2nd post 2nd question (and then some)

[saxwah]

Righto my next question for this bountiful pool of knowledge.................

i may well need a new sax, mostly for gigging, (if i can't repair my horn)
The quality of sound is not so important, as when mixed in with the rest of my band, you probably wouldn't hear the difference! What i am interested in is ease of playing, i.e fingering and how much puff i'd need (i'm sure thats the technical term)

i've seen a couple of horns on ebay about ?300 ish (pretty much top of my budget) i've seen a buescher aristocrat, a vitage martin, a new b+h and a vintage b+h oxford?

is it worth buying something this sort of price? (my band is recording at the mo so it might be good to have nice tones!) or would i be best buying another ?100 pounder (until i destroy that! ) and save up for something better?

sorry for my jumbled ramblings I'm writing as i think (and thats never v.straight forward)!

p.s if you'd like to hear the sort of thing i play check out our myspace/theukwah "conscience crisis" is my favourite!

 

[Linky Lee]

A vintage Martin.... if it's in good condition should have a lovely core sound.

Though if you're prioritising the action/key placement and smoothness etc. first I wouldn't look at vintage instruments prior to the 50's as some of them are very different.

In saying that, I don't find that key placement makes any difference, you adapt and get around it, what does make the difference is the consistency of key heights and spring tensions.

I read your other post and the repair wouldn't be a huge cost, but if you got the sax for ?100 it might not seem worthwhile.

I always think you should have the best available that you can afford. The very cheap saxophones often have problems that get in the way of the actual playing. It's hard enough without these to play well so why introduce them at all?

A little bit of research and a bit more investment could net you a saxophone that plays well, sounds good and is a bit more durable.

I'd look towards actual retailers too, not eBay. You can expect to pay anything from ?20-?200+ to sort out something bought off of eBay.

On this forum, it seems to be that Gear4Music, Hanson and Walstein are highly favored as the cheap sax leaders (I have a Hanson and a Walstein, as well as the Martin).
I would prefer Hanson and Walstein over Gear4Music as they are available via actual retailers that you can see, visit by appointment and have a person there for after sales support, which Hanson have the best notoriety for in the business it seems.

 

[saxwah]

Nice one, that seems like sound advice! i agree about finger placement
you can used to pretty much anything. hmmm

i'm prob better off getting summut better then, is a horn worth ?300 quids gonna be that much better?

 

[Pjonah]

Linky_Lee wrote:
I would prefer Hanson and Walstein over Gear4Music as they are available via actual retailers that you can see, visit by appointment and have a person there for after sales support, which Hanson have the best notoriety for in the business it seems.

Actually Gear4music have a shop in York, you can go to them as well. What they lack is a sax tech to set it up for you. And they allow you to try the instrument for two weeks, if you don't rate it send it back for a full refund!

Not such a bad deal either, I only however have experience of their alto sax, they all seam to be copies of the range toppers at the Yanagisawa camp.

Simon

 

[Linky Lee]

I didn't realise that. I guess in that case, I don't prefer Hanson and Walstein over them.
Though I am biased in their favour as I own both a Hanson and a Walstein and rate both of them very highly.