Alto Sax advice

[-=Squid=-]

Well, I play alto saxophone and feel that I want to get a new instrument...I Dont think my Conn (dont laugh) is cutting it any more...I would consider myself good, 1st chair, won awards...blah blah blah. So anyways, whats a good, well respected brand that is very quality, but under $1500? Thanks for any help. I can play, but man am I noob when it comes to technical info.

[FreshmanBob]

Drive to NYC and head to the music area, I think its 42nd street, or 40 something, ones porn and ones music I always mix them up.

[-=Squid=-]

Lol, I only live in arkansas and dont drive. Are the "saxophone" brands any good? www.saxophone.com ... I was looking at the black sax with gold keys for $995

[Archangel Kid]

i would suggest yamaha very nice instruments

[-=Squid=-]

Originally posted by Archangel Kid
i would suggest yamaha very nice instruments

My band director said that yamaha was nice, but he wouldnt recommend it for what I really want. I would really like input on "saxophone" brand, as for the price, and the fact I want the uber sexay black with gold keys, it seems nice.

[-=Squid=-]

Any input on the saxophone.com brand??

[penguinpunk555]

i have a alto i dropped it and picked up guitar its a lablanc pretty nice shinny and its got milling to some symbols on it

[bluefan101]

Don't know what your skill level is or how long you've played, but Yamahas are great beginner instruments. I wouldn't get to fancy with the type of finish, just make sure it's something that is not going to distort the sound. Conn is another great name. I had a Conn Baritone that I loved. Great sound. If you're looking top of the line, Yanas are awesome. Expensive as, well you know. Try looking around on Ebay to see what people are selling and then trying to match prices against dealers in your area.

[Marek]

Re: Alto Sax advice

Originally posted by -=Squid=-
Well, I play alto saxophone and feel that I want to get a new instrument...I Dont think my Conn (dont laugh) is cutting it any more...I would consider myself good, 1st chair, won awards...blah blah blah. So anyways, whats a good, well respected brand that is very quality, but under $1500? Thanks for any help. I can play, but man am I noob when it comes to technical info.

Well, that depends on how much of an interest you have. You're first chair right? First chair what? State? Region? Are you planning on continuing your musical career. Not to say that you're going to be Harvey Pittel, but that you want to continue in a community band or such.

If you plan on continuing, then I would say Selmer Super Action 80. That black and gold sax is a POS. It probably be better just to spray paint your sax black and gold. Not worth the money, the Yamaha would be better. That would be a good horn if you just want to play in high school. But if you want to make an investment, then I would say Selmer.

Look for Ironmag here on the forum. He's a Sax student of Harvey Pittel, so it would be good to talk to him.

Hope this helps.

[-=Squid=-]

When I say first chair, just in our band...lol...I wasnt bragging about it, just being a bit humorous I have made all-region...technically, but anyways. Im not a begginner, and would consider myself a good player. Nothing amazing, but I wanna ditch my POS conn. If I were looking for the best, personally, I would get a keilmore so the www.saxophone.com brand is teh suck? In all honesty, im NOT just looking for a prettier horn, but if im spending the money, why not get a nice looking one? So with that being said, I want one in black.

[bluefan101]

it seems as though you are set in your opinion and you're not really looking for ours. you're looking for us to say, "okay good choice." not gonna happen. buy what you want it's your money.

[Daroy99]

I think our band teacher made us use selmer starting out in 6th grade.....and we had to buy them. It was either that or some other good brand, but im not in band anymore.

[vf-xx]

Drop alto and play Bari, it's better anyways

I'd say yamaha or selmer. I couldn't tell you much more than that cause I only played alto for a semester in middle school.

[shamless plug]: if you know anyone who wants/needs a bari c-Star or a cheapo tenor mouthpiece, drop me a line [/shameless plug]

[-=Squid=-]

Originally posted by bluefan101
it seems as though you are set in your opinion and you're not really looking for ours. you're looking for us to say, "okay good choice." not gonna happen. buy what you want it's your money.

What are you talking about? I asked about one sax, was told it sucked, and said nevermind...otherwise, nobody has really recommended anything. I am considering everything I have been told to look at...

Oh, and barry isnt for me Im looking at selmers stuff, and am also thinking about just taking the one I have in to have the key put back on (duct tape fixes all) and refinished etc. Would be cheaper.

[Ironmag]

I was gonna post earlier but didn't have time to finish typing before I got out of work. As Marek mentioned me before, I am a Music Major at The University of Texas at Austin and I study under Harvey Pittel. Harvey Pittel is a professional musician and has studied under many great saxophonist, so he knows what he's talking about.
Anyways, from the looks of it, the Saxophone.com saxes are POS's, especially any saxophone that is black laquered. If you are going to get a saxophone, by far the best one to get is a Selmer Mark VI, which is what I have. Unfortunately, these are not made anymore (not since the 70's) but you can find them used at places, although they may be too expensive for your price range. I was fortunate enought to get mine for $2,200 from a former teacher and believe me that was cheap since they regularly go for $2,800 and up. If you can get one, great. Other good ones to get are the Selmer Mark VII, Selmer Super Action 80 (Series 1), Selmer Super Action 80 Series II, or a Series III.
If this is too much for your price range, then look into Yamaha. They are decent horns. The ones that I would recommend are the YAS-62, the YAS 475 and the YAS 675 with each one increasingly more expensive but are good none the less. Don't even look into the YAS-23 or YAS-52 since these are their beginner and intermediate models.
Then there is also the Yanigisawa saxophones but I have mixed feelings about these.
Also, take into consideration that this is more intended to be if you are going to be sticking with a saxophone for a long time and not quit band anytime soon since buying a good instrument is an investment. Hope this helps and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime.