Tenor Sax

kawaii

Hola peoples!

I'm looking into starting sax, probably tenor, and I'm wondering where would be a good place to start. I was thinking that this would be a good place to start... not too cheap... Jupiter seem like a fairly reputable company. I might even be able to get student discount which would bring it down a notch in price...

Does anyone have any other suggestions for a decent first sax, certainly not greater than that price range. Also, I read that there are a few things to look out for such as pad alignment or some shizzle like that. Paul Ryans have a one year warranty on that instrument though which is pretty reassuring, but any obvious things that I ought to look out for?

All help much 'preciated.

keith the beat

Try Paul Ryan music on Eustace St. D2. Near the Central Bank. He was very straight with me when I went into him a few years ago.( I'm a drummer ) I went for Yamaha alto. If you have never played before try a clarinet. I'm told if you can play that you can play the sax no problem. Good luck.

Rustar

Jupiter is an excellent choice. They make everything from good quality student saxes on up to super pro models.

Other good student models that have been around for years with solid reputations are Conn, Olds, and Yamaha.

"Cream of the crops" (and therefore much more expensive) would be higher end Jupiters, the Selmer Paris series, and Yanigasawas.

And you're right about pad quality and alignment. I played the first three years in high school with a Selmer Paris Mk VI that had misaligned pads on the lowest notes. I thought I just lacked the technique to get those low notes, until I played other saxes; then I had a pad job done by a pro, and it was like playing a whole new instrument.

Make sure you get an instrument with a high F# key. Most have them these days.

Gearing up to get a soprano myself someday soon.

kawaii

keith the beat wrote: »

Try Paul Ryan music on Eustace St. D2. Near the Central Bank. He was very straight with me when I went into him a few years ago.( I'm a drummer ) I went for Yamaha alto. If you have never played before try a clarinet. I'm told if you can play that you can play the sax no problem. Good luck.

Yeah, I'm gonna head in to Paul Ryan's during the week at some stage. He seems like a reliable guy, from his description on the site.

I have no experience with woodwind, but have been playing music for the past 6 years, and have no immediate intention of picking up the clarinet. Sax is just the sound I'm looking for and I've been told it's not an overly difficult instrument to play itself.

kawaii

Rustar wrote: »

Jupiter is an excellent choice. They make everything from good quality student saxes on up to super pro models.

Other good student models that have been around for years with solid reputations are Conn, Olds, and Yamaha.

"Cream of the crops" (and therefore much more expensive) would be higher end Jupiters, the Selmer Paris series, and Yanigasawas.

And you're right about pad quality and alignment. I played the first three years in high school with a Selmer Paris Mk VI that had misaligned pads on the lowest notes. I thought I just lacked the technique to get those low notes, until I played other saxes; then I had a pad job done by a pro, and it was like playing a whole new instrument.

Make sure you get an instrument with a high F# key. Most have them these days.

Gearing up to get a soprano myself someday soon.

I believe I read a message from you from a few months ago saying you were gonna get a soprano soon. What are you waiting for??

So far, the Jupiter I'm looking at seems perfect. It has the high F#, and it has a year's warranty, which should be plenty enough time for me to figure out if my instruments faulty! If not then I deserve what I get.

Rustar

kawaii wrote: »

I believe I read a message from you from a few months ago saying you were gonna get a soprano soon. What are you waiting for??

Too many other things ahead of it in the queue.....

a Hammond XK-1, Mesa Boogie Triple-rec, Rickenbacker 4003, a white Epi LP studio w/gold hardware, a Silvertone Paul Stanley bass.....

and a partridge in a pear tree.

kawaii

HAH! I can definitely understand that!