I know you know this, but you sound absolutely amazing!! Could listen to this non stop. So this video should have been another hour of just you playing!
Great video Dave. Brilliant points made with humour and humility while, as ever, demonstrating what an amazing player you are. No short cuts to a great sound like yours!
Before watching the reveal, I could hear a small difference with A being more resonant. I wasn’t sure which it would be, but decided A was a more resonant sound, with B being slightly stuffier. Was surprised myself that I thought I could hear a difference. Then watching the reveal was interesting. Would love to see a follow on with several blind random recordings with and without , and see if people like me that thought there was a little difference could pick it right reliably. In any case, the difference, to me, is small and I can see how it would be hard to detect if at all.
You need to check out more comparisons... The point of the mass is to reduce vibration loss at the point tightening - zip tie is not going to make any difference. It probably helps more if there is more play in your neck seal. If the neck seal is a piston fit then less difference. Since most saxes are not new or perfect fitting the extra mass makes a difference.
I love it when you debunk the snake oil gimmicks! Actually, I have found one "gimmick" that does noticeably change the tone that you hear when playing (but I doubt it significantly alters your tone sound to anyone else). It is the small plastic sheet that can be attached to the sax bell and reflects some of the the bell audio output back toward your face. It's basically similar facing and standing close to a hard wall while playing. Your ears will hear an amplification of the higher frequency reflected content that normally you don't hear so strongly. The tone is definitely different and kind of neat. The small attachable plate might help a player hear themselves better on a stage with many other instruments and amplifiers. As I say, I doubt it alters what the audience hears, noticably. If you have never tried this gimmick, just play facing up close to a hard wall and you will hear the effect.
I'm always very disappointed with my tone until I stand near a wall. Then I think I sound pretty good. Perhaps the constant desire and attempt to attain a tone that can only be heard by the audience is actually a good method of practice. Who knows? Certainly not me
Sounded the same to me - you sound great as always - love how you incorporate harmonics in your improv. Question - looks like you are playing on a 10mfan mpc - which mode/sizel? I also play a Mark VI with 10mfan Daddy-O #7 that Mark recommended for me - best alto mpc I have ever played.
This is one of my pet peves with young trumpet players (and even older players). To get a "better" sound they buy all this heavy equipment because less sound waves escape. But in reality all does is make the instrument heavier to hold and lessen the amount of money in your bank. I've listened to many of the advertised products and there is little to no difference at all. To quote the late admiral Ackbar, "It's a trap!"
I could hear a difference but it is only slight. I think one was slightly smoother than the other, especially in lower notes. If you play the saxophone and want the most toned lower jaw and neck, this could be one way to do it! I have the original Yani BooStar heavy mass screw on my Yanagisawa AW02 which somes with two screw in weights. When I use it, I have noticed it changes the sound a bit, depending if I use it as is or add one or both the weights. It sounds like it adds more focus and slightly smoother and it feels like it has a bit more resistance, especially in low notes. The low notes seem to play smoother for me and less prone to honking or not coming out well, despite the added resistance feeling. Depending on how much weight I add, checking with a tuner, I noticed the tuning in some of the lower notes changes slightly compared to the normal neck screw.
Just as I thought it's all saxophone nonsense NO DIFFERENCE ! Like the bright idea - a 5 digit serial number on a Selmer MK6 is the one to have 🤣😂 Tell you what, Mike Brecker would have sounded awesome on a Jupiter right?
I actually thought of doing that! I did something like that with a comparison video where I played the same sax for both, and people could SWEAR they heard a difference 😂
In some cases, doctors give patients medicine that does do anything, it’s a placebo. So, if people think they sound better when buying gear, don’t forget this factor too😉 Also, there are studies that show the weakest link on the sax is the neck to body construction, so it seem more logical to me to use this wisdom to build a better sax, but offcourse marketing does not work like that and al gear to play better must sold separate😉 but hey, lucky us the make these things and we can have fun with it on youtube. You sound great man, must be the screw😉
Beautiful playing. Hard to tell the difference between the two. Might have had an easier time with longer playing examples? As a kid I would make mix tapes for family car trips. I found that putting Credence Clear Water Revival's "leave a candle in the window" at least three times in a row on the tape really helped to unleash the songs full impact. Maybe three listenings of each example? One with no visual element at all, one with the weights obscured and one with the weights visible? Might be great to use multiple takes like that to explore reverb or delay or other effects as they change the sound of the saxophone. You could play a chorus of Invitation with no effects and then bump the reverb by 1%, then another chorus and another % and another chorus another % and so on and so forth? I kid, you're always so killing. Blessings for your continued joy and success!
I rarely notice a difference in these comparison videos, and in all fairness, I am usually listening on an iPhone, BUT today I definitely heard a difference. Choice A had more resonance, depth, and sounded much more centered to me. No kidding. And there you have it. However, Dave, as stated above, you can make a water hose sound good, so no surprise. But this video makes me wonder. I am not a “must get the latest gear” kind of gal, but this has me thinking. Hmmm.
I think a lot of the time we fail to address the fact that the gear we use as musicians are part of how we present ourselves. Some people might well get a heavy neck screw just for the looks, and I think that’s totally fine. But still, go practice you lot!
I always just thought the bigger screw was to make it easier to tighten and keep the neck from shifting out of position. It's not internal, so how does it affect the sound? Vibration? Hmmmmm, that's interesting physics. BTW, I notice when you take your breath it's not matching with the sound. The video seems to be offline with the sound. Maybe that's why A and B sounds the same😂.
I have two heavy mass screws on my Mark VI. To me it there's no difference in sound. I mainly bought them because it's easier to tighten the neck. I also think the screws compliments my horn because I named it Frankenstein.
LOL, what kind of zip tie did you use? 🤣🤣🤣 Like some of the other players I have problems with tightening and not breaking the tiny neck screws on my horns (for some reason this affliction usually only happens at a gig...). I have a larger neck screw on my tenor, I don't think they make a significant or probable even an insignificant difference in the sound, that's 99.9999% me, but it does really help with tightening the neck and not breaking the head of that tiny neck screw off...
You’re not getting the full effect because the weight is not threaded into the horn. That’s a real shame because everyone knows that Selmer Mk VI neck tenon threads are superior because they were made using the same tap and die tooling used to make the weapons that allowed the 101st Airborne to liberate France from the Nazi’s. These threads are known to create sympathetic resonance to 45 KHz, which allows ultrasonic harmonics for crystal clear altissimos. But seriously, your rendition of “Pure Imagination” is beautiful.
you are a piece of work!!!! LOL!!! You know, that weight isnt mechanically screwed in if you are using WIRE TIES!!!?!?! (Just waiting for the trolls to jump on this technical point) However, for the purpose of this video, Im pretty sure the point is made. Have a great day!!! Love your playing as always!!
I think the weight will definitely improve the sound in total, since the player will be exhausted from carrying the weight before his/her sound deteriorates from playing too long.... 😁🤣
Dave, Dave, c'mon man, everyone knows that dumbbells are made from cheap metal. You need to use GOLD, for the special heavy bright dark brilliance it provides! Or depleted uranium for that special radiance!
Learn to easily improvise through any chord changes with this FREE masterclass:
►www.davepollack.com/freemasterclass
At this point I'm convinced that Dave would play well just blowing into a water hose
I did that already ruclips.net/video/AYHAZ9lIaoQ/видео.htmlsi=SF8UzYiDaNIchOeC
I knew it! Well done 😀
Totally agree with your point at the end. Great video!
I know you know this, but you sound absolutely amazing!! Could listen to this non stop. So this video should have been another hour of just you playing!
I appreciate that!
Me too
Building musicians' and instruments' neck muscle at the same time
Great video Dave. Brilliant points made with humour and humility while, as ever, demonstrating what an amazing player you are. No short cuts to a great sound like yours!
I really appreciate that!! 🙏
Now that I have seen this I need a video of Dave playing with an anvil strapped to his sax!
Great playing as usual Dave!
Thank you!
Pure imagination. Newley and Bricusse were great songwriters. Fine playing Dave. Maybe more cowbell will help?
Heavy mass cowbell?
Daves playing is world class!!!! Fantastic!!!
Thanks!!
I use the $25 heavy screws because they provide an easy place to clip a Snark tuner.
"A" sounds better to me, interesting :D
Dave, your play is world-class, as always -- with and without weight 😅
My changes playing sucked. Then I got a new vibranium front F pearl. Wow. Night and day.
Before watching the reveal, I could hear a small difference with A being more resonant. I wasn’t sure which it would be, but decided A was a more resonant sound, with B being slightly stuffier. Was surprised myself that I thought I could hear a difference. Then watching the reveal was interesting. Would love to see a follow on with several blind random recordings with and without , and see if people like me that thought there was a little difference could pick it right reliably. In any case, the difference, to me, is small and I can see how it would be hard to detect if at all.
I listened to the first couple of notes of B and immediately thought that it sounded more stuffy :)
You can buy my dumbell for $199.99
You need to check out more comparisons... The point of the mass is to reduce vibration loss at the point tightening - zip tie is not going to make any difference. It probably helps more if there is more play in your neck seal. If the neck seal is a piston fit then less difference. Since most saxes are not new or perfect fitting the extra mass makes a difference.
😂😂😂😂
I love it when you debunk the snake oil gimmicks! Actually, I have found one "gimmick" that does noticeably change the tone that you hear when playing (but I doubt it significantly alters your tone sound to anyone else). It is the small plastic sheet that can be attached to the sax bell and reflects some of the the bell audio output back toward your face. It's basically similar facing and standing close to a hard wall while playing. Your ears will hear an amplification of the higher frequency reflected content that normally you don't hear so strongly. The tone is definitely different and kind of neat. The small attachable plate might help a player hear themselves better on a stage with many other instruments and amplifiers. As I say, I doubt it alters what the audience hears, noticably. If you have never tried this gimmick, just play facing up close to a hard wall and you will hear the effect.
I'm always very disappointed with my tone until I stand near a wall. Then I think I sound pretty good. Perhaps the constant desire and attempt to attain a tone that can only be heard by the audience is actually a good method of practice. Who knows? Certainly not me
Sounded the same to me - you sound great as always - love how you incorporate harmonics in your improv. Question - looks like you are playing on a 10mfan mpc - which mode/sizel? I also play a Mark VI with 10mfan Daddy-O #7 that Mark recommended for me - best alto mpc I have ever played.
Thanks! It’s the alto madness 7 and I love it
I thought A sounded more full and resonant. I thought that before the reveal too. I'm surprised, I didn't think it would make much of a difference.
Looks like I’m going to be selling 3 pound dumbells for saxes now!
@@DavePollack 🤣🤣🤣
Love it 😅
Where did you find the backingtrack for "carnaval", I cannot find it in this tempo?
Black orphius
It’s from iRealPro, the “son montuno 2-3” feel
This is one of my pet peves with young trumpet players (and even older players). To get a "better" sound they buy all this heavy equipment because less sound waves escape. But in reality all does is make the instrument heavier to hold and lessen the amount of money in your bank.
I've listened to many of the advertised products and there is little to no difference at all.
To quote the late admiral Ackbar, "It's a trap!"
100%!
I could hear a difference but it is only slight. I think one was slightly smoother than the other, especially in lower notes. If you play the saxophone and want the most toned lower jaw and neck, this could be one way to do it!
I have the original Yani BooStar heavy mass screw on my Yanagisawa AW02 which somes with two screw in weights. When I use it, I have noticed it changes the sound a bit, depending if I use it as is or add one or both the weights. It sounds like it adds more focus and slightly smoother and it feels like it has a bit more resistance, especially in low notes. The low notes seem to play smoother for me and less prone to honking or not coming out well, despite the added resistance feeling.
Depending on how much weight I add, checking with a tuner, I noticed the tuning in some of the lower notes changes slightly compared to the normal neck screw.
Just as I thought it's all saxophone nonsense NO DIFFERENCE ! Like the bright idea - a 5 digit serial number on a Selmer MK6 is the one to have 🤣😂 Tell you what, Mike Brecker would have sounded awesome on a Jupiter right?
100%!!
I was kind of hoping the reveal would show that you didn’t use the dumbell for either and instead had the neckscrew out of the sax
I actually thought of doing that! I did something like that with a comparison video where I played the same sax for both, and people could SWEAR they heard a difference 😂
debunking myths ! Amazing as usual. Thanks.
You’re welcome!
In some cases, doctors give patients medicine that does do anything, it’s a placebo. So, if people think they sound better when buying gear, don’t forget this factor too😉 Also, there are studies that show the weakest link on the sax is the neck to body construction, so it seem more logical to me to use this wisdom to build a better sax, but offcourse marketing does not work like that and al gear to play better must sold separate😉 but hey, lucky us the make these things and we can have fun with it on youtube.
You sound great man, must be the screw😉
Really like your sound on alto. I agree that neck screws don't make a difference in tone quality.
Beautiful playing. Hard to tell the difference between the two. Might have had an easier time with longer playing examples? As a kid I would make mix tapes for family car trips. I found that putting Credence Clear Water Revival's "leave a candle in the window" at least three times in a row on the tape really helped to unleash the songs full impact. Maybe three listenings of each example? One with no visual element at all, one with the weights obscured and one with the weights visible? Might be great to use multiple takes like that to explore reverb or delay or other effects as they change the sound of the saxophone. You could play a chorus of Invitation with no effects and then bump the reverb by 1%, then another chorus and another % and another chorus another % and so on and so forth? I kid, you're always so killing. Blessings for your continued joy and success!
I rarely notice a difference in these comparison videos, and in all fairness, I am usually listening on an iPhone, BUT today I definitely heard a difference. Choice A had more resonance, depth, and sounded much more centered to me. No kidding. And there you have it. However, Dave, as stated above, you can make a water hose sound good, so no surprise. But this video makes me wonder. I am not a “must get the latest gear” kind of gal, but this has me thinking. Hmmm.
I think a lot of the time we fail to address the fact that the gear we use as musicians are part of how we present ourselves. Some people might well get a heavy neck screw just for the looks, and I think that’s totally fine. But still, go practice you lot!
Hi Dave, just a Question about the lefreQue. Is it the same story in your opinion?
I had to google that and i still don’t know what it is, hah
I always just thought the bigger screw was to make it easier to tighten and keep the neck from shifting out of position. It's not internal, so how does it affect the sound? Vibration? Hmmmmm, that's interesting physics. BTW, I notice when you take your breath it's not matching with the sound. The video seems to be offline with the sound. Maybe that's why A and B sounds the same😂.
See?! You get it! That's what I've been saying!
I have two heavy mass screws on my Mark VI. To me it there's no difference in sound. I mainly bought them because it's easier to tighten the neck. I also think the screws compliments my horn because I named it Frankenstein.
That’s a great reason to have them!
And maybe the only one lol
Let's be real. The 3lb screw helped you nail the altissimo tons better than without. 😂
LOL, what kind of zip tie did you use? 🤣🤣🤣 Like some of the other players I have problems with tightening and not breaking the tiny neck screws on my horns (for some reason this affliction usually only happens at a gig...). I have a larger neck screw on my tenor, I don't think they make a significant or probable even an insignificant difference in the sound, that's 99.9999% me, but it does really help with tightening the neck and not breaking the head of that tiny neck screw off...
Exactly! Just like i said in the video, if it’s easier to tighten with the bigger screw that’s a great reason to get one
For real
So is this called Jazz now or Heavy Metal?
Haaaaaa
You’re not getting the full effect because the weight is not threaded into the horn. That’s a real shame because everyone knows that Selmer Mk VI neck tenon threads are superior because they were made using the same tap and die tooling used to make the weapons that allowed the 101st Airborne to liberate France from the Nazi’s. These threads are known to create sympathetic resonance to 45 KHz, which allows ultrasonic harmonics for crystal clear altissimos. But seriously, your rendition of “Pure Imagination” is beautiful.
😂😂😂 thanks!
you are a piece of work!!!! LOL!!! You know, that weight isnt mechanically screwed in if you are using WIRE TIES!!!?!?! (Just waiting for the trolls to jump on this technical point)
However, for the purpose of this video, Im pretty sure the point is made. Have a great day!!! Love your playing as always!!
Hahaha love it, thanks!
Zip Ties
LOL!!! Nomenclature is "key"@@grantkoeller8911
Not convinced. I’m thinking if you’re still upright at the end of the tune, it wasn’t heavy enough.
True…be right back…
I honestly think the weight made a positive difference. Not very practical though 😂
I think the weight will definitely improve the sound in total, since the player will be exhausted from carrying the weight before his/her sound deteriorates from playing too long.... 😁🤣
I’m pissed that I thought A sounded better💀
Don’t buy into the hype! 😂
@@DavePollack nah of course. They are overpriced and stupid and I genuinely thought that b would be the one with the dumbbell
gym meets saxophone 🤣🤣🤣
Dave, Dave, c'mon man, everyone knows that dumbbells are made from cheap metal. You need to use GOLD, for the special heavy bright dark brilliance it provides! Or depleted uranium for that special radiance!
Ohhhh that’s right!
The best one will cost three figures because it took 3 weeks to be made by hand by cloistered nuns.
I think it's A
Ok Im right
A sounded better to me in the blind test.
Zero difference in sound, somewhat unsurprisingly.
Very unsurprising!
I heard a difference and preferred A.