Beginner Saxes Beginner Soprano Recommendations

[tengu01]

Hi all, this is a variant on the well-weathered question: Which saxophone should I buy but I have a little more details about what I'm looking for.

I have been playing the alto for around 10 years and have been playing tenor since 2004 and am looking to add the soprano to my collection.

Unfortunately, I have absolutely no experience with them, so I was wondering if any of you could recommend a good starter horn, given the idiosyncracies (am sure I spelt that wrong...) of the soprano.

I got really good value for money from Trevor James on my first tenor which served me well but I really don't know how far you can extrapolate this to the soprano. Additionally, I am not looking to spend tons of cash.

Hope y'all can help

Cheers

 

[Pete Thomas]

I just got a very good extremely well priced soprano, a Walstein. It's a prototype but I think they will be available in a few weeks time from

http://www.woodwindandbrass.co.uk/

(also see http://www.petethomas.co.uk/sx-02-soprano.html )

There is also a line of very low priced instruments from sax.co.uk which I keep meaning to visit and try some out.

 

[Jules]

The Trevor James silver plated, curved soprano is very nice indeed, really easy to blow and big toned (assuming oyu're ok with a curved sop). Antigua Winds sopranos are pretty tasty too..

 

[Pjonah]

Pete Thomas wrote:
I just got a very good extremely well priced soprano, a Walstein. It's a prototype but I think they will be available in a few weeks time from

http://www.woodwindandbrass.co.uk/

(also see http://www.petethomas.co.uk/sx-02-soprano.html )

There is also a line of very low priced instruments from sax.co.uk which I keep meaning to visit and try some out.

Pete,

Interesting, I bought the Yani 991 alto copy Stephen Howard goes on about and its astonishingly well made and plays a dream, better than my old Conn ever did!

Simon

 

[Bobby G]

Hi tengu, I have two sopranos, both of which play and sound fine, and are starter horns. I have a straight Antigua Winds which I picked up ludicrously cheap in a Cash Converters style shop, and a curved Artemis (with a Trevor James engraving). From a comfort point of view, I prefer the curved soprano. Both work fine with the good ol' 4c mpc, although I recetly bought a Selmer which is nice too.

The idiosyncracies you mention are mainly to do with intonation - it's a case of the smaller the horn, the more you have to work on keeping it in tune, but I found it's really just a matter of getting used to it.

These really cheap but playable horns are a good thing, in my opinion, not only for a new starter but for someone who wants to branch out or get a useable backup. I'm waiting for a really cheap baritone!

Good luck with whatever you get, and have fun with it.

Cheers, Bob

 

[tengu01]

Cheers Bob and all who've given me some good pointers.

I'll keep y'all posted as I go along, although until the end of April, it'll be nothing but window shopping, as neither funds, nor my better half will allow any additions to my sax line-up at the moment

🙂