Beginner Saxes Not a beginner but might as well be - what shall I buy?!

[turf3]

Look, I have two guitars made in China (Alvarez and Yamaha), and a flute made in Taiwan. The country of origin is not conclusive. But Alvarez, Yamaha, and Jupiter maintain close control of the factories, or own them outright.

This is not the same as "Gear 4 music" just buying whatever they can, and having the factory stamp a name on it.

And of course if Hanson are implying that they're making saxophones in Yorkshire that simply isn't happening. At most they might check the setup and do a few adjustments after the long distance shipped.

 

[DavidUK]

And of course if Hanson are implying that they're making saxophones in Yorkshire that simply isn't happening. At most they might check the setup and do a few adjustments after the long distance shipped.

Maybe read the linked thread in post #17, particularly posts #16 and 21 in that thread. Legally speaking they are a British saxophone manufacturer.

Let's say Hanson puts my pads in their horns too. My parts come from Ireland, Europe, China but I buy them from British, US, and Chinese suppliers and have the discs and pads custom made in the UK.
I assemble them here. Am I a Leicestershire manufacturer?
If not, what am I?

 

[SaxBoss]

Why go for the Yamaha YAS-280?

Three Reasons:
1.)Hold their resale value second to none. Sort after by many band teachers due to their build quality.
2.) They are one of the few horns that have fine adjusting screws on the upper and lower stack of the action that can save a trip to the tech when one discovers a small leak. Great care should be taken before turning these.
3.) Very easy to play out the box. Set up well, it will play smooth as butter. They are very friendly to new mouthpieces till you find one you like.

Just my 2c

 

[mizmar]

Great care should be taken before turning these.

Now you tell me 🫣

 

[ghostler]

Why go for the Yamaha YAS-280? [...] 3.) [...] They are very friendly to new mouthpieces till you find one you like

Then they become unfriendly? 😉

 

[mizmar]

Then they become unfriendly? 😉

Especially if you've put the effort in to find the wrong reed.

 

[ghostler]

Especially if you've put the effort in to find the wrong reed.

Actually that requires no effort at all. 😉 Those bargain brand reeds found on Internet auctions (the ones packaged in hieroglyphics matching those of fireworks, BTDT) can make a pro or advanced player sound like a struggling beginner. 😛

 

[Colin the Bear]

Why go for the Yamaha YAS-280?

Three Reasons:
1.)Hold their resale value second to none. Sort after by many band teachers due to their build quality.
2.) They are one of the few horns that have fine adjusting screws on the upper and lower stack of the action that can save a trip to the tech when one discovers a small leak. Great care should be taken before turning these.
3.) Very easy to play out the box. Set up well, it will play smooth as butter. They are very friendly to new mouthpieces till you find one you like.

Just my 2c

Well...I bought a Thomann 580 for half the price of a Yam280.
It's a 62 copy. As far as point one goes, if it loses half its value, if I ever decide to sell it, I won't have lost much. Probably the same amount as the Yam.
Points two and three are the same.

It's not a sought after item.
You really playing with a 2c? 😉

 

[ZeroZero]

I bought a gear for music trumpet, it was a terrible horn. The pistons got stuck even with different oils. Of Course this says nothing about their saxes, but I lost cofidence in the brand. The great news is that there are a LOT of Chinese instruments that blow well. I play tenor (just returning) and got myself a very good tenor horn (King Super 20). I played this before but my new one is playing poorly as it needs a set up job - this is the risk with second hand - leakiness, pads etc. For curiousity sake I bought myself a VERY cheap new alto (£200). It's called the Eastar Es-II. I am so surpiosed at how well it plays. It's been favorably reviewed on better sax. My idea is to get going with it, then when my embrouvhure returns reassess, but, the way it's playing I can't see much of a need right now. This sax is probably a rebrand of a rebrand, but it still playes well. Don't forget the mouthpiece is mission critical. I spend more money on the alto mouthpiece than I di on the horn (got a burnin mouthpiece - but am not in a position yet ot evaluate it, until my lip returns).

 

[FraRa]

I think Yamaha is a very good semi-professional instrument. I bought all my (3) saxophones (Yamaha(Yanagisawa), second-hand anyway. With the right mouthpiece (also bought second-hand on eBay), I was able to significantly improve the sound.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I bought all my (3) saxophones (Yamaha(Yanagisawa), second-hand anyway

I always now recommend buying a saxophone second hand, they always end up that way very soon after buying a new one.

 

[FraRa]

It was almost half price, and the seller was a respected saxophone repair shop in Berlin. (It just occurred to me that in my long life I've never bought a new car, only used ones, and I've never regretted it.)

 

[ghostler]

It was almost half price, and the seller was a respected saxophone repair shop in Berlin. (It just occurred to me that in my long life I've never bought a new car, only used ones, and I've never regretted it.)

I have only ever had one new car, and its life was short, totaled in a wreck. Rest were bought low mileage used. Reason is that cars depreciate so quickly.

It is similar with saxes. Except for certain models, most depreciate fairly quick, too. If one is on a budget, they can find a decent axe to grind with, sort of to say. I have no regrets with my used purchases.

 

[Targa]

I'm the opposite, last time I bought a used car was 1974.
I've had my current car for 23 years and the one before for 16 years, for me depreciation is irrelevant.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Horses for courses. Some people are hard on their gear and need to replace it frequently. Some are gentle and keep it for ever.

 

[ghostler]

The difference with me

is that although I buy late model reasonably low mileage cars, I keep them for a very long time. Our 1984 Dodge Aries, I bought it with under 20,000 miles, kept it 14 years. Got rid of the 1999 Chevrolet S10 Pickup (base model) in 2023 (24 years old). Kept my Dodge D150 full size long bed pickup until 2005 (15 years old and 246k miles - 404k km).

Usually when the US cars get up to the 14 - 15 year mark, then the headliner cloth starts to separate, upholstery needs attention. Rather than repair these, and considering the mechanical wear, that's when I replace them. But prior to that, I promptly replace belts, hoses, and keep vehicles properly serviced, even though I do most of the servicing myself.

Except for some models, many saxes heavily depreciate. Thus one can get a good used sax for a reasonable cost, as IMO, they are not extra picky or patient for the one they want.

Because Boosey & Hawkes don't seem to have as good of a following here in the US than perhaps other locations, I have already picked up a couple of their clarinets for certainly a fraction of the cost of buy today's new one, last 2 months ago for $106 less mouthpiece but complete with a decent aftermarket case.

14 years ago I bought a used LeBlanc Vito Bb Tenor Sax, appears to be a Jupiter stencil for $400. The thing is built of stout metal but has a nice tenor sound. I don't miss the lack of high F# because I can easily use a falsetto (altissimo) fingering for it. I replaced the pads a few years ago, but needs a little additional work to get it right.

 

[Jeanette]

@Ochw how are you getting on with your search?

Hope you enjoyed the trip to Hanson and sax.co.uk

Jx