Alto Sax advice

[Marek]

Comment still stands.

[Jon/xpm]

sry comment does not do it
better luck next time

[Marek]

uh huh

[AFRaven]

Yamaha YAS-60 or the Selmer Super Action 80

Both are great instruments, personally, I have the Yamaha. Also, both are top of the line models.

[Ironmag]

Well, I just checked the Yamaha website, and it seems that they have changed their formats a little bit. If you're gonna buy a horn that you plan on keeping for a while, at least get a YAS-62II (New model #), the next one is the YAS-82Z (new model) and finally the top of the line Yamaha being the YAS-875EX (new model #). Don't even bother with a YAS-23 or the YAS-475, those are more for beginners and such.

If you are going for a Selmer (better), the go for the Model 52 Super Action Series II, or maybe a Series III. Mind you, it is always best to try an instrument before you buy it so that you know what you are getting.

A must that I recommend you get is a Selmer S80 C* mouthpiece. Trust me, it is a good/great mouthpiece for just about anything that you do and is pretty much a standard for classical playing, but can be used for jazz music if you choose to. You won't be dissapointed, a great investment if you choose to take you playing seriously and to the next level.

Oh, and stay away from colored saxophone (such as black, red, white, etc...)

[AcemanPB]

Wow, I just found this thread. I did not know we had a saxophonist/music major on these boards.

I play saxophone too, mostly tenor though. I'm still in High School, but I'm first chair in my schools symphonic band and jazz band. I've also sat first chair at the district honor band and district jazz band. I've also made All-state too. (not trying to brag just trying to tell you I don't sleep through band class )

You obviously know your stuff Ironmag and I'd like to get an opinion on mouthpieces from you. I currently play on a YTS-62 with a Rousseau 4R. Many people have reccomended the C* just like you but I bought one and hated it. My instructor told me that C*'s were devolped around and for the Selmer horns while Rousseau devolped his mouth pieces around the Yamaha horns. Do you know if this is true or not, it sounded kind of like BS to me. (And how the heck do you play on a 5? Well, you do play Alto and you do shave them down a bit .... but damn, I use a three with my concert mouthpiece and a 2 or 2 1/2 with my jazz mouth piece)

And do you have any good exercises that Pittel or anyone else has taught you. I'm really looking to try and devolp my tone, especially in the upper register.

[Marek]

Actually, he's just copying at all the stuff he said from a book that his roommate has. It's a woodwind techniques book that he reads out of to sound cool to all the high school kids.