Editing Saxophone (section)

==Unusual variants==
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| image1 = Reiffel_%26_Husted_Royal_Slide_Sax_(1922).jpg
| image2 = MIM Conn-O-Sax.png
| alt1 = R&H Slide saxophone (c. 1922)
| alt2 = Conn Conn-O-Sax (c. 1930)
| footer = ''Left:'' slide saxophone, {{circa|1922}} by Reiffel & Husted ([[Museum of Making Music]], California). ''Right:'' Conn-O-Sax, {{circa|1930}} by C.G. Conn ([[Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix)|Musical Instrument Museum]], Phoenix, AZ)
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A number of experimental saxophones and saxophone-related instruments have appeared since Sax's original work, most with no lasting impact. During the early 1920s Reiffel & Husted of Chicago produced a {{visible anchor|Slide saxophone|text=slide soprano saxophone}}.<ref name="nmm-slide-sax">{{Cite web |title=Slide saxophone in C by Reiffel & Husted, c. 1922–1925 |id=Object 00885 |work=National Music Museum |publisher=University of South Dakota |publication-place=Vermillion |url= https://emuseum.nmmusd.org/objects/4553/slide-saxophone-c |access-date=29 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jasonharron.com/Slide01.JPG |title=Slide sax picture |access-date=2006-10-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628175600/http://www.jasonharron.com/Slide01.JPG |archive-date=2007-06-28 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Slide sax: Come Sunday, Duke Ellington |lang=fr |people=Couderc, Frédéric (saxophone); Cabon, Patrick (piano); Kampmann, Bruno (narrator) |publisher=Vandoren TV |publication-place=France |date=7 June 2017 |medium=Video |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzp--0RbVD0 |access-date=21 April 2023 |via=YouTube }}</ref> During the 1920s some straight alto and tenor saxophones were produced by [[Buescher Band Instrument Company|Buescher]], which proved cumbersome to handle and more difficult to transport.  Buescher custom produced one straight baritone saxophone as novelty instrument for a vaudeville performer.<ref name="Cohen">{{cite journal |last1=Cohen |first1=Paul |title=column |journal=Saxophone Journal |date=1993 |volume=18 |issue=2|url=http://www.contrabass.com/contra-archive/contra76.html}}</ref> [[C.G. Conn]] introduced two new variants in 1928–1929, the {{visible anchor|Conn-O-Sax|text=''Conn-O-Sax''}} and the [[mezzo-soprano saxophone]], both keyed in F, one step above the E♭ alto. The Conn-O-Sax is built straight, with a slightly curved neck, a spherical [[liebesfuss]]-style bell, and extra keys for low A and up to high G. It was produced only in 1929 and 1930, and intended to imitate the form and timbre of the [[cor anglais]]. With fewer than 100 surviving instruments, the Conn-O-Sax is highly sought after by collectors. The Conn mezzo-soprano experienced a similarly short production run, as the economics of the [[Great Depression]] curtailed the market for what were regarded as novelty instruments.  Most were subsequently expended by Conn to train its repair technicians.

The most successful of the unusual 1920s designs was the King {{visible anchor|Saxello|text=''Saxello''}}, essentially a straight B{{music|b}} soprano, but with a slightly curved neck and tipped bell, made by the [[H. N. White Company]].  Such instruments now command prices up to US$4,000. Its lasting influence is shown in the number of companies, including Keilwerth, Rampone & Cazzani (''altello'' model), L.A. Sax and Sax Dakota USA, marketing straight-bore, tipped-bell soprano saxophones as saxellos (or "saxello sopranos").

Interest in two 1920s variants was revived by jazz musician [[Rahsaan Roland Kirk]], who called his straight Buescher alto a {{visible anchor|Stritch|text="stritch"}} and his Saxello a {{visible anchor|Manzello|text="manzello"}}. The Buescher straight alto was a production instrument while the manzello was in fact a Saxello with a custom-made large bell and modified keywork.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=John Robert |title=The Keilwerth straight alto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512123430/http://www.john-robert-brown.com/straight-alto-saxophone.htm |archive-date =2019-05-12 |url=http://www.john-robert-brown.com/straight-alto-saxophone.htm |website=John Robert Brown, Writer, Musician |access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref>  More recently, the mezzo-soprano, or a modern variant of it, came into use by jazz musicians [[Anthony Braxton]], [[James Carter (musician)|James Carter]], [[Vinny Golia]], and [[Joe Lovano]].

Some of the 1920s experimental designs, in addition to the Saxello, provide the basis for similar instruments produced during the modern era.  Straight altos and tenors have been revived by Keilwerth,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Stephen |title=Workbench review, Keilwerth SX90 straight alto saxophone |url=http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Keilwerth_SX90_straight.htm |website=shwoodwind.co.uk |access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> L.A. Sax<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasaxophones.com/straight.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108191406/http://www.lasaxophones.com/straight.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 8, 2006|title=L.A. Sax Straight Models|access-date=2007-05-07}}</ref> and Sax Dakota USA. A mezzo-soprano in the key of G has been produced by Danish woodwind technician Peter Jessen, most notably played by [[Joe Lovano]]. This instrument is more in the timbral quality of Bb soprano saxophone.

The {{visible anchor|Contralto saxophone|text=''contralto'' saxophone}}, similar in size to the orchestral C-melody, was developed in the late 20th century by California instrument maker Jim Schmidt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cvip.fresno.com/~js210/contra.html|title=Jim Schmidt's Contralto|access-date=2007-05-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070408001917/http://cvip.fresno.com/~js210/contra.html |archive-date = April 8, 2007}}</ref> This instrument has a larger bore and a new fingering system, and does not resemble the orchestral instrument except for its key and register.
[[File:Eppelsheim Soprillo Saxophone 2000s (rotate).jpg|thumb|150px|Eppelsheim Soprillo Saxophone]]
<div style="float:right; margin-right:.5em;">
[[Image:Saxos de bambú por Angel Sampedro del Río, luthier argentino.jpg|thumb|205px|'''Saxos de Bambú''' by Ángel Sampedro del Río, Argentina]] </div>
[[Benedikt Eppelsheim]], of Munich, Germany has introduced recent innovations at the upper and lower ends of the saxophone range.  The [[soprillo sax]] is a [[piccolo]]-sized saxophone pitched an octave higher than the B{{music|b}} soprano sax. It is so small that the octave key is built into the mouthpiece. The [[tubax]], developed in 1999 by Eppelsheim,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eppelsheim.com/tubax.php?lang=en|title=Tubax E{{music|b}} saxophone|publisher=[[Benedikt Eppelsheim]] Wind Instruments|access-date=2007-05-07}}</ref> plays the same range and with the same fingering as the E{{music|b}} contrabass saxophone. Its bore, however, is narrower than that of a contrabass, resulting in a more compact instrument with a "reedier" tone (akin to the double-reed contrabass [[sarrusophone]]). It can be played with the smaller (and more commonly available) baritone saxophone mouthpiece and reeds. Eppelsheim has also produced subcontrabass tubaxes in C and B{{music|b}}, the latter being the lowest saxophone ever made.

Among the 2000s developments is the [[aulochrome]], a double soprano saxophone invented by Belgian instrument maker François Louis in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aulochrome.com/|title=Aulochrome|website=www.aulochrome.com|accessdate=16 March 2023}}</ref>

Since the 1950s, saxophones with non-metallic bodies have occasionally been in production.  Such instruments have failed to gain acceptance over a number of issues including durability, repairability, and deficiencies in key action and tone.<ref name="saxgourmet">{{cite web|url=http://www.saxgourmet.com/the-grafton-plastic-saxophone/|title=The Grafton Plastic Saxophone &#124; Sax Gourmet|publisher=saxgourmet.com|access-date=2019-03-28}}</ref><ref name="Stohrer">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL7M_aFyGHI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/hL7M_aFyGHI| archive-date=2021-10-30|first=Matthew|last=Stohrer|title=Repairman's Overview: Vibrato Plastic Saxophone – YouTube| date=12 January 2011|publisher=youtube.com|access-date=2019-03-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref>  The best known of these efforts is the 1950s [[Grafton saxophone|Grafton]] [[Acrylic glass|acrylic]] alto saxophone used briefly by Charlie Parker and Ornette Coleman.  It had a production run of over 10 years as a budget model saxophone.  The [[polycarbonate]] [[Vibratosax]] is in production as a low cost alternative to metal saxophones. Wooden [[Sawat saxophone]]s are made in Thailand on a small scale.  Opinions vary on the significance of body materials to sound.

The fingering scheme of the saxophone, which has had only minor changes since the instrument's original invention, has presented inherent acoustic problems related to closed keys below the first open tonehole that affect response of, and slightly muffle, some notes. There is also a lack of tactile consistency between key centers, requiring extra effort from the player to adjust modes of muscle memory when moving between key centers. There have been two noteworthy efforts to remedy the acoustic problems and awkward aspects of the original fingering system:

The Leblanc Rationale and System<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saxgourmet.com/the-fabulous-leblanc-saxophones/|title=The Fabulous Leblanc Saxophones|work=saxgourmet.com}}</ref> saxophones have key mechanics designed to remedy the acoustic problems associated with closed keys below the first open tonehole. They also enable players to make half-step shifts of scales by depressing one key while keeping the rest of the fingering consistent with that of the fingering a half step away. Some Leblanc System features were built into the Vito Model 35 saxophones of the 1950s and 1960s.  Despite the advantages of that system, acceptance was impaired by the expense and mechanical reliability issues related to the complexity of certain key mechanisms.<ref name="Howard">{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Stephen |title=Vito Leblanc System 35 (Johnny Hodges) alto saxophone review |url=http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/vito_35.htm |website=shwoodwind.co.uk |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>

The chromatic, or linear fingering, saxophone is a project of instrument designer and builder Jim Schmidt, developing a horn maximizing tactile and logical consistency between every interval regardless of the key, and avoiding the acoustic problems associated with closed keys below the first open tone hole.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsengineering.net/saxes.asp|title=Saxophones with Linear Fingering System – Flutes and Saxes – JSengineering|work=jsengineering.net|access-date=2014-12-17|archive-date=2016-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015121437/http://www.jsengineering.net/saxes.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Several working prototypes have been built and presented at trade shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeatWHC3zvk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/OeatWHC3zvk| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Jim Schmidt demonstrates his unique saxophone|date=20 January 2009|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Production of this original and expensive saxophone is on an individual order basis.