Straight Soprano Sax vs Curved Soprano Sax - Which is best for you? 

Shop our range of Saxophones (curved and straight!) here: www.dawkes.co.uk/saxophones/soprano

I didn't even know there was a Curved Soprano Saxophone until today.

I agree with you that the curved horn looks more "circus" and somewhat comical, and the straight horn does indeed have a more "serious" feel to it, and it looks more substantial. However, in terms of sound, the curved horn SOUNDS to me more like a smaller version of an alto, while the straight horn sounds less to me like what a "stereotypical" saxophone sounds like in my own head.

The straight sounds closer to an Oboe while the Curved is like an Alto but higher

The straight sounds warm but the curved sounds almost sharp, not the intonation but the actual sound sounds almost like a knife kind of sharp

I play multiple woodwinds. When upgrading from my straight soprano, I chose a curved soprano, because the smaller size of the instrument and case, I was able to better carry the multiple instrument cases when playing in a pit.

The curved has more of a punch. I'd use the curved for jazz & the str8 for classical.

I really liked the sound of the curved soprano versus the straight.

Quite good analysis of the difference between the two. I play a straight soprano, but my main instruments are clarinet and tenor sax. In your demonstration of the two sopranos, I thought that the straight one had slightly better tone.

The way Simon plays in the key of D on a Bb horn, almost sounds as natural as if it were a concert pitch woodwind. His playing in general easily reminds me of Tom Scott.

Really good analysis!

Clear and GREAT! THANKS🥇🎼🎨

I have this same Windcraft curved soprano and coming from playing and owning Yamaha and Yanagisawa saxophones and knowing how well they are made, I was suirprised to find this is well made too, especially for the price, maybe not to the standard like Yamaha or Yani saxophones build, but still good. I played it with a Selmer Concept, Selmer one screw gold lacquer ligature and tried different reeds: Legere signature, classic cut, Legere signature Bb clarinet reeds and European cut clarinet reeds and the tone sounded very good on all of them. It is freeblowing with the low Bb coming out well the first time for me. The sound is is warm and slightly rich with good projection which I like. Coming from playing a Yanagisawa AWO2 alto sax as my main instrument with its more centred intonation, it is taking me more time and work to be able to learn do play this soprano in tune tune as is getting used to the left hand pinky keys which feel a little different. It maybe more "circus" but like Simon said, it is more fun to play, and I love playing it. I have played straight soprano saxes and my main issue has always been the weight of them on my right thumb and arm when playing. I also noticed the neck strap would get in the way of the octave key. I don't have those issues with the curved and I can play as long as I like without feeing my arm is getting sore which is the main reason I chose it. Yes the tuning takes more work compared to the straight soprano, but I find that compormise is worth it, especally if you prefer the sound of a curved soprano over a straight one.

I used to play clarinette as my main instrument and as I got into jazz I bought a soprano sax. Reason being that the soprano plays much like a clarinette in contrast to an alto. With that being said I found a lot of clarinette-like qualities in the straight sopranos which is why I went with a curved one. With the right mouthpiece you can get really warm and smooth jazz tones from it :)

The tones are very different but both lovely! The curved was noticeably more punchy and raucous. I think personally I'd have zero problem using a straight sax for either classical or jazz, but based on this I wouldn't want the curved soprano on a classical piece.

I'd probably go with the straight. I like the tone a whole lot more. Plus, I've been playing clarinet for about 7 years. I'd just fit into it really quickly. I've played tenor sax (my main saxophone and main instrument), bari sax, and alto sax. I remember when I picked up the bari sax. It was so hard for me. Goodness! So was the alto sax which is odd. But I would definitely not pass up the opportunity of playing soprano sax.

Very informative.

I have a 1922 Buescher True Tone curved soprano. The town is very pretty and it's fun to play.

The straight is my preferencer. Beautiful sound

To me curved has more a sax sound, straight more clarinet.

Owning both i find the Curved Soprano easier to play, and the intonation is better

👍prefer the curved sound 🎶🎷, more shape & living breath 😬

Thank you for the introduction. I'm interested in soprano sax, however a bit overwhelmed with the brands. Do you have any recommended affordable brands for beginners?

I have a curved that I like. I wanted it because less people seem to have them, and I like the look better. I noticed in this video thew straight one sounds warmer but also more clarinetty (is that a word?). I think depending on what you want, you can have both and choose one for certain things and another for other things. The curved also sound smaller like it's trying to push air through a smaller pipe, and I can hear the length difference of the straight

I like the straight one it has more personality to me

I actually like the sound of the curved one better! That's not how I previously thought I would be

To me the straight one sounds a bit more nasal, the curved sounds warmer. but yet more punchy too. It would be nice to own both for the different sounds, but if I had to pick one I'd pick the curved.

1:35-1:45 The most beautiful 10 seconds of the video.

I know curve Soprano Saxophone when Dave Koz has a concert in Dallas a few years back.

I've played both curved and straight--the curved really cramped my fingers. Both are vintage (1920s) which could be a factor.

I definitely prefer straight. It has a nicer darker tone and if ya can manage to get rid of that sawtooth-like sound then it’s perfect. I kinda wanna get one now just for that nice lil unique sound brooooo.

I prefer the mellow tone of the curved horn.

The curved soprano sounds more like a miniature alto sax and the straight one sounds more like an oboe. Some people consider it a gold clarinet.

Hello thanks for your advice. I looked up the Yamaha Yas-280 but I think this is the alto model. Can you recommend a good soprano sax for someone with small hands?

The straight sounds a bit warmer and softer

And if you start having shoulder issues, the logistics of a curved is easier to hold in a gig.

The sound of the straight soprano depends on how it is picked up: if you pick it up by the bell, the sound is brighter; if you pick it up by the keys, the sound is warmer. This variety of timbres is an advantage of the straight over the curved.

As for me, the straight one sounds softer n sweet and the curved one kind of concentrates the sound and vibrates a lil bit more. I'm about to buy one and lm not yet that sure of buying the straight one. I like Dave Caz, for instance n he plays the curved one but something deep inside is telling me the straight one's the one for me. Hope someone can tell me why l should buy this or that one. Thanks n blessings.

Damn! The straight do sound better and i have a curved Yanigisawa. Still very happy with it though. Does this transfer to a straight alto as well? Are there straight tenors?

Hello! I have recently started with alto sax and was wondering if I could alternate it with the soprano, learn both at the same time

They are both good

The straight soprano sounded much nicer in the lower register for me. Is that common to have such a big difference between the curved and the straight soprano (regarding the lower notes) or may it just be the branch of the saxophones?

I saw a curved soprano sax at Sam Ash back in the day always thought it was a small child's instrument learn something new today

Did anyone mention the ergonomics? a straight is spread in the hands even wider than an alto, while the curved is much tighter than an alto. I find the straight very comfortable and the curved is way too close together for me.

I've always found the curved soprano so adorable

Coltrane played a straight soprano and his sound is heavenly and ethereal. My sax player uses a curved and i hate it in the higher registers .

I have a curved Yani after a straight Mk V1 for 40 years. I agree with the intonation comments but I play in a lot of louder venues and the curved is not only man jewelry and a discussion piece, but it is so easy to mic like a regular sax. Especially if you have a clip on mic. I really like the curved for sure. They are different animals completely. I wish I had both but I had to sell my straight to get the curved.

Hi thanks for sharing your video. I have played alto for a number of years. I have an inexpensive STAG. The low notes are very difficult to play especially low Bb as I have to do a big jump with my little finger. I have very small hands and am wondering whether a different Sax would suit me better. Also on the straight soprano not sure whether it is best to use the curved neck or straight neck. I also play sitting down. Any advice much appreciated.

1:40 i am damn sure he wanted to play the lick

Why oppose them? (Versus?) They're two different instruments. I have both. My curved soprano is a cheapo but it's still fun...and it draws more questions and comments, and not only from nonmusicians. Plus it has a really pretty flower engraved on the bell. I used to have a pawn shop straight Ardsley (no, not Artley) that I loved, but got rid of when I got the curved one. (I regret that decision.) Later I got a straight Cannonball soprano. It's a good horn, but I never warmed up to it like I did with the pawn shop horn. Just me, I guess.

They both sound good, however to my ear the curved sounds more potent, more powerful, more in your ear, so to speak... More upfront... Know what I mean?

That is a baby saxophone 🎷

I play soprano alto end tenor .for some reason I am always more in tune with soprano and mostly in tenor .interesting 😮

I think your take on the difference is right on the mark. Personally, I think the curved neck modulates the tone a bit more as well as directing the sound more towards the audience. Van Morrison would definitely prefer the curved soprano.

I play cornet/trumpet but a couple of days ago a friend lent me an alto saxophone and I am impressed by how easy it is to play - at first go. However, I find it cumbersome and heavy to hold - I am in my 70s and have a bit of arthritis and am wondering if a soprano would be significantly easier to handle - you mentioned that junior players sometimes opt for it as a smaller instrument. I also imagine I would like the feedback of the curved version. I play in a wind band and it is sometimes very hard to hear my cornet or trumpet. However, whereas the trumpet has five or six notes for each finger position the sax has only one so the problem of pitching will be less. I would appreciate your thoughts also in respect of buying a suitable instrument - is second hand typically OK? For my cornet/trumpet I am convinced that when on a limited budget it is better to buy a second hand professional model than a new intermediate.

I like the sound of curved better

Next ... _sopranino_ sax! 🎷🎷

El curvo suena más power !!!

I notice that the large keys on the curved sax are on the left rather than the right side of the bell. Does that affect anything?

I always thought the Curved Soprano was bigger than what I'm seeing

Honestly, I hear the same

Hello, man. I'm just wondering if you could help me. I learned how to play sax with my cheap alto Global Saxophone. I did pretty well with my playing. Then, at some time, a friend offered me her Curved soprano Fernando Sax because she wants to buy an alto sax for her daughter. So i decided to swap our instruments. We swapped. Now, the problem is, it really gives me a very hard time to give a decent sound. And when I make one, I just don't like the sound of it. The way your sax sounds is different from mine. Is it broken? Or does the mouth piece and reed matter? I have 2.5 in my previous sax as well as with this curved soprano. It sounds so deep. I really think it should sound sexy. Please help.

What would the sound be like if the straight soprano had the straight neck attached ?

Some one show me the notes to that solo👌

The Straight sounds more like a clarinet than a sax to me.

I like the curved sopranos sound better.

Cannonball makes a great soprano sax

The curved one is cute, therefore it is better. It's science.

I prefer the sound of the curved. It just sounds more saxophone and also fits the look. The straight is too mellow and clarinet looking. I know either of these saxophones can sound just like a saxophone, I just prefer the curved.

Most hard core horn guys usually have both, like me......

the curved one sounds like classic saxophone sound but straight almost sound like another instrument

The curved had some slight intonation issues. Little bit flat on the low D. Great mellow tone otherwise.

You guys are lying. The straight instrument is a golden clarinet. The curved instrument is a saxophone.

I love the golden clarinet. Sounds a lot like a saxophone

curved for me

0:53 1:30

I *think* if you play clarinet. A straight soprano would be eaiser to play. (It's just a hypothesis because- Well Clarinet is also a b flat instrument and it's straight.)

old chap doesnt seem like he'd wanna be seen in public with that thing.

Baby Tenor sax

soprano sax do be looking like a clarinet

The guy with the black shirt looks like the guy from the Big Bang theory’

The straight reminds me of the clarinet, maybe a metal clarinet sound. Anyway around it, the curved soprano in the hands of a large man looks silly.

Straight sopranos. Old ones. Sound best. Without a doubt. And go up in value. But get what you like the sound of. It's not a competition.

even that big man is having a hard tyme playing the straight one

If you're a senior, never go for the straight, your fingers will suffer, strap or not. I played one in my twenties, with no problem. I bought one again in my sixties and had to sell it because of instant finger fatigue and pain, even using a neck strap. Stick to the curved.

the curved sounded better

The straight sound better

Curved are easier to mic up... FWIW

Who else thinks that the Soprano Sax looks a lot better than any other saxophone?😝

soprano sax is a better clarient

Less Kenny G more Grace Kelly

I'm the same size as the bald guy. And honestly curved looks like a toy.

Please... don’t even mention Kenny G..!! Soft / smooth jazz was the worst ever...!!