Hanson, Walstein or Yamaha

[sparrow]

I know the first two have something of a reputation with Mr T. What I'm not clear about is where they stand in comparison with a brand like Yamaha.

I like the idea of saving money, and that the Walstein is modelled on a Yanagisawa, and I'm not bothered about resale value.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Bobby G]

Not an easy choice as they all have good reputations - I have Yamaha alto and tenor saxes, a pro-level YAS62 and a student tenor YTS23 and they are both great, and both older (the alto is 20+ years old, the tenor about 35); one of the good things about Yamahas is that they are built well, are very solid and everything falls nicely under the fingers of my smallish hands.

Having said that, other people in the Room own and love Hansons and Walsteins. I think if I were in the market for a new horn I'd look very seriously at a Walstein....

 

[Col9]

Hello, we have 2 Walsteins a tennor and a bari, and a Hanson SA8 alto. I have played the Hanson next to its Yamaha counterpart in our band, and I have to say there is very little, if any difference.

The Walsteins look great, the Tenor has got a bit of getting used to, It takes more playing/control down the bottom end than our other tenors but the reward is a sound that all sax's should make. Its very well built and looks fantastic to. I would recommend it. The bari is a prototype made for Walstein to their design I presume but by a different factory. It sounds and looks great and is so easy to play.

My Hanson alto is a great sax built well, and importantly sounds great. I have to say I really really like this sax. Its just a joy to play. Its got a really quick action that feels just right. Its the 24 carot gold frosted one so it looks good as well. I have 9 mouthpieces for it and it can sound all classical with a Vandoren V1. all smooth jazz with a Buescher True tone and scream so loud with a Berg Larsen. It seems to do it all with the right mouthpiece.

I would recomend either one, but at the moment I prefer my Hanson, but if Jane lets me play her Walstein a bit more that could change as they are both great. However the price of the Walstein makes it very hard to resist.

See ya
Col.

I'll probably read this with a clear head in the morning and think my god I do ramble dont I ? :laugh:

 

[Linky Lee]

I own a Yamaha 62 alto and a Hanson SA8-24K-F alto and a Walstein Tenor.

With regard to the altos, the Hanson has the better sound at the bottom end, it's awesome and very easy to get to. The Yamaha has a better and easier top end though. Very comparable in the middle. The Yamaha is lighter, has lighter keywork and a slightly better design on a few keys, the best key placement I've ever found on any sax.

For me the Yamaha just wins because with the right mouthpiece I can get it sounding as good, maybe even better depending upon your taste as the Hanson and with a better action making it a superb all round horn.

The Walstein tenor is fantastic. Stonking bottom end and a rich top end. Great action, especially after a bit of a tweak and seriously robust. I've had mine over a year now and it has never even had a sticky G# or broken or anything. It even played straight through some fairly serious leaks for a few months before I decided to get it sorted. Compares very well to the Yani it's modelled on and the price is sublime.

I also have an old Martin Handcraft alto, which sounds better than any of the other horns but is a real work out on the fingers getting around it, and no aux F key or F#. Also split bell keys so a pain for cases.

So I'm currently selling my Hanson SA8-24K-F, 3.5 years old. still under a transferable warrenty, great condition, including case (front pocket zip broke), Yamaha 4C, lig and a reed. looking for ?550 and will donate 5% to Pete's charity if it goes from this site.

Also pictures available by request, can try it in Reading/Portsmouth or anywhere in between.

 

[sparrow]

That's really useful. I have a YTS-23, and a Walstein Alto on its way to me. I'm now thinking of the next tenor and was very much attracted to the Walstein - though Hanson do a raw brass finish which I also fancy.