Saxophones Fingers crossed

[Colin the Bear]

I'd been having reed problems on the baritone. It got very fussy.
I decided to have a look at the horn and make sure everything was alright. I couldn't find anything, but during a test blow I noticed a little stuffiness G to A. Maybe a piece of cork has fallen off. There's such an large acreage of horn to cover with a baritone.

Then I saw it. The F#3 spring had jumped it's cradle. On this model the F# is opened and closed, like a G# or C# on smaller horns, by springs.
Relocated it. No more reed problems. Full power returned. It never ceases to amaze me how blowing through a problem becomes automatic. Maybe it's a function of the S80 mouthpiece I use.

Anyhow, 18 or so months in and, apart from one or two little spots appearing under the lacquer, all is good. Playing and looking great.

It did get a smile when the band leader referred to it as an arseonium. 🙂

 

[finchoid]

Back-topic a little; I just don't get why Thomann revel in their own branding for what many people say are decent instruments which sell for less than they might be truly worth.

To the German ear, it is redolent of the really cheap and nasty branding that the UK applied feverishly to its supermarkets in the 80s and before. Germany is, by a country mile, their largest territory.

But who am I to judge? I accept that I am a guitar snob and wouldn't be seen in public without a Teye, a Gibson or, at a push, a Gretsch, but if someone wants to take centre-stage with a Fine-Fare Tenor, they can fill their boots.

(At least no one will nick it.)

 

[Colin the Bear]

A thing is only worth what you can sell it for.
Some people need a label.
The label can cost more than the thing itself.
Some of us get by on very little money.
A quality instrument is just that, regardless of price.
The price of a thing has little to do with it's worth or value.

 

[mizmar]

A thing is only worth what you can sell it for.

Arguably, a possession is worh to you what you'd pay to replace it... If you're not a dealer.

talking of replacing... The deal with thonmann and g4m is that they carry the cost of shipping etc. for repair or return. So they face the economics of quality control square on. Up the QC and reduce the overheads... I assume they recoup costs of the guarantee for other brands on the other brands.

 

[Colin the Bear]

No costs were incurred guaranteeing my G4music horns or my two Thomann ones.

I think there's plenty of room for maneuver in the price.

 

[DrArregui]

Hola desde Madrid!

Colin!, little update on the Startone?. Hows going so far?

I have mine on the way + Otto link.
I play Selmer III on tenor and bass clarinet. Yamaha Custom Z on Soprano.
Used to have a Selmer II bari but sold as only played it occasionally and it started to be a pain to fly with it, my musical needs are covered basically with the soprano and the BC.
Im really curios to compare the Startone to the SII.
30 day decision to send back and that 3 year warranty gave me the push:

"You have a warranty of 3 years and the returning option of 30 days.

The warranty stands for all issues that are not part of use and caused by the customer."

 

[Colin the Bear]

Still going strong.

@DrArregui you may need to add a few pieces of cork to personalise the palm keys. Mine needed this. The one I ordered for a friend didn't need a thing and is also problem free to date.

I'm still amazed. The only problem I have is lugging it to and from gigs with its herculean stand. 😓

 

[DrArregui]

Still going strong.

@DrArregui you may need to add a few pieces of cork to personalise the palm keys. Mine needed this. The one I ordered for a friend didn't need a thing and is also problem free to date.

I'm still amazed. The only problem I have is lugging it to and from gigs with its herculean stand.

Recieved the bari Startone. Tried it with Otto Link and a BB Lawton (didnt tried the stock mouthpiece, love the Otto, dont like the LAwton so i will sell it). Tried with two different mouthpieces to have more reference point to see where the horn wanted to go.

Im not missing anything, it plays great.

It definetly needed some adjustment in a couple of keys (Thomann took a couple of days to send to review it but the missed a couple of things, overall good).
Low Bb lacks a little bit of body specially compared with low A but thats adjustable too.
The thing I disliked the most is in the ergonomics field, the keys wont "wrap around" your fingers and seems the angle of them (im talking hera mostly about the left and right pinkies) is tilted downwards but nothing serious and im sure i can teak that too.

In general is a great horn to have (if you dont mind the extra space) for ocassional use (exactly what i wanted) and to move around. (BTW, the case is absolutely rubbish, the sax moves inside like a maraca seed, has to be padded, no biggie).

They have the means, the knowledge and the materials, dont know what else to say.