Treating myself - alto sax options

[helena]

Well I have been working hard, so I may go shopping next week..... Hubby has even suggested it! I am currently comparing Yanagisawa 992 and the Mauriat 67R. Does anyone have any views on the pros and cons of each - or a recommendation for another one to "test run" next week?
I will let you know the outcome...
I look forward to your replies
Helen

 

[daveysaxboy]

forget the alto & come & get my Mauriat 66r tenor that's for sale!!!!!!well i tried,both great horn's but for power then the PM which are really dark & fat,or the Yani which are a work of art & are softer toned,2 monster sax's but which 1 is the 1, only you will know when ya blow them,enjoy it & get what suit's you,that's what count's.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Selmer Ref 54, no question!

Tom

 

[TomMapfumo]

Saxophone Heaven in Oxford have an almost new Borgani Silver Plated Alto for under ?1900, saves about ?800 on new, and they are to die for.
Only a thought.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[suethesax]

I've never tried a Mauriat (but am sorely tempted by the them) but have had a 992 for about 3 years now and I love it. As Dave said, only you will know when you blow it. (I was adamant I was having a ref 54 and came home with the 992)

Happy shopping.

sue

 

[jonf]

I tried the tenor versions of both (as well as various Yamahas, Selmers, Keilwerth, TJ Signiture) and ended up the the Yanagisawa. Can't speak for the alto versions, but I would suggest, if you can make it, you go down to sax.co.uk and try them all. I'm sure Nachoman will look after you nicely - he might even make you a cuppa.

 

[Linky Lee]

Every time I play through a bunch of horns I always end up with a Yanigasawa in the pile I love, irrespective of wether it's a 901, 991, 902 or 992 they're always great horns. Nothing beats my 62 though.

Just try anything that takes your fancy and see what works best. But you can't do a sax showdown without a yamaha in there.

 

[dan]

Hey Helen,

I play the ref 54 alto (unlaquered) and would recommend it but I played about 8 of them before I found one I liked. The tuning on them can be tough to handle, easier if you have good throat control - i especially found the unlacquered models to be unstable with the tuning over top A, although the sound they make is truely mind-blowing.

One of my students just got a borgani and it is amazing, great action, brilliant intonation, really easy to blow and, most importantly, a rich and full sound! He got a great deal from Allegro in oxford. They are all really well made and seem to be a favourite of top players such as Branford Marsalis and Tim Garland.

Yanni's and Yammi's are also always a good bet - I would also look at the Mauriats for the money, they are a great price compared to other medium range saxs, they have a big sound which works well in larger bands (I play a tenor PM 66R which does the job nicely!).

Sorry for the essay..... hope some of this helps.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Allegro and Saxophone Heaven are the same firm, just to avoid confusion.

 

[daveysaxboy]

I swapped my last MK6 tenor to Allegro in oxford & walked off with a pearl silver borgani tenor about 4 year's back & that borg which i later got rid of is the only sax i truly regret selling,so if ya close & can make the trip to oxford you could try borg's out,they are a big bell horn based on the old conn's,king's etc & the mauriat's remind me of borg's aswell,but as i have said in the past all ya big named sax's are work's of art,it's just what rock's ya boat. 😉