always my fancy. Now that I've been out of the MkVI club for 25 years, the club dues are too much to justify for a part-time musician such as myself.

Last time I played a VI tenor, it felt great under my fingers but I prefered the "at home" feeling of playing my late 1930's Bueschers and Martins.

Saxplayer67

12-20-2007, 10:27 PM

Remember I've posted in the past that I have no credit card debt, no car payments, very modest house payment and have no women to bleed and suck the life out of me. I own a few really nice Selmer horns, two ref tenors, II alto and a III soprano and a piano and that's it. I'm 33 going on 34 years of age and have acquired this lifestyle through being as lazy as possible and avoiding responsibility where ever it rears it's ugly head. I'm living the american dream.

I never use a credit card, last few cars have been cash (not just cars for me but for Dad also) I have the lowest mortgage payment in the UK I bet (due to Maggie Thatcher's one brilliant idea of 'Right to Buy') and I have a beautiful fiance (maybe I'm not the misanthropic one after all, Heath). I am 40, never been lazy (the very idea is anathema to me), I work hard in my full time job and work hard at playing music also. I do not shirk my responsibilities and to quote (as I have elsewhere today) Sonny Rollins' album title, THIS IS WHAT I DO. Heath, we all love making music or should do. That love of music and wanting to make it is coming from you, not the saxophone. It comes from your heart and even the very nature of your being, your soul, not your head and should not be connected with having to have a certain type of sax. If I played the spoons instead of saxophone, you would still see what making music means to me.

heath

12-21-2007, 05:42 AM

I have a beautiful fiance (maybe I'm not the misanthropic one after all, Heath). I am 40, never been lazy (the very idea is anathema to me), I work hard in my full time job and work hard at playing music also. I do not shirk my responsibilities and to quote (as I have elsewhere today) Sonny Rollins' album title, THIS IS WHAT I DO. Heath, we all love making music or should do. That love of music and wanting to make it is coming from you, not the saxophone. It comes from your heart and even the very nature of your being, your soul, not your head and should not be connected with having to have a certain type of sax. If I played the spoons instead of saxophone, you would still see what making music means to me.

I looks like you've got a lot to be thankful for. Still the cost of a VI is nothing compared to the cost of a wife and eventually divorce court.

Love of music has nothing to do with what horn your playing. Of course how much time do you think the average pro that might be doing say 6 hours a day of practice is feeling in love? Basically it comes down to the details and when you're spending that much time trying to be a perfectionist you're naturally drawn to equipment that supports you in that goal....thus the VI.

Even your man Sonny Rollins plays the VI.

hakukani

12-21-2007, 05:51 AM

I looks like you've got a lot to be thankful for. Still the cost of a VI is nothing compared to the cost of a wife and eventually divorce court. So on one side you have us low lifes crawling around in the gutter that can't get a beautiful fiance and because of that were making up for our short comings by owning a Selmer.

Seems odd.
I have no credit card debt, no car payment (and own three decent vehicles), a 'modest' mortagage, don't owe a cent from my first marriage, and generally am doing well, at least financially. I'm also looking forward to retirement with my wife--maybe a little research, travel, playing music, writing music.

I have virtually no health problems to speak of, for a man my age. Granted, I've been around the block a couple of times, have my share of professional responsibilities.

I have a great partner, who is more intelligent than me (just to keep things interesting). We have wonderful debates, and like most of the same things. (We both hate football, and love symphony and opera, and jazz music). She likes it when I practice, I like it when she writes and analyzes her data.

Divorce just ain't gonna happen, bucko, and if it does, we'll settle it like adults.

Am I REALLY that unusual?

I thought I was living the American dream

heath

12-21-2007, 06:11 AM

Yes hakukani but you're older and have had more years to acquire your lifestyle.

I'm still a long ways from retirement and yet at the same time I'm basically retired. I have no resposibilities, no commitments, nobody to harrass me. I'm technically at work right now getting paid good money, but I'm doing absolutly nothing. Actually just a few minutes ago I was putting a epoxy baffle in my HR link and it's looking pretty spiff all on company time. When I go home I can roll into bed and there's no one to nag me, I can roll out of bed and again no one to nag me. I was eating dinner in the kitchen in my underwear today and again no one around to nag me.

This is what every many dreams of, but few have the courage to live.

Saxplayer67

12-21-2007, 08:23 AM

I looks like you've got a lot to be thankful for. Still the cost of a VI is nothing compared to the cost of a wife and eventually divorce court.

Heath, are you divorced? What happened with a woman to make you so bitter, to assume everyone gets divorced? It just isn't true that everyone gets divorced. My parents were married til Mum died in 2003 (Dad died last year) and that is a hole in my life still. My fiance's parents stayed married til her Dad died about 16 years ago and her Mum has never remarried. Good role models for marriage, methinks.

beezer

12-21-2007, 10:45 AM

Heath, are you divorced? What happened with a woman to make you so bitter, to assume everyone gets divorced? It just isn't true that everyone gets divorced. My parents were married til Mum died in 2003 (Dad died last year) and that is a hole in my life still. My fiance's parents stayed married til her Dad died about 16 years ago and her Mum has never remarried. Good role models for marriage, methinks.

Unfortunately, it seems to be the way of the world these days (divorce that is).
In my parents day (married 1930's), it was virtually unheard of.
On a lighter note, I do a lot of wedding gigs, and often wonder if the marriage will last. My bandleader would like to offer a discount for doing the divorce gig if booked at the same time, but hasn't had the nerve yet!
I wish you would stop knocking Hearh.
Dave

stevesklar

12-21-2007, 10:54 AM

back to the topic .. i'm not in the VI club.

prob never will be ... 4 kids and a wife
plus, i'd prefer an SBA alto/tenor anyways. But I am in the Selmer club ... :)

Saxplayer67

12-21-2007, 10:54 AM

Thread locking time methinks, this is raking over old ground now, seems no one is allowed alternate views in this totalitarian sax state. That will change.

heath

12-21-2007, 01:27 PM

Thread locking time methinks, this is raking over old ground now, seems no one is allowed alternate views in this totalitarian sax state. That will change.

The topic is really all about personal priorities. Do you go for the beautiful finance or the great playing VI. It's one of those life decisions where you really need to think long and hard. For me personally I'll stick with the VI as it will depreciate far less and more than likely increase in value as time goes on.

And no I've never been divorced, but if I ever get married I'm sure I'll get one asap as I'm totally incapable of taking orders from anyone. Do you really want to get home from your gig every night and hand money over to your better half when you could have put it in your cookie jar and saved up for a minty VI?

It's alright to own a VI and not have enough money left over to keep a women happy. Some people choose that and it's their right to choose that. My greatest hero growing up was my sax teacher who was kicked out of the house by his wife for being a sax player, I learned many things listening to him bad mouth her when I was in high school and college. Not only did he get my II V I's together, but he instilled a lot of wisdom in me on how to live like a bum and be happy. And of course he played a VI tenor an alto, so he knew where to place his priorities in life.

12-21-2007, 01:49 PM

lol, I just like my MKVII alto better.......however, I admit that I did use to play a VI alto in high school and college but was never that impressed with it; there have been a few others I was though, but I'm satisfied with my VII and my Buescher 140 alto. I would have to find "a deal" to rejoin the VI club.

Little Sax

12-21-2007, 01:52 PM

[...] This is what every many dreams of, but few have the courage to live.

Be careful when you put words in other people's mouths. I'm glad you're happy, but the existence you've described seems pretty hollow to me; I would not be happy with it.

I guess I'm a little different though; I'm the product of a failed divorce. My parents got divorced in 1983, my dad moved back in sometime in 1986 or so, and they got remarried in 1998. (They had a civil marriage on the same day in Vegas; their original marriage was never annulled.)

The descriptions of a married relationship that you've described actually sound like those of some high school students that I've talked with. It is very interesting that much of what you've claimed you've based this on happened when you were in high school.

I applaud you in your financial and musical choices and happiness. I hope that someday you might see a broader slice of life that just might change some of your perceptions though.

Saxplayer67

12-21-2007, 01:59 PM

The topic is really all about personal priorities. Do you go for the beautiful finance or the great playing VI. It's one of those life decisions where you really need to think long and hard. For me personally I'll stick with the VI as it will depreciate far less and more than likely increase in value as time goes on.

And no I've never been divorced, but if I ever get married I'm sure I'll get one asap as I'm totally incapable of taking orders from anyone. Do you really want to get home from your gig every night and hand money over to your better half when you could have put it in your cookie jar and saved up for a minty VI?

It's alright to own a VI and not have enough money left over to keep a women happy. Some people choose that and it's their right to choose that. My greatest hero growing up was my sax teacher who was kicked out of the house by his wife for being a sax player, I learned many things listening to him bad mouth her when I was in high school and college. Not only did he get my II V I's together, but he instilled a lot of wisdom in me on how to live like a bum and be happy. And of course he played a VI tenor an alto, so he knew where to place his priorities in life.

Deffo sad. I'd rather have a lovely, kind-hearted, woman than an inanimate object costing thousands. She encourages me to play sax as much as poss, recommends me for gigs and loves me, as I love her. The money I've made playing these last couple months is purely to go towards our wedding, not to hand over to her. Seems your teacher was a misanthropic nobody. I thought I was the misanthropic one but seems it's not true after all.

altosaxguy1

12-21-2007, 01:59 PM

Because my Yamaha Custom EX kicks butt!

Martinman

12-21-2007, 02:15 PM

Leading a life with no responsibilities would be fun for a bit, but I like to work sometimes. I like that feeling of accomplishment.

heath

12-21-2007, 02:18 PM

I applaud you in your financial and musical choices and happiness. I hope that someday you might see a broader slice of life that just might change some of your perceptions though.

The whole point is that I've seen the broader side of life. I've lived, but will never commit.....myself to the loony bin.

So while yes I'm the product of divorce x 5 and I've grown up in some beautiful relationships turned into full on cage fighting, when it came down to it I really enjoyed watching those fights and even participating in a few of them. It was total anarchy in the house and compared to some peoples up bringing it was party time day and night. Me and my mom laughed constantly all the time. Even helped her brake into my step dads secret apartment to steal his little black book that he used for his cheating game. These are memories you can't put a price on and though some people take pity on others that might grow up this way. I can assure you I had freedoms that many kids could only dream of and an education in matters that most people are sheltered from.

So now we come to where I'm at today a fully enlightened person that people seek out when they want to know the truth about life, love and the Mark VI.

Saxplayer67

12-21-2007, 02:19 PM

I feel sad for you Heath, I really do. Christmas is a time to think of those less fortunate than ourselves, fellow SOTWers. Send cheques to Heath for yet more Selmers! ;)

heath

12-21-2007, 02:31 PM

The money I've made playing these last couple months is purely to go towards our wedding, not to hand over to her. Seems your teacher was a misanthropic nobody. I thought I was the misanthropic one but seems it's not true after all.

Now this is truly perfect. They don't make wedding magazines for men. No dude wants to spend money on a wedding. What guy would possibly want to spend any more than the cost of a marriage license, some booze and a night in a cheap hotel.

Little Sax

12-21-2007, 02:42 PM

[...] I can assure you I had freedoms that many kids could only dream of and an education in matters that most people are sheltered from. [...]

Many people think that following their passions or their dreams equates to freedom. In almost every case, it simply means they are slaves to their passions and anything but free. "If you can't say no, your yes means nothing."

I could be completely off-base, but it almost sounds like we're on opposite sides of Plato's cave analogy. I hate to say that though because it assumes a hierarchy to our life experiences and I don't really think *that* is the case.

Again, I'm glad you are happy and I don't want to sound like I'm disparaging you. I hope you find joy in your life. (Most people mistake happiness for joy by the way.)

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

heath

12-21-2007, 02:42 PM

Okay guys I've got go to bed....it's time for the bum to get some more rest, but I'll be back later to answer all your questions.

Later.

Saxplayer67

12-21-2007, 03:59 PM

Now this is truly perfect. They don't make wedding magazines for men. No dude wants to spend money on a wedding. What guy would possibly want to spend any more than the cost of a marriage license, some booze and a night in a cheap hotel.

Well I'm that dude - we can't all be like you. Welcome to my world. 'If they give you ruled paper, write the other way'.

rsclosson

12-21-2007, 04:14 PM

I would never say never, but I certainly don't play enough to justify a Mark VI. I am currently a major fan of Omegas. I have an Alto and a Tenor. Recently I played my Tenor side by side with a Serie II and the Omega won. (not just to my ear but to everybody that heard them both side by side.) I wish somebody would go to the Selmer USA section and start an Omega owners club.

12-21-2007, 05:04 PM

What guy would possibly want to spend any more than the cost of a marriage license, some booze and a night in a cheap hotel.

Ha Ha Ha. Hey heath, you're killin' me man! I'm with you on this. My wife & I finally tied the knot after living together for 20 years (you don't want to rush into these things!) and we got it done for about $30 down at the local city hall. She doesn't nag me and knows I'll be out to all hours playing the sax. She knew it going in and doesn't mind, or she would have left me a long time ago. I've also always somehow managed to keep expenses down and live on my own terms, avoiding the debt/full-time slave job/divorce/child support traps. Mostly luck, but I made some decisions that paid off. Oh, one of those early decisions years ago was a divorce after a 2 year dead-end marriage that I was smart enough to get out of before any children, houses, or other property could complicate things. So no alimony or any of that involved!

Back on topic, I've been in the VI club (with my tenor) for years, but I picked up the horn for $1000 back around 1980. Still, I play my 156 Aristocrat tenor more than the VI. But I won't argue that the VI isn't a great horn. It is.

p.s. heath, you should consider a career writing the hard-bitten type of detective novels I love to read!

Billt4mn

12-21-2007, 06:08 PM

Saxplayer67

12-21-2007, 07:21 PM

...and he'll die a sad, bitter, lonely old man.

12-21-2007, 09:39 PM

...and he'll die a sad, bitter, lonely old man.

We have some kinda prophet here! If you want to turn that into a FACTUAL statement, just limit it to the first three words, then add "so will we all." And don't get too serious, I'm having you on a bit. So is Heath, probably....or maybe not. Anyway Merry Xmas!

heath

12-21-2007, 11:35 PM

...and he'll die a sad, bitter, lonely old man.

Anyway Saxplayer67 you really have no way of predicting the future. The only thing you have is your ability to deal with the ups and downs of life. I can assure you when it's time for me to bow out I will do it very gracefully in a total state of calm.

Lots of people live alone these days, it's the media saying that these people should be sad and depressed, but the funny thing is most of them are quite happy. I really believe it's the personality that determines if they get tweaked about the details of life. Ultimately marriage and all the trappings were devised by man, nature didn't force this upon us, we thrust it upon ourselves. We've cooked up lots of things that made life more complicated then it needs to be. My lifestyle is all about simplifying everything and living a very low key existence.

Take a few moments everyday to yourself away from everything and look into why this beautiful wife is so important, why scurrying around like a squirrel trying to gather acorns, risking your neck getting ran over by a car, to pay for a wedding that is over in a flash is so important. Don't build things up into a big deal, don't be afraid to sit on the couch and make her go out and get the money for the wedding. Grab a beer and enjoy life. There's no need to get caught up in all these things and according to your statements in regards to the VI being a waste of money, I'm taking it you're rather frugal, but suddenly paying for a wedding that comes and goes in a flash makes sense when you could have had a VI instead. If your wife truly loves you she'll see the logic behind this and won't place any more demands on you to pay up or ship out.

This is why I've chucked it all and thrown in the towel. And while I stay uncommitted in regards to responsibility to anyone I have lots of friends. Matter of fact my yearly birthday party is coming up in a few days and the whole thing is being put together by my female friends. It's funny I'm the hero of more than a few women because they see the genius behind my bum lifestyle and respect it. I once heard a story that Buddhist monks eat better than husbands because the wives will go to all the trouble to cook for the monks, but leave the scrapes for their husbands.....there's some truth in this statement.

Saxplayer67

12-22-2007, 05:43 PM

I am very frugal, always have been. I used to write down every penny I spent. I live without debt, apart from the mortgage. My fiance is always saying I should treat myself more but I spend what I want to. I have hundreds of CDs, hundreds if not thousands of books, hundreds of videos, a lot of DVDs - I think that's called treating myself, don't you?

I think it's ridiculous that weddings cost as much as they seem to - we're doing it on a tight budget, don't worry Heath I have no intention of spending thousands on the thing (I haven't got that sort of money anyway). I'm even thinking of foregoing live music (apart from me playing a couple), due to the expense. I just thought that by pouring in the money I've made from playing for events, that's a good way to spend the money, than let it eat into my day job earnings so much, which just about pay the regular bills as it is.