Saxophone beginners My first sax lesson (tenor)

[phoeg]

Warning: facetiousness and humorously intended sarcasm ahead!

Well, my first sax lesson hasn't even involved touching a sax or any part of one. I am learning that the hardest part of playing the sax is selecting a first one. And if one doesn't have unlimited money you're out of luck! Or so I'm led to believe. Oy vey!

I'm getting (from local people I've talked to) an attitude of (said in a grumpy and condescending voice) "Well if you don't spend at least $2000 USD [Approximately €1750/£1300] for a beginner sax then you'll never get anything good, you'll never learn, and you'll never get anywhere. You're wasting your time otherwise." Oh great!!! LOL

Unfortunately I don't have unlimited "play" money right now, so to save I might have to put this off a couple years — if I follow the line of thinking I just described. Or, I could do my research and get the best sax I can for now and save up.

Any thoughts???

Paul

 

[trimmy]

Welcome to the cafe Paul 🙂

I'm getting (from local people I've talked to) an attitude of (said in a grumpy and condescending voice) "Well if you don't spend at least $2000 USD [Approximately €1750/£1300] for a beginner sax then you'll never get anything good, you'll never learn, and you'll never get anywhere. You're wasting your time otherwise." Oh great!!! LOL

Any thoughts???

Paul

Don't talk to these local people again !!! Load of twaddle

 

[Chris]

You are going to get lots of suggestions around here Paul, but, a 2nd hand Yamaha yts23 comes in at a lot less than £1300. Welcome to the Café btw

Chris..

 

[ProfJames]

Do not listen to them! They are talking nonsense! A Yamaha is a "safe" horn to buy as they will hold their value,,,,,,,,a safe bet. Phone a tutor and ask their advice. Join a local music club, get advice from good people!

 

[Jay]

Hi Paul 🙂

You most definitely can get a nice sax for less than that! That's a silly, snooty attitude - like everyone's rolling in money Don't listen to these fools!

Second-hand Yamaha. Also, people seem to rate Roy Benson, Jupiter, Trevor James as makers of decent 'student' horns. As a beginner, I'd see if I could 'borrow' a trustworthy saxophone teacher/experienced player if I was going to look at a second hand horn.

 

[trimmy]

As a beginner, I'd see if I could 'borrow' a trustworthy saxophone teacher if I was going to look at second hand horn.

But remember to give the teacher back

 

[ProfJames]

Roy Benson tenor - I have owned an alto before and they are nice starter horns.............
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roy-Benson-...839?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c47110837

Stephanhouser tenor - I take delivery of mine next week (awesome!) ..............
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stephanhous...559?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d2ced6677

Yamaha tenor......http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-YTS2...719?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4d9f63e7

 

[MandyH]

Warning: facetiousness and humorously intended sarcasm ahead!

Well, my first sax lesson hasn't even involved touching a sax or any part of one. I am learning that the hardest part of playing the sax is selecting a first one. And if one doesn't have unlimited money you're out of luck! Or so I'm led to believe. Oy vey!

I'm getting (from local people I've talked to) an attitude of (said in a grumpy and condescending voice) "Well if you don't spend at least $2000 USD [Approximately €1750/£1300] for a beginner sax then you'll never get anything good, you'll never learn, and you'll never get anywhere. You're wasting your time otherwise." Oh great!!! LOL

Unfortunately I don't have unlimited "play" money right now, so to save I might have to put this off a couple years — if I follow the line of thinking I just described. Or, I could do my research and get the best sax I can for now and save up.

Any thoughts???

Paul

I could be really rude...but that's a load of tosh! (trust me, that was polite)
My beginner alto cost me £150. Sure it was a beginners sax, but it saw me through a year or so and through my grade 4 exam before I decided to treat myself to something with was still only £1500 or so and is going well 5 more years on.

I would think that you could easily pick up a reasonable "beginner" sax for £500 or less - I sold my BW tenor last year for £500 and that was a pretty nice instrument.

If that was your sax teacher, I would seriously consider going somewhere else!

Do you have a sax? maybe have it looked over by a tech, maybe buy a mouthpiece known to just play out of the box (Yamahas are about £30, others less)
Otherwise the teacher needs adjusting, not you!

<gets down off soap box>

 

[ProfJames]

Well said Mandy!

 

[kevgermany]

Sounds as if you're getting lots of useless comments from people who's ability to judge a sax is based on what they read on the price tag. You should be able to pick up something used for a reasonable price. If you're in the US, talk to jbtsax on here for advice. If you've got a good local tech see what he says, many of them buy saxes to fix/sell on.

 

[DavidUK]

My £200 Jupiter student sax listed me many days before I traded up to a £400 Buffet 400. Buy used but take the advice of someone who knows saxes and whom you trust.

 

[ProfJames]

My £200 Jupiter student sax listed me many days before I traded up to a £400 Buffet 400. Buy used but take the advice of someone who knows saxes and whom you trust.

Just out of curiosity...............how long did you have the Jupiter before moving to the Buffet?

 

[DavidUK]

Just out of curiosity...............how long did you have the Jupiter before moving to the Buffet?

It was two months I think?

 

[ProfJames]

It was two months I think?

@Saahil.......!!!! We gotta go shopping pal.........

 

[Jeanette]

I can only repeat what everyone has said, you will be to find a sax to suit your budget but just may need some help in checking it is ok.

Hopefully @jbtsax will see this 🙂

Jx

 

[Tenor Viol]

As above, this sounds like 'price fixated snobbery - people who value things by their price tags. By that argument, anything less than a Yani is a wast of time and I should be buying an S Class Mercedes, as anything less can't be good enough...

My new alto cost less than £300 and is perfectly serviceable and my teacher was always happy with it. Knowing what I now know, I would in fact buy decent second hand. My Hanson ST8 tenor, second hand, was significantly less than they're telling you.

As you're in the States, I think you've probably got a bigger/better second-hand market than here, so I'd definitely find someone (teacher / tech) to help you find something.

 

[phoeg]

Thank you, everyone. Mind you this attitude is an implied one at some places, but it seems common. At the shop I was in this morning they implied that even buying a used sax (or pawn shop sax) would likely required another $700-800 USD in repairs and then I'm up to the price of a new one. (They have Cannonballs which I hadn't heard of until this morning.)

We have some universities nearby with good music programs so I'm going to ask for contacts there. Maybe someone will be willing to go look at used ones with me.

On a complete side note, I grew up watching old British sitcoms (and of course Python) and listening to the BBC World Service. Here I'm picking up all kinds of new slang and phrases. LOL I didn't know I used them so often until I used some commonly used British term in an e-mail to someone over there (England) and he got quite a kick out of it. So thanks for that help too! :-D

 

[kevgermany]

Be careful with uni advisers. There are some that insist on brand X and rather blinkered. But it sounds as if you're able to see through that bull...

 

[phoeg]

Thanks, Kev. Yeah I'm beginning to see patterns emerging in the advice I'm receiving here and from people near me. I'm starting to see common elements that seem sound and ones that are prejudiced towards "new" and (usually) expensive. That's helping me see what to really focus on.

 

[ProfJames]

Thanks, Kev. Yeah I'm beginning to see patterns emerging in the advice I'm receiving here and from people near me. I'm starting to see common elements that seem sound and ones that are prejudiced towards "new" and (usually) expensive. That's helping me see what to really focus on.

Keep us informed Phoeg.