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Me too!

An aside: I don't think I've ever seen muted sax before. Even had to go back in the video after watching it to be sure it wasn't in the tenor's bell the whole time.

muted sax:

From the early-mid 1970's, I remember orange foam donuts in local (concert band) saxophonists' bells.

They're pretty silly.

The sound emerges from all over the place on woodwinds (including the opening closest to the mouthpiece at any given moment during playing).

Over half a century ago, Humes and Berg offered a box-shaped mute for clarinet ("clarinet practicer") open at the top (to insert the clarinet), two holes (to insert the arms), and with deadening material inside. That ACTUALLY muted the (entire range of the) clarinet.

Some 20 years ago I saw a "gig bag with benfits" for saxophones in a catalogue. Zippers on the side and a clever opening top allowed playing the saxophone inside the bag for practicing. I guess it could also safe time when arriving too late for a gig

Snake Charmer wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 11:06 pm Some 20 years ago I saw a "gig bag with benfits" for saxophones in a catalogue.

I've also seen those "gig bags with benefits."

bloke wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 9:30 am muted sax:

From the early-mid 1970's, I remember orange foam donuts in local (concert band) saxophonists' bells.

They're pretty silly.

The sound emerges from all over the place on woodwinds (including the opening closest to the mouthpiece at any given moment during playing).

That came up in searches yesterday. According to some rando sax youtuber, it's to correct intonation on the lowest notes (which are notoriously sharp).

I looked closer this morning at the video (starting around 2:50). It's rolled up soundproofing foam stuffed into the bell.

The Brute Squad wrote: Mon Aug 03, 2026 9:04 am

An aside: I don't think I've ever seen muted sax before. Even had to go back in the video after watching it to be sure it wasn't in the tenor's bell the whole time.

Oddly enough, we had those in our middle school jazz ensemble. I forget which tune called for them, but I think it was one of Woody Herman's.

They are apparently called "modulators". Or they were in the late 1970s. Maybe sax players call them mutes today. They were a spun aluminum cup with a hole in the middle and a half-inch-ish rim on the outside that was corked. It seemed to dampen the low register and was probably meant to help them play low very softly. I don't know whether it was useful or just take-my-money bunk.

I always thought that the makers of these could sell many more if they called them the Illudium Q-36 Explosive Sax Modulator, but then, no one ever listens to me…

Like this, but looking more like a trumpet harmonica mute…

I think in most community concert bands, saxes should be required to be muted.

I'm not sure why, but suddenly I feel as though someone has made me very angry indeed...(??)

yeah...Un-muted saxophones should only be allowed in martian band.

Better yet, fall victim to an earth-shattering kaboom.

I bought recently, practically for free (it was sold on ebay for $5 shipping) -- an oboe "cozy" made by Altieri. I knew what it was and grabbed it. Something similar should be put on most saxophones 100% of the time. I have heard those who sound good, but, um, especially as a horn player, "sax hate" is sort of required because in lower levels of music the arranger "decides" that the horns need the "help" of the sax section.

Mary Ann wrote: Mon Aug 10, 2026 12:28 pm I bought recently, practically for free (it was sold on ebay for $5 shipping) -- an oboe "cozy" made by Altieri. I knew what it was and grabbed it. Something similar should be put on most saxophones 100% of the time. I have heard those who sound good, but, um, especially as a horn player, "sax hate" is sort of required because in lower levels of music the arranger "decides" that the horns need the "help" of the sax section.

Years ago when I still lived in Chicago I posted on Craigslist about getting a brass quartet or quintet together. To cast the widest net I said I was open to other options for the 3rd part, including trombone and saxophone, and the one sax player who replied said they didn't care much for horn players though I forget her reasoning.

I suspect she was exposed to the disdain that some horn players display discourteously. It's not the people but the fact that arrangers assume the horns need "help" from the saxes. And of course some horn players are stuck up, knowing that they play (however well or not well) one of the most difficult instruments.