Saxophones Soprano - curiosity.....

[LisaP2026]

Currently learning alto but thinking about hiring a sop just to see what it's like but have a couple of questions.....

1) is sop more difficult to play than an alto?

2) have heard that they are more prone to going out of tune - is this the case?

3) would you recommend a straight or a curvie to try?

Or would you suggest sticking with the alto until more competent......?

 

[LisaP2026]

After much deliberation and considering all of the comments and suggestions made, (thank you everyone!) I have narrowed the options down to the following:

Hire (with a view to buying):
Sakkusu curved for £36.06 per month (as per @Wonko)
Bauhaus curved SSS-Y for £25 per month (UK sax hire)
Bauhaus straight SSS-OY (one piece) or Trevor James The Horn straight (with 2 necks) for £35 per month (also UK sax hire)

Buy:
Startone scs75 (new - as per @Colin the Bear)
Sakkusu curved (2007) - used, good condition (one pearl missing)
Both similar prices

My inclination is to go for the sakkusu (assuming it's just a case of glueing a new pearl in place?)........although it's tempting to go for the brand new startone with the returns policy and guarantee.....

Any final thoughts/comments/warnings on the above? (I promise I won't ask any more questions......at least for the time being.....!!)

 

[Targa]

After much deliberation and considering all of the comments and suggestions made, (thank you everyone!) I have narrowed the options down to the following:

Hire (with a view to buying):
Sakkusu curved for £36.06 per month (as per @Wonko)
Bauhaus curved SSS-Y for £25 per month (UK sax hire)
Bauhaus straight SSS-OY (one piece) or Trevor James The Horn straight (with 2 necks) for £35 per month (also UK sax hire)

Buy:
Startone scs75 (new - as per @Colin the Bear)
Sakkusu curved (2007) - used, good condition (one pearl missing)
Both similar prices

My inclination is to go for the sakkusu (assuming it's just a case of glueing a new pearl in place?)........although it's tempting to go for the brand new startone with the returns policy and guarantee.....

Any final thoughts/comments/warnings on the above? (I promise I won't ask any more questions......at least for the time being.....!!)

To be pedantic the Bauhaus curved should be CSS-Y, if it is marked SSS-Y it is one of a small batch which were mis-stamped and sold off for a couple of hundred under price by sax.co.uk in around 2014.

 

[Stephen Howard]

g:

Hire (with a view to buying):
Sakkusu curved for £36.06 per month (as per @Wonko)
Bauhaus curved SSS-Y for £25 per month (UK sax hire)
Bauhaus straight SSS-OY (one piece) or Trevor James The Horn straight (with 2 necks) for £35 per month (also UK sax hire)

Buy:
Startone scs75 (new - as per @Colin the Bear)
Sakkusu curved (2007) - used, good condition (one pearl missing)
Both similar prices

My inclination is to go for the sakkusu (assuming it's just a case of glueing a new pearl in place?)........although it's tempting to go for the brand new startone with the returns policy and guarantee.....

OK, my perspective.
The Bauhaus horns were good - but they haven't been available new for many years now, so you'll be hiring a horn that's had quite a few miles under its belt.

Forget the Sakkusu. Their 'Deluxe' range barely made the grade in my books - and no matter what their blurb says the basic model is just A.N.Other Ultra-Cheap Chinese horn...and the used model at 2007 has nine years under its belt. On a good quality horns that's barely 'broken in' - on a cheap Chinese horn it's likely to be a very different story.
You're better off going for something like a Gear4Music and spending the saving on a proper setup. The Startone is likely to be comparable with the Gear4Music. If not the same.

I see you're in North Dorset. You're essentially a rather pleasant 90 minute or so drive from my workshop.
So I'm gonna put my money where my mouth is and offer this deal.
Get the bloomin' Startone fer gawd's sake. Bring it to my workshop with £40 in your hand (and a sticky bun). I'll check it out for free (that's a standard for any client) and tell you whether it's a keeper or not - and if it is, I'll do whatever tweaks it needs to bring it up to spec for a set price of £40. If it needs more work, that's on me.
But don't do it for the next fortnight as I'm knee-deep in pre-tour work - and those guys always come first.

And before anyone accuses me of being a big ol' softy I'm merely doing this to bring this never-ending thread to an end

 

[PigSquealer]

The best advice is free ! Take Steves offer on the Startone 🤩🥳

 

[Colin the Bear]

Thomann stuff is very good in my experience and they're very easy to do business with.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Take Steve’s offer. You’ll leave with a horn that plays. You could buy anything and there’s a fair possibility that it won’t be in good playing order without a trip to a good tech.

 

[LisaP2026]

OK, my perspective.
The Bauhaus horns were good - but they haven't been available new for many years now, so you'll be hiring a horn that's had quite a few miles under its belt.

Forget the Sakkusu. Their 'Deluxe' range barely made the grade in my books - and no matter what their blurb says the basic model is just A.N.Other Ultra-Cheap Chinese horn...and the used model at 2007 has nine years under its belt. On a good quality horns that's barely 'broken in' - on a cheap Chinese horn it's likely to be a very different story.
You're better off going for something like a Gear4Music and spending the saving on a proper setup. The Startone is likely to be comparable with the Gear4Music. If not the same.

I see you're in North Dorset. You're essentially a rather pleasant 90 minute or so drive from my workshop.
So I'm gonna put my money where my mouth is and offer this deal.
Get the bloomin' Startone fer gawd's sake. Bring it to my workshop with £40 in your hand (and a sticky bun). I'll check it out for free (that's a standard for any client) and tell you whether it's a keeper or not - and if it is, I'll do whatever tweaks it needs to bring it up to spec for a set price of £40. If it needs more work, that's on me.
But don't do it for the next fortnight as I'm knee-deep in pre-tour work - and those guys always come first.

And before anyone accuses me of being a big ol' softy I'm merely doing this to bring this never-ending thread to an end

Thanks @Stephen Howard - I will order the startone today and once received, will PM you to arrange a check over (what's your favourite sticky bun??)

Thomann stuff is very good in my experience and they're very easy to do business with.

Thanks @Colin the Bear for the recommendation

Take Steve’s offer. You’ll leave with a horn that plays. You could buy anything and there’s a fair possibility that it won’t be in good playing order without a trip to a good tech.

@Pete Effamy - thanks to you also for good advice.

I would also like to thank everyone who has been involved in this long-winded discussion - really appreciate all the help and advice you have given (& apologies for being such a pain in the whatsit by asking sooooo many questions - I promise I'll be quiet now!)

 

[Pete Effamy]

I would also like to thank everyone who has been involved in this long-winded discussion - really appreciate all the help and advice you have given (& apologies for being such a pain in the whatsit by asking sooooo many questions - I promise I'll be quiet now!)

It’s not easy. Too much choice and mostly you can’t test drive them as you would a car.

 

[Jeanette]

would also like to thank everyone who has been involved in this long-winded discussion - really appreciate all the help and advice you have given (& apologies for being such a pain in the whatsit by asking sooooo many questions - I promise I'll be quiet now!)

That's what we are here for.

Jx

 

[EdJ]

Forget the Sakkusu. Their 'Deluxe' range barely made the grade in my books - and no matter what their blurb says the basic model is just A.N.Other Ultra-Cheap Chinese horn...and the used model at 2007 has nine years under its belt.

2007 to 2026, nine years under it’s belt? What was it doing for the other 10 years that prevented them going under its belt. I need to know as 4 inches went under my belt in that time and I’d like to get rid of them (I am sure my wife would agree).

 

[PigSquealer]

Just shoot me now please!!!!
Pick an early AM assortment of sticky buns🤪. A baker’s dozen+. A half box+. Toss in a Wensleydale blueberry scone if you have to….. don’t bring a De-cafe 😒. If needed on your looooong journey to stop and use services, with “purchase”. Buy an assortment variety. Even add mustard condiments if suggested. Bake a brownie or lemon cake!!!
For heaven’s sakes, don’t show up empty handed!!!!!!

 

[Stephen Howard]

2007 to 2026, nine years under it’s belt? What was it doing for the other 10 years that prevented them going under its belt. I need to know as 4 inches went under my belt in that time and I’d like to get rid of them (I am sure my wife would agree).

Doh! Nineteen!! Musta been a typo - my adding up's not THAT bad...is it??😀

 

[Stephen Howard]

Thanks @Stephen Howard - I will order the startone today and once received, will PM you to arrange a check over (what's your favourite sticky bun??)

Ooooh...now yer asking! Anything with custard in it. Or caramel. Or fresh cream.

 

[Targa]

@LisaP2026, I would suggest that you make sure Mr Howard keeps his hands off your sticky buns until your sax is back in its case otherwise you might have to revert to ‘being such a pain in the whatsit by asking sooooo many questions’ about how to clean a very sticky saxophone.

 

[EdJ]

Pick an early AM assortment of sticky buns🤪. A baker’s dozen+. A half box+. Toss in a Wensleydale blueberry scone if you have to….. don’t bring a De-cafe 😒. If needed on your looooong journey to stop and use services, with “purchase”. Buy an assortment variety. Even add mustard condiments if suggested. Bake a brownie or lemon cake!!!
For heaven’s sakes, don’t show up empty handed!!!!!!

That will put a few inches under the belt

 

[PigSquealer]

Ooooh...now yer asking! Anything with custard in it. Or caramel. Or fresh cream.

Is this best for adjusting an SOP ? Maybe this where I’ve gone wrong. Bakery was out of apple & blueberry.
I got stuck with lemon 🍋.

 

[LisaP2026]

Thanks @Stephen Howard for tweaking the Startone yesterday, it plays much better now! Will take on board your suggestion to replace the mpc as well.

Hope you enjoyed the cake.....

 

[Stephen Howard]

Thanks @Stephen Howard for tweaking the Startone yesterday, it plays much better now! Will take on board your suggestion to replace the mpc as well.

Hope you enjoyed the cake.....

I did - it was scrummy, ta!

Very impressed with the soprano (Yani copy). I suspect it had got a bit rattled in transit, which had thrown out the bell keys and introduced some stack regulation issues; a very typical result of rough handling in the post.
Aside from that it was pretty much good to go. I fettled the octave key mech which was working but had a little more play than was necessary; replaced some key corks which were a bit scruffy and tweaked the seat of a few pads.
I also fitted three PTFE inserts where there was some play in the (point screw) key barrels and tweaked the tension of some of the springs (overly strong). The rod screw action was really quite good on the whole.
I also noted that some of the tonehole rims were a bit on the rough side.

I'd say I did about £60's worth of work to it but stuck to my promised flat rate, which is about what I'd expect for a Chinese horn setup - though it took rather longer on account of us both having a jolly good natter and me sussing out the build quality of the horn...plus being distracted by a rather splendid cake that kept calling to me...

All-in-all though, for a tad under £300 I'd say it was very good value indeed - and it played very well with no tuning issues, though will definitely benefit from a decent mouthpiece.

 

[turf3]

I did - it was scrummy, ta!

Very impressed with the soprano (Yani copy). I suspect it had got a bit rattled in transit, which had thrown out the bell keys and introduced some stack regulation issues; a very typical result of rough handling in the post.
Aside from that it was pretty much good to go. I fettled the octave key mech which was working but had a little more play than was necessary; replaced some key corks which were a bit scruffy and tweaked the seat of a few pads.
I also fitted three PTFE inserts where there was some play in the (point screw) key barrels and tweaked the tension of some of the springs (overly strong). The rod screw action was really quite good on the whole.
I also noted that some of the tonehole rims were a bit on the rough side.

I'd say I did about £60's worth of work to it but stuck to my promised flat rate, which is about what I'd expect for a Chinese horn setup - though it took rather longer on account of us both having a jolly good natter and me sussing out the build quality of the horn...plus being distracted by a rather splendid cake that kept calling to me...

All-in-all though, for a tad under £300 I'd say it was very good value indeed - and it played very well with no tuning issues, though will definitely benefit from a decent mouthpiece.

A lovely report from a guy who knows how to use his hands and his brains to work on physical things.

One of these days, Stephen, I'll end up passing thru the UK, and if you'll have me, I'll bring you a pastry and we can have a cuppa and tell each other some lies.

 

[PigSquealer]

@Stephen Howard @LisaP2026 a great success storybook ending to the thread ! Proof that the good people of the Café are willing to help. Cheers to you both 🙌