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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Paul_Dennis" data-source="post: 576086" data-attributes="member: 5280">Hi there everyone. This is an interesting discussion and all the more so because I have just bought myself a Hanson ST-8 tenor. It's only just arrived so I'm still forming an opinion about it. More on that later in this post. I also have a student model soprano. I don't play it very often but have had some fun with it.It's a straight Elkhart 300 series instrument, distributed by Vincent Bach. I guess it is Taiwanese made but that is no bad thing. Vincent Bach are a well respected company and manufacture superb trumpets and other brass instruments. The soprano cost ?280.00 new and has an excellent mechanism, with robust keys, an exceptional set of left hand table keys and smooth rollers. Intonation is nigh on perfect with a very strong low end. At the cheaper end of the range it doesn't have a detachable neck, neither does it have a slightly curved neck so for some playing posture might be an issue.Tone was not great. However, a few weeks ago I had the opportunity of using a Yanigasawa soprano mouthpiece on the instrument. Boy did it improve in tonal quality. It fairly sung, with sweet notes in the upper register and a delicioulsly smooth low register.I guess the moral is that there are some very good instruments out there at bargain prices...but it is caveat emptor! Also be prepared to test with a range of mouthpieces.I can't say much about the Artemis range of soprano saxes. I believe that they are made to a Trevor James design and are marketed by TJ instruments. That's certainly the case with their alto and tenor models. My first sax was a TJ artemis alto. I didn't get on with it. It was stuffy and difficult below low D. That could largely be lack of experience on my part but on moving onto a Keilwerth EXII I noticed a huge difference. I'm told by my sax repair man that the newer models are a significant improvement over those of 10 or more years ago.Now back to the Hanson tenor. My first playing impression is the full, rich tone across all the registers and particulalry low down. The horn is very free blowing and notes sing out instantly without hesitation. Intonation seems good too. I had the chance to compare it with a Yanigasawa last night (can't remember the model number but is rose brass). The Hanson outshines it in every way with respect to playability and tonal quality, though I adit this is very much a personal thing. I'm impressed. I'm also impressed by the quality of the construction which is every bit as good as that of the Yanigasawa. The low C, B and Bb cups are all double braced and rock steady. The bridge supporting the lower stack rods and palm keys is substantial and has extra bracing. You'd have to be a gorilla to bend it! However, I have one or two minor issues with the key work. The left hand table keys are poorly put together, too widely spaced and definitely needs tweaking, the rollers are also poor quality plastic and don't move smoothly (they could well bed in), the high E left hand palm key is very low for my tastes (easily corrected and not a quality issue).  I'd also prefer pearls on the G# key (yes I know I'm picky but in the picture on the web site these keys have pearls on them!)All in I'm very happy and as soon as I have had some practice with it will post some sound files so you can all hear what it sounds like. This is a quality instrument and at less than ?1000 represents amazing value for money. Another very happy Hanson customer! Oh just one thing..I ordered the vintage finish which, now I have the instrument, is not to my taste. I rang Hanson's and told them so. Their customer service is the best I have ever come across in any field not just music. It's not a problem...they say play the sax and enjoy it...they'll happily exchange it for another finish when I'm ready next week.</blockquote>