Musician's Dilemma

[Fenris]

I used to play sax in band in high school. When I was in the ninth grade, after I had been playing for four years, my dad bought me a sax. I bought it at a store called Oleg's in L.A., and the instrument was made by a company called Martin of Eckart, Ind., and was dated to sometime in the early to mid 1940s. I loved the thing, and continued to play, but in eleventh grade I finally had to give it up as I had so much other crap I had to do for school.

So it hasn't been played in a long while, which makes me feel bad. I tried playing it this year, I could still remember how to play it, but I could only play for about fifteen minutes before my lungs about gave out on me.

About the time I gave up the sax, I taught myself guitar. Naturally that is my current instrument of choice, as I own two electrics and one acoustic. But I inherited the guitar disease from my father, a man who owns (currently) 3 acoustics, 2 electrics, a bass, a mandolin, and a lap steel. I really got into the Byrds this year, for reasons unbeknownst to me, and there has been only one thing on my mind since: Rickenbacker 12-string. Oh sure, I can fake the sound to a degree on the old Danelectro, but it's not the same. It calls out to me. I can't afford one, but I recently had an epiphany.

I could sell the sax and use the proceeds to purchase the guitar. Honestly, it is unlikely that I'll ever just pick up the sax and play again. It justs sits in it's case upstairs. But at the same time, it's so old and rare, and it has such a wonderful sound that I am hesitant to part with it. The Ric would be so wonderful to have, but the sax is still in a way dear to me.

Oh, the dilemma! What can I do?!

[Systematic Chaos]

1. I'd just be pragmatic about it, personally.

Why face the possibility that you'll always have a twinge of regret in the back of your mind if you give up the sax? If it has sentimental and collector value to you then it would be silly to part with it. It's a part of your life and something I wouldn't recommend parting with.

As for the guitar, you may want to just stick with what you have, as the only notable difference between what you own now and what you want is the quality of sound. At least you have guitars that you can play and practice on, and that makes you happy. Getting yet another guitar at the expense of something you already cherish isn't going to solve a whole lot, IMO.

Save your pennies for a "rainy day", and maybe sometime down the road you'll have your sax AND an awesome 12-string! :)

[Red State Rebel]

11. I agree...keep it - I still have my old high school violin!

[el_gato]

2. keep the sax

but I tend to think of 12 strings as a novelty
spend some cash on a decent but not too expensive 6 string

[griffi94]

3. well

i own a couple of guitars i'll probly never play again
but still wouldn't sell,it's funny one is a rick,6 string on a 12 string body.
on the other hand if there were another instrument i really wanted
i might would sell one.

my friend jim got cheap dan electro 12 string,sounds as good as any
he uses it on demos and for a few songs on his live gigs.

theyr'e made somewhere besides here but they soound pretty good

[Bake]

4. Sell the sax, buy the Rick!

Is the sentimental attachment to the sax due to the fact that your father bought it for you? Or just because it's a beautiful instrument? If the former, consider that you also inherited the guitar jones from dear ol' Dad. That's right, GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome) is hereditary, and you appear to have a classic case of it.

If it's the latter, the choice is easier because you acknowledge that you do not and probably will not play the thing again. The Rick, however, will be played.

Remember: One can never have too many guitars!

Bake

[Mandolinista]

5. Keep the sex , errr sax

selling it will do very little to defray the cost of one of these puppies....




....sweetness. For more of that jangly 12 string sound check Robyn Hitchcock and the Softboys.

Peace,
Mandolinista
(DU Newbie, who is starting to figure out this html stuff!)

Rickenbacker 360-12 compliments of Elderly Instruments

[chaska]

6. Try a compressor on your Dano.

That's a big part of how Roger Mcguin gets his sound.

[TrogL]

7. Give it a good home

Find a high school (or junior high) music student who is a good player who can't afford their own instrument and is frustrated by the broken crap that he has to play on now.

Sell it to him for something he can afford (ie $100) even if it's worth more, and use it for the down payment for your guitar.

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. That sax DESERVES to be with someone who loves it, and will play it

Even if you have to give it away to a young musician off to Juliard or Manhattan School of Music, if the sax has tone that good, and you are sure that you will never play it again, it DESERVES to be used by someone!

Either sell it or give it away, but to hold on to it is an insult to the saxaphone.

And yes, as a musician/composer, I'm serious about this.

[Blue-Jay]

9. Get the sax appraised!

There are a few 40-50's era Martins that are in high demand with the old school jazz guys. Myself, I prefer the newer altos (Selmer Series III) but loooove the older tenors (1956 Conn 10M). You'd be surprised how much a vintage horn is worth if you have one of the "good ones". Maybe even enough for that Ric and a case of beer.

I understand the guitar-addiction as well. I've always had a guitar laying around since I was a kid, but only recently went insane. Now I've got seven, three of which I've bought in the past year.

[Dogmudgeon]

10. How to improve your lungs

Get something called a respirometer. You can get them over-the-counter. They're plastic gadgets that people with weak lungs blow into to develop strength in their diaphragms and better gas perfusion in the lung tissue.

The cheapies start at about $15, and the fancy ones are as much as $300. Your doctor might know a place where they sell them.

So keep the sax, and when you have the cash, buy the axe.

--bkl
Pucker up and blow.