Hanson Saxes ?

[Bobby G]

Ooh, thanks Ken, that sounds useful!

 

[Paul_Dennis]

Yes I did Ken.....basically it's a long story.

Alastair said that they were asked to include this feature when they were commissioned to design a sax. I don't know if it was by another company, or feedback from a player. Like us, Alastair doesn't think it is absolutely necessary and indeed pointed out that they often leave it unadjusted to avoid any chance of a 'double' action.

He also pointed out that they had experiemtned with lots of different designs for adjusters elsewhere on the sax but came back to using cork which he felt was better.

 

[Rogerb]

This from a UK contributor to SOTW: Quote:
I'd like to add some comments from an experienced sax player and big band leader regarding the Hanson brand of saxophones. Firstly these comments refer specifically to the Hanson alto model 8 'pro' range instrument. The alto sax model 8 on initial inspection is very impressive and has some very nice features such as the double bracings on the lower keys and the nice vintage satin finish. The saxophone also has some nice individual touches such as hand engraving and a nice ergonomic feel. I am confident that this is an instrument which would be suitable for a student embarking upon the advanced grades (6-8) and various diplomas offered by the UK examing boards. Ok thats the pro's about this instrument, now my personal observations is that the instrument is a little on the heavy side and lacks some of the finer qualities apparent comparitively to a selmer or yamaha. I'm talking about harmonics which are more apparent to the well seasoned player. Also the ergonomics whilst considerably better than many student horns can not be compared to a well built pro horn IMHO. Infact i think a true assessment of the Hanson 'pro' range would be fairly comparable to a 'intermediate horn' of the better well known brands (Selmer, Yamaha and so on). Having said all this the horn is well priced in a competive market but the quality from Hanson is a little hit and miss so don't settle for a horn that has not been correctly set up in fact inist that you purchase on their 'try before you buy scheme' so that your teacher can confirm that the horn is ok.
On a rating out of ten
10/10 Selmer
9/10 Yamaha
9/10 Kielworth
7/10 Hanson
6/10 Elkhart
5/10 Bently
5/10 Jupiter (End Quote)

 

[Rogerb]

And my reply:
What do your 'ratings' refer to, TC?
Sound Quality?
Build?
Set-up?
Value for money?
Or .....?

And are you just using Selmer as a 'reference', because I'd have thought few would rate Selmer as 'perfect', which is what 10/10(100%) implies?

And with which Selmer(SA80?), Yam(475?), Yani(901?) are you comparing the SA-8 (which, incidentally, costs GBP699-919) ?

Hanson claim that their SA-5 has performed well in blind tests against the SA80, and Pete Thomas seems to think Hansons blow away much more expensive opposition.

(I hope Pete will comment himself when he returns from his trip to the Andes He's more of a saxophonist than I'll ever be!)

As for quality control, and factory set-up, I have heard some horror stories about 'perfect' Selmers!

 

[Rogerb]

Well, I must say my SA-5 is very heavy compared with my teacher's cheapo one, and his plays quite a bit 'brighter'.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad!!

 

[Rogerb]

Just that I don't know whether 'heavy' equates with 'dull-sounding', other things being equal (which they never are!)?

That seemed to be implied in the reviewer's comments.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Ken wrote:
Pete's own experience (if I understood it correctly), bears this out in as much as he found possibly the best Tenor he had ever played amongst Hanson's stock, but my reading between the lines left me with the impression that he found a "particular" Hanson.

That's true, I tried a few ST-8s and this one really sang. It felt better than any saxophone I have played and the ergonomics better than any Selmer (but that is subjective).

I ended up not buying that particular Hanson as after a few days I found one altissimo note (G) that I couldn't get as easily as on my martin or Conn. You might think that is strange as the horn definitely felt the best I'd played, but you need to weigh up all the factors involved and in the end the altissimo G was more important that "feel".

As soon as I get time though I'm hoping to get back up to Marsden and try a few more as I really do think they are superb horns and I feel quite confident is finding one that really is the best horn I've ever played in every respect. I also tried a Hanson Soprano recently which was fantastic, but not for me as the G key was slightly offset for my taste. If that could be changed I'd have bought it.

I should also mention that when Roger Lewis (baritone player with the Dirty Dozen) tried a Hanson baritone I had borrowed, he thought it compared very favourably with his Selmer SA80 MKII. (He's a Selmer endorser), but didn't go as far as preferring it to his MK VI.

I also found the post on SOTW a bit odd and will probably reply there some time, but as people have said you have to take this kind of review with a pinch of salt due to the subjectivity. Even the excellent reviews that Steve Howard does (which I recommend to be taken seriously) are still subjective regarding the sound and ergonomics. His authority re: build quaility however is what counts the most.

 

[Rogerb]

Pete Thomas wrote:

Ken wrote:
Snip

I also found the post on SOTW a bit odd and will probably reply there some time, but as people have said you have to take this kind of review with a pinch of salt due to the subjectivity. Even the excellent reviews that Steve Howard does (which I recommend to be taken seriously) are still subjective regarding the sound and ergonomics. His authority re: build quaility however is what counts the most.

I think the guy on SOTW was/is just a prat; a bit of research showed that he doesn't appear to have the 'credentials' he claimed and is a mainly trombone-playing leader of a community band in Middlesborough, and a teacher in 'real life' (this may explain why he thinks everyone should take his word as gospel! 🙂

(He certainly doesn't have much command of English!)

He did have the good grace to apologise for calling me 'silly' 😀

 

[Pete Thomas]

Ken wrote:

Pete Thomas wrote:
I ended up not buying that particular Hanson as after a few days I found one altissimo note (G) that I couldn't get as easily as on my martin or Conn. You might think that is strange as the horn definitely felt the best I'd played, but you need to weigh up all the factors involved and in the end the altissimo G was more important that "feel".

I am really curious though Pete... could that altissimo problem you discovered, not have been corrected???. My "novice" brain seems to say to me that only design faults can't be rectified... or is this a wrong assumption?... or is it just a fact of life that every sax has "some" inherent fault?

Quite likely. However I feel confident than on my next trip up to Marsden I'll find one as good if not better that doesn't have that problem, only I need a bit more time to try them out.

 

[Rogerb]

I was there on Monday, got the usual warm welcome and candid answers to all questions.
My SA-5 is much better for its tune-up... they tried my Lamberson mpc and were impressed by the volume it produces!

For anyone looking for an inexpensive starter outfit I'd really recommend their Gulf altos, a snip at about GBP 250 and for the moment replacing the SA-3. Incredible value and very nice-looking horns, too. (Also available on ebay)

(And no GAS attack!! Although they have some new things on he horizon 😉 )

 

[Pete Thomas]

Gulf, yes I'd forgotten about those. Itried one when I was there a while back. Very good for the money indeed.

 

[Rogerb]

No, Ken, it's sorta like 'bankrupt stock' which they've been asked to sell at a very reasonable price in order to get the money in quickly.

 

[Rogerb]

Replacing SA-3 until all sold, as it would be confuzzing to have 2 'entry level' altos in the catalogue.
Definitely worth any prospective buyer grabbing one while they are still available, IMO.

 

[Bobby G]

Hi Roger, I see you have used the phrase 'Lamberson mouthpiece' and the word 'volume' in the same sentence. This interests me for a number of reasons, I'd like to try one if I could find one. What sort of sound are you getting, and are they readily available? I seem to remember you mentioning this new mpc in another thread but can't find it.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Rogerb]

I have a modified 5M or 6M(sort of a 5*, see below), Bob, not by any means to be his loudest... the SB and DD being reputedly more so.

The technician/tester at Hanson had a blow with it on Wednesday and said "You could do some serious damage with that!"

They occasionally become available on SOTW forum at about $250, compared with 350 new, although mine was slightly 'customised' to a 77thou tip size so it would originally have been $75 more.

I suggest you could find out a lot more by Googling "Lamberson mouthpieces"

I have not read any negative comments, even from people who say they didn't suit their style of play.

HTH

 

[Bobby G]

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