Trevor James Saxophones

[simon_andrews]

Just wondering have any of you guys come into the contact with TJ saxophones?
I never really tried them when I bought my first sax and I never really took notice of what type pf sax my tutor used but upon further inspection I found that it was a trevor james.
It does sound very good and sweet but then again he is an experianced player. I think it is a Revolution II tenor, they are not that expensive however it is his second instrument after a clarenet!
was just wondering if you guys have any info on TJ saxes.Cheers!!!!

 

[Linky Lee]

Trevor James are relatively new and have built themselves a very good reputation and lots of expectation about what they could be coming out with in a few years time.

I think they are probably in the top 3 saxes of best buy for a student, in my opinion of course.

They have recently started hitting the Professional market with their signature and signature custom models. I haven't had a chance to play one of the Sig Custom Tenors yet, but It's on my list to try out as I'm contemplating one for my upgrade.

I rate the student instruments very highly, and the prices are good.

 

[jonf]

What Linky says is right apart from Trevor James being new - I first played a TJ Horn alto twenty years ago. OK, it's not quite the same heritige as Selmer, but long enough to show they're not a fly-by-night outfit.

I've played more modern TJ Horn models, and the pro Signature CUstom, and been impressed by the all. I reckon the student ones are the best value for money on the market at the moment.

 

[tris]

Yeah I started on an original "The Horn" they are great, much better than the revolutions and rev II.

Nicest Student horn? Well, I would take one over an YAS anyday but they are not robust like the Yammaha's but I think they sound a whole lot meater....

 

[david_tannahill]

Hi Simon,

I am only a late beginner but I had a TJ signature tenor (which is the equivalent of the new rev 2). I felt it was ok for me but my teacher felt that it was still a student-level horn and that an intermediate one would be better in the long run (he clearly has more faith in my abilities than I). He said it was a bit heavy to play and that low notes were a little hard to speak. My concern was that the engineering was a little off- the bell ring was sharp and easy to get cut on because it hadn't been filled down properly. I don't have great experience and I do think that individual horns vary even if they are the same model number. The price of the sig was very reasonable, so I think that they are actually great value for money. Also TJ customer services were very good and answered all my question and offer to meet up with me to test a custom model.

 

[Bobby G]

I've owned 2 TJJ saxes, both altos. The first was a Horn Revolution 2, a student model which I got as a swap for a dodgy 'Buescher Aristocrat 200', a late model from the early 90's, so I suspect a Buescher Aristocrat in name only. Sounded ok, but some very odd keywork looking back from my relatively experienced position.

I was really pleased with the Rev 2, it helped my playing advance well for a year or so. It was during the time I had this one that I did a lot of experimenting with mouthpieces, reeds etc before settling on the Selmer Soloist (still love this mpc) which gave me a nice fat sound, although slightly prone to sounding a little weedy at the top end when playing loud. The keywork was good, the only slight problem was the bottom Bb was a bit of a stretch for my smallish hands with inturning little fingers.

A bit later on I had a Signature model - not the Sig Custom, which was aimed at the pro market (probably the Yam's and Yani's), just a Sig which I suppose was an intermediate horn. Everything about it was like the Rev2, except the top end sounded a little better at loud volumes. All in all, it was an ok horn, but didn't knock me out - maybe I was expecting more from it after the Rev2, or maybe the Rev2 was better than it should have been at the price.

Having said that, I think the Trevor James brand is very good, especially the student models. Definitely worth considering.

Cheers, Bob

 

[simon_andrews]

how do you think that the professional models fair against Yamaha and Yani pro models?

 

[Bobby G]

I've not played a TJJ pro model, but I would think they are aiming at the Yamaha 62 or Yani 901 sort of area - the unfussy, not-too-embellished solid pro horn area - so I would say try one of the TJJ Sig Customs against the YAS62 or similar. I got my YAS62 mainly because it was there at a good price, and I tried it and liked it straight away, not only for the sound but for the way they keys fit my hands a little better than a TJJ.

Cheers, Bob

 

[jonf]

I blew a TJJ Sig Custom against Yamaha YTS 62, Mauriat 76, Yani 901, 902, 991 and 992. I preferred the TJJ to the Yamaha, and I thought it was miles better than the Mauriat, which IMHO was about ?500 overpriced. I though it was about as good as the Yani 901 & 902, but not in the same league as the 991 and 992. They are both much more expensive, of course.

Bear in mind this was for the tenor, not the alto. All in all, a pretty good product.

 

[simon_andrews]

Bobby G wrote:
I've not played a TJJ pro model, but I would think they are aiming at the Yamaha 62 or Yani 901 sort of area - the unfussy, not-too-embellished solid pro horn area - so I would say try one of the TJJ Sig Customs against the YAS62 or similar. I got my YAS62 mainly because it was there at a good price, and I tried it and liked it straight away, not only for the sound but for the way they keys fit my hands a little better than a TJJ.

Cheers, Bob

is your YAS62 silver plated or gold lacquered? incedentally does the difference in finish make a difference in sound

 

[Linky Lee]

There have been many huge debates about finish to sound.

There are two camps. One is yes definatly, the other is Not in the slightest and then the third (I guess I lied), who sit on the fence all day long, saying sometimes they feel that it sounds difference though in a blind test they can't actually hear a difference.

I'm in the fouth camp 😛

 

[simon_andrews]

Linky_Lee wrote:
There have been many huge debates about finish to sound.

There are two camps. One is yes definatly, the other is Not in the slightest and then the third (I guess I lied), who sit on the fence all day long, saying sometimes they feel that it sounds difference though in a blind test they can't actually hear a difference.

I'm in the fouth camp 😛

whats the fourth camp? buy one of each!

 

[Bobby G]

My YAS62 is lacquered and is a yellow 'un not a bleedin' white one. Never having played anything other than lacquered horns I can't comment on what difference other finishes make to the sound.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Jules]

Simon Andrews wrote:

Bobby G wrote:
I've not played a TJJ pro model, but I would think they are aiming at the Yamaha 62 or Yani 901 sort of area - the unfussy, not-too-embellished solid pro horn area - so I would say try one of the TJJ Sig Customs against the YAS62 or similar. I got my YAS62 mainly because it was there at a good price, and I tried it and liked it straight away, not only for the sound but for the way they keys fit my hands a little better than a TJJ.

Cheers, Bob

is your YAS62 silver plated or gold lacquered? incedentally does the difference in finish make a difference in sound

By and large I've not found finish to make that much difference, though silver plate is the exception... silver horns tend to be bigger and louder than their brass equivalent in my experience.

 

[Bobby G]

Having read that, the idea of a silver-plated horn is very appealing - bigger and louder, yes please 🙂 Which would mean that subtone and mellower sounds, while relatively quiet, would be louder too...?

Do we know anyone with a silver-plated sax who would care to comment? And what differences do you get from changing to a silver crook, apart from a major bank-balance shortfall?

Cheers, Bob

 

[Linky Lee]

I have a silver plated sax. And a gold plated sax, both Alto's and a lacquered Tenor.

The Gold plated sax (Hanson) is very big, rich and bright. The Silver plated one (Martin) Is still very big and rich but much darker, I put this down to the actual saxophone dimensions though, not the plating.

The Hanson does seem to punch out and cut through much more than some of the Yani's and Yamaha's I've been playing with not more than an hour ago. I really find it hard to blend in on the quieter sections as it cuts through very well.

Maybe it does affect it a bit, but I can't see a different colour lacquer affecting the sound. Then density of the finish on the instrument is what will affect it. Not it's colour.

 

[simon_andrews]

I was thinking of upgrading when i get a bit better as i've only had 11 lessons, i was thinkin of trying a YAS 62 silver plated or whatever.it seem to have a good rep and be a fair price!
I know that my yas275 sounds a bit light if you know what i mean.
Do you guys know which brands are known for the dark, rich sound?

 

[Linky Lee]

Vintage horns are typically known as being darker and fuller with contemporary ones being quite bright and cutting.

There are exceptions of course and all horns can be made to sound differently with different playing styles and the mouthpiece being the biggest factors (I think).

I wouldn't think that silver plating will help you move towards a darker sound. The people who says that finishes make a difference generally say that silver plating is brighter, punchier and fuller. many of them seem to think that only saxes made from solid silver do this and that the plating doesn't affect it.

I don't think the finish is going to have a difference to the sound.
Scientifically speaking you want a saxophone with a large bore, a large flared bell to spread out the sound more giving it more 'depth' for that really 'big' sound and a mouthpiece with no baffle (i.e. very open inside).
You then need to learn how to control your own personal tone and get your equipment working in sync with yourself.

 

[simon_andrews]

Linky_Lee wrote:
Vintage horns are typically known as being darker and fuller with contemporary ones being quite bright and cutting.

There are exceptions of course and all horns can be made to sound differently with different playing styles and the mouthpiece being the biggest factors (I think).

I wouldn't think that silver plating will help you move towards a darker sound. The people who says that finishes make a difference generally say that silver plating is brighter, punchier and fuller. many of them seem to think that only saxes made from solid silver do this and that the plating doesn't affect it.

I don't think the finish is going to have a difference to the sound.
Scientifically speaking you want a saxophone with a large bore, a large flared bell to spread out the sound more giving it more 'depth' for that really 'big' sound and a mouthpiece with no baffle (i.e. very open inside).
You then need to learn how to control your own personal tone and get your equipment working in sync with yourself.

Ok cheers. so which brands have large bore then? sorry for all the questions!
I have recently been bought a Beechler tonalex mouthpiece for my birthday and this is very mellow, it has an open chamber like you say and a medium baffle and it is tricky to controll when i swicth from my beginner Mp ( Yam 4c) but after a few minutes you get ajusted to the difference. so go on then large bore saxes.......

 

[Linky Lee]

well every model is different so you can't really say which brand.

As far as I know some Keilworths, P. Mauriats and Cannonballs are generally larger than others, but I think you're more likely to find a better quality saxophone from Yamaha or Yanagisawa for the same price.