Which sax to buy? Help!

[jaquire]

Hi everyone
I am hunting for new altosaxophone for myself.
Problem is I don't know which one to buy.
At moment i've Yamaha yas62. I am very interested in Yamaha yas875ex, Yamaha Limited Edition shotblast Z, Selmer Paris 62 series III and Selmer Paris Reference54.

Because I live in New Zealand I don't have much chance to test them out before i buy. Could anyone give me suggestions please.


Thank you!

 

[griff136]

Hi Jaquire,

all of the saxes you are interested are good models and the decision on which instrument to buy should be based on your personal tastes on how you like/dislike particular attributes to each model - how it plays how it feels etc.

I understand that you may not be able to try them out before you buy, but If you like your yamaha that you lay on at the moment you will find tht the other yamahas you are thinking of upgrading to should have a similar feel. I personally find the low eb spatulas on the selmer series III and the Ref models a tad too close to the D key for my liking. having said that I suppose I could get used to it.

good luck with your search

Grif

 

[lee_]

None of my business, I guess, but why do you want to upgrade from the 62? Just seems the answer to that might help steer you in the right direction. For instance, are you going for a different tone? Or looking to make an investment in a horn that might appreciate in value? Or just tired of your old horn?

Those, and any other reasons, are all sufficient, since it's your money.

(The absolute best alto player I ever worked with was a young man from the Dallas area, a math teacher, with whom I have played a few blues gigs. A total killer player, and monster improvisor. His horn of choice: the same Yamaha 61 alto that he bought in college.)

 

[rs2sensen]

I'm a Selmer guy, myself. I personally prefer the Series II over the III. However, if you can afford the Ref. 54, that would be my instrument of choice. The 54's are some of the most incredible horns I have ever played on.

Your best choice, of course, is to test out the instruments next to each other, and see which one you like the best. Where I am, I would go to Woodwind and Brasswind down in Indiana, or maybe if I felt like a trip, Kessler in Vegas. Not sure what options you have in New Zealand...

 

[Pete Thomas]

I'd agree that unless you know exactly what you want that is different to/better than your 62, then why change it. I had a YAS62 about 20 years ago - very good horn, I might still be using it if it wasn't stolen.

 

[jaquire]

🙂 Thank you guys for all your suggestions.
I will take my time to decide which one to get. Or even maybe look at a tenor or a Soprano instead of a Alto.

Thank you!

 

[philippe]

Take a look at this site for some reviews:
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/index.htm

All the modern saxophones are good these days. If you can try them out locally then great, otherwise only a few will be properly set up 'out-of-the-box'. Yamaha and Yanagisawa are reliable in that respect (thought not always - my Yani wasn't). If you don't have a good local technician then one of those two is a good idea.

There is SO much hype and subjective judgment surrounding saxophones. My advice would be - don't read the blurb that manufacturers churn out, and try them out for yourself. If you can't, with a Yamaha you can't go wrong. The 62 is great.
If you are going to spend a lot of time and money, spend it on getting a good mouthpiece.
Hope this helps
Philippe

 

[peterm]

the yamaha 62 is a good all round pro sax i have a reference 54 which is a great sounding sax the amount of money involved i would try to test a selmer perhaps on holiday or a trip to the nearest dealer then decide

At 08:32:06 AM 12/03/06, Jaquire wrote:
Hi everyone
I am hunting for new altosaxophone for myself.
Problem is I don't know which one to buy.
At moment i've Yamaha yas62. I am very interested in Yamaha yas875ex, Yamaha Limited Edition shotblast Z, Selmer Paris 62 series III and Selmer Paris Reference54.

Because I live in New Zealand I don't have much chance to test them out before i buy. Could anyone give me suggestions please.


Thank you!

🙂

 

[rollerguy101]

I own a Yamaha Yas875 Ex and it has served me well. Yamaha is incredibly reliable and the quality is great. With this horn, I have made first chair area and region band, and also first chair region jazz band. You should still try to test each horn before buying.

 

[AlistairD]

Having tried loads of Tenors out recently, my suggestion is to go and play some, take someone along with you and see what the different sounds are. I was suprised by the significant difference between the same models of both Selmers and Borganis....