Saxophones The Bauhaus Walstein Sax Owners Thread

[Pete Thomas]

Yes, this one has "bauhaus" engraved. I've finally had a chance to give it a good blow. The immediate good points seem to be very good intonation, I've never known an alto that has such a good C# - D (for me anyway). The main thing is the sound, I am extremely tempted to buy this now, if I can justify owning 3 altos - maybe I should sell the Buescher. Hmmm.

 

[saxismyaxe]

JonF wrote:

Saxismyaxe wrote:

Lately, you guys in Britain are getting all the good deals on the less expensive horn makes/models. 🙁

True, but it's swings and roundabouts. Have you seen the price of mouthpieces here? More in pounds than you pay in dollars in some cases. Not the retailers fault, there're just so many things bumping up the costs here.

I also get the impression that the better Chinese saxes such as Walstein are keeping profits low to build up a market presence and a reputation, and that once this is achieved they'll move steadily up market. When you take into account raw materials cost, labour (even at Chinese rates) shipping, import duty, VAT, retailer markup, tech checking over here, they can't be making much on an alto at three hundred quid. So get 'em now, while they're cheap!

Both very true statements. While looking at some UK vendor catalogs recently, I was gob smacked at how much US mouthpieces in particular go for over there. I realize there are importation fees etc., but WOW 8|

We certainly saw the price jump with P. M., A.W. and a number of other Taiwan/Chinese horns once their popularity started to soar. Not that they aren't worth it, but the goal is to pay the least amount for the most horn. 8)

 

[Pete Thomas]

Saxismyaxe wrote:
Both very true statements. While looking at some UK vendor catalogs recently, I was gob smacked at how much US mouthpieces in particular go for over there. I realize there are importation fees etc., but WOW 8|

But why would a chap want to play a US mouthpiece?

 

[saxismyaxe]

Don't make me tell everyone over there that you celebrated July 4th! :whistle:

 

[koumou]

Pete Thomas wrote:
Yes, this one has "bauhaus" engraved. I've finally had a chance to give it a good blow. The immediate good points seem to be very good intonation, I've never known an alto that has such a good C# - D (for me anyway). The main thing is the sound, I am extremely tempted to buy this now, if I can justify owning 3 altos - maybe I should sell the Buescher. Hmmm.

Have you tried a Bauhaus-Walstein tenor?

Just when I had made my mind up to get the Walstein tenor, they run out of them. Now it's a 2 month wait.

I am now considering the Hanson ST-5.

Any thought on that?

 

[greg_strange]

Hi Pete,

Would it be possible to post some photos of the Bauhaus-Walstein alto you are presently trialling?

Regards,
Greg Strange.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Greg Strange wrote:
Hi Pete,

Would it be possible to post some photos of the Bauhaus-Walstein alto you are presently trialling?

OK, it's there in the let's see 'em thread

 

[snatch182]

Hey, that is a great looking sax, pete. And the pearls look great also, although i still prefer the body of the P.Mauriat 67R (probably because it is so unique). Can i just make sure, is the body and neck made in silver?

When do you think you can post some sound clips? I'm still interested to see how it all pans out when it officially comes out in September. But i'm still deciding whether to upgrade or not. I still like my current walstein a lot, and i'd find it hard to part from my first sax. So still deciding.

I hope you enjoy your time with the Bauhaus prototype. I'd be interested to see what your impressions are about them, when you've had a good few hours practicing. So please keep us up to date. Thanks

 

[koumou]

Very nice looking sax indeed.

If I understood correctly, this will be the Bauhaus-Walstein
pro line.

The PMSA-202 , which is the cheapest P.Mauriat alto, sells
for 699 GBP on sax.co.uk. Any idea as to how much the Bauhaus will cost?

Pete, you mentioned that, they also had a tenor model there, which had a very MKVIish feel to it. Different to the current Walstein.

Can you please tell us a little more about it? Have you played it?

 

[TomMapfumo]

Anything that sounds/looks like a decent Selmer must be good!

 

[Pete Thomas]

koumou wrote:


The PMSA-202 , which is the cheapest P.Mauriat alto, sells
for 699 GBP on sax.co.uk. Any idea as to how much the Bauhaus will cost?

I have no idea, though I think this alto is equivalent to the top end Mauriat, but with the different finish.

Pete, you mentioned that, they also had a tenor model there, which had a very MKVIish feel to it. Different to the current Walstein.

Can you please tell us a little more about it? Have you played it?

I played it very briefly, most of the time it was hogged by Stephen Howard, who wouldn't put it down.

It had a bit less resistance than the original Walstein and a boppier sort of feel which is what seemed very MKVI like, if that makes sense. Possibly not, but that's the way MKVIs seem to me - a light but slightly more complex sound compared to most vintage American horns - but I'm only talking very slight differences which may be purely subjective. I used to really like my MKVI (which was an early one), but the intonation was a bit dodgy.

 

[Linky Lee]

Pete, What's the weight like?

If there were a few things I'd change about the Walstein it'd be:
A) It's weight
B) The touch pieces
and
C) a slightly snappier action.

I tried a P.Mauriat a long time ago and I hated it. I had three, two had faults on them and the one that was playable was boring for me. From the sounds of it, over the last few years they've improved drastically.

This could be a very interesting horn.

 

[u_can_call_me_al]

I have been fortunate to obtain a prototype Walstein curved soprano from WW&Brass.(Martin must have been sick of the sound of my voice).
Like their Alto and Tenor models it is well constructed of phosphor bronze.
It plays extremely well and has a full, rich, warm sound with my favourite combination of Otto link 5* Mp and Vandoren 2.5 Jazz reeds. It has none of the "Eastern Promise" usually associated with soprano saxes.
I am even comfortable with my other three sop Mps, 2 vandoren and a metal selmer, which I have previously set aside.
If there is to be a name change perhaps mine which only bears the name Walstein may be a future collectors item.

 

[Col9]

U Can Call Me Al wrote:
8><
If there is to be a name change perhaps mine which only bears the name Walstein may be a future collectors item.

Maybe my bari will be also as there were only 1 or 2 made I think.

Col.

 

[rhysonsax]

U Can Call Me Al wrote:
I have been fortunate to obtain a prototype Walstein curved soprano from WW&Brass

That could be the prototype curvie that I tried out when I was down at WW&Brass in May. It was a lovely little horn - very, very similar to my Yanagisawa SC991. The major difference I found was that the neck on the Walstein was less bent than the SC991 and that made the playing position just a little bit less comfortable. When I tried it with the Yanagisawa's neck, it was a bit more ergonomic (less need to bend my head over to play it), but there was no real difference to the tone or intonation.

I wonder if the Chinese factory are just using the curved neck that goes with the straight soprano ? WW&Brass were going to look into getting the more curved design of neck made for the production run.

I noticed that the colour of the phosphur bronze on the curvie was a bit different to the alto that I have, but what a great horn for the money. I might well get one too.

Rhys

 

[saxismyaxe]

Bauhaus huh? An homage to the 1920's art movement or the 80's goth band with a nod to Peter Murphy? :laugh:

 

[greg_strange]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for posting a photo of the new Bauhaus-Walstein alto. If it sounds and plays as good as it looks it should be a good alternative for somebody looking for a pro alto. Can't wait to hear any sound files, and no doubt in the future a review from Stephen Howard, perhaps?
Thanks once again.
Regards,
Greg Strange.

 

[jonf]

Saxismyaxe wrote:
Bauhaus huh? An homage to the 1920's art movement or the 80's goth band with a nod to Peter Murphy? :laugh:

Bela Lugosi's dead........ 😉

 

[Pete Thomas]

Greg Strange wrote:
Can't wait to hear any sound files, and no doubt in the future a review from Stephen Howard, perhaps?

Recording is now on my youtube site (Old Time Blues Take 1). I thought I'd better do one quickly as I have to give it back soon or buy it. I'm still wondering about buying it but I'll probably wait until they have a few more. I don't really need 4 altos at the moment.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Awesome Ligature! What make is it? I must get one. What was the sax called again, Bar house walls thyme? I may have got that wrong, mind.

Only joking! Seriously good sound there. Should I get a Walstein just for the hell of it, and join the In-Crowd?

Kind regards
Tom