Purchased a keyed alto suona!

[Tytolis]

Hey all!

I recently purchased an antique alto suona! Has anyone played keyed suonas here before? Let me know what I should expect/look out for!

I am already a double reed player, mostly bassoon, and it seems to respond well with my more "buzzy" reeds.

It seems like the key of the instrument is Bb, at least when I play the fingering OOO|OOOO.

 

[ghostler]

This is the first time that I have seen such an instrument. I know nothing about these, imagine it was when manufacturers were trying different approaches, and this one did not become popular, thus became obscure. Indeed you have a rare one or couple of rare ones.

 

[Gandalfe]

Interesting, there are a couple of YouTube vids on this instrument:

In short, Suonax is a patented hybrid of Suona and Saxophone, and model No. JI-61s is a Sopranino Suonax in E♭ with keys of 12 Equal Temperament as shown in video.The advantage of 12 Equal Temperament over Pentatonic Scales is obvious, and the main reason to arrange this instrument in a E♭ scale is to attract saxophone players with similar fingering. After E♭ Sopranino is developed, E♭ Alto will the next one which is followed by E♭ Baritone, B♭ Soprano, and the last B♭ Tenor. Suonaxes all can be played along within Suonax family or with Saxophone family.Instrument Inventor: Mr. Ding, Angen. 丁安根

 

[ghostler]

Interesting timbre of the instrument, has more of an oboe quality to it. Lends itself to traditional Asian and Mid Eastern styles of music it appears. I played oboe for a short time in high school. I prefer single reed to double and the manufactured reed assemblies even 55 years ago were expensive.

Regarding sopraninos, I purchased a Venus ebonite Eb sopranino clarinet a decade ago, was on clearance for less than $100 shipping included. Not the best in the world intonation wise but I can play it in tune. Found it to be a real hoot with jazz music. Probably why I've never bought a sopranino sax, they tend to be pricey, even the entry level ones.