Dirty Secrets and Weird Habits

CarlHeanerd · 10-25-2009, 04:49 AM

Hello all, welcome to the dark side of the forum. I was just curious about some of all of your unusual preferences or habits concerning your sax, and maybe share some crazy secrets with the forum. Keep it light hearted and funny, this forum excels at that!

My sound sucks on most reeds I've tried except for the Rico orange box variety. I dunno why, they are now the choice of reed for classical and jazz. And I use a baritone sax reed for the jazz.

You...?

wrate · 10-25-2009, 05:08 AM

If i come across a particualy tough reed i will soak it in red wine for about an hour, and then leave it out in the sun. It softens up the reed a bit and it tastes great when your playing

SaxPlayer1004 · 10-25-2009, 05:09 AM

The bari thing is normal btw, a few people use them
Rico Orange box has been good enough for me for 10 years, and was good enough for the pros 50 years ago so I don't see why they catch such a bad rep

I keep a dollar bill or piece of paper under my G# and C# keys when the horn is in the case to keep them from sticking.

I keep a BandMommy Lamb in my bari case for good luck and my flute case has a tinkerbell keychain for the same thing

I use stock ligs, I don't buy into the ligature junk. However, inverting the stock ligs I have found works better for me. Not sure I have any other eccentric sax habbits...

**SaxPunter** · 10-25-2009, 05:10 AM

Sometimes I empty my horn onto the rehearsal room carpet when nobodys looking, they think I've just spilled my beer again

CarlHeanerd · 10-25-2009, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrate

If i come across a particualy tough reed i will soak it in red wine for about an hour, and then leave it out in the sun. It softens up the reed a bit and it tastes great when your playing

That's quite frankly, just awesome. Are your pads made of cheese and resonators of crackers?

saxphil · 10-25-2009, 05:24 AM

I have kind of a weird habit/ ritual.
I like a clean sax neck.
The necks of old horns (and often the horn) are frequently cruddy and gross.
The yuk has to go.
I hate it, especially on a neck, close to my mouth/breathing.

I cleaned out the necks of my vintage horns with hot vinegar, as many times as it took,
using a toothbrush as well.
After years of others gob and crud build up, it is understandable,
but I went further.

The necks' old lacquer was spotty and dirty.
Some were speckled relacqs or just plain crappy looking.
I stripped them to bare brass.

The horns, most with significant lacquer loss, now look kinda cool and different,
juxtaposed with stripped necks, all cleaned up.

**jicaino** · 10-25-2009, 05:40 AM

I like to empty the horn on stage when everybody's lookin

saxphil · 10-25-2009, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jicaino

I like to empty the horn on stage when everybody's lookin

I hate it when I dump it on my foot.

Mal 2 · 10-25-2009, 07:03 AM

I sometimes play the side C and high E keys with my right thumb. It helps if the horn is on a stand, but I'll do it even when it's not.

bruce bailey · 10-25-2009, 07:08 AM

I too play high E with my thumb. I play with a double lip, no teeth touch the mouthpiece. Been doing it for 50 years.

Alexk · 10-25-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxphil

Quote:

Originally Posted by jicaino

I like to empty the horn on stage when everybody's lookin

I hate it when I dump it on my foot.

When playing in a big band, I perfected the knack of leaning over to the guy next to me on the pretense of discussing a particular couple of bars and dumping the water in the horn on his foot.

CarlHeanerd · 10-25-2009, 02:11 PM

Wow you guys are vindictive about your water management.

I just remembered another. I don't own Alto or Bari MPCs or reeds. So I'll just take my Tenor jazz MPC setup and shove it on those saxes. Granted it looks ridiculous on Alto (sometimes the MPC completely covers the cork) but hey, it plays in tune and I'm lazy.

Shaneygrog · 10-25-2009, 02:15 PM

I have a few bad habits and a pile of nasty, dirty, dark secrets.

**JayeSF** · 10-25-2009, 05:24 PM

John Coltrane is actually still alive....I keep him locked in my garage.....

**retread** · 10-25-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlHeanerd

I don't own Alto or Bari MPCs or reeds. So I'll just take my Tenor jazz MPC setup and shove it on those saxes. ... it plays in tune ...

On how many of the notes?

SaxPlayer1004 · 10-25-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce bailey

I too play high E with my thumb. I play with a double lip, no teeth touch the mouthpiece. Been doing it for 50 years.

I play double lip on tenor but with my bottom lip jutted out, really odd embouchure but it works for me. For water management on my bari I put the top of the neck curl down and hit the high E key instead of using the spit valve. Much more effective IMHO and most of the time I just wait till I have a couple of bars rest to sit my horn down