ANTIGUA WINDS MODEL NUMBERS

[madmonk]

I have a quote from a U.K. supplier re. an Antigua silver plated sop. It's reference is given as WWX590SL. He cannot tell me if it is the current model i.e. A590SPC. Antigua just don't answer my e-mails. The 590 would be consistent with the current numbering system but the lettering not. Anyone out there put me wise. PLEASE.
Phil

[DaveKessler]

I have a quote from a U.K. supplier re. an Antigua silver plated sop. It's reference is given as WWX590SL. He cannot tell me if it is the current model i.e. A590SPC. Antigua just don't answer my e-mails. The 590 would be consistent with the current numbering system but the lettering not. Anyone out there put me wise. PLEASE.
Phil

Very possible. Antigua used to stam WWX and then the number on the horns.

The easiest way to tell is the serial numbers and the engraving. The new models all have "YS" to start their serial number. The new models are also quite heavily and ornately engraved (more then even the Yanagisawa which they were copied from).

You can reference the pictures on my website for the engraving.

[madmonk]

Dave,
Thank-you for your input.I'll pass it on to the dealer. Trouble is he hasn't seen the sax in question. He will only order it from the distributor when I am satisfied it is what I want. When I talk to the distributor, thus far, I am talking to an office assistant who is only looking at a stock list.The sax is not listed on their web site,so no-one I have spoken to yet has even seen the sax.Creates a little bit of a communication problem... what!!! It would help if Antigua would have answered my e-mails but maybe I'm too small fry. By the numerals it would appear to be the new range. They would hardly have used these numbers referring to the 4 series,I don't think, and I have not heard of any bridging series. Was there a silver model in the older range?
PHIL

[DaveKessler]

Yes, there was a 580SPC. That is their older "top" model. Their other previous models were 560 & 570.

[madmonk]

Hi again Dave,The models listed on the distributors site are 4553, 4554,4558These must predate even the last series. I wonder if the 4 should read A. The girl quoted a 4590S to me at one point, from one reference she had to the"current" model. Sorry to be nitpicking but everyone yourself included makes great distinction between the quality of the current series and it's precursors, and having already wasted money on a lemon I MUST get it right this time.
Phil

[DaveKessler]

My guess is that the 4 is supposed to be an A. The 558 is their current curved soprano model.

It is possible that those models are part of their new "Power Bell Series" alto and tenor.

[Dave Dolson]

Phil: If it is of any value to you, I'd say buy it from Dave Kessler and pay whatever the extra cost is. I think Kessler ships world-wide and he will ensure that when you buy a horn from him, it will be shop-checked before being shipped. There will be no doubt that you will receive the most recent Antigua model. Like I've posted elsewhere, I played four (three different finishes) and bought the lacquered 590LQ because it sounded better to everyone listening when I tried them.

I've compared my YS590LQ side-by-side to my Yanagisawa A992 (a top-o'-the-line model) and other than the body material (bronze vs. brass), I see little difference in construction. Another poster claimed his new Antigua showed some roughness around the edges. Others claimed their pads are misaligned.

Not me - I see a high quality product for a third of what my S992 cost, and the 590LQ flat plays better. I just played it again yesterday and I have not played a better modern soprano (which includes some high enders like my Yana, my SC902, a Selmer Serie III silver, and a MKVI I once owned). DAVE

[madmonk]

Dave, It is an option but the costs are much higher after customs duties etc.
I am very impressed by the references given here to Dave and his readiness to advise people who are not customers, myself included. But the difference will be some 25% when all is taken into consideration. Regarding the "rough edges" the contributor has since said it was an older ,previous model he has been sold, Which is what I am trying to avoid.... but yes buying from Dave remains a possibility. Thanks for taking time out to advise a"Jock"
Phil

[Paul Coats]

Look at the left thumb rest. Is it a black plastic button, or a polished brass button? The earlier models had the plastic. The new A582/A586/A590 series have the brass thumbrest.

In addition, the older model (A580) had an oval shaped pearl on the chromatic F# key. The new series has a round pearl.

[madmonk]

Paul,
Thank-you. I have contacted the main distributor for the U.K. with your extra info. and am awaiting their response. I'LL POST ANY DEVELOPMENTS.
pHIL

[Russ]

Hi Madmonk,

Just to confirm, in the UK, the letter 'A' is indeed substituted by the number '4'.

My local supplier has called Stentor this morning and confirmed this on my behalf.
He has ordered in a '4-590S' (A-590SPC) so fingers crossed, I will be replacing my Yamaha. I can still get back more on the Yamaha than I am paying for the Antigua, but somehow I get the impression that as popularity grows, this won't last for long.

The problem is finding dealers in the UK that actually sell them - Modern Music in Basingstoke certainly do !!

Would I be correct in saying their silver plated models are coated in laquer to stop tarnishing??

[madmonk]

Hi Russ,
I took delivery this morning. However, when I asked if it had been "set up " the reply was "Well it was checked." Since no one on site was the "checker" it did not fill me with confidence. Being new to the sop despite my previous Chinese experience, and not having played a sax of any description for some time ,I could not determine if my inability to access the lower notes cleanly was my fault or the sax's. I asked about a tech and they apparently outsource when needed .Trouble I suppose from buying from a non specialist I agreed to take the sax on the proviso that should the problem be the sax's, I would return it for the tech to sort. However it is not satisfactory given that it is not next door, though to the guys in the States it is comparatively.The price however was great. £449 although £21 more than the original quote. The sax looks beautiful and feels solid and well built though I am no expert.I compared it to my Chinese effort and though cosmetically they are all but identical, the Antigua seems heavier and the key action more precise and tighter. The problem British customers have ,is that the main distributors display only the older version and not any of the current range. People are unaware they even have any although it is only the silver finish. Seems they may have a backlog of lacquer models to clear before they ship in the new replacements. I told the shop assistant they were losing a lot of potential clients if this website is a barometer of the interest in it. Regarding the protection of the silver I do not know.
. Sorry.
Phil

[Russ]

Hi madmonk,

What model did you eventually get ? Does it have high G ?
Was that price for a new horn or 2nd hand?

With regards to the silver, I emailed Antigua in the states and got a very prompt reply: The silver is not coated in lacquer.

Let us know how you get on with yours :D


Regards.

[madmonk]

Hi RUSS,
I got the 590 silver plate brand new. Seems to be the only one available in the U.K. I would have gone for Lacquer had it been available. Glad you got a reply from Antigua. They have consistently failed to respond to me,though they may have been trying to protect their U.K. dealers by their silence.
Phil

[Russ]

Seems to be the only one available in the U.K.

LOL... That's what they said about the one winging my way.
That's promo talk for you. :lol:

One more ear bender - Mr. Coats mentioned High G, Brass thumb rest and 'YS' before the S/N.........Does yours qualify ?

[madmonk]

Russ, When I said "the only one in the U.K." I meant that the 590 S.L.P. was from my research the ONLY MEMBER OF THE CURRENT RANGE available, not that there was only one instrument, and that I had got it.Yes it has the brass <S.P> thumb screw and the Y.S. too. As for the High G I wouldn't recognise it if it jumped up and bit my not inconsiderable nose. I trust it is there as it is part of the spec of the model.The no. is quite high up on thesax,not on the bell .
Phil

[Russ]

Then I congratulate you sir !!

At that price, you stole it :D

Enjoy !

[Dave Dolson]

Phil: The hi-F# and the hi-G touches are two little flat polished brass touches just above the alternate F# button and to the right and below the F in the stack (where your right index finger rests). DAVE

[madmonk]

Dave,
Thank-you yet again!!!
Phil

[madmonk]

Me and sops. Maybe I'm being told something from above. Two purchases two non -players. I just couldn't get a scale right and thought I'D FORGOTTEN MY FINGERING!! Eventually traced it to the fact that the g sharp tone hole is permanently open. It would need the lever from the key to be a full centimetre closer to work, it is that far out. The angle between key and lever is much greater than that on my Chinese effort which now seems benign in comparison. I am to return it to the shop for the tech to look at. Bad news is that the main distributors have no other to replace it with,and from what I can observe. there is no adjustment possible to alter the angle as it seems to be one piece , though how that can be the case and be a one off rogue I do not know-unless the parts are brazed together rather than cast as one.
Phil

[Russ]

MM,

Sorry to hear of your problems - and sorry there are no replacements..I think I landed the last one :oops:

I payed £30 more than you but I am not experiencing any kind of problem. I saw someone mention a cork possibly missing ??

Let us know what happens with the tech.

Regards.

[pimeye]

Just for info, I purchased my Antigua SPC590, on the recommendation of this forum. from MIR in Halesowen.
I contacted Stentor (Robert Bogin, rab@stentor-music.com) who informed me there was a shop in Leeds selling Antigua horns, but as Stentor supply other horns etc. to all major music stores in the UK then your local stiore should be able to order it from them. The price Stentor quoted was 515 GBP but MIR immediately charged me 450.
It is a great horn, with a very good case. I really wanted a brand new top of the range curved brass Yanag but I'm delighted I went for the Antigua. Only minor gripe is trying to get the top Eflat in tune - but that may be me as I usually play alto (and previously tenor). Even my music teacher (probably Birmingham's leading sax player) is impressed. All you need to do is change the mpc - I bought a C star Selmer S80.
Wish I was good enough to give up my day job!