Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-05-19 01:09
Kenny Tysor wrote:
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Right now I'm playing on a Buffet E-11 clarinet, I'm 8th in the state of N.C. but I want to start playing sax for jazz band. I've had a couple different people tell me lot's of different things about saxs', I want to get a nice sax. I was looking at a guerdala. What price range should I be looking for? What type of sax should I be looking for?
All this is dependant on what you are looking for. If you're looking for a new sax, basically the mail order companies have all your possible options. So you can decide how much you want to spend and take a look. The four main brands most people play are Selmers (big suprise), Keilwerths, Yamahas and Yanis (Yanagisawa). I'm afraid i don't really know anything specific about the Gaurdala models.
Keilwerths are most often for jazz, i've rarely seen a classical sax player using one. And most often i see the tenor models and rarely the others. They're a bit cheaper than Selmer's new models.
Selmers and Yanis both are very good saxes. I don't care for the modern Selmers though. I prefer an good, early Mark VII (like mine) or before. A new Selmer will run over $3000. Yanis are a little more than Selmers. But i like their workmanship and sound better.
As for Yamaha, i don't care for any of their horns except for their very top custom model. And i really don't care for much but the tenor saxes.
If you're looking for used saxes, you have a few more options.
In the swing era, there was a good competition between Conn and Selmer. Selmer had the Cigar Cutter, Balanced Action (and Super Balanced Action), and the Mark VI. Conn had the 6M, 10M, and some other models which i can't quite recall at the moment. The Conns you can usually get for a much better price than the Selmers, though you'll prolly have to invest a little in some repairs. Pre-Mark VI's you can sometimes find for under $2000 but they might not be in great condition. And Mark VI's in decent condition or better can easily rack up over $3000. For a lesser alternative, still made by Selmer is the Mark VII. I got mine for $1350 and it plays just as good as a Mark VI. Basically, if a Mark VII has engraving, it could be good. If it doesn't, don't even bother.
But for starters, i would suggest you get a cheap used student model from a local store or classifieds ad for the first month or so, then once you start getting a hang of it, get a friend to go horn hunting with you.
A while back i found a good wensite or two on sax models and stuff... i'll have to go hunt for them again and i'll be back with them shortly...
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