'Cheap' tenors?

Bobby G · Apr 19, 2006

I have a hankering for a tenor to go alongside my alto, but don't want to spend loads, I initially want one to see if I take to it (I have a yen to make Ben Websterish subtone sounds!). Any recommendations or preferences out there? Thanks, Bob

djazzy · Apr 20, 2006

Try a old Conn. My Conn was $300 and it's in great condition for the price. If you can't find a Conn locally try google or ebay.

AlbionLass · Apr 20, 2006

Get in touch with Hanson www.saxophonesdirect.com
Their intermediate model the ST-5 (which I own) is only ?569 and in the opinion of many plays much better than a lot of saxes at twice that (Yamaha 475 spings to mind). They will let you have the instrument on a weeks trial and their warranty and after sales service are second to none.

AlistairD · May 2, 2006

You could always try a Bently. That's what I started on (www.bentlymusic.com)

Bobby G · May 2, 2006

Yes it did Ken - I bought an old, cosmetically challenged (!) Yamaha YTS-23 nearly a week ago which plays and sounds just fine, in tune, no leaks etc. I think my poor alto is feeling slightly abandoned recently as I am really enjoying the tenor - I played it at a jam session last week and had a marvellous time. At one point we had an impromptu horn section of tenor alto and soprano saxes, trumpet and trombone riffing behind a scat singer doing good ol' Blue Monk. Marvellous!

rs2sensen · May 3, 2006

Congrats on the horn! I like that..."cosmetically challenged." 23's are good horns, I've always felt that my 23 alto outperformed many of the other student horns I've played. Also...she's built tough. Never had a problem with mine.

Bobby G · May 3, 2006

Tough is good, rs2! I tend to underestimate the size of the tenor and bump into things while I am wandering about with eyes closed playing in a rapturous state. Y'see, in my head, if not my fingers, I am John Coltrane. And Sonny Rollins. And Lester Young etc.

I replaced the 5c mpc with a Selmer Soloist C* and can get a good range of sounds from quite raucous to fairly haunting.

No jam this week, Ken, as it's a monthly thing, but I will unleash the beast at the next workshop session I go to, which is a weekly affair.

Cheers, Bob