BUZZZZZZZ

[jake]

Johnny, your buzz on the sax is so beautiful, love it.
When you play how is this achieved? You can’t be humming constantly are you? Is it the amount of air flow on the reed that makes it vibrate so? I play on a metal high baffled MP and have experimented with different reeds, some are buzzier than other but no where close to hearing anything like you.
I do find when I play faster rock n roll and am more aggressive with the mp it is buzzier sounding. I love your house of the rising sun cover. Do I need to dig deep and really push from my diaphram to get the reed moving?? Any insights would be great. I know I have posted this question before, not trying to beat a dead horse but want more buzz to my sound!!

[Dazza]

Jake I find that I too get a bit of a nice buzz when I really give it some along with a bit of attitude but the secret for me is how to get that when playing with more control on, say, Silent Night!? I know Johhny has posted before about over-blowing and playing loud to improve your sound but it does puff you out quickly

[jake]

Dazza, you hit the nail on the head as far as the question I posted! I can’t believe you have to go all out everytime we play? If so, I need to start some cardio workouts to keep up. HaHa. Johnny makes it look so effortless.
In need of BUZZZZZ, Pleeeeze help. haha.

[jake]

I play a Hawk (Chinese) tenor. It’s been 3 years so the upgrade is coming rather soon for me. Hopefully that will help a little. I did test play a selmer mark vii tenor and got no more of a buzz than what I get on this Hawk. I use a high baffle metal mp and 2.5 strong rigotti gold reeds. I did try a synthetic fibracell reed and that helped make it buzzier but nothing to the extreme.

[Anonymous]

hi jake – can you give a short demo showing you doing the “buzz”
1st just pick some easy relaxed notes and play them each for a count of 8 beats at mid volume (no buzzing just blow like you are blowing out cigar smoke)
2nd this time play the same notes and demonstrate the “buzz” effect.

i’m just curious as to how you are achieving the buzz, and if i remember, i’ll ask around people i meet, how they do it, or if its just a players natural playing

[Kevin]

Jake, do you get that buzz to your liking on your Bar I setup?

[Kevin]

When Johnny is on the alto, I think the tone has less buzz, so his selmer must have a loose screw (lol)

[jake]

the bari buzz come natural. i love the tone on it. i use a cheap rico mp that cost me like 25 bucks. i just blow in that baby and im in love. the tenor is a different story. it sounds so plain sounding. i want a buzz to my sound like johnnys or those classic 80’s tunes. i dont wanna sound classical at all!
I dont know what you mean James. I just blow softly and it will sound plain. But if I bear down and play like I mean it, there is a buzz/ring to it that is noticable as compared to just blowing softly. I still want more of a buzz than I am getting. I have heard it from too many other players, so i know it can be achieved. I just wanna know how. Look at Johnnys House of the rising sun video. I love that buzz, but it is a relaxed song (Johnny looks so relaxed) and not one I see myself going all out on as compared to a rock n roll solo. Hope this makes sense.

[jake]

Take this song for example. I love this version. I def can hear some growling in there but when he isnt growling there is a nice sounding buzz going on that makes this song scream to me. I just re-did my unchained melody and put it on my fb page, didnt post it here. Huge difference in buzz. I know I only have 3 years under my belt but looking to generate more of that buzz sound.

[jake]

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