Advantage of Metal Resonators

William Jhun

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Mar 16, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/16/97

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What is the advantage of metal resonators? I have heard they give a more
"popping" sound on attack. Is this true? Did all Mark VIs come w/ metal
resonators?

Thanks,
William

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Jonathan Linko

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Mar 17, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/17/97

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In article <E74Bt...@oswego.Oswego.EDU>,
wj...@news.oswego.edu (William Jhun) wrote:

To my knowledge, the VI's did not come with metal resonators, however the
Balanced Actions did, as well as the Super BA's. Metal resonators allow the
horn to vibrate more and "speak" easier. Basically, a spankier sound.
Jonathan Linko

Page Underwood

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Mar 17, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/17/97

to William Jhun

Early Mark VI had metal resonators, but later they went to plastic.
Resonators in general cause the horn to project a little more and to
sound a little brighter. I can only imagine that metal ones (provided
they aren't the tiny ones) would make the horn sound a little brighter
than plastic ones. They come in different shapes two. Most common
shapes are flat and slightly dome shaped. I have seen cone shaped
resonators. I don't know what the effect would be. I suspect that a
drastic protusion into the tone cup would effect the math of the volume
and shape of the air column. It will be fun to see other views
expressed!

The only thing I can say for sure is that most saxes have some kind of
resonator. I would assume that NO resonators at all would be a way to
seriously darken and dampen the sound of a saxophone....anybody out
there know for sure?
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Steve Goodson

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Mar 17, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/17/97

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Metal resonators, it is generally agreed, tend to give a brighter tone.
Often, the resonators may be oversized in order to increase the amount
of resonating surface and give a proportional increase in the effect.
There are subtle differences in the sound of the different types of
resonators, but differences nontheless. The MkVI was originally equipped
with a plastic dome which was attatched to the pad with a screw.

FatBob@Shaolin

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Mar 17, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/17/97

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Sound analogies are indeed difficult to agree on. One mans "pop" may be
another man's "gurgle". Yes, metal resonators liven up the sound. It
seems as though the sound comes faster. I haven't noticed that the ictus
is any different though. I have resonators with grooves radiating from the
center. They seem to accentuate high frequencies and add a bit of
distortion at high volume - very effective for R&B. Yet it still doesn't
sound bad when I strap on an S-80 or a Rousseau and run through some
Ferling. To my knowledge they were never custom equipment.
meyer

William Jhun <wj...@news.oswego.edu> wrote in article
<E74Bt...@oswego.Oswego.EDU>...

tanny soliven

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Mar 18, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/18/97

to Jonathan Linko

Jonathan Linko wrote:
>
> In article <E74Bt...@oswego.Oswego.EDU>,
> wj...@news.oswego.edu (William Jhun) wrote:
>

> >What is the advantage of metal resonators? I have heard they give a more
> >"popping" sound on attack. Is this true? Did all Mark VIs come w/ metal
> >resonators?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >William
> >

> >--
>
>-*-|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-*-
> >-*-|William Y. Jhun - wj...@oswego.edu|DO NOT REPLY TO ROOT@COLTRANE!!!|-*-
> >-*-|486 Linux 2.0.14 & X11! - Amiga030/33 - When all fails, look for an|-*-
> >-*-|excuse to get Linux on your machine; It's the best solution to your|-*-
> >-*-|problems! I normally speak C, C++, some 680x0,etc. NO ix86! Working|-*-
> >-*-|on Java. Computers and Jazz Tenor Sax.. Coltrane, Brecker, Redman..|-*-
>
>-*-|-----------------=>http://www.oswego.edu/~wjhun<=------------------|-*-
>
> To my knowledge, the VI's did not come with metal resonators, however the
> Balanced Actions did, as well as the Super BA's. Metal resonators allow the
> horn to vibrate more and "speak" easier. Basically, a spankier sound.
> Jonathan Linko

I disagree. I have an all original 1956 Mark VI (56xxx) with the original
lacquered selmer pads with silver plated metal resonators. Selmer
switched to nylon resonators midway through the mark vi production.

tanny

Michele Weston

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Mar 18, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/18/97

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I am the chick with the 1922 Buescher True Tone, and I cannot find ANY
resonators on this horn. I can, however, see on the remaining
"original(??)" pads where resonators would seem to have been. The tone of
this horn is pretty darned dark and dank. I'm trying to brighten it with
mpc choices, and am currently shopping for resonators. Any suggestions for
materials, sources, etc. are welcome.

Although I like this horn a lot, I am thinking of searching for another,
because I play a lot of hard rock and "acid jazz" and I need a much
brighter, more (MOST) cutting tone. Again, suggestions and comments are
begged for.

The Mk VI I had (65,XXX) back in "the day" had metal resonators on it which
I was told were original equipment. I believe they were made of brass, but
it's been a while . . . (sigh).

Feel free to e-mail responses to mic...@ctyme.com.
---------------
Page Underwood <Tul...@ionet.net> wrote in article
<332DB0...@ionet.net>...

Lee Elderton

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Mar 21, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/21/97

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Basically you aren't playing on anything if you aren't playing with the "Toledo Steel" Resonators. These must be genuine Toledo Steel....hand crafted by Juan Cordoba himself. Not to mention that your horn must be original lauer and have rolled tone holes. Otherwise it doesn't matter what you sound like. If all else fails though...you can always get your cryogenically treated!! <g>

FSaxWas9

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Mar 22, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/22/97

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i enjoy the better projection of the metal res. i had all the plastic ones
switched
on my yamaha yts-62 (1982) to metal. sound is much improved.
shawn

I hearby waive any disclaimers either implied, or Implicit. :-)

David Gersic

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Mar 22, 1997, 3:00:00 AM3/22/97

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In <332DB0...@ionet.net>, Page Underwood <Tul...@ionet.net> writes:
>The only thing I can say for sure is that most saxes have some kind of
>resonator. I would assume that NO resonators at all would be a way to
>seriously darken and dampen the sound of a saxophone....anybody out
>there know for sure?

I went the other way. My old Conn came with no resonators on the pads
(don't know if that's original equipment or not). I had the pads replaced
and Selmer nylon resonators installed. The tone is still quite "dark", but
brighter than it was.

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João Virott da Costa

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Apr 27, 2021, 8:13:27 PM4/27/21

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I don't think you'll notice any difference between plastic and metal resonators.
Have a look at this report: https://www.syos.co/en/blog/acoustics/pad-resonators-part-2