Anyone play sax?
Discussion
One of those things I have always wanted to try so where do I start for a half decent instrument. I imagine you can pay thousands for the best but I don't want a stradivarius just yet!
I recall my mum having a pair of good boosey and hawkes clarinets in the past (Emperor?) so I would be quite happy with something from there but am open to suggestions. Something not made in China or so thin you can see through it but not so expensive if it doesn't take off it won't break the bank.
I recall my mum having a pair of good boosey and hawkes clarinets in the past (Emperor?) so I would be quite happy with something from there but am open to suggestions. Something not made in China or so thin you can see through it but not so expensive if it doesn't take off it won't break the bank.
DKL said:
One of those things I have always wanted to try so where do I start for a half decent instrument. I imagine you can pay thousands for the best but I don't want a stradivarius just yet!
Good job, Stradivarius saxophones are, well, 'woody'.Yamaha seem to be well respected for stuff.
DKL said:
One of those things I have always wanted to try so where do I start for a half decent instrument. I imagine you can pay thousands for the best but I don't want a stradivarius just yet!
I recall my mum having a pair of good boosey and hawkes clarinets in the past (Emperor?) so I would be quite happy with something from there but am open to suggestions. Something not made in China or so thin you can see through it but not so expensive if it doesn't take off it won't break the bank.
I have a Yamaha clarinet (for when I'm feeling too sensitive for the Marshall stack/strat combo) which was recommended for a beginner. I think their saxes are pretty good too. Best bet would be to talk to a local music shop or even the teacher you're going to try. Unless you've played woodwind before I think you'd get on a lot better with at least a few lessons.I recall my mum having a pair of good boosey and hawkes clarinets in the past (Emperor?) so I would be quite happy with something from there but am open to suggestions. Something not made in China or so thin you can see through it but not so expensive if it doesn't take off it won't break the bank.
TC
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=q-fxs_ZWXH4
As is this lady.
Yamaha and Yanagisawa are very good brands of sax. Agree with the above, sax.co.uk are fantastic. If you want to try before you buy, their lease system is fantastic. I leased a soprano off of them before deciding to buy. Their Sakkuso brand are actually pretty good beginner horns!
Cheers,
Matt
As is this lady.
Yamaha and Yanagisawa are very good brands of sax. Agree with the above, sax.co.uk are fantastic. If you want to try before you buy, their lease system is fantastic. I leased a soprano off of them before deciding to buy. Their Sakkuso brand are actually pretty good beginner horns!
Cheers,
Matt
Played Alto for 14 years, have a 1929 Conn, but don't pick it up much anymore
Played Baritone for 8 years or so, and have a beautiful old Yanigasawa, delacquered, beaten up, 1940s Berg and Larsen mouthpiece. Amazing horn. Love the sound of it.
Avoid US Selmer - very cheap and nasty. Yamaha make the best student models, but you will need to move up after a while if you continue to play.
Played Baritone for 8 years or so, and have a beautiful old Yanigasawa, delacquered, beaten up, 1940s Berg and Larsen mouthpiece. Amazing horn. Love the sound of it.
Avoid US Selmer - very cheap and nasty. Yamaha make the best student models, but you will need to move up after a while if you continue to play.
Woo, my thread has arrived - I'm a saxophone teacher!
As mentioned: www.sax.co.uk are great, I use them all the time. For buying/renting a new horn, I always recommend the Trevor James "The Horn" Sax Packs that they do. The saxophone is of decent quality, well in tune, has a nice action and plays fine, and above all, doesn't break the bank.
If you need any more advice, ask away, or feel free to PM me. It's a shame I moved away from Wiltshire, else I would have offered to teach you!
As mentioned: www.sax.co.uk are great, I use them all the time. For buying/renting a new horn, I always recommend the Trevor James "The Horn" Sax Packs that they do. The saxophone is of decent quality, well in tune, has a nice action and plays fine, and above all, doesn't break the bank.
If you need any more advice, ask away, or feel free to PM me. It's a shame I moved away from Wiltshire, else I would have offered to teach you!
Colonial said:
Played Alto for 14 years, have a 1929 Conn, but don't pick it up much anymore
Played Baritone for 8 years or so, and have a beautiful old Yanigasawa, delacquered, beaten up, 1940s Berg and Larsen mouthpiece. Amazing horn. Love the sound of it.
Avoid US Selmer - very cheap and nasty. Yamaha make the best student models, but you will need to move up after a while if you continue to play.
Buescher '26 here - on a standard 30s mpc at the mo - no complaints about the Yani: uber-epic horn! It can take a beating and a carefully selected beastie - mine's a '86 alto - with a big soulfull sound. Yamaha would be my preferred choice to start with BTW. But hey, I'm not a teacher.Played Baritone for 8 years or so, and have a beautiful old Yanigasawa, delacquered, beaten up, 1940s Berg and Larsen mouthpiece. Amazing horn. Love the sound of it.
Avoid US Selmer - very cheap and nasty. Yamaha make the best student models, but you will need to move up after a while if you continue to play.
Ligature is damped with cardboardpaper! I used Meyer M6 and Link 6* on my Yani, loving the warm tone. Berg Larsen is not for beginners, my 90-2 is a rough one, as is my Meyer M8. Start with a Selmer C** or E and make your choice after 2 (two!) years . . . It's all about patience.
Chris71 said:
The OH is a professional alto sax player and she's got a thing for Yanagasawas (or however you spell them)...
Yanagisawas and Yamahas are indeed great. I play a Yani tenor - but cheap they aint! I think the entry level alto sax in the Yamaha range is their student YAS25 - which is about £700, depending on where you get it from, and the Yanagisawa is closer to £1000 for their bottom rung model.The Trevor James Horn though is nearer the £300-400 range, and is, in my experience a decent quality instrument, certainly better than the £300 range horns of 10 years ago.
My current weapon of choice is a "Vintage" model Keilwerth SX90R, with a Meyer 5M mouthpiece - it's a bit of a beast!
Gratuitous self pic:
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=sFWIm-2FnkI&feat...
I've played with this chick: a cracker! Her dad is a fun dude too. She's legendary in Holland, played with Van the Man, Prince et all.
I've played with this chick: a cracker! Her dad is a fun dude too. She's legendary in Holland, played with Van the Man, Prince et all.
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff