.....But I like it! My '66 Cleveland tenor finally arrived, today. Lots of initial impressions, but I'll keep them down to a dull roar, till I get this thing fully sorted out.
First off, it's noticeably smaller and lighter than my Vito/Yamaha 23. The lighter weight is really nice!
I was worried about the older style keywork, but I actually like it! The whole sax feels good in my hands.....no apparent imbalance.....very comfortable, actually.
So far, I've only tried an M9 Metalite, an S80 C*, and an M5 Metalite on it. My pick of those three is the M5. I was playing a 2.5 Fibracell on it, but I think next time I'll try the 3.0 I have.
It needs a checkover for leaks. I'm having some trouble on the low register, but generally, it plays really easily. Maybe too easily! It keeps slipping into the high register, when I'm playing the middle and low fingerings. The octave key is not sticking. I've even gotten some unintentional altissimo notes, when I don't even know any altissimo fingerings!
I like how it seems to be much more even-toned, in the middle register, than my Vito seems to be. My Vito is very different in the middle than in the low and high. This horn doesn't jump out at you so differently, in the middle.
Overall, I believe it's a keeper. I'm not totally convinced the tone is anything to rave about, over the Vito, but i probably just haven't found out how to get the tone out of it, yet. Hands down, though, it's enough of a keeper on the physical qualities, alone.
Hoping I'll get the tone to bowl me over, too, once I get used to it.
First off, it's noticeably smaller and lighter than my Vito/Yamaha 23. The lighter weight is really nice!
I was worried about the older style keywork, but I actually like it! The whole sax feels good in my hands.....no apparent imbalance.....very comfortable, actually.
So far, I've only tried an M9 Metalite, an S80 C*, and an M5 Metalite on it. My pick of those three is the M5. I was playing a 2.5 Fibracell on it, but I think next time I'll try the 3.0 I have.
It needs a checkover for leaks. I'm having some trouble on the low register, but generally, it plays really easily. Maybe too easily! It keeps slipping into the high register, when I'm playing the middle and low fingerings. The octave key is not sticking. I've even gotten some unintentional altissimo notes, when I don't even know any altissimo fingerings!
I like how it seems to be much more even-toned, in the middle register, than my Vito seems to be. My Vito is very different in the middle than in the low and high. This horn doesn't jump out at you so differently, in the middle.
Overall, I believe it's a keeper. I'm not totally convinced the tone is anything to rave about, over the Vito, but i probably just haven't found out how to get the tone out of it, yet. Hands down, though, it's enough of a keeper on the physical qualities, alone.
Hoping I'll get the tone to bowl me over, too, once I get used to it.