Pete: I agree.
I have heard that intonation on the old basses can be tricky, yet all the ones I've heard in person and on the old recordings (like Bix, Red Nichols, Whiteman, etc .) sounded wonderful. I've played a few too, and while I probably needed a LOT of time on them, what I did play seemed okay - at least nothing jumped out at me.
But if I had to play a modern bass (read Selmer - I don't know anything about the JK's) because of that, I'd pass on the whole idea. I mean, I don't get why one would go through the hassles of owning, storing, transporting, and playing a bass saxophone without the BOOM I hear from those old horns. The Selmers I've heard just didn't cut it, at least in MY opinion. DAVE
I have heard that intonation on the old basses can be tricky, yet all the ones I've heard in person and on the old recordings (like Bix, Red Nichols, Whiteman, etc .) sounded wonderful. I've played a few too, and while I probably needed a LOT of time on them, what I did play seemed okay - at least nothing jumped out at me.
But if I had to play a modern bass (read Selmer - I don't know anything about the JK's) because of that, I'd pass on the whole idea. I mean, I don't get why one would go through the hassles of owning, storing, transporting, and playing a bass saxophone without the BOOM I hear from those old horns. The Selmers I've heard just didn't cut it, at least in MY opinion. DAVE