 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Silvite
Date: 2003-08-18 01:07
i play the clarinet but i picked up on a tenor sax at school.
im considering on spending the money i have left on a alto.
can someone recommend some nice altos for a nice price(under600)
thank you!
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MY Jean Baptiste clarinet went on ebay for $150!!
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-08-18 01:50
Are you talking Eb Alto Clarinet's or an Alto Sax?
Bob A
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Author: Silvite
Date: 2003-08-18 02:13
alto sax
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MY Jean Baptiste clarinet went on ebay for $150!!
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-08-18 02:53
You can get a used Yamaha YAS-23 in very good condition for well under that figure. It's probably the most highly recommended beginner alto on the market. Bundy II's are also good; sturdier but not quite as refined as the Yamaha.
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Author: Silvite
Date: 2003-08-18 16:21
i gona order from WWBW.com,
is a buescher(spellcheck?) brand good for a student alto?Fred wrote:
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MY Jean Baptiste clarinet went on ebay for $150!!
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-08-18 16:24
I do not know of a "good" alto sax that can be bought new for less than $600.
Fred writes the truth: the YAS-23 is an excellent low-end instrument. A professional sax player tells me this sax is used by many pros who do not want to carry a Selmer Mark VI or such into a sleazy gin mill -- or a lot of other places.
There is also a Vito model (mine, but I don't remember the number) identical to the YAS-23 except for markings and color. Both are made, a Yamaha dealer tells me, by Yanagisawa.
Regards,
John
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-08-18 16:42
Hi Silvite: Yes, used [modern] Yamaha, Bundy, and Vito alto saxes are generally available at some music stores, and pawn shops [be very careful here re: condition, only minor dents etc, enlist help!] for maybe 300-600 $'s. Re: Buescher, Later ones [after about 1960] maybe will have been made by Bundy and should have the improved little-finger keying structures, developed by Selmer, which makes the "bottom notes" more easily playable. I'd avoid earlier Bueschers, even tho my first AS, in the 1930's, was a B!! {Memories!] Good hunting, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Silvite
Date: 2003-08-18 22:16
i see your point guys
il have to spend above 600 then,ive seen some intermidiate altos for like 600+.
they worth it since im spending over 600$?
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MY Jean Baptiste clarinet went on ebay for $150!!
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-08-18 22:31
What intermediates are you looking at for $600+?
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Author: Silvite
Date: 2003-08-18 23:39
i have no clue on the brands X_X
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MY Jean Baptiste clarinet went on ebay for $150!!
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-08-19 01:21
I don't think you can spend $600 at wwbw and end up with more sax for your money than a used YAS-23. Remember that used beginner altos are usually available at a super deal. That's because most schools provide tenors and above, but students have to buy their own altos. They play them for a year or two, and then decide to drop out. So they sell out pretty cheap.
Intermediates -
YAS-52 or YAS32 by Yamaha are very good, but over $1000 new.
Many used saxes for $600-1000, but making sure you get one in good shape is critical. Saxes cost a bunch to repad.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2003-08-19 16:10
I've played alto saxophone for a long time. If the $600 was MY money I would look for a vintage horn in good playing condition. $600 isn't much money and one has to be very careful in your choice of horns. Never the less, it's possible to find a vintage Buescher, Conn, or Martin that is of much better quality than a cheap student model.
If you'd like some suggestions please write to me at nancyandrog@earthlink.net. (I'm not a dealer)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-08-19 17:25
I basically agree with Roger A, I may have down-talked Very OLD Bueschers too much, they did make a 400 series, maybe other good ones, toward the end of their "independence" as a maker. I have several friends who are still very proud of their vintage top-of-line alto saxes re:"playability". Me, I have and occassionally play, a Selmer Mark 6, cant be beat IMHO! Also there are still a very few LeBlanc Model 100's available, many $'s also, but some of their Vito model clones may not be highly overpriced. I have one of each, very complex keywork for lots of "fork" fingerings, fun to try playing one! Again, luck, I'm also not a dealer, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2003-08-19 17:26
I have a Conn 20M alto that I bought on ebay, and I'm very happy with it. In fact I played a Yamaha YAS 23 and found them very similar. You can usually find one on ebay for $300 or under.
Leonard
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2003-08-19 19:31
One of the pitfalls about vintage saxophones is not knowing much about the pros & cons of the various makes and models. For example, I'm a big fan of vintage Buescher saxophones. I never cease to be amazed by newer Bueschers (ie, 1970's or 80's) being advertized on EBAY as a real find. They would have us believe that these horns -- made as student horns by Selmer -- are of the same caliber as the great professional-level saxophones made by the Buescher company in the 20's through the early-to-middle 50's. Believe me, there's NO COMPARISON! Even among the good vintage horns there are certain things to look for.
Therefore, it takes a certain amount of knowledge about vintage saxophoness to find a horn that you'll really love and avoid being ripped off. Such a horn can last you the rest of your life....and then some.
Regarding Bueschers....
It's my personal opinion that it best serial number range is 202xxx (1926) to 340xxx (around 1951). This is certainly not a hard and fast rule. There are great exceptions. But, I think that it's okay as a general rule of thumb.
It's possible to find a decent mid-20's Buescher True Tone alto for around $600+. 1930's Bueschers (New Aristocrat and Aristocrat) are normally more pricey. Buescher made 3 models in the early 50's. The 400 (Top Hat & Cane) is the most expensive. In addition to the 400, there were 2 Aristocrat models -- the "Big B" and the Aristocrat 140. It's my personal feeling that it would be difficult to get an early 50's Buescher for $600.
One word of warning.... Buescher was bought out by Selmer around 1963 (381xxx serial number). Selmer-made Bueschers are not of the same quality as the "real" Bueschers. I've seen quite few post-1963 Buescher altos being sold on EBAY. I consider them to be student instruments. If I had a choice between one of these and a late 1920's True Tone in good condition I'd take the True Tone in a heartbeat. They have a wonderful quality of sound that simply isn't the same as the newer horns.
Hope this helps in some way.
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Author: DezzaG
Date: 2003-08-20 22:19
I (like Super20dan) am a big fan of the post selmer Buescher 400's(They are NOT student quality), they play so easily and with a BIG sound. I suggest you look into these, there are a few on EBAY and mine outplays any alto I have played. Easy bottom register perfect for somebody switching from clarinet! I play mine professionally and it works great. Great intonation. A definate under-value horn!
Post Edited (2003-08-21 07:05)
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Author: Tim K
Date: 2003-08-21 14:39
Yesterday I noticed a Yanagisawa A-4 on ebay.
Might be a find, might not, but it's worth a look. I know nothing about the sax or the seller, but am a fan of Yani saxes.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2003-08-21 20:40
Here's something that I should have mentioned before.....
It's ALWAYS best to try a selection of vintage saxophones -- different makes, models, years, etc -- before slapping down your money. Even horns within a similar serial number range can have their differences with respect to tone, intonation, and response. Then, there's the matter of personal preference. I've always felt that if you have a horn that you really love who cares what anyone else thinks about it.
I, too, have had conversations with Super20dan about post-Selmer Bueschers. From everything I gather, post-Selmer 400s are of better quality than post-Selmer Aristocrats. Thus, it's could be possible to find a late model 400 that's a very decent horn. Never the less, I can't help but wonder how one of these 400s compares to a Top Hat & Cane 400 from the late 40's or early 50's. Gayle Fredenbaugh mentioned on the SOTW Forum how the quality of metal in Bueschers gradually declined in the middle-to-late 50's. Her personal preference is late 30's Aristocrats. Others on the Forum really love the 400. Actually, I'm partial to late model True Tones. ha ha ha All of this is very personal!
Good luck Silvite! Please let us know what you find.
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Author: Tim K
Date: 2003-08-22 14:45
If you're seriously looking for an economical, well set up alto sax, I suggest you contact Dave Spiegelthal. He seems to specialize in finding and repairing low priced instruments He's a frequent poster to this forum. (I have absolutely no connection with Dave, have never met him, so I don't think this is a commercial post--just trying to help Silvite. If I'm wrong, sorry 'bout that).
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-08-22 23:15
Why not save up and buy something decent. The 23's are OK and durable but they have a fairly ordinary low register, they did when they were all new and most have now had somewhat of a life in the hands of students. I don't know the retail prices in the USA but we can get a YAS275 new as a package for AUD$1950 which would be around US$1200. They 275's are only average but at least it would be new. I have always wondered why clarinettists are always after super cheap second hand saxophones that are clapped out. If you are going to play sax do it properly.
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Author: Silvite
Date: 2003-08-23 01:01
i appreciate all ur help and TY
i think i will maybe get a tutor who plays on clarinet/sax il see if he can get or knows people that can sell me some of the horns u suggested
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MY Jean Baptiste clarinet went on ebay for $150!!
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