Saxophones Excellent entry level alto

[mark_addy]

I saw your original post and thought 'that's a lot of money!'. My alto is a 1920s True Tone, and I really like it. I bought it a long time ago (before the internet) when 200 quid for an instrument, when I was borrowing one at the time, was 100 quid less than they generally cost, so I bought it, privately. It came with a rather chewed Selmer Soloist 'E' which I liked straight away, though it was a long time later (thanks to the internet) that I found that other people liked them too. These days there is also a Chinese who-knows-what alto hanging around here, which at 80 quid (from a shop!) was really really cheap. I like it as much as the Buescher, really; on the plus side the keywork is not worn out and rattly; on the minus it isn't very cool. Except for some odd reason it has a Selmer neck on it, which is why I noticed it. For some reason the Soloist mouthpiece doesn't work as well on it as it does on the Buescher. I don't think you have to spend a lot of money.

 

[mrbres]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Haven’t taken any steps towards attaining alto-hood yet.

 

[ghostler]

Or is it better to re-acquaint yourself with sax on a more basic model, then if you 'take to it', after a few years under your belt and your fingers, start honing in on the tangible aspects (or intangible) which move you (tonality, blowing response, etc) ? IOW, wouldn't a $650 used alto provide you with all you 'need' to re-start ?

Those were my thoughts exactly. One that is in decent playing shape. Plus, if one takes care of it, can sell it for about what one expended especially if it is a name brand or a name brand as a stencil sold under another name, like the Le Blanc Vito's.

Took my recently serviced by Tarpley Music, Lubbock, Texas, 1980's Selmer Bundy II alto out for a spin, and even it is a decent sounding / feeling / playing sax in its own right.

In tonight's Clovis (NM) Community Band rehearsal, I was playing the Baritone Treble Clef part on God Bless The USA by Lee Green arranged by Roger Holmes (band was missing the tenor part) on my Vito by Jupiter (closest match IMHO the Jupiter JTS-689) in its lower range down to low Bb.

Serviced, it didn't skip a beat, sounded good on the bottom end using a Bari Esprit mouthpiece and a #2 Rico reed with Rovner lig. The sax has an extremely nice full tone, balanced well with the upper woodwinds and augmented the lower brass well. It definitely holds up well to the intermediates.

With a year or two under one's belt, then one has a better idea of what the next step up sax will be.

Again, this is an option and I gather the OP has already in his mind what would meet his expectations. There is a lot of freedom in the music world. But, the nice thing about an interim sax allows one without breaking the bank to afford more time to get what one truly wants.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Is in decent playing shape, the same as,
in excellent playing condition with
an easily navigable scale? 🧐

 

[mrbres]

Great advice! I have to admit that I’m drawn to bright and shiny objects.

 

[JayeNM]

Is in decent playing shape, the same as,
in excellent playing condition with
an easily navigable scale? 🧐

My definition, as a tech and seller of refurbed:

"Decent Play Shape" - the horn speaks up and down all registers cleanly, has no serious body or neck damage, and is not filthy.

Honestly, you cannot realistically ASK for MORE if buying a used sax online from a private party/seller (IOW not a repair shop or experienced DIY repairer).

If sold by the latter, they should have the self-respect to prepare it better than the above. It should be cleaned and any dings removed, check for key play and correct if needed, and any pads which are beginning to look or act long-in-tooth should be replaced.

I see too many music shops with repair depts do the absolute minimum on their saxes before hanging a pricetag on 'em.
That's inexcusable, IMHO.
They have the shop right there, they could pay their tech for two hours of servicing and cleaning to take care of any higher-priority issues...for goodness sake.
Not like they'd 'lose' money.

 

[turf3]

OP, you didn't tell us what kind of tenor you're playing. Getting something closely related in an alto will make the transition easier (Conn tenor, Conn alto; Selmer tenor, practically any modern essentially-fungible Far East Selmer copy alto; etc.)

 

[DavidUK]

If dollar buying power equates to pounds sterling, as it usually does, then a Selmer SA80II would be a contender.
Probably my favourite of the 100 or so altos I've had but of course it's each to their own. Try one?