| C-Melody Mp3, C-Melody Music Lyrics
| |
C-Melody biography, C-Melody discography
Forum Manager
Message Area
PostsLast Post
General Saxophone Discussion
Talk about all areas related to saxophones!Jun 2nd 3:06 AM
Marketplace
Buy, sell, or trade saxophone stuff.Soprano Saxophones
Discuss all areas related to soprano saxophones in the key of "C".Jun 2nd 3:05 AM
Other C Instruments (flute, oboe, etc.May 31st 9:22 PM
Forum Service
Issues about this forum and its service provider.May 25th 8:20 PM
Media Reviews
Review audio and video releases related to saxophones!Feb 27th 6:20 PM
Neck Straight versus Curved
What is you preference?"You've received a Second Chance Offer", "You've received a Transaction Confirmation Request."There has been a lot of interest recently in C Melody saxophones.This is not a common instrument, but they are not rare.Manufacturers quit making C Melodies around 1930, so you won't find any new ones in the local music store.The guide will attempt to answer the following questions.What are they not good for?How do we recognize a C melody?What is a C Melody, why were they made and why aren't they made any more?Many people played pianos or organs and most everyone sang, at one level of skill or another.The saxophone fit the bill.Unfortunately the saxes that were used in bands were built in sizes that required transposing music to a different key.It's not a skill the working man was likely to take the time to learn.Because it is in the key of C, a player can read right off of the piano music without transposing.As the sound quality of radio became better and other options for bringing music into the home became available, the market for C Melodies dried up, and manufacturers stopped making them around 1930.It's not surprising that C Melody saxes were good for their intended use.If mom plays the piano, and dad wants to play along on the sax, here's the ticket.But there are some other uses for a C Melody that are very twenty first century.Melodies fit well are in guitar bands.Many amateur bands would love to have a sax on some numbers, but amateur bands often play in sharp keys, like A (three sharps) and E (four sharps).Woodwind instruments are fingered pretty easily in their home keys (which are written for them in C, but sound in Eb or Bb).When playing in sharp keys, the C melody not only eliminates transposing, it eliminates two or three sharps.Are there pitfalls to avoid?This type of work is more expensive on an old instrument than on a more recent sax.Ask questions of the seller and review feedback.Try to find an instrument on which all the keys work easily and spring back normally.That will make working on the sax much easier.Watch out for high pitch instruments.When these instruments were made, the standard instrument was silver plate over brass.The lower cost finish was raw brass.Lacquers just weren't good enough.Purists will say that a re lacquer hurts the sound, but it's a very subtle difference most of us can't hear.The real problem comes when a silver finish begins to wear and show brass in the heavy contact areas.Original white pads may be attractive to a collector who doesn't plan to play the instrument, but players will need to replace them soon.And finally, don't buy an old sax without a neck.The same is true for other missing parts, but some techs have bins full of parts or can fabricate or adapt parts.What are they not good for?Melody saxes are not used in school bands, community bands or any other organization that uses published arrangements.They are also not really appropriate for a beginning student.Most saxophonists who own a C melody got it as their second, third or fourth horn.Alto usually comes first, then tenor.I'll start by pointing out that most C Melody saxes look very much like tenor saxes.Almost all C Melodies were made by five manufacturers: Buescher, Conn, Holton, King and Martin (alphabetical).There was a widespread practice of stenciling instruments, however, so there are probably forty or fifty brand names made by these five.But that's a bit away from the topic.If you'd like to avoid asking, there are other signs.All of the key guards on the old saxes are made of thick wire rather than sheet metal.That doesn't help identify a C melody.Some other manufacturers mark their instruments in the same area as Bb, B, Eb or C.If it says Bb or Eb that's pretty clear.Remember that, except for the straight necked Conns, C Melody saxes look like tenors.While more recent saxes have the bell keys on the same side of the sax, old saxes from the time of the C Melodies have one key on each side of the bell.On a tenor, the key guard of that key is very near the seam, while on a C Melody its about an inch or so above the seam.Again, look at the pictures on saxpics.How do we find a decent instrument?My personal idea of the popularity of the different manufacturers would place Conn first (although some people find the longer straight neck uncomfortable) followed closely by Buescher and Martin.Holton never quite gained the acceptance of the others and often have some unusual key work.For most of us any of those saxes are ok.Their stencils may be just as good but are commonly a slightly lower grade.Until you know more, think of them as a second line horn from the major manufacturers.Remember too that there will be an occasional French or Italian C Melody which I've not discussed.In that case, ask how long since a repad and about the condition of the pads.If the sax is being sold as ready to play, ask about the tone.Don't worry too much about the appearance.An instrument in like new condition after 70 or 80 years can't have been play much.Maybe Fred just didn't take to it and put the sax in the closet.Or maybe it didn't play in tune or the keywork was sticky.If your tech prefers to work on Bueschers, get a Buescher.Buescher is just an example).The C melody sound is different from alto or tenor.It takes me to another time.Your request cannot be processed at this time.Ready to share your knowledge with others?Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy.Adolphe Sax, for orchestral use.The C melody saxophone was marketed from the late 1910s through the early 1930s as a version of the saxophone intended for amateur use, in homes, schools, and town bands.By the late 1920s, however, it had faded dramatically in popularity.Sales of all saxophones fell after the U.Melody saxophones, it is thought less than 20.Although he played alto and soprano saxophones as well (the latter in ensembles with Arnold Brilhart, Alford Evans, and others), he made his most famous recordings on the C melody, and was a significant factor in the saxophone craze that resulted in so many C melody instruments being sold in the 1920s.Another famous C melody player was Frankie Trumbauer, a jazz player who was known for his superb technical ability on the instrument, if not for his skills at jazz improvisation.Despite the fact that they have not been manufactured in over 75 years, C melody saxophones are readily available today, due to their limited use and the sheer number that were produced in the early 20th century.Melody is Silver Lexus theme based and WordPress powered.What you see here is a completely overhauled and restored
example of the genre.Jobs like these require some thought before the process of overhauling
begins in earnest.I'm the first person ever to have undertaken any
major work on it.Considering its size you might be quite surprised by the weight of this
horn.And these are no ordinary tone holes.I'm indebted to Tom Crawshaw, who emailed me after having read the
original review and raised the issue of 'selective galvanic corrosion'.In effect, it turns the interface
between the tone hole and the body into a battery.What this means is that even if the soldered joint is sound, without
any pinholes or flaws, corrosion of the joint will still take place.There's a separate article here
that goes into more detail, and discusses the remedies.The crook is of the tenor variety.Some C Melody horns feature an alto
style crook.Eb trills just aren't as popular a musical device as
they once were ( which I applaud...As for the bell key spatulas they're a very simple affair, though quite
functional.It's quite an unusual experience blowing a C Melody.Another thing that throws me is the pitch shift.Listen to any collection of C Melody recordings
and you'll find a preponderance of 'novelty' pieces...Thankfully this horn was 'low pitch', built to the new standard for Concert
A that became the norm just after the turn of the century.It's been my experience that many repairers are perhaps fooled
by the size of the C Melody, and set about giving it a tenor's action.No need for transcribed music, simply follow the piano score.It's not unreasonable to ask why that should be, and I suspect that it's
largely down to the tone.Tucker's entertaining and comprehensive collection of articles!Do you have a list of mpcs for sale?Melody
mpcs, but unless you're heavy into nostalgia I doubt you'll like them very
much.They are very stuffy and the sound is so closed you can barely be
heard....In short, they have all the appeal of a
whack on the shins with a ball bat.You can't get reeds to fit 'em, either,
so you have to cut down tenor reeds to fit correctly.Melody to respond properly with a modern sax sound.The tenor
mouthpieces that work best have medium to small chambers and tip openings
in the 0.If you want a smooth jazz sound the Selmer Jazz
is your best bet.Melody be sure to first
tune carefully.These vintage saxes have little tolerance for an air column
that is not introduced at the design tuning point.....Melody mpcs in the aftermarket that use tenor reeds.Selmer metal Jazz short shank in D
facing over the reproductions.We definitely need an
affordable alternative because the vintage Selmer short shanks are becoming
very hard to find and are more expensive when you do find them.Still, the Selmer tenor 'pieces
can be more readily resold and will increase in value over time.We don't have any Selmer Jazz mpcs
for sale, though they show up on EBAY occasionally.Let me know if you
want to take the plunge on that shin smack ....It just means the sax had to be
built after that date (duh!Conn neck tuners if you have a straight neck Conn so equipped.There was a old metal Otto Link 4**** in the
case that I'll try.It has a much shorter shank than current Otto Links.Are
there any modern tenor mouthpieces than have been used successfully?The shank length
is almost an incidental factor.It's really a matter of a small enough
chamber and a reasonable tip opening.You don't
have that issue with the Buescher horn, but there is also a cosmetic element
to consider.You certainly might
try the Link 4****, but it has a really big chamber.The Brilhart I liked the best with
my Conns is a hard rubber (not plastic) Level Air.The new Brilharts are very cheap today, so if they will work on a C that
would be an ideal situation.Can you suggest any sources (internet or
otherwise) for ordering?Would you have an original end plug for a Conn New Wonder (series I) C
melody?Also, do you have an original ligature and moisture cap for
the stock Conn mouthpiece?How much would you be willing to let these go
for?It looks and feels kind of like very
smooth wood.Cmel mpc, which is how we end up with spare sets to sell to collectors.The original body end plug is missing on many of the Cmel carcasses we
buy, so there are never spares.The
reason no one makes a Cmel reproduction mpc that uses the original reeds
is that no one makes those reeds anymore.NOS Cmel reeds that occasionally pass through the eBay auctions, but
the supply is dwindling to a point where there soon will be no more available
anywhere.Cmel mouthpiece makes for a woefully unsatisfactory
sound.Cmel mpcs available from mpc makers like Beechler
and Runyon.Additional Comments
eBay is actually a
great source for all things saxophalia.We offer
both scouting and buying services for eBay items in which you might have
interest.Thank you for sharing this video!Please login to add to flag a video.Be the first to Post a Video Response.Change this to see only comments above a certain value.You may have a wee bit of competition soon in Scotland!Would you like to comment?Melody Vs my 6M Conn U..."YouTube recommends upgrading to a safer, modern browsersuch as Firefox.Please login to add to favorites.The video has been added to your playlist.Please login to add to flag a video.This video has no Responses.Be the first to Post a Video Response.Change the value of a comment by clicking on a thumb.Hallo Mos, deine Videos mit den alten Instrumenten sind wunderbar!Steamer mouthpieces are handmade mouthpieces by a German mouthpiece maker Hans Werner Peters.Do you have no resonators, or do you have small, or medium or large resonators and if you do are they plastic, metal...?Sorry for the late reply.Reeds and Mouthpieces that are perfect replicas.Which one I prefer, hm, good question.Now the sax and the tune are correct.It is a little funky tune I recorded with my ca.Since I received many mail.The mouthpiece is a Steamer mouthpiece made by Hans Werner Peters a German mouthpiece maker and refacer."YouTube recommends upgrading to a safer, modern browsersuch as Firefox.Left side belowNew C sax with NZ Paua shell thumb button insertWide and comfortable!Floral engraving on black nickel.Tenor sax, the sax that made the 20's roar, has resurrected!"It has a curved neck as standard with a straight neck option.Black nickel below) Plain or engraved.Mouthpieces will also be extras as most people have one already.They are being produced in China and will represent the best quality for the best price.These are not student horns.Please be patient as I work through the list of longest waiting customers.Back to the factory this month.However, the factory is closed for Chinese new year and so we must wait for a month to see action.It has backorder registration ability so you can put your name down for the next batch.Buescher curved Bb soprano some years ago, mostly as a travel companion.Rico B5 plastic mouthpiece with it.The 4C did little to the tone but threw the intonation out.The Aquilasax plastic is also too big!NEW C SOPRANO manufactured with more comfortable keywork IF I get enough support.He began with an Eb Baritone for marching bands.Falling in the Centre of the Saxophone range, they are very useful as they span the most used range of music.This was fine for me but after a while I noticed more songs coming out in the keys of A and E.Not only did I find that playing with guitars was a lot easier but the sound of the C tenor is awesome!DisclaimerSorry for the sad C sax sound sample!So this is my excuse for the song: time pressure and lack of practice.Half of the pads were original, 85 years old and theother half had been replaced in 1933.The octave pad was missing and so I made one from corkand sticky tape.Nathan Haines has done a short sound track for me on a new C tenor and it's called "C melody blues bounce"Silver C sax and berg Alto mpc.USEFUL LINKSSaxophones hadn't changed much for 100 years until Jim Shmidt's innovation!
|
| |
|
 |
|
