AquilaSax                for C- melody Tenor sax accessories

Good equipment at a good price, guaranteed

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Beginners Info
C-melody Tenor
Accessories sale
Good Horns
 
1919 Conn Satinsilver C melody Tenor.

Black beauty

Old Conn C mel and New Csax
prototype in bare brass.
 The  body is slightly longer to
allow for the high F# tone hole.
The production model will have
some slight modifications to the
key positions

Conn alto 6m and new C sax  prototype
Left side below


New C sax with NZ Paua shell thumb button insert
Wide and comfortable!

Floral engraving on black nickel. Next batch!

Silver replacement for Conns



Engraver with sample.
Is this ok?


New and not so new.
Aquilasax Bb soprano with neck removed
and Wurlitzer C soprano



Vintage Holton C mel with new Aquilasax neck. (slightly loose fit)

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
Steve: Just wanted to say thank you again for the fine service and to also give you a update on my new c-mel. As I stated before it is a thing of beauty,but more than that after playing for awhile it is miles ahead of the old vintage horns. I am going to order a Rubber mpc today, I feel like it will make a difference in an already sweet sound. Thanks
Leon B. USA.

"I love it" Don R. USA.

"Killer horn"

The Sax is very exiting to play. The action is fast and the intonation is excellent... now that I am using the right reeds. I appreciate all you have done in developing a really playable C-Mel and am looking forward to the straight neck.

Richie D.

Hi Steve,

Arrived yesterday. A beauty, very good packed (undamaged)

 I was indeed a happy honker. Very nice sound, in tune,

and my posture will benefit with the awaiting straight neck.

 I’m very pleased and thank you for your perseverance in making this project work.

Hans

 

Got the new black C-mel, and it plays fantastically!
Tommy

Hi Steve,
My C sax arrived today (Monday 14th July). I've just unpacked it and all seems to have travelled very well....can't see any visible signs of any damage... your packing has been excellent.
I'm very pleased with my purchase...looks great....feels great.... I've had my alto out comparing the differences....also very pleased with the case.

Barry

(RE:  Air leaks and pads out of alignment.)

Ernie found the problem in less than 2 minutes.  It seems that the bell twisted in transit; hence, the B & Bb key pads  were misaligned with the tone holes.  The Sax plays very well now. 

Richard
Aquilasax saxophones have clamped on bells to facilitate repairs, a feature not found on student horns. If your sax has trouble with low notes it could be this or check that your neck octave vent is closing properly.
It also pays to check your reed if you are having intonation issues.
Steve.

 

The C-melody Tenor sax,
the sax that made the 20's roar, has resurrected!

"C tenor, the (user friendly) sensible Sax"

A new C tenor has been produced 2007. Gold (clear lacquer) models now in stock!
It is a narrow bore, as  usual, with a completely modern ergonomic keywork design, going to high F#.
It has a curved neck as standard with a straight neck option. Adjustable thumb hook and balanced hook ring.
They will be available in a range of finishes including gold laquer, nickel, black and silver. (picture of prototype bare brass, Black nickel below) Plain or engraved.
Engraving is by hand and the first batch has an avian theme. (Pic of engraver below)
They will have genuine NZ Paua shell inserts on the thumb rest.
They will come in a high impact molded foam and fabric case as seen on good horns page with Bb tenor.
 Due to the devaluation of the US Dollar, the cost of the New saxes has gone up but I have decided to keep the base price the same and just charge extra for the extras.  Mouthpieces will also be extras as most people have one already. I'll knock 3 dollars off a Classic mpc with the sax.
Basic Gold laquered model will cost $700.00, silver plating cost is $30. Nickel silver or Black nickel is $20. extra. Engraving will cost $20. And a straight neck will be $90. more. 
Shipping should be @ $95. direct to customer.
They are being produced in China and will represent the best quality for the best price.
These are not student horns.
 If you are interested, please email Steve with the subject line, "new C sax wanted", you will be sent major updates on progress of this exciting venture. Email: aquilasax@yahoo.co.nz

What to Expect from the new C Sax.

My first impression of the new C sax was how shiny and new they look. Of course they have bright finish on them not like the matte silver on the vintage C mels.

The proportions look great, the neck doesn’t look too big like on the vintage models. Especially with the under slung octave rocker! Having a row of bell keys looks neat too. I also appreciate the look of the new key guards. The old ones looked like just a piece of wire had been used! The engraving is done by hand and is subject to minor variations and will be a matter of taste I guess but the quality is better than my old Conn.

The feel of any new sax takes getting used to as the key positions are slightly different. The most noticeable difference is the left hand palm keys which stand out more than the vintage saxes. The old C mels (and sopranos) seemed to have been designed for people with small hands the keys being very close to the body. If you have small hands, you may prefer a vintage C.  The first 20 new C saxes had the bell Bb key too far south and was no easier to reach than the old C mels so that has been remedied on the subsequent batches. The new pinky table has a smooth fluid action which takes getting used to for a vintage player but much easier to use!  The key action is so light and smooth compared to the vintage models and so easy to blow.

The tone is wonderful! Rich and woody sounding, deeper than an alto of course but going up to high F# and beyond into the altissimo range! I wonder if they could be used to double for Clarinets? They are louder than vintage C mels, having metal resonators as standard and the Aquilasax Metalpro mouthpiece is not useful for practicing while the neigbours are home. Testing with the straight neck showed a wonderful ability to play softly or to scream at will with just a standard plastic mpc. The Aquilasax Classic matches beautifully.

 
Sound sample of new C sax further down the page!
 
The first few saxes had an intonation problem caused by the necks. That means that customers with one of the first sax's can keep it and we'll send a new neck out.
We now have Gold lacquered and gold with nickel silver keywork horns available. Curved necks only.

This is the link to the new Shopping Cart. It has backorder registration ability so you can put your name down for the next batch. https://aquilasax.3dcartstores.com/C-tenor-saxophones_c_9.html


Black nickel and nickel silver above.
The first new C tenor production sax for 40 years.
 Gold lacquer with Phoenix engraving below.

New C tenor in Fab case with both necks.


Engraver doing a sample for me to check. The skill of that lady is amazing!

 Engraving s show better on black. Shiny curved surfaces are difficult to photograph.

C Soprano.

I bought a Buescher curved Bb soprano some years ago, mostly as a travel companion. I got a Rico B5 plastic mouthpiece with it. The mpc didn’t seem to have that sparkle I was looking for and having limited funds, I bought a Yamaha 4C to try and improve it.

The 4C did little to the tone but threw the intonation out. Flattened open C# enough to make it unplayable with a piano.

When I recently bought a Wurlitzer (Buescher stencil) C soprano without a mouthpiece, I had this experience and those mouthpieces to try on it as well as the new Aquilasax mpcs, one plastic and one metal.

The Rico doesn’t fit the C sop. It’s too long!  The Aquilasax plastic is also too big!

The Yamaha 4C seems to work well on the C sop except for middle C (bell) which is sharp but the rest are good.

 Then I tried the Aquilasax soprano Metalpro # 5. Perfect!

Not an appreciable difference in all the notes and the tone is what I was looking for in the old Bb.
I will get a NEW C SOPRANO manufactured with more comfortable keywork IF I get enough support. Please go to: https://aquilasax.3dcartstores.com/C-soprano_c_23.html
and register a backorder, to show support. There is no obligation to buy!

A "C" sax History
The C tenor saxophone began in the heart of Adolph Sax but the "Concert" community were not interested in his new fangled instruments. He began with an Eb Baritone for marching bands.
 It wasn't until the early 1900s that American companies began to offer the C instruments as a practical option for orchestras and prohibition helped to fuel the home entertainment sales as well. By 1925 over 40,000 had been produced.
 The end of prohibition and the great depression in the 30's ended home entertainment purchases, followed by WWII and an abundance of Eb and Bb instruments for marching bands, followed by the rise of the recording industry, the rise in popularity of the guitar (amplifiers) and the rise of the Japanese music industry all helped to keep sax manufacturers heads down.
.
Nowdays the army no longer controls the music industry and they are making a comeback as the perfect solution for new genres, Folk music, guitar bands (pop music) and churches where transposed music is rare. People who like the sax but don't want transposing trouble as well are buying old C mels.
Falling in the Centre of the Saxophone range, they are very useful as they span the most used range of music. Not too big, not too small! Just right!
And Ohh the wonderful sound!!
For a fuller account of the history go to:  http://www.john-robert-brown.com/c-melody-saxophone.htm 

Why I play C melody

I began playing alto in a small band some years ago, piano, guitar, bass and drums. We played irregularly and didn't have much time for practice. There was never any music for sax so I just transposed the key from the piano music and improvised.

This was fine for me but after a while I noticed more songs coming out in the keys of A and E. They transpose to the keys of  F# and C#, my two least favourite. More often I found myself sitting thru songs as I didn’t want to blow it in public. A few good practices would have solved the problem perhaps but the reality is there was no time.

Then I discovered C saxophones! “What a good idea”, I thought. You mean; when you play A on the sax, A comes out?   You mean; when the guitar is playing in E, you can play in E!
 I bought a C mel to check out my theory. Not only did I find that playing with guitars was a lot easier but the sound of the C tenor is awesome!  I’m sold!

Now I’m wondering why Eb and Bb saxes are so popular and the only thing I can come up with is ignorant prejudice or inertia and the general lack of availability.
 I intend to do all I can to solve the availability problem. Stay tuned!


____________________________________
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK New C Tenor.

The Sax arrived safely last Saturday.  It travelled well (only G# spring had jumped off its attachment, even I could sort that out).  Took it to my lesson on Monday, my teacher blew it through and said 'nice'!  Practiced some of my favourite Jamie Aebersold pieces in the new key, all good, even hit low Bb in tempo. this seems much more agile than the student Bb tenor I've been playing.

Altogether I'm very pleased with the sax and excited by the new horizons it offers.

Many thanks

Looking forward to the Soprano in C?

Regards

Margaret

I received my c mel a couple of weeks ago, and have been playing it almost every day since. I am very impressed with the quality, and also it's beautiful tone. Please let me know when the black lacquer model comes in so I can order an other one
Thanks, Bill

Hi  Steve ! Thank you for saxophone tenor C .Very good sound. Myron.

 

Hello,Steve,
 Thanks for a great instrument .You really put so
much into it.

Tony

my Aquilasax C Tenor is purring, and surpassing my vintage King which you hear on the "Imbued With Memories" CD.

If the Bb Tenor you just shipped is as good as my  C, I may just buy a C flute and Bb soprano and become an Aquilasax artist.
Chip NY.

For other C instruments go to the shopping cart: https://aquilasax.3dcartstores.com/Other-C-instruments_c_24.html

We have C Trumpets with beautiful tone and lovely silver plated Flutes. Shortly adding wooden recorders.

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.



Amazing grace with a sweet sound
Lacquer sax and hard rubber mpc

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USEFUL LINKS

Saxophones hadn't changed much for 100 years until Jim Shmidt's innovation!
For his all new C sax: Contralto! check out: http://cvip.fresno.com/~js210/contra.html 

To hear vintage C melody's playing JAZZ, check out: http://www.cmelodysax.co.uk/  

Scott Robinson plays a 1918 C mel exclusively on his 1999 album, "Melody from the sky". http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,485978,00.html

Rudy Weidoef is credited with begining the C mel craze in the 20s
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,641995,00.html

For a modern style in C try "just maybe" by Nathan Haines 
 http://myspace.com/nathanhaines

Chip Shelton's latest "smooth"  CD, "Imbued with memories", features C flute, C tenor sax and C soprano sax. Summit records.
http://www.amazon.com/Imbued-Memories-Chip-Shelton/dp/B0017LGP0U


For free advice about vintage C melody's try the forum: http://boards.eesite.com/board.cgi?boardset=cmelody

For new pad sets try Music Medic: http://www.musicmedic.com/catalog/products/pad-s25-125-x.html
Highly recomended for service!

Steve's C sax site blog: http://clearblogs.com/aquilasaxcsax

Check out whats on THE JAZZ NETWORK:http://thejazznetwork.ning.com/events/event/show?id=1974321%3AEvent%3A154222&xgi=5q6sEyc 

Nathan Haines plays modern jazz, hip hop etc. on his album Squire for Hire.
http://www.amazon.com/Squire-Hire-Nathan-Haines/dp/B0000AW0TY

 For those interested in ART, here is a link to the site of a very talented New Zealand artist who paints graphic, "super realism" architecture. http://www.richardshanksart.com/

For a C mel site in Germany: http/www.cmelody.de

Recommended Sax Repairers

Ernie Sola  in Saugus Massachusetts. a very proficient Soprano, Alto and Tenor Sax and flute player and a technician...old school trained repair man.. Honest expert!
No email -Phone: 781-233-5884

Lotariusz Bodus and his web pages are www.soitinkorjaamo.com  - naturally in Finnish, although the chap is Polish

 

 

 

 
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