Advice on first sax - I'm so confused!

[scooch]

Hello All,
I am hoping to get some sturdy advice from this forum as I've decided I want to take up the sax (been wanting to learn for a couple of years but have finally decided to goforit!). I can read music and I play piano (a bit), but I've never even held a saxophone, much less played one!). I've done loads of online research into saxes but the more I read the more I'm confused, I'm even close to putting the project on 'hold' again as I don't want to make the wrong purchase for my first sax.
Although I like the look and sound of tenor best, I've decided to start on an alto as I've read they are easier to learn on, and cheaper(!), and also there seems to be a lot more learning material (dvds) and sheet music with backing cds for alto than tenor. I figure that if sax is for me I can get into tenor at a later date. OK, first decision made(kinda).

Onto finding a sax.

I'm looking at a budget of about 400/450, but I am really looking to find something with a quality tone. I know too well that a cheap instrument that sounds rubbish will put me off playing altogether, whereas if you can only play three notes on a sax that has a great tone, they can still sound great! With that in mind I was going to go for the Trevor James Classic. Then I saw that www.saxophones.co.uk have a make called sakkusu which is made by elkhart with a yamaha mouthpiece with is supposed to be as good as the TJC. What sort of Grade in music could the TJ Classic take me to? As now I am thinking that maybe even this is not a great starter instrument. So then I was looking at the TJ Horn Revolution and the Yamaha YAS-275, but these are really out of budget, and I don't want to spend a fortune if I don't enjoy playing sax afterall (the very thought!!). Then I read about the Hanson saxes, and their intermediate range (SA5) would be a little over budget but I could live with that. Can anyone rate the Hansons vs the Trevor James. Or recommend another horn that is suitable for beginners with a great tone. Finally, can anyone clarify the difference between the Hanson SA5 Classic and the SA5 Eclipse? It says the eclipse has 'extended key guards', what the heck are they and why would I want them?

Sorry for the length of this post, I don't have a teacher (yet) who can advise me, and well they can be biased towards brands too. I plan on getting a teacher at some stage but not straight away (hey I will have blown the cash on a sax!).

Any advice for this newbie would be great.
All the best.
Scooch.

 

[Pete Thomas]

You're going to get so many opinions on this you'll probably end up even more confused. hansons are great, (better than TJ IMO) I imagine the Sakkusu is good as sax.co.uk are very reputable. I keep meaning to get over there and try one out. It's also worth ringing Woodwind & Brass Ltd, they also do some very fine inexpensive saxophones (I have one of thier sopranos and a tenor on loan).

You can't estimate what grade in music any saxophone will take you to. I can happily use an inexpenive (student or intermediate) saxophone on any gig or session. These days some of the cheaper saxophones aren't necessarily inferior to the established top brand names.

 

[scooch]

thanks for the speedy advice. 🙂 Between the two Hansons, what is the extended key guard thing all about?
Thanks again,
Scooch.

 

[Linky Lee]

The keyguard protects the keys on the bell when knocked. Normally the B and Bb have a double keyguard and single ones on the others.

With the eclipse it is one keyguard for low C, C#, B and Bb.

There is some debate to whether this is any better or not.
Some say that if it takes a knock then you'll have less in a few places. Or some say that you'll get a fair amount of damage all on one key and you're more likely to incur an expensive repair.

I'm not too sure what to think. And it's a very small point to consider IMO. But then it's not going to cost you anything extra. I'd just choose whatever one looks better to you IMO.

I rate the Hanson's very highly. I have an SA8 series and it's fantastic! I've never had the pleasure to play a 5 series though, I'm sure they're as good. i.e. better than most other horns at the same price.

The horn will be good enough as to allow you to play it as well as you like and will take you to grade 8. The only time a horn won't allow you to play it at a certain level is if there is something mechanically or seriously wrong with it's intonation. Any reputable student horn won't have this really, though mechanical is questionable. My Hanson has never failed me yet.

I actually disagree with your choice of going for alto. I honestly don't believe that tenor is harder to learn on. and I don't think you'll be as motivated to learn on an alto whenyou know already you really want to be playing a tenor. The sound is different and the feel is different.

You'll have to learn to adapt as well when you do change, which is a lot more unnecesary hard work.

The price difference between alto and tenor isn't huge.

Hope you get a sax soon and enjoy the music!

 

[Rogerb]

I have had both, scooch(they sent the wrong one first!) and I would recommend the SA-5 over the Eclipse, although I doubt there is much in it.

There is a s/h SA-5 for sale in the Yard Sale, but I assume you'd lose the considerable benefits of 5-yr warranty and free servicing .... are you UK-based?

In the end, I shut my ears to all the conflicting advice... having spoken to Alastair Hanson, I was sold on *him* and his company, and the good reviews, plus the after-sales deal.

I have had no reason to regret my decision.

I suggest you talk to Maria/Alastair and see what *you* think.

 

[sharon]

Hi Scooch. I've recently started learning the sax after wanting to for years and have not regretted it - I just love it. I went down the hiring route from sax.co.uk as like you I didn't know whether I'd like it or not.

If you're sure about it and want to buy - I would agree with the others about the Hanson it does seem to be the best in terms of value for money and after sales service - it gets great reviews from everyone who plays one on this forum.

I have to agree with Lee about the alto v tenor thing. I originally hired an alto as I thought it would be easier although I've alway prefered the sound of the tenor. I got on well with the alto and really enjoyed learning on it - but I felt a bit dissatisfied with the sound. So now I'm hiring a tenor as well.

I've found that I've had to relearn what I've already learnt on the alto. Not in terms of music (I had no knowledge of reading music previously) But everything else. Even though the keys are in the same place on both, playing it in terms of tone, breathing and embouchure is different IMO. I think if I had started on a tenor I would not have know any different and would have just got on with it.

So my advice would be DO NOT shelve your plans to do this and if you really like the sound of the tenor start on that.

Sharon

 

[Rogerb]

I agree, too... if you really want a tenor, get a tenor! If you start on alto, you'd probably end up with *both* 🙂

However, if you want Paul's s/h SA-5, it's worth considering... I have just spoken to Maria at Hanson and she says that it's bought and paid for, so there's no reason she can think of why they wouldn't honour the 5-year warranty and servicing!
That's service!

Of course, the problem with Hanson tenors is that they just can't get enough to meet the demand 🙁 ....... but if you're set on it, talk to the lovely Maria, anyway, and see what they can do!

 

[old_git]

If it's the tenor sound you want, go for it Scooch. I enjoyed my time on trombone and all the other folkie things I've played, but five weeks into a tenor, I regret the wasted time when I should have been blowing Adolphe's horn. :erm:

 

[Bobby G]

Rogerb wrote:
I agree, too... if you really want a tenor, get a tenor! If you start on alto, you'd probably end up with *both* 🙂

Not probably, definitely 🙂 then you'll get a soprano, then you'll want a baritone....

Scooch, it sounds to me as if you would prefer a tenor - in the absence of a Hanson, a Trevor James would probably do the job, they're quite easy to play and sound ok. My tenor is a cheap old 30-year-old battered Yamaha student model which suits me fine but wouldn't have much resale value (I bought it when I'd been playing alto for a while, so I knew I was gonna get use out of it) so the used horn route may not be for you. I've heard the sakkusu horns are ok, and another cheaper horn that seems to have a good reputation is gear4music.

However, if I was just starting, I think I'd go for either the rent-to-buy option, or a Hanson. I've never played one, or had any dealings with them, but their reputation as a good horn, plus what sounds like wonderful service would definitely make me look very seriously in that direction. Good luck with whatever you get, and have a great time blowing!

Bill, I know what you mean, it took me 40 years of mucking about (mostly very enjoyably, mind) on piano, various guitars and the odd drum-kit before I got into sax-playing. I may never blow as well as I pluck, but I don't think I've ever enjoyed playing another instrument as much as my sax.

Cheers, Bob

 

[jambo]

another option is this guy:

www.saxhire.co.uk

He sells Trevor James and Yamaha's (the 2 most highly regarded student horns) for very good prices! I got my first sax form him.

 

[scooch]

Hello Everyone,
Thanks so very much for your sound advice (no pun intended!). I have just ordered an ST-5 from Hanson, thats the budget out the window :whistle: but who was I kidding... I really wanted the tenor rather than the alto.

I can't wait to get started.
I'm sure I'll be posting again once I get started !!

Thanks again!
Scooch

 

[Linky Lee]

well done! Now that you're broke you're officially a 'muso' 😛

 

[sharon]

Good for you! you must be soo excited - actually I'm rather excited for you, 🙂

The waiting...... and then when it comes and you open up the case ........ and it's gleaming ............. and all the keys ............. and the lovely pearly bits ................... Sorry got a bit carried away then.

I know you will really enjoy it.

Sharon

 

[Bobby G]

I know what you mean Sharon - even opening the case for the first time on my newly-acquired old spotty student alto was a breathtaking experience.

Have fun on your tenor Scooch, let us know how it's going.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Linky Lee]

I can remember recieveing my SA-8-24K-F from Hanson.

I spent a good five minutes staring at it, then picked up the phone and called my mate round for another 20 minutes of staring.

I didn't dear touch the thing for a while 😛

 

[nick_cook]

Thanks for bringing this subject up Scooch. I was going to post the same question until I saw this thread!!!

Like you, I was going to go Alto then Tenor route, but having read these comments, I'll probably go straight to the tenor!!!

I'll go the hire/purchase route from saxhire.co.uk, as they're quite close to me. He also gives a free 45 minute starter lesson, so I'll be able to try both anyway!!!

 

[scooch]

Nick Cook wrote:
Thanks for bringing this subject up Scooch. I was going to post the same question until I saw this thread!!!

Like you, I was going to go Alto then Tenor route, but having read these comments, I'll probably go straight to the tenor!!!

I'll go the hire/purchase route from saxhire.co.uk, as they're quite close to me. He also gives a free 45 minute starter lesson, so I'll be able to try both anyway!!!

Thats cool, Nick.

Let me know how you get on with the trial lesson, I'd be interested to find out which you go for, alto or tenor!

Best of Luck

Scooch.