Forum of the Saxes

JazZz · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 170

I was flipping through the new fall wwbw catologue and I saw the new alto reference, the charlie parker "Bird: Hummingbird" alto. It looks so cool. Does anyone have any information it it pertaining to how it plays, what it's modeled after, etc. All I know from it is that it looks amazing.

It may be a looker, but it's pricey as anything (5.5k for the "special" special edition and 4.5 k for just the special edition) Their all limited editions!

[URL]
http://www.wwbw.com/Selmer--Hummi...tion-Alto-Saxophone-i229753.music [/URL]

JPSaxMan · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:31 am Post subject:

The worst part is...the case is made of "top grade imitation leather" Evil or Very Mad

If I had the money and I could play test one, I'd buy it, for those will probably be like the color lacquered Mark VI's of the future Cool

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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Gandalfe · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 33 Location: Seattle, WA

It looks to be a ref 54 with a special color lacquer and engraving. Sure is a nice horn. Would it sound better than my $1300 Couf Superba I? Hmm... methinks it would depend on the player. Wink

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JPSaxMan · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:28 pm Post subject:

Gandalfe,

I think it's the same color lacquer, just with the extra-precision hand engraving and I think the engraving runs all the way up to the neck too, right? And the Selmer 'S' in the neck is a rust (red) color as opposed to the traditional blue Cool

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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

JazZz · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 170

From what I understand, the engraving is just the bell and the neck, not running from the bell to the neck..I wish I had better pictures of it

I thought all the Paris sax's had hand engraving done to them...

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:

They all are, but the Hummingbird models have extensive precision hand engraving Cool

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

JazZz · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 170

I'd hate to be the person to mess up on one..
Then again, I'd take a messed up one for a reduced price Cool

JPSaxMan · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:45 pm Post subject:

ROTFLMAO

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

altosax4ever · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:05 pm Post subject: Would you?

Even for less, I dont know if could take horn that was'nt the VERY best of what the comany had to offer.
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Music IS Life

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JPSaxMan · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:24 pm Post subject:

It's only cosmetics... Very Happy

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

JazZz · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 170

it's totally just cosmetics..You can get serie II & III horns without engravings to save money, the engravings don't add or take away anything from your sound, plus you can always just say that your sax was custom made with a "special" engraving pattern just for you! Cool

altosax4ever · Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject: Right

I realize that it does not change the sound, but I would not feel right playing a horn that someone 'messed up on'. Also, who knows what else they 'messed up'?

A horn with no laquer or no engraving is fine, as long as that is the way the manufacturer intended it to be.
_________________
Music IS Life

(and the saxophone is breathing)