first sax choice

[mojo]

[No message]

 

[old_git]

One problem with cheapish and some MkVl saxophones, is the reluctance to admit, "I got ripped off.". I like Alastair Hanson's products which seems right for me but fully understand that others' choices are right for them.

Perhaps the best advice is to listen to Pete. He is not sponsored so does not have any pressure on him to say "It's brilliant.". Go and try his and the other recommendations, one will feel better than others and that will probably become your horn.

Not much help, I'll admit but we are all slightly biased. 🙁

 

[mojo]

[No message]

 

[Pete Thomas]

Out of those, currently I'd say the Walstein, I'm enjoying my soprano. You could get the basic one plus a 4C, they don't cost much.

 

[PaulyT]

"Selmer USA Prelude AS700

Have a shufti.....

http://www.normans.co.uk/store/search.aspx

PaulyT

 

[mojo]

PaulyT wrote:
"Selmer USA Prelude AS700

Have a shufti.....

http://www.normans.co.uk/store/search.aspx

PaulyT

How did you find instrument as a starter sax? Also was it well set up or did you have to take it to a tech straight away to have anything sorted?

 

[ch_boogie]

I have had a Prelude and I now have a Walstein and I much prefer my Walstein, but that is a personal preference and they are also tenors not altos. Happy hunting.

By the way I got my Prelude from Normans and it is a good starter sax and it was well set up.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I tried a Prelude and this is a decent horn for the money, but as you say not in the same league as a Walstein.

 

[PaulyT]

How did you find instrument as a starter sax? Also was it well set up or did you have to take it to a tech straight away to have anything sorted?

I was just pointing out that it not an American made instrument as sometimes things can be a little misunderstood and I wouldn't want anyone to get hold of the wrong end of the stick.

As far as playing it was concerned, I had no idea as to whether I was going to enjoy playing, or even learn anything from the sax. That's why I bought the cheapest I could from a reputable dealer. Regardless of how cheap it was, I still learned my embouchure and fingering techniques. I am also learning to read music alongside the sax and the cost of the sax has no bearing on that either.
Does it sound ok - Yes. As a total sax beginner I didn't know what sound I was going to be looking for - all I wanted was something that translated the dot on the page to a sound via my blowing and my fingering.

Some people will tell you to "buy expensive because you can get most of your money back if you don't continue". I say, "Buy cheap to start with then you'll always have a nice ornament if you don't continue and a spare sax if you do".

As for setting it up, the people at Normans set it up to the point that my sax teacher was very happy with the way it played and sounded.

It really is a personal choice - I moved on to a custom built, one of a kind, Earlham Chicago Series alto after about nine months because it was going cheap but, as I said earlier, I still play the AS700 and I still enjoy playing it!
Good luck with whatever you decide.
PaulyT

 

[griff136]

before buying you could try hiring one
most decent music shops do hire schemes - but be aware that some shops hire out "old tat"

 

[mojo]

griff136 wrote:
before buying you could try hiring one
most decent music shops do hire schemes - but be aware that some shops hire out "old tat"

Hi Griff
I had thought about going down that route as sax.co.uk have some for hire, but I don't think either of my local shops do.
I think I may just go for it and buy one outright. It's just coming down to whether I want to start of with something cheaper (Prelude AS700) and possibly "upgrade" later, or go dearer to begin with (Walstein)

 

[phil_edwards]

mojo wrote:

Very wise.

Even though you can't play yet the final choice has to be yours based upon tone, feel etc. but don't assume you don't have a sax playing friend to help.

Whereabouts are you? There may be someone on here who's not too far away from you and prepared to help out.

Or they may not, but it's worth asking.

regards, Phil

 

[justin_chune]

There are instruments out there that are called SSOs or Saxophone Shaped Objects and you don't want one of those. I think that the Walstein is a much better sax than the ones you have available to buy locally. Have you seen the video of Pete Thomas playing a Walstein alto? It's on the shops main page, on the right of the screen. Click on video at the top of this page and see if its here.

Mev Taylor's music store in Edinburgh sell the Selmer Prelude and I think they do rentals as well. Check out their web site. Happy Hunting.

 

[Rogerb]

The lovely Walstein Pete was playing was a prototype of the 'pro-level' Bauhaus Walstein, not yet on the market but it will be outside the budget anyway.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Go for a Walstein with Yamaha 4C and get on with it. If you want to upgrade mouthpieces get a sense of what musical style you like and choose a better one accordingly. Just get started and enjoy yourself. Then be sure to tell us how it is going, and post lots and lots.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Pete Thomas]

Rogerb wrote:
The lovely Walstein Pete was playing was a prototype of the 'pro-level' Bauhaus Walstein, not yet on the market but it will be outside the budget anyway.

Correct, they intend to bring out a pro horn, that one is the prototype which I just borrowed. Not sure what the price will be, but of course it will be a bit more.

 

[peter_fitton]

I'm not quite up to speed with all this Walstein stuff at the moment. Have you played the pro-level tenor yet, Pete?

If so, would you say it's significantly better than the standard Walstein tenor (the phospher bronze one). I know these things are hard to quantify, but still...

I'm thinking of perhaps getting a phospher bronze tenor. After all, it's been demonstrated that it can hold it's own against top notch Selmers, Yanagisawas etc so would surely be a good step up from my T James (or maybe not? lol).


Peter