Should I get a Hanson???

jambo · Dec 24, 2006

I sold my Alto a month or so ago, but now I miss it.

I now want to get a new Alto. The way I look at it, it makes more sense to get a Pro model, that will last for years, rather than a student sax that will need upgrading quite soon.

I'm looking at the Hansons SA8 as they have really good prices, and I know there are people on here who own them.

Should I get one???

pauloalto · Dec 24, 2006

I would! Quite literally in fact because I'm thinking of also selling my YAS 275 and getting the Hanson. Out of interest how old was your YAS 275 and how much did you get for it??

Paul

jambo · Dec 24, 2006

I got it new 1 year ago for 535 pounds. I sold it on ebay with various accsessories and got 470 quid for it!

I was rather lucky there! I guess I put it on there at the right time. My advise to you (if you sell your sax) is to do a very detailed descripion and have plenty of photos. People are less likely to bid on a sax if all it says in the descripion is "Yas-275 in good condition"

Jules · Dec 24, 2006

Dumb question- but where do you go to buy a Hanson?

Bobby G · Dec 24, 2006

Apart from going to the workshop/factory, where you get the best price, I don't know which retailers would stock them. Everyone who has a Hanson seems to love it, and their reputation for service is fantastic. If I wanted a brand new sax, Hanson would be right up on my list. The only downside, which I suppose is to do with their quality and reputation, is that sometimes demand outstrips supply and you may have to wait a while for a certain model. Maybe they keep demo or tryout models so you can at least have a play on one before deciding to go on the waiting list. Perhaps by now they have good supplies anyway?

Cheers, Bob

peter_fitton · Dec 28, 2006

You can order them online too at this URL: http://www.saxophonesdirect.com/Home.html

Peter

Linky Lee · Dec 30, 2006

I have a Hanson SA-8 as you rightly pointed out Jambo. Mine is the 24k-f version. Which I don't believe makes any difference to the sound over the SA-8-24K, just looks a bit nicer. Basically the finish on the body is like a frosty matte gold and the key work is your normal shiny gold colour. The colour of the gold is very rich and orange like as well.

This was the first sax I bought as intended to last a life time along with accumulating various other bits of equipment as well.

My sax is now two years old.

I'll try and sum up what I've found out over the two years.

Plus:
They are very friendly and do bother with customer service.

5 year guarantee that covers parts as well so really unless you sit on it it won't cost you your normal servicing allowance for 5 years.

The key work and mechanism is good. There is certainly room for improvement but it does it's job well and it certainly is nice to play on.

The sound is very bright, but incredibly pure. This means it projects really well and sounds really full though you will most likely want to darken the natural sound a bit with a mouthpiece and reed combination you fin works. (Personally Otto Link STM with RJS is fabulous! best combo for under 400 I found, though I haven't tried the ebonite mouthpieces Pete is using. RPC I believe).

Includes a Selmer S80 C* and a decent BG strap though I personally find the BG ligature to be in essence wrong. It's huge!

It is a very good saxophone, especially for the money.

Negatives:

The lacquer wore a bit faster than I thought it would, a bit disappointing.

The case it comes with isn't greatly durable, feet fell off, the zip broke and the straps broke as well.

Then the only big problem I had was a personal issue with mine that the saxophone was set-up completely wrong. But in their credit, they have found the problem - eventually - and fixed it - hopefully - for me and I should receive my saxophone back later today or on Monday! Though because their service is so good and they honour their promises this has been completely free except two ways of delivery at ?9.50 each. Not bad I must say.

So all in all I would recommend one. Though it's not going to be that magic sax we all search after, it will certainly bring some magic to your heart and it will serve you well.

But maybe I think I'd recommend getting the silver finish or the raw brass or something as they are slightly cheaper enabling you to get yourself a nice mouthpiece set-up and the tonal differences are going to be minimal. The saxophone could do with a bit of a darker voice anyway.
so maybe going for the vintage lacquer would be preferable.

Hope this helps.

Rogerb · Dec 30, 2006

I'd add that, should you tire of owning a Hanson, you almost certainly won't get the sort of 'return' for it that Jambo did for his Yam!

(Unless, of course, in the meantime, Hanson gain worldwide recognition for the quality of their products..... and why not? 😀 )

If I wished to upgrade my SA-5 to an SA-8, I believe I'd be allowed what I paid for it, as the trade-in value :w00t:

jambo · Dec 30, 2006

Cheers for tha Linky!

I am enjoying playin my soprano at the mo, but when I do get an Alto, I thnik I will give Hanson a call! 🙂

Linky Lee · Dec 30, 2006

You could also take the fact that Pete bought a Tenor, obviously rating that model. And the fact that all their Tenors are sold all nearly all the time.

It's only the Alto's I have experience of but I really believe that they are rather excellent for the money.

Bobby G · Dec 30, 2006

Useful info from both Linky and Roger - upgrading from a 5 to an 8 in that way sounds like a good deal. Presumably your 5 needs to be under a certain age and in good nick?

Has anyone seen any used Hansons being advertised yet? I haven't, and I'm a frequent visitor to ebay.

Cheers, Bob

jambo · Dec 30, 2006

Yeah Bob, I also keep an eye out, but they dont seem to come up.

Bobby G · Dec 31, 2006

As it happens, there's an SA3G on there now if anyone's interested....

Rogerb · Dec 31, 2006

Bob Green wrote:
Useful info from both Linky and Roger - upgrading from a 5 to an 8 in that way sounds like a good deal. Presumably your 5 needs to be under a certain age and in good nick?

Cheers, Bob

Not if you are the original purchaser, Bob... that requirement was never specified.... although mine would certainly be 'in good nick' 😀
Being such an accessible company means that it's always worth a chat with them, anyway, if you have some kind of 'deal' in mind.
(They can say "Deal"or "No Deal" :laugh: )

Linky Lee · Dec 31, 2006

I believe they reduce a small amount every month for how old it is. Like ?15 and after it is so many years old they have a set fee that you can 'trade it in for'

I have seen one Hanson SA-5 on ebay about two years ago about ?50 cheaper than them brand new. Needless to say it didn't sell and I've never seen one since.

It's a testament to the instruments that they aren't being bought and then sold of because people didn't like them that much.

I believe Hanson normally have a few instruments around 6 months old that are in good nick. I'd give them a call and see what they have if you're interested.

Rogerb · Dec 31, 2006

Linky_Lee wrote:
I believe they reduce a small amount every month for how old it is. Like ?15 and after it is so many years old they have a set fee that you can 'trade it in for'

No, that's their 'buy back' scheme, Lee, which is a better deal than rental for those who think they(or the person for whom they bought it!) might give it up 🙂

I think you get a 'full allowance' for an upgrade... that certainly used to be the case.

As you say, there don't seem to be many s/h ones around, so I guess they don't buy many back!