The International Saxophone Home Page (ISHP) was founded in 1994 by saxophonist Jason DuMars as a resource for musicians and enthusiasts seeking reliable, interesting and useful information. This site quickly became recognized as the standard departure point for virtually everything saxophone-related on the web. In the intervening years, the ISHP has received over 5 million visits and averages 25,000 "hits" per day.
Frequently asked questions...
Why did you start the ISHP?I started the International Saxophone Home Page (ISHP) because I found a real deficiency in the amount of information available to saxophonists who "surf" the net. It seemed quite logical at the time to create a page dedicated to resources and links for saxophonists from beginners to professionals. I just wish I had even more time to invest in projects for the page!
Where do you get your information?
I compile my information from many different sources. Most of the information presented in my major documentation (multiphonics, altissimo, Buyer's Guide) comes from my experiences as a player and collector/dealer. Pricing information comes from monitoring local, regional and national trends in pricing as set my some of the major saxophone dealers. I temper a lot of this data with common sense and availability of certain models. In the past 10 years I have owned over 200 saxophones, most of them vintage, many of them rare.
Do you buy and sell used saxophones?
Occasionally, I will find a saxophone used that is a good deal and try it for a while to see if I like it. If not, or if the opportunity arises, I will sell it. I do not "deal" in saxophones at all. Nowadays my interest in vintage horns is strictly from a player's perspective. I am on the hunt for another Selmer Balanced Action alto like the one I have. When I sell horns, I usually do so on-line using the E-Bay auction site.
So, how much is this horn of mine worth?
If you are looking for a ballpark figure on the value of a horn, you need to provide me with specific information about it, specifically the brand, model, serial number, condition, finish, engraving type, originality, and damage. With this in hand, I can provide you with a close representation of the value. It is important to note that since I receive so many requests of this kind, I can't guarantee a fast response, but I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Do you have saxophone sheet music?
I don't actually have saxophone sheet music to give out. Most of the good stuff is the domain of the composer or publisher, so giving it away is not fair or legal. The best way to get music you like is to sit down and write out/figure out the parts yourself. I am giving away my own compositions freely.
What "Setup" do you use?
My alto is a 1939 Selmer Balanced Action in original lacquer, #28xxx, mouthpiece is a Beechler diamond inlay S4S, reeds are Alexander Superials. My tenor is a new Jinyin in satin gold plate. I use a Beechler 6 metal mouthpiece and Alexander Superial Reeds. My soprano is an H. Couf Superba I in original lacquer. I use a Meyer 5 hard rubber mouthpiece and Vandoren reeds. My bari is a low A Yanagisawa stencil (Whitehall). My mouthpiece is a Meyer 6, and I use Vandoren reeds. The clarinet is a Buffet R13 with a Mitchell Lurie mouthpiece and Alexander Superial reeds, the bass clarinet is a Noblet Paris, with a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, and Vandoren reeds. Flutes are Jinyin gold plated and gold/silver plate closed hole models.
Where did you learn to play?
My teachers have included some great players, although I am primarily self taught. I got a lot of experience from Dr. Tom Bergeron who is (in my opinion) the foremost expert on saxophone multiphonics in the world. He is also a stunning jazz and classical player with incredible technique. Former teachers have also included saxophonists Jeff Homan, Danny Shauffler, and Scott Backus. I have had a few sessions with some notables like Richie Cole, Oliver Lake, and Herman Riley. A lot of my learning has come from experimentation and listening.
Do you respond to all of your mail?
Unfortunately, I am not able to respond to all of the mail I get. I get between 10 and 20 E-mails a day. Many of these questions are "where do I find this" or "what is this worth" or "what do you think about this or that sax." I answer as many of these questions as I can and apologize to readers who do not get a personal response.
How do I get copies of information on this page?
The best way is to save a copy to your local drive and print it. I do ask that material be kept in its original form and not copied/modified for sale. I don't make any money off of the information I post here, and neither should anyone else.
How do I contribute something to the page?
It's easy. If you have something written already, e-mail it to me and I will consider it for publication on the page. If you are a performer who has a CD that you would like reviewed, e-mail me and I will let you know if I am accepting submissions for review.
Welcome to the ISHP, and thank you for all of your support!