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ZacharyB
(2 points)
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Hi, I would like to buy a new saxaphone for my father as a gift. He is 58 years old and intermediate skill level. He plays in a jazz workshop. He plays alto sax. A manhole cover fell on his fingers in 1999 and he was worried that there might not be a lot of life left in his fingers due to that, so he started to focus on playing more.
I want to get him a nice saxophone so he can look good when he has concerts. I don't know anything specific about saxophones; I don't even play an instrument. I am looking to spend $1,600 to $2,500. I'm sure he can appreciate a high quality, easy-action saxophone, since he is older and he has trouple playing some of the really fast Charlie Parker songs. I don't know what kind of saxophone he currently plays.
Can anyone recommend anything? Thank you?
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asound777
(14 points)
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If you want to buy something brand new these horns made buy Yanigisawa
http://www.wwbw.com/Yanagisawa-A991-Alto-Saxophone-i50540.music
https://www.prowinds.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=2_23_25_64&products_id=437&mmsid=bc41d4098f133409865cf019e59c462c
https://www.prowinds.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=2_23_25_64&products_id=435&mmsid=bc41d4098f133409865cf019e59c462c
and this one made by Yamaha
https://www.prowinds.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=2_23_25_64&products_id=187&mmsid=bc41d4098f133409865cf019e59c462c
are the best chioces in my opinion
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asound777
(14 points)
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sry some of the links werent automatically set. Just copy and paste them into your address bar.
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saxophone_sweeti
e
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Try a Yamaha. I just got the Yamaha YAS-62. It's a "pro" model, but if he continues playing for a while, he might like this sax. But any Yamaha is great (in sound, appearance, quality, etc...)
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ZacharyB
(2 points)
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Are they good for jazz? He does not play classical at all. (I understand the instruments of Japanese manufacture are more precise and "brighter"? This lends them to being better suited to classical application)
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asound777
(14 points)
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actually thats not true. Classical musicians tend to look for a darker sound where as jazz musicians look for a brighter sound in order to obtain "edge." I my experience, the Yani's tend to be on the darker side. The Yamaha 62II (check out the last link in my last post) or the or the Yamaha 82z are excellent choices for jazz.
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Micron
(1442 points)
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The sound is very largely determined by the player, the state of adjustment of the instrument, the type of mouthpiece, the reed, and the quality of the instrument irrespective of brand. In roughly that order, the first being the most significant.
Yanagisawa are great instruments. If you can get one for that price, go for it, but if he is used to the left hand low note keys having a rocking thing between the low Bb and G#, make sure it has that, or he will likely be frustrated. Some of the cheaper Yanagisawa models didn't (don't?) have it. (As don't the student Yamahas).
Many players are passionate about the claimed sound that some of the "vintage" (i.e. decades old) instruments have. If his current sax is one of these, then you could consider buying him a complete overhaul, instead of a new sax. However overhauling an old sax can be like overhauling a car that is decades old. It's not cheap, and you need a top guy.
Yamaha YAS-62 used to be Yamaha's top professional sax. They've kept making it in spite of having new top models. It is a well respected model.
Be aware that most new saxes have leaks and need adjustment. Yanagisawa is much better than most in this respect, and Yamaha is not far behind.
Second hand saxes may need a lot more work done on them, or you may strike it lucky.
If you want information overload about any sax issue, go to saxontheweb.net . The amount of info and discussion there is massive!
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asound777
(14 points)
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The build of the neck has as much influence as the mouthpiece as the build of the body (though less so), both of which are related to specific brand. While sound is absollutely mostely based off the player, if you can pay the same price for two horns it is advantagous to chose the one which will better assist you in obtaining your desired sound.
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EllieM
(26 points)
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For someone who already plays, choosing a new instrument is a very personal thing. Why not find a reliable supplier that's not too far to travel to and either take him along to try some out (maybe a surprise day out with lunch or whatever included) or buy a voucher for him. That way he decide for himself what's best.
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Micron
(1442 points)
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Well said. For somebody who has been playing a while, choice of sax is like choice of clothing.
If you choose the wrong sax for him, then you just create a rather embarrassing situation for both of you.
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saxman13
(49 points)
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I agree with Ellie. you need to take him to try some sax's if not he may not enjoy the sax and you'll be stuck wiht the sax. It's like buying a new car for someone without them knowing, they like it but they have in the back of thier minds the car that they really wanted. Or it would be like buying someone a ZUNE mp3 player when they really wanted an iPOD.
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saxophone_sweeti
e
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Saxman13 has a point; ask your dad first, or if it's a suprise, ask someone who might know.
As to my previous post, I use my YAS-62 for both classical and jazz. It sounds great either way, so I would look at that or someother brand of Yamaha. I also recommend Selmer; there's a lot of different types suited to different types of music.
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