Sax "CONSUMER REPORTS" Can it be done?

[M Exner]

What do you think? The April issue of "Sax Digest" devotes its efforts to evaluating all the world's new saxophones.

Can you see it with a small picture of each saxophone with the Manufacturers suggested retail price and a small synopsis? Then you see the little red and black colored circles indicating the trouble spots of each. The catagories could be.

Pads
Springs
Felts
Corks
Resonators
Finish
Intonation
Tone
Leaks
Body Integrity
Body Hardware
Reliability Verdict

Of course you would divide the saxes into their specific classes with the top ratings in each.

The sporty sopranos, the economy student models, the luxury silver series models, the intermediate level saxes, and finally the pro class. There could also be the specialty classes like sopraninos, and basses.

There would be consumer feed back. Dealer Satisfaction? Dealer maintenence? Would you buy this sax again?

Finally some tips on how to test and buy your new saxophone.


Sorry...the radio in my 17 yr. old truck broke and my mind started to wander. :roll: Mike

[M Exner]

I forgot to mention the

Three foot drop damage assessment. With predicted cost of repair. And also the drop (with case ) report.

Next we'll be talking about the July Swim Suit edition of
"SAX ILLUSTRATED" Mike

[schssax04]

I'd buy it :lol:

Jase

[Kareeser]

Sure! It would be great to have a copy to pass on to friends looking for a good sturdy saxophone, :P

I do feel sorry for the testing team, though. The ones who have to drop it...

[Saxdaddy]

It may very enjoyable to drop some, if not most of them.

[Kareeser]

A "making of" video would become the year's scariest movie, :P

[mostly alto guy]

You'd have better luck if you combined it with other instruments (except electric guitars and electronic keyboards; enough literature for those already). I'm talking traditional band and orchestra instruments. You would want to make sure every issue included something for everyone, from pure reed players to doublers, from trumpeters to tubists, from violinists to harpists, etc.

It could have four basic sections--new student (many people dislike the term "beginner"), advancing student, professional, and special interest/collector. Even a section for the community/school band or orchestra, with instruments, sheet music, stands, accessories, etc.

It might even include a classifieds section, which would help defray costs.

I know this is all available in print and on line, but always from the manufacturer or retailer's point of view. Why not from the users' perspective?

I'm not so sure I'd go with the drop test on instruments. Cases, yes. Test those any way you like, but with somebody else's horn inside.

[M Exner]

The drop test IS a bit much from three feet. Let's change that test to an "open case roll out" with damage report.

The "case drop test" maybe should be changed to a "controlled fumble tumble" with instrument intow. Both of these tests would be incidents more likely to happen.

I think your multi-instrument listing is a better idea than just saxophones. It WOULD increase the circulation. You're taking this seriously? :shock:

Consumers report has an "eight year" reporting on their cars. Since instruments are usually kept longer than cars and we're dreaming, let's go for the ten year reporting.

We also need a Peterson's "Blue Book for Musical Instruments" with guided parameters to arrive at conditions so values can be determined. It could happen! :D Mike

[Kareeser]

Then you've got to check whether the saxophone was in perfect condition before you put it through its paces, :P

A bent bell from the airplane ride could spell disastrous results after the test, if you know what I mean, :P