Jazzocrat

Many saxophone players are chasing a myth. The myth they are pursuing is an attractive myth. The storied abstraction they are desperately yearning to achieve is a tonal concept—an ideal, ethereal saxophone tone. 

This tonal concept exists in the player’s mind and is the object of their musical ultimacy. Saxophonists on this path will pay anything as an indulgence to the equipment gods in exchange for a quick hit, a cheat, a shorter path to this ideal. 

We already know the myth is a story, a narrative, an abstraction, so it does not actually exist. 

• A Holy Grail, 98% original lacquer, 5-digit, Brecker Serial Number, Selmer (Paris) Mark VI tenor saxophone is sufficient but not necessary. 

• An all original, Florida, Double Ring, Otto Link Super Tone Master 7* with the original ligature and box is sufficient but not necessary.

There are a range of products, old and new, that are available and sufficient—but not necessary—to serve as helpful tools on the path, the musical journey towards a never obtainable goal of tonal perfection.

So here is my advice:

1) Ignore the marketing hype. Most of it is bull****. 

2) Pick the best made, appropriate hot **** tools you can afford to ease your journey. But don’t go bat****.

3) Practice, practice, practice until you are the ****.