[Dixielandjazz] Low Notes on the Baritone Sax

[Robert Smith]

Larry

I think you are right when you say that intonation mis-matches affect the ability to play a low note. The frequency of a note ('pitch') multiplied by the wavelength is equal to the velocity of sound in air. This velocity does not vary with air pressure, and only slightly with the humidity. It does, however, vary significantly with the air temperature. If you tune the sax to an octave under concert A at, say, 20°C (68°F) then the frequency will be 221 Hz. If you now play at, say, 30°C (86°F) then the pitch will increase by 4Hz (most trained musicians can hear the difference between notes only 1 Hz apart). Conversely playing at 10°C (50°F) will decrease the pitch by 3+ Hz.
The expansion and contraction of the instrument will tend to nullify these variations slightly. 
Because of the player's breath wind instruments will be warmer than string instruments, and this will lead to a slight intonation mis-match, but this could be enough to explain the various effects noted so far on the list.
The woolliness of low notes played by plucking the strings of a bass was probably the reason the old-timers invented "slap-bass", and your problem may be the reason for slap-tonguing.
Just for the record, my experience has been with the trombone, and not with saxes or string instruments.

Cheers

Bob Smith