Saxophones What do you regret the most, either buying or not buying?

[Ivan]

I remember that one, I almost went for it.

Actually a different one, found amongst the effects of a geezer in Edinburgh who hadn't played it for many years. It was transferred to a technician who was readying it for sale

Apart from not getting to own the sax my regret is that I couldn't interrupt the coating being removed and the horn sold as unlacquered

 

[Pete Thomas]

Apart from not getting to own the sax my regret is that I couldn't interrupt the coating being removed and the horn sold as unlacquered

Oh wow, sacrilege. But some people just don’t value such things.

 

[mark_addy]

I regret not buying a knackered 40s, 50s Buescher baritone for 350 quid off my girls' piano teacher 5 or 6 years ago. 'Why do I need another one'. Well, I could have fixed it, compared it to the one I have (only keyed to Eb), and sold one of them, at a profit. Oh well.

Oh - I also regret going to great lengths to buy back a 'Sioma' alto my school music teacher lent me - it belonged to his friend - after it was nicked from my house when I was away at university, still borrowing it. This is all more than 30 years ago. It turned up in a dodgy music shop on the Wirral, I was young and trying to do the right thing, and buying it back cost me my last few quid in the world (really) at a time when I was at a bit of a low ebb. I thought I stood no chance with the police, at a time when burglary was rife around here, and the shop owner turned out to be a very sharp operator indeed. Well, I did the right thing, and the teacher's friend turned out to have not asked for his sax back because he was dead. Oh well.

(I liked that teacher, and he is now in prison. 'Discernment' is clearly not my middle name.)

 

[PigSquealer]

I remember that one, I almost went for it.

Do you regret not buying it ?

 

[PigSquealer]

Just a reed clipper I never used.
Anyone want one?

Guess you never bought the C Melody to go with it ? Make a lamp out of it 😉

 

[Pete Thomas]

Do you regret not buying it ?

Yes and no

 

[Colin the Bear]

Bit coin.

 

[Ghr9204]

No point wallowing in Regret...there is only The Present Moment...all else is the mind's fabrication/reinterpretation of things past.....

 

[skeller047]

Not sure what the Herculean effort would be. Recently I paid Tarpley Music $152 US (don't have my receipts with me) to have my Venus sop serviced.

Two of the rod screws were so short that they were held in by less than 1/2 thread. Several of the pivot screws were so poorly made that they were quite gritty feeling to screw in, due to poor threads. They were replaced. Additionally, 4 or 5 of the pivot screw posts had the countersunk area so off center that the screw head interfered with it, which I had to file or scrape so the screws fit. I used one of those inexpensive “repair kits” available on Amazo-bay for replacement supplies. Those kits are a good source for replacement screws and springs. (The pads are awful.)

Several posts were out of alignment, meaning the rod or pivot screw did not engage smoothly with the key; one pointerd a good 25 degrees left (or right depending on which way you look at it). A few springs needed replacing, they were quite rusty, and two flat springs broke as I tried to bend them (the new ones from the kit are fine).

Many of the tone holes were extremely wavy. Of course, most of the keys did not fit well, meaning they were either sloppy and had to be swedged, and/or the end of the key barrel was cut at an angle, rather than flat to the post face. Several post faces were also not perpendicular to the key rotation.

I really want to finish making this horn the best it can be, because it has a great sound, but I have other fish to fry at the moment, so it’s on hold.

I guess I got a bad one 🙂

 

[Ghr9204]

I guess I got a bad one 🙂

That very well could be. I can only speak of the one that I have, of which my experiences are based on. Maybe I and a few others lucked out?

And, since the brand is apparently no longer being sold, I relish the thoughts from our techs such as @PigSquealer and @JayeNM , and others also reinforced by my personal experiences, to seek a beginner (or intermediate) used brand name or stencil woodwind instrument and have it professionally serviced.

Now, regrets ...​

I bought the newest lot of boxes of 25 tenor sax D’Addario orange box Rico #2 reeds. It cost me around $88 US, bought 2 ($176). Went through a half box, ALL OF THEM went soggy and didn't play worth a hoot after a half hour of play, consistently.

Someone forwarded me a link that explained new manufacturing methods (no, please don't misunderstand me, I appreciate the one trying to help out who forwarded the link). But my thoughts after reading the article was, "Why do I need a scientific long winded explanation on why they changed their best seller, then doubled the cost and now they suck?"

No more Orange Boxes for me. I'm now cured of my previous life long love of these,looking to try out other brands.

 

[ESJohn]

I've been mulling over this all day long. The only regrets, which are mild ones, are reeds. One, I have too many. Two, I purchased a few 3.5 strengths and some Chinese branded reeds that were less that satisfactory to me. Those purchases were all but useless.
I really like the Zephyr, but regret purchasing it without a proper case, as it came to me inside a Selmer Bundy case.
I have an abundance of saxophone instruction books. I have both the Standard of Excellence and Traditions of Excellence books, purchased for use with the band. The Standard of Excellence books were a mistake on my part as I didn't look closely at the instructions as to which series to purchase. We also never got quite through the series so there they sit.
More than half of the books that I own were gifted to me, and there they sit.
If I would spend 5 minutes worth of time for each page represented in all of those books and sheets of music, I think I could upgrade my profile to intermediate. Sigh!

 

[VictorFirstClass]

Regret not buying a Yamaha YSS475 in my local Hobgoblin for under a grand a couple years ago.

 

[PigSquealer]

Now, regrets ...​

I bought the newest lot of boxes of 25 tenor sax D’Addario orange box Rico #2 reeds. It cost me around $88 US, bought 2 ($176). Went through a half box, ALL OF THEM went soggy and didn't play worth a hoot after a half hour of play, consistently.

Someone forwarded me a link that explained new manufacturing methods (no, please don't misunderstand me, I appreciate the one trying to help out who forwarded the link). But my thoughts after reading the article was, "Why do I need a scientific long winded explanation on why they changed their best seller, then doubled the cost and now they suck?"

No more Orange Boxes for me. I'm now cured of my previous life long love of these,looking to try out other brands.

Contact D’Addario and complain ! Look to see if there’s a lot number on boxes.
I would also complain to the vendor and see about returning them. $176 is not being cheap.
Lots of quality reeds available in same price range.

 

[Ghr9204]

Contact D’Addario and complain ! Look to see if there’s a lot number on boxes. I would also complain to the vendor and see about returning them. $176 is not being cheap. Lots of quality reeds available in same price range.

That purchase was last year November, a little late now. I usually by reeds in bulk to use later. I didn't find out until 6 months later, when I broke open the box.

Today that same Orange box of 25 uncuts now costs $98.

You are correct about other brands being less. The pricing of these, which used to be the cheapest option has gone out of control. I have a new box of 25 Vanduren Junos. I'll break them open (bought about 2 years ago on clearance), give them a try.

 

[PigSquealer]

That purchase was last year November, a little late now. I usually by reeds in bulk to use later. I didn't find out until 6 months later, when I broke open the box.

Today that same Orange box of 25 uncuts now costs $98.

I would still contact them.

 

[PigSquealer]

I completely regret not asking my wife to go grab a 1927 Holton SOP silver plated. Listed @ $100. There was enough time to grab it and then take me to hospital….for the five and half hours of facial reconstruction surgery. I only hurt a little from horse kicking me in face. Missing the SOP hurt worse 😒

 

[Ghr9204]

I completely regret not asking my wife to go grab a 1927 Holton SOP silver plated. Listed @ $100. There was enough time to grab it and then take me to hospital….for the five and half hours of facial reconstruction surgery. I only hurt a little from horse kicking me in face. Missing the SOP hurt worse 😒

I think your wife was prudent in taking you to the hospital ASAP. Your health is more important. (Was she about to kick you if you even mentioned for her to buy that Holton? Although I heard the case, don't know if true or in jest, of someone selling their left kidney to afford that new ultra-pro Selmer sax. But do you go on hoping that the remaining one never fails you?)

50 years ago I had the opportunity to continue in the US Army Band system and renew my contract. Decided to go to college instead. In my younger years I regretted that.

Wondered how things would have been to retire as a top sergeant after 20 plus years of service receiving at least half of my base pay for the rest of my life. It was a lower stress life style. Although I didn't totally lose out taking a smaller reservist retirement at age 60, plus a retirement from my civilian employer.

But, the good is that now we are alive to talk about it.

 

[PigSquealer]

I think your wife was prudent in taking you to the hospital ASAP. Your health is more important. (Was she about to kick you if you even mentioned for her to buy that Holton?

The surgery was planned week in advance. The SOP for sale wasn’t. My $49k surgery would have benefited in recovering with an $100 sop to restore later. FWIW the $200 meal after surgery tasted like old pads🤢

 

[Ghr9204]

FWIW the $200 meal after surgery tasted like old pads🤢

I never chew on old withdrawn sax pads. 😉 Medication has a tendency to do that, affects the flavour of food. Maybe too early? 90 days out for a special meal would have been more worthwhile?

 

[PigSquealer]

I never chew on old withdrawn sax pads. 😉 Medication has a tendency to do that, affects the flavour of food. Maybe too early? 90 days out for a special meal would have been more worthwhile?

Chicken broth….$140. Jello desert $45. Napkins $15. At 90 days a Porter house steak $18 at home.