Soprano recommendations?
- Thread starter Despot
- Start date
WhatSharp?
Active Member
Schilke or Cortouis (excuse my spooling), if you can afford them. Stay clear of Yamahas though (I've yet to find a good one). Sovereigns aren't too bad (with some judicous use of the trigger) though watch the valves (they tend to get a bit sticky after a few years).
Smith-Watkins sops tend not to have the intonation difficulties you would have with a Shilke. They also have a similar quality brightness to the tone. They are a bit more expensive, but if you're going to spend £1800 on a Shilke you may as well go the whole way and go for the SW.
Dave
Sop
UNISON Kinneil
Dave
Sop
UNISON Kinneil
markyboy
Member
Regards buying a new soprano the best advise I could give would be to spend as much as you can,ie buy a Schilke. The one I bought was dropping in bits and had no plating left on it. I paid £450 for it then spent £350 having totally overhauled and replated. After it as done up I could have easily sold it for £1200 or £1300 and made a fair profit,so looking for a second hand Schilke to spend some money on would be a pretty good investment for ank one.
Mark Wears Pennine Brass.
Mark Wears Pennine Brass.
McEuphie
Member
Soprano
Not being a Sop player I can't recomend a particular instrument but to relieve the frustrations of tuning I would recomend one with a tuning slide rather than a shank - and this would go for flugels as well.
Slides are much easier to adjust and not prone to slippage as the tightening screw gets older - also no repair cost if the screw losses it's thread.
Courtois (don't know about other manufacturers) can also arrange tral periods before buying.
Happy hunting.
Not being a Sop player I can't recomend a particular instrument but to relieve the frustrations of tuning I would recomend one with a tuning slide rather than a shank - and this would go for flugels as well.
Slides are much easier to adjust and not prone to slippage as the tightening screw gets older - also no repair cost if the screw losses it's thread.
Courtois (don't know about other manufacturers) can also arrange tral periods before buying.
Happy hunting.
I use a Schilke (it's not mine unfortunately, the band lend it to me 
) and that is great. The problem is they are very expensive and hard to get hold of. Other than that, I've heard that the Soverignes are good. I have a Soverige (how do you spell it!!!) Bb, and if the Eb is of a similar quality, you'd be fine with one of them.
) and that is great. The problem is they are very expensive and hard to get hold of. Other than that, I've heard that the Soverignes are good. I have a Soverige (how do you spell it!!!) Bb, and if the Eb is of a similar quality, you'd be fine with one of them.
Inspector Gadget
Member
Just to re-iterate what sparky said; I play a smith watkins sop for Ellington Band.
It is absolutely amazing! Much better than the shilke.
it blows very freely and has a great tone.
Very Highly Recomended.
If you call Richard Smith up he will send you a pack about his products and a price list.
Superb Service too.
Soprano/Webmaster Ellington Colliery
www.ecband.org.uk :!:
It is absolutely amazing! Much better than the shilke.
it blows very freely and has a great tone.
Very Highly Recomended.
If you call Richard Smith up he will send you a pack about his products and a price list.
Superb Service too.
Soprano/Webmaster Ellington Colliery
www.ecband.org.uk :!:
floral_dance
Member
love the avatar where do you get these.
