Solist TS-441, Yanagisawa T991 copy by Kesslermusic...

[DaveKessler]

Here are the first pictures of our upcoming tenor sax model.

http://www.kesslermusic.com/solist/TS441/ts441.htm

[Tim Wolfe]

Dave,
Tell us more about this new tenor, especially the red brass neck option.

I currently play a Yani T991 as my main horn; I use a YTS 23 as my back up, but I'm always thinking about getting a different (read better) back up.

[pingflood]

If the sound on this sax is anything close to what I want, I'm definitely going to get one when it's available! Been searching for an upgrade from my Bundy, and this one might just be it.

[DaveKessler]

Dave,
Tell us more about this new tenor, especially the red brass neck option.

I currently play a Yani T991 as my main horn; I use a YTS 23 as my back up, but I'm always thinking about getting a different (read better) back up.

Sorry for the delayed response... I have been at the Nevada Music Educators Conference all week.

Not a ton to say about the horn. It is a copy of the Yanagisawa T991's design. We are buying direct with the actual factory so we are completely eliminating all middle-men markups. We helped with refining the design (via prototypes) and are having them setup with Prestini leather pads with metal resonators.

Overall, this is going to become my rental horn locally (destroys what everyone else rents) and is also a very affordable horn. I will most likely be selling the tenors brand new at $699 but will be running a SOTW special once they arrive (mid May).

I will have the extra Red Brass necks by Mon-Tues of this next week. We will test them on the prototype tenors that I already have. We have tested the red brass neck for the alto and it is a little darker tone. Hey, for $69 for a tenor neck though, who would argue?

I will post more once I get the necks. Full alto reviews (as well as pictures of the various finishes) should be popping up on my site in the next week.

[rsclosson]

I am very fascinated with this subject. The pictures look fantastic and I have been on a search for a new Tenor for some time now. Please let us know more as the info becomes available.

[saxmanglen]

Dave,

Would the necks fit a real Yani 901 or 991? I'd be interested in trying a different neck on my current horns. Especially, at that price.


Glen

[Bill08690]

Dave-
Your new tenor looks wonderful and sure is priced right for those who want a brand-spanking-new horn. The next obvious question is whether a bronze version will be available. Do you plan to try necks from your high end inventory to see if the resulting sound is similar to the high end horns?

Finally, since you seem to have every imaginable horn of interest on the planet, perhaps you can put together a travel package to Vegas for SOTW members?

Bill

[DaveKessler]

Dave,

Would the necks fit a real Yani 901 or 991? I'd be interested in trying a different neck on my current horns. Especially, at that price.


Glen

Glen,

I know that on the alto, the necks do fit the Yanis fine. However, the Yani necks play better.

We dont have a Yani tenor in stock right now to check the fit, but I should have some by this week and will check.


Dave-
Your new tenor looks wonderful and sure is priced right for those who want a brand-spanking-new horn. The next obvious question is whether a bronze version will be available. Do you plan to try necks from your high end inventory to see if the resulting sound is similar to the high end horns?

Finally, since you seem to have every imaginable horn of interest on the planet, perhaps you can put together a travel package to Vegas for SOTW members?

Bill


Bill,

Yes we have tried the Yani alto neck on our alto (see above mention as to why we havent on tenor yet). The horn plays noticeably better with the Yani neck on the alto and fits seemlessly.

If someone wanted a Yani neck for the horn, that can always be arranged.

[stevesklar]

Any more info on this horn. How does it play vs your Kessler BigBell Bronze tenor?

[WriterMom]

Also, in your opinion, how does it compare to the Antigua Winds tenors and the Yamaha YTS-23?

[DaveKessler]

Any more info on this horn. How does it play vs your Kessler BigBell Bronze tenor?

No Question, my Kessler Large Bell tenor is the better playing horn, but it is also double the price.

Also, in your opinion, how does it compare to the Antigua Winds tenors and the Yamaha YTS-23?

We feel that it is a better playing horn then the Student Yamaha. In comparison to the Antigua, it is very close vs the Solist vs the Pro Antigua... Comes down to a personal preferrence. I definately like my Solist better then the student Antigua.

[Paul Coats]

Dave, looks like a great horn for either the young musician on a budget, or a "stunt double" for the seasoned pro, those outdoor festivals, or other places you would not want to bring your mint Mk VI. And if this is anything like the Yanagisawa 991, it has to be a great player. Congrats!

[DaveKessler]

Dave, looks like a great horn for either the young musician on a budget, or a "stunt double" for the seasoned pro, those outdoor festivals, or other places you would not want to bring your mint Mk VI. And if this is anything like the Yanagisawa 991, it has to be a great player. Congrats!

Thanks Paul. We are still waiting for the main shipment to arrive before we declare ourselves "satisfied" on the horns. But based on the prototypes and the 10 Altos we had air frieghted, we will be very happy.

I am thinking of taking one of the altos and doing a SOTW sample horn out of it (depending on my local demand first and whether or not I can get my Father to go along with the idea) like what we did with our mouthpieces when we first released them.

[WriterMom]

Any update on when you might start selling the tenors?

Also, what sort of mouthpiece will you offer with them?

Do you consider the Solist tenors to be better than the intermediate-level Antigua (the 535 listed on your Web site)?

Inquiring minds want to know. Well, my inquiring mind, anyway. :)

[stevesklar]

Just in case Dave doesn't reply, he is supposed to receive them anyday. The horns are apparently in LasVegas stuck at U.S. Customs. So they may be delayed a couple of days.

[DaveKessler]

Now In Stock in both Lacquer and silver plate.

[stevesklar]

Martha,

Dave said in a previous post (up higher) that they are better than the student antigua. Near or better than the Pro Antigua. Better than a student Yamaha ..... in his opinion.

Either way, i was really impressed by my antigua 582LQ soprano. If the quality of that horn is comparable then it's a winner in the price, bang for the buck award.

[stevesklar]

Martha,
I ordered one of thos TS441 Lacquered so I should have it mid/late next week.

I wonder if they have serial numbers? . if I got #1 ??

It was a hard choice between this horn that i can pay by cash vs. a Yamaha 875EX (at the store 1 block from my house) which would have been a credit buy. If the Kessler horn is as good or better than my antigua sop then it should be a keeper, plus i would save a ton of money.

I know it doesn't have a hand hammered body, bow & bell but for the price differential .......

[WriterMom]

Please let me know what you think of it when it arrives. I'm seriously considering buying a tenor in the near future. I'd been thinking about getting a YTS-23 to start with, but am intrigued by these new Solists. From what people have written here, it sounds like they should play much better than a student Yamaha. (Wish I lived near Las Vegas so I could actually visit Kessler's and try one out!)

[stevesklar]

Martha,
I had a Vito tenor (yamaha 23 clone) for a short while after i sold my old pro horn. I absolutely hated it. IMHO YMMV The keywork was slow, though I seriously was considering swapping out the wire springs with some good needle springs. But the thumb octave mechanism I simply could not correct. It just plain hurt my thumb. I could have replaced the thumbrest, etc. but i still didn't like the overall mechanism.

I would at minimum get a Yamaha 52 (or 475 older model). This has all the features of the 62 w/o the engraving and a diff lacquer and no hand hammered bell - all 100% mechanically drawn tubes.

But the Antigua's have gotten a good rep so far too, that's why i'm going to give the Solist a shot. $400 bucks less than an Antigua with pro styled keywork and design. And I love my Antigua soprano which I was extremely hesitant on getting, but glad I did.

[WriterMom]

I play-tested a YTS-23, and I didn't like the thumb octave mechanism, either. I just figured the one I tried was out of alignment or something. The right side of it actually sloped so that it was below the circular thumb rest, so it was difficult at best to press.

I almost posted a question about it on SOTW, but I didn't, because I thought maybe it was a quirk of that particular sax (and not YTS-23s in general).

I wonder what the octave mechanism is like on the Solist.

[stevesklar]

I hope Dave chimes in, but the thumb octave mechanism on the Solist is pro design. Circular thumbrest with the half crescent thumb mechanism. It shows it on the pics.

I'm pretty sure they use basic Selmer type mechanisms (no adjusting screws just the corks/felt to determine stack height etc.) with Yani 991 visual design features.

It also looks to have a decent amount of scroll work on the bell and bow according to the pics. Not bad for a low price horn.

I'm getting it with both necks (yellow brass and red brass/bronze). And he supplies his student Kessler custom plastic student mouthpiece. But I normally use a Couf or Selmer S80 mpc anyways.

[stevesklar]

I've received my TS441 and will be putting together a review for it over the weekend.

The keywork though is better than the Yamaha 23s, alot better.
It is an intermediate horn, or a lower intermediate horn as compared to a Yamaha 52 which I would consider a higher intermediate horn.

So, stay tuned ....

[Chuck]

:D I received my TS441 Solist two weeks ago and have spent time playing it and comparing it to my Yani T991. The TS441 came out great in the comparison. I have been a purveyer of inexpensive tenor saxophones for the last year so have a feel for what is "good" inexpensive and "bad". The TS441 is the best yet.

[Jerry K.]

Chuck, you have peaked my interest. Please tell more about the horn such as intonation, tone (as in bright, dark, loud, subtoning, etc...), fit and finish, factory setup, keywork, etc...?

[Chuck]

Jerry, you are welcome to come see it, I'm in El Cajon. Email me at crouse8133@cox.net.

[Chuck]

Some additional info on the Solist TS441, I found intonation in the "green" through the scale, very solid bottom end, (B,Bb,C). Key ergos very similar to my Yani T991, (no adjustment needed when switching back and forth). Comfortable to hold also. I have recorded the TS441 and compared with the Yani T991 recorded using a Link NY4* and a vintage Link 5 and I find the TS441 a little brighter but can really mellow out when desired. I have both necks and they differ in brightness also. The TS441 has the age old felt bumpers replaced with nice neoprene, (appearing), ones. Since I do all my own sax work I appreciate the very sanitary cork work I'm seeing on the TS441 too. It has played great from out of the box, no adjustments required. Fit and finish are excellent. I pass a bunch of saxophones through my music room but this one is a keeper.

[Chuck]

Jerry, are you the IBM Jerry?

[Jerry K.]

No IBM ties here. Thanks for the review.

[Lightstorm]

Hello!

I am very interested in this horn too. I'm a poor student and all the (new) horns in Finland and Europe are very expensive so this seems to be a good choice to me. I have already bought a 590BC Antigua sop from Kessler's and it is an excellent player!

I thought of buying a new Yana T901, but it's a bit too expensive (around $2000 for me) and if this Solist TS441 is anything comparable to it, I think this is the one.

So, more opinions from you people, please... :)

BTW, does the red brass neck make any real difference compared to normal?

-Lightstorm

[stevesklar]

Sorry I've been out of the loop (been in the hospital).

I have a long writeup that i made of the TS441 horn. But overall, it is a fantastic horn for the price.

Very sturdy and well made. black needle springs provide good key action (which usually is lacking in this price range). Keys seems to be very hard material and provide good action. I normally play very technical music and my temp Vito (YTS23) did not have fast enough action for me, but this horn is very capable.

Intonation seems to be really good but only after a weird stuck octave mechanism problem that I had was resolved (detailed in my document).

Fit and finish is fantastic for this price range. As mentioned, no keyfelts but "rubber" bumpers which are quiet.

I think the horn has a smaller bore (haven't measured anything) than say a Selmer. The horn is much lighter and physically smaller than a selmer or yamaha tenor, probably due to thinner walled (but still durable) tubes.

It plays quickly, responds really well.

A definite choice over a student tenor at twice the price. I don't think any other horn will touch this one for under $1200.

I also have both necks and noticed very slight differences. Neck bores are smooth and I may texture one from the info i've gathered about necks.

Email me if anyone wants my full writeup. It does have some negatives, but it is considered an intermediate horn and not a pro horn, but overall, if you are on a really tight budget you can't go wrong.