27/01/2025
Saxophone Materials and Design
Saxophones are usually made of brass. This is a composite alloy of the metals copper, tin, nickel, and zinc. The most commonly used in saxophone production is yellow brass, which contains 30% zinc, plus 70% copper. Other types include gold brass and silver brass, which have different proportions of metals. The zinc in brass makes the alloy suitable for use at lower temperatures. Small amounts of arsenic or phosphorus may also be added to the alloy. Some manufacturers prepare special mixtures of brass to develop different parts of the saxophone.
Stainless steel is also used in saxophone production, from which most screws are made. Mouthpieces can be made of various materials, but this is not essential, since the mouthpiece has little effect on the sound. The most common material is black, hard rubber or ebonite. Mouthpieces are made of metal or glass. Resonators are made of plastic. The valves are nickel-plated to increase their service life and make them more attractive. The instrument itself is often varnished.
A typical saxophone is the only instrument in the world made of curved brass. Initially, the saxophone was made in 14 variants. Now there are only 8 left - sopranissimo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass and double bass. High saxophones are short and lack the characteristic curve.
