Why isn't there alot of soprono saxophones?

i want to a music store to look for( just to try one) and they told me that they don't have any and that there isn't many and also there isn't any used ones that i would have to buy it, 2000 dollars. why? I Want to try one. Sopronos are the best

The Soprano is not an unpopular instrument at all. Steve gives a great argument why so I'm not going to repeat him. Also, If you go to any decent college music program, the principle alto in the wind ensemble is expected to play one, especially if you do any Percy Granger pieces. And the altos and first tenor in the jazz band will most likely to play one. And if the school has any sax quartets or quintets, you will defiantly have to play one if you are playing the first part. The thing is, you only see Soprano parts in advanced High School level music and above. That already takes out a huge percent of saxes players from the market right there. By that time, as a saxophonist, you are usually tired of going to the local music store and dealing with clerks who don't know anything about saxes and have found a specialty shop that is hopefully not too far away. I live in So Cal and can think of over 10 shops that would have new and used sopranos to try out. You just have to find them. As far as intonation, all smaller instruments are harder to play in tune. It's just a simple matter of physics. High pitches have shorter sound waves so smaller changes in your embouchure can make a bigger difference in pitch than a larger instrument. Also the soprano creates a lot more back pressure so you need to have better breath control and air support than a larger instrument. Something that I don't see people talk about enough. Try the forum on www.saxontheweb.net You can find a listing of good music stores in your area and get more answers to you question there.
Hope this helps.

the soprano sax is a rare sax out of the sax family (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass). one reason why you won't find one as easily as you think is because not many people play it. i didn't pick it up because there are many other instruments that have that pitch and tone. also i found it to be somewhat difficult to play, your ambiture needs alot of training to be able to successfully play the sop. sax. also if you want to try to hit octaves three times what the sop sax can normally play then you really need about seven years to get there. if you haven't started playing the sax i would sugggest starting with the tenor sax (only because the the tenor sax and sop. sax have the same key signature, and alto and bari sax also have the same key signature) if you start with the tenor you can progressively move up to sop sax (practicing with the alto if you'd like to help tighten up your lips).

as far as finding a sop. sax for 2000....i doubt it.

There aren't a lot of them because there isn't much demand for them. The reason for lack of demand is lack of music for them. Only 1-2% of concert band/wind ensemble music includes a soprano saxophone part. Somewhere around 5% of jazz music includes a soprano part. Even solo pieces are few and far between. Also, and the real unfortunate part, is that people who buy sopranos rarely work to get a good tone out of the instrument, so then even if the player can transpose by sight,groups don't want them because the sound isn't good.

because alto is annoying enough why go soprano?

Great instrument.. I was told it's harder to keep in pitch(I'm a guitarist). Check out Grover Washington's stuff, Gerald Albright plays one from time to time and their are others.. I'm not a big fan of Kenny G, but he plays one as well.

Well, I don't agree with some of these answers. First, the soprano is hardly a rare saxophone. It has been quite popular ever since John Coltrane played one on 'My Favorite Things' back in 1961. Coltrane basically resurrected it through that recording and it has inspired many since then.

Kenny G did not start the recent interest in soprano by any means. Long before him, Wayne Shorter, Bennie Maupin, Grover Washington Jr, Ronnie Laws, Tom Scott, Ernie Watts, Dave Liebman and even Michael Brecker (on occasion) either featured or 'doubled' on the soprano on many recordings.

I will agree that it is difficult in intonation, but once you get used to its flaws, you can play it just as well as any other sax in an ensemble. By the way, ALL of the saxophones have notes that are inherently out of tune that must be lipped up or down to blend with the ensemble.

Further, there has been much big band music written since the 60s that includes the soprano in the ensemble. I have played charts from Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Sammy Nestico, Quincy Jones, Jay Chattaway and many others that have soprano parts in the sax section.

There are lots of sopranos for sale on eBay, but you must be careful not to buy from the foreign sellers (Asian or Australian). From complaints and stories I've heard, they sometimes get your money and do not ship the item.

I play a Jupiter Straight Soprano with black lacquer and I am frequently complimented on its tone and overall sound - you might check out Jupiter horns. I would also check out Dominic's Music store on the web. He has many instruments that are nicely priced and good quality.