Saxophones b&h 400 alto advice

[barneybrendan]

Does anybody have advice on this model .Looking at purchasing it to start to learn on.
Thankyou

 

[stitch]

Amati stencil. Decent enough sax if in good order. Some like them, some don't ... !

 

[Colin the Bear]

Clunky action compared to a modern instrument. Not very ergonomic. Having said that, robust construction, good intonation but not worth a lot. Don't pay too much.

 

[barneybrendan]

Clunky action compared to a modern instrument. Not very ergonomic. Having said that, robust construction, good intonation but not worth a lot. Don't pay too much.

its up for £250

 

[Zugzwang]

Thought you were looking at a YAS 275… did you miss it?

 

[barneybrendan]

was going to hire but deposit was high this b&h £250 or offers.

 

[nigeld]

When was it last serviced?
Does the seller guarantee that it is playable top to bottom and does not require any attention or repairs?
If not, my advice is not to buy it. The problem with cheap altos is that repairs can cost more than the sax is worth.

 

[Colin the Bear]

A simple instrument to work on yourself. I'd give £100 for it. What is it 60/70 years old?

 

[stitch]

A simple instrument to work on

Hmm ... I'm not sure that could be said of ANY sax ...

 

[Colin the Bear]

Hmm ... I'm not sure that could be said of ANY sax ...

Well...no tilting table makes the mechanism simpler. No high f#. The saxophone is just a metal tube with holes too big for fingers so it uses skin covered flaps.

 

[stitch]

Well...no tilting table makes the mechanism simpler.

SimpLER perhaps ... but still not simple. There's a reason techs train for years.
I know you fettle your own horns, but I'd wager you didn't get it right first time ...

 

[Colin the Bear]

You'd lose. Some people can draw. Some people have a head for business. I was assembling models from drawings age8. I seem to have a perceptive spacial awareness and an afinity for a good tune. It had to be saxophone.

Can't draw for toffee.

 

[stitch]

You'd lose.

Good job it was only a virtual bet then ...

I was assembling models from drawings age8. I seem to have a perceptive spacial awareness

Which is sort of the point I was making. Most of us don't have that natural facility and years of transferable skills to draw on.

 

[JayeNM]

Does anybody have advice on this model .Looking at purchasing it to start to learn on.
Thankyou

250 quid is a fair price IF seller states horn is in good, playable condition.
If seller will NOT make that guarantee, then pass on it.
If it is a local sale, and seller cannot guarantee, then try to find a sax player to accompany you to playtest the horn.

It would be fine as a first-sax for a beginner, actually. Yeah action not slick but there are also far worse examples. It isn't like it would 'hold you back' or anything.
And they do sound very nice, tonally....and they are built quite respectably.

 

[barneybrendan]

250 quid is a fair price IF seller states horn is in good, playable condition.
If seller will NOT make that guarantee, then pass on it.
If it is a local sale, and seller cannot guarantee, then try to find a sax player to accompany you to playtest the horn.

It would be fine as a first-sax for a beginner, actually. Yeah action not slick but there are also far worse examples. It isn't like it would 'hold you back' or anything.
And they do sound very nice, tonally....and they are built quite respectably.

thankyou