Saxophones if you had £1000 for a sax?

[flukeyluke]

If you had £1000 to spend on a alto saxophone what would you choose? needs to sound brassy and deep,i may be coming into a bit of cash later in the year 🙂 and the lovely wife has said i can spend it on a sax if i want 🙂

Also needs to be easy to play,i know its all a personal thing and sound is mainly down to the player but what would be your choice?

So far i like the sound of the buffet 400 and more so the conn selmer premiere.

Thanks

Luke

 

[Nick Wyver]

No idea. I'd go to a shop and try some. It's a long time since I played a £1000 sax. Actually, I supppose I'd probably go for something secondhand.

 

[Ads]

I`d get a used YTS-62 in decent condition - plenty of Brassy and deep there (Mk1 or MK2) and of course with the legendary bulletproof Yamaha Action and intonation ........ I`d always get a used horn, they`re far better value for money, nothing beats a 10yr old or older 62 for value IMO though........ Other options I`d consider are Just outside the £1000 Tenor bracket such as the famous Conn 10M, the Selmer MkVII, the Keilwerth SX90R and the King Super-20

The playing field is a lot wider with used altos as they`re cheaper , the YAS-62 leading the field (due to its do it all nature) for me with a side order of Conn-6M, Yani 901, Selmer SA80 and maybe a TJ RAW if you`re lucky.... but with Altos you can save even more with a YAS-32 - or vintage with Conn Pan-Am, Buescher new Aristocrat, etc

As a testament to Yamaha and their wear-proof actions, I had probably the tattiest YAS-21 in existance serviced by one of the UK`s most respected techs , the 21 isn`t a Pro horn like the 62 and this one is 40 years old (a lot older than any 62 model) and there was no wear in the keywork despite four decades of neglect ! , it needed 9 pads (not suprising) but after a lube, as sweet as a nut - if that`s how a Budget Yamaha lasts, imagine how a Pro one will ! .

 

[Nick Wyver]

Of course you meant a YAS-62. 😉

I've always preferred Yanags but you're not going to go wrong with a 62.

 

[Melissa]

A Delicious Dreamy Dolnet?, a Positively Pleasurable Pierret perhaps? well, if you like smokey, or even a Wickedly Wild Weltklang full pearls with big fat chuberry/kholert tones if you like bright, All I might add are available on my website😀 Includes the usual donations to the cafe🙂

 

[Nick Wyver]

A Delicious Dreamy Dolnet?, a Positively Pleasurable Pierret perhaps? well, if you like smokey, or even a Wickedly Wild Weltklang full pearls with big fat chuberry/kholert tones if you like bright, All I might add are available on my website😀 Includes the usual donations to the cafe🙂

Shameless. 😉

 

[Ads]

Of course you meant a YAS-62. 😉

I've always preferred Yanags but you're not going to go wrong with a 62.

Whoops Didn`t read the Alto bit so gave my opinion on Both ..... I prefer Yani Altos to their Tenors but still prefer the 62 over the 901 ..

 

[majordennis]

You will know when you play it !

 

[DavidUK]

This: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251434752593?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

...or similar, such as this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Conn-Tran...boPXQn8pinSyAb7ni3sGs%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[kevgermany]

Another vote for second hand. But I'd go for a King Zephyr, Martin or Hohner President. Probably The Martin given your specs.

 

[trimmy]

A Delicious Dreamy Dolnet?, a Positively Pleasurable Pierret perhaps? well, if you like smokey, or even a Wickedly Wild Weltklang full pearls with big fat chuberry/kholert tones if you like bright, All I might add are available on my website😀 Includes the usual donations to the cafe🙂

Why not

 

[majordennis]

You will know when you play it !

I'm sorry if that sounded a little abrupt, what I meant was during my seach I played quite a few high value saxophones but although horns look very much the same they are very different to your ear and in your hands, try as many as you can, don't discard anything on someone elses say-so, most of all enjoy the journey.

ps the alto I settled on cost me £80 and I just bought another for £100, the tech who set it up said he would be quite happy to use it on a gig. Good luck.

 

[flukeyluke]

lol thanks for the views so far people,i wish i could try a few out but living on the isle of wight theres NO saxophone shops over here so will have to buy blind so to speak,the sound i like most is sort of like the trevor james signature raw,or this

i love that deep raw brassy sound 🙂

 

[Ads]

Try an old Yamaha YAS-21 if you like Loud Deep and Brassy - CHEAP too , it`ll out scream that Re-badged Elkhart Deluxe though you`ll need a dark piece to get it to smooch ...

 

[Colin the Bear]

You make the sound not the saxophone. Get a Gear4music, a good mouthpiece, a years supply of reeds, some lessons and a family holiday.

 

[Jeanette]

Try as many as you can with a few different mouthpieces. Choose the sax that feels good in your hands.

You really won't know until you pick a few up and compare.

Jx

 

[flukeyluke]

Thanks ads 🙂 just looked at a load of youtube vids of the yas21 and think i may save some cash and go for one of them 🙂 LOVE the sound!! how much can they be bought for?

Thanks again

Luke

 

[Melissa]

Nice I have to agree, though I still love this: God he's good.

 

[Steve Marshall]

I like the The Martin altos too. Can be tricky tracking down a good one these days.
If you liek the TJ then that might be the one to go for. I have a TJ tenor which I prefer to the TJ RAW I tried. You really should try them or see if you can get one on approval.

 

[flukeyluke]

i would love to try a few first but like i said theres NO shops over here on the island that really sells saxophones 🙁 and been looking everywhere online and cant seem to find a yas 21 in the uk for sale either lol