’MOE SAX
’Moe Sax uses the same pitch-control principal as the original ’moe, which is a clarinet. This involves a flexible magnetic strip positioned over an open slit running the length of the instrument. Normally the strip angles up and away, but when you press it down it covers a portion of the slit, depending where you press. This is like covering tone holes in a standard instrument, except that you can press anywhere in the pitch continuum, or glissando all you want. The magnetic strip seals leaklessly over the steel sides of the slit when pressed. ’Moe sax uses a tenor sax mouthpiece. The wooden body functions as a conical bore, though it’s square in cross-section. As with most saxophone-like instruments, ‘Moe Sax is very loud.
Historical note: I first conceived and built the ‘Moe family of instruments in the early 1990s. Recently the Hungarian maker Dániel Váczi has starting building and promoting his Glissonic instruments, which are essentially identical in design and concept. The main difference between Glissonic and ‘Moe is that while the ‘Moes (like all my instruments) have a bit of a homemade quality to them, the Glissonics are refined and beautifully made. I recommend them for anyone who wishes to own and play an instrument of this sort.