According to Sharon, I got the very first Saxgourmet curved soprano sold, and it arrived today. I considered a Yanigasawa (I had owned one before), a Cannonball (all I had to do was try one to reject it as a candidate), a Mauriat (nice player, but awkward mechanism) and a Unison (couldn't find one to try locally). I'm glad I trusted Saxgourmet again, because this is one sweet playing horn.

The finish is striking and the engraving is really elaborate. The beauty is far more than just skin deep. This horn really plays.

Most of the curved sopranos I have played were not really very comfortable to hold. Sure they are small, but they always felt too small. This horn has a nice spread on the key touches, and the great thing is the low C#/B/Bb/G# table, which is built like a regular modern saxophone. You con't have to curl your little finger around backwards to play these notes, which is a really great leap forward. The main stack key touches are also much deeper than other horns, and it really helps more than you think.

The horn is beautifully in tune with itself, and even the highest notes speak easily. This includes the high G! The palm keys are fairly high, and quite easy to reach. The right hand thumbrest is moved around the body to the left rather than being centered, and this really helps eliminate hand cramping.

The pads are black 'roos, and feel really firm. The whole horn feels like a very fine machine, with no slack in the keywork or spongy feel.

Tone is a little darker than the other horns I've tried, a fact Steve atributes to the metal used in the body. I't very even, and there's not a bad note anywhere.

Once again, Steve and Sharon came through for me, and saved me some money in the bargain. I could not possibly be happier.

Thanks for your kind remarks, Bill. Yes, you were the first buyer to receive one. I've been so busy with end of the year stuff I haven't had time to put them on the site, but they have been selling very well to our "regulars" like you.

Our goal with this project was to overcome the shortcomings that were evident in all the curved sopranos we tried. I think we succeeded.

How is this model different from what you previously sold as the "Steve Goodson Model" curved soprano?

That's a fair question, Bob. The way I work is this: once we develop a design, I continue to tweak and evolve the designs with every production run. The curved soprano we offer now has significantly improved ergonomics, a few different sized and placed tone holes, more engraving (too much is always better than not enough), and is made from a different alloy. It's a little quicker in response, the intonation is improved (it was already pretty good, now it's better), the resonators are different (gotta love those Maestros!), and the case is upgraded. We're very proud of it!

Am I correct that the only finish available is copper?

Copper is "the look" for all our horns, now and in the future...the Saxgourmet bari in lacquer will be the last horn we produce in any finish other than copper