NEW SAXOPHONE eNDORSEMENTS
GT sax A70GL Alto,S30TIS Soprano
Impressive Action, Quality Craftsmanship
BY BRUCE GIBSON
Downbeat Magazine, May 2020
Reed School Toolshed
Taiwan-based GT saxophone’s professional tenor, alto and soprano models are now being distributed in the States by East Coast-based Old Dog New Saxophones. I took the company’s the alto model GT-A70GL alto and GT-S30TIS soprano for a test-drive recently, with outstanding results.
The GT-A70GL is made of brass alloy with gold lacquer finish and elegant engraving on the bell. The body of the instrument incorporates ribbed construction, a triple annealed bell/bow/neck, a pointed pivot screw and a rocking table mechanism. The keywork includes power-forged keys, high-quality Italian Pisoni waterproof leather pads, wool felt and convex nickel-plated brass resonators. The horn’s key action was fast and accurate, with properly adjusted blued steel springs and Italian corks. And its genuine abalone shell buttons feel great under the fingers. Other features include a high F# key, an adjustable metal thumb hook and an ergonomically designed front F key.
I outfitted the GT-A70GL with my usual setup of a hard rubber Claude Lakey #4*3 mouthpiece paired with a #2½ Vandoren Java Red Box reed for play-testing in a straightahead jazz setting. The first thing I noticed was how relaxed I felt with the instrument’s key locations. The action was very similar to my vintage Selmer Mark VI alto, so it felt great right away and took very little getting used to. Other Mark VI players likely will have a similar positive experience with it. The sound I got with my trusty Lakey was powerful and flexible, which proved perfect for playing lead alto on big band charts.
Switching to my metal Yanagasawa mouthpiece produced a response that would be great for rock and contemporary music. I had the GT-A70GL alto projecting wonderfully, especially when soaring up into the altissimo range. I also enjoyed the warmth and easy response of low passages and subtone sections.
The GT-S30TIS soprano is a lightweight, one-piece horn that’s made of a titanium alloy and is currently available in brushed silver finish. Featuring an internal bore that’s unique among modern sopranos, it’s designed to give the player a big, resonant voice similar to that of vintage horns, while at the same time offering the best in contemporary keywork. In addition to its beautiful, complex tone, the GT-S30TIS is a sight to behold, with its detailed engraving and elegant golden keywork. Each GT sax is hand-hammered more than 500 times and play-tested to ensure that the timbre is just right. I recommend that any serious player shopping for a pro-quality horn take one for a spin.
New Pro-level Soprano Sax at Intermediate Price!
BY JOE GIARDULLO
sopranoplanet.com
I’ve never endorsed or recommended any modern soprano saxophone- until now. The first time I played this titanium alloy, one piece soprano sax, I knew it was a pro-level horn. Then I learned it is a pro-level horn at intermediate price. If you are considering your first soprano or a new horn upgrade, be sure to check this GT titanium alloy, brushed or matte finish soprano from Old Dog New Saxophones. Let me tell you about mine, which arrived just one day ago.
When I was asked to try the horn, about 6 weeks ago, I was glad to do it but I expected that it would be yet another good but not special Taiwanese soprano. I’ve played 40 or 50 of them before, and they all had been “just ok”. But when I picked up this GT titanium alloy horn, I noticed right away that it was lighter than almost every modern soprano I knew. It felt great in the hands and the keywork was right where it needed to be. It felt “slick”, in fact. The only other soprano I’d ever thought that about was the very fine Yamaha 82, the top of the Yamaha line.
When I played 5 notes on the GT titanium, I was stunned by the resonance and the depth of sound. Unlike the 82Z, this horn had a bigger voice, closer to the top of the line Keilwerth and Borgani sopranos I’d played and liked. But the voice was not solely “bigger”; it was rich and elegant at the same time, and it spoke effortlessly from bottom through the altissimo. The voice was uniform and beautiful. I was hooked.
This horn has a vintage sound, much like my vintage King and my old Conn soprano. But the keywork, which is just wonderful, makes this a thoroughly modern horn in all respects. There is a lot of information at the Old Dog New Saxophones website. Take a look. When I learned the price for this horn, I ordered one immediately.
Mine arrived yesterday, in excellent set-up, in a nice modern case. I’ve been playing it all day, trying different mouthpieces on it, and I am looking forward to taking it on its maiden voyage later this week.
And, the horn looks fabulous too. The brushed silver with deep honey-gold keywork is pretty nice.
I think this is one of the best horns on the market, and the price makes it a lot more than that, in my opinion.
