ANY INPUT ON WHICH HORN IS BETTER MONIQUE PRO OR DC PRO?

[portofino]

I know not the best choices; but......any input from owners of these brands?

[Morry]

Do yourself a favor - avoid both of these horns. Look for a good used horn from one of the major makers.

[GenericGuy]

I agree with Morry, do not go with the cheap Taiwan stencil horns. Sure, the keywork looks like a Selmer, and they often have the fancy finishes you find on the professional instruments... but they don't sound like a pro horn, the keywork metal is weak. You are much better off looking at vintage professional saxophones in the same price range.

[Dave dix]

Neither sax is a pro model and could insult a student level horn.The importer had pro engraved on the horns(Dominic music i believe).
Stick to a good manufacturer for a good sax.A good used pro horn will be far better than a new shiney pile of p'#-""%.
Dave

[DirkW]

A good used pro horn will be far better than a new shiney pile of p'#-""%.
Dave
A good used student horn will be far better than a new shiny pile of p'#-""%. For the price of those piles p'#-""%, you can buy a shiny used Vito or Yamaha.

Friends don't let friends buy new shiny piles of p'#-""%.

[Martin Williams]

I play a Monique on the college level, though mainly because it is the only horn available to me being a poor college student.

The horn is really not as bad as many people make them out to be. The Moniques and DC pro Series(Though not my choice, i prefer a nice Vintage horn) the new ones from them are actually fairly decently built, and make a good, in tune beginner or intermedieate horn. Most of the reveiws you hear on them are of the early ones, which deserve the reveiw they get. The new ones are of MUCH higher quality than those of old.

IMO, people need to start looking at them again, and to do another reveiw on them. Ive seen a few of them; some early ones where it was like an empty coffee can; and the newer ones which make decent horns, especially with a decent mouthpiece.

I hope this helps you guys!

Martin Williams

[DirkW]

I actually own a Monique tenor that I'm happy with, purchased a few years ago from an eBay dealer that many people on this board don't like. At first he didn't have the specific horn he listed so I had to wait for his next shipment. Once his shipment came in, this dealer play tested four identical horns and sent me the best one. Intonation is fine, the action is OK, and it sounds fine for the price.

Later I tried to buy a matching alto. They sent three horns before we mutually agreed to give up. The intonation on all three horns ranged from bad to unplayable. All three where made in Taiwan, not China.

I believe that Monique is a stencil name used by several manufacturers. I can only assume that DC is the same thing. They even use the same type of engraving around their logo.

Since they make it impossible to trace where the horn came from, you're playing Russian Roulette trying to buy one. I can't sell my Monique because the resale value is nonexistant. I also will never be able to buy parts for it. Therefore, I could never recommend a Monique or DC to anyone.

On the other hand, a student Vito or Yamaha plays just as well as my Monique. Parts are readily available for them. You can sell them again in six months or six years and you won't be taken to the cleaners. They are the backup/beater horn that I wish I'd bought.

[portofino]

I thought I could replace my alto tenor and soprano (tired, in need of overhauls) for the cost of 1 tenor. I am looking for a deep dark and warm full tone (tenor). I appreciate the input however, it just prods me to not be cheap about it. If I were to spend up to 800 per horn, any comments on pro level horns to consider? Intonation has been the biggest problem with the LA Sax horns I have. It is so frustrating trying to decide....there are so many choices. I am not a pro, and play mostly for myself and friends with my back-up band (my music minus one cd's!) Again, I appreciate all comments!

[Morry]

For $900, I can put you in a mint condition, superb playing Yamaha YAS-61 alto that I have owned since it was bought new in 1976. You can find pics in my ad in the "for sale" section.

It is far and away a better horn than those you are looking at.

[Bryan009]

Portofino, I think your best bet would be a vintage horn or a nice Yamaha YTS-52. There are wide varieties of vintage so be careful. If you watch ebay, you can sometimes find a YTS-52 for under $800. Stay with the name brands, better playing horns and resale value.

[DirkW]

I'd be happy with either of the Yamahas above. I play a Yanagisawa which also has a big bang for the buck.

[saxchado]

Even before I saw morry's post, I was going to recommend that you go with the 61. In my opinion, they are worth FAR more than the 8-900 dollars that they have been selling for, and I think Morry would agree with me. I was going to try to sell my 61 tenor, until I realized that the going price was soooo low. I'd say that they easily play like horns that cost twice as much, and have a great scale. The intonation on the ones I have played is spot-on. Go for the 61. It's a better horn than a 52, by quite a bit, and they are out there to be had for a very reasonable price.

[Joe Fool]

Even before I saw morry's post, I was going to recommend that you go with the 61. In my opinion, they are worth FAR more than the 8-900 dollars that they have been selling for

From what I've read, the only main differences between the 61 and 62 are cosmetic. Unfortunately so many people buy based on looks.... that's why those are cheap, and DC *#$% Series two costs a little more even though it's an inferior horn.

I wish I could have taken a picture of it before I sold it, this one spot where the nickel, NOT SILVER, Dom will tell you crap like "oh people prefer nickle because it's much darker etc. etc." THE ONLY REASON HE USES NICKLE IS BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER. Anyways, once the nickle chipped off the metal was a dark grey/black of some terrible alloy, not even brass. I don't know how this man sleeps at night.

Once again, I played this horn for two years and the only advice I have on it is STAY AWAY PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

Either buy the 61, or save up about 2,000 and ask Les Arbuckle what he has for saxes, he has some of the best/best priced vintage saxes, and he's an excellent tech who knows what he's doing and you can be assured all of those saxes are set up right.

Once again, THOSE HORNS ARE BAD NEWS PLZ PLZ PLZ DON'T BUY A DC

[martysax]

Have any of you actually met Dominic? I met him several years ago, when he still had a shop in Somerville, Mass. He's a charming man. His charm is reminiscient of an old-school merchant, which he is.

When I met him, he started to show me some new Saxes (Keilwerth, I think) then started to show me some Chu Berry altos. Everything was fine and friendly until he insisted that his Chu price was less than Emilio's. I've known Emilio for ~30 years, and Dom picked up his phone and started dialing Rayburn Music to speak with him to compare prices.

I left.

I'm sure Dom means well, he's an old fashioned guy in a modern world. If he has attractive looking horns at attractive prices, he's probably going to sell some. If he's stuck with a lot of inventory, they'll get cheaper.

[Randall]

Marty, (if that is your real name....)
Yes, I met the D. and I personally saw him try to pawn off a c-melody on an unknowing father trying to get an alto for his son to play in band.

Luckily I was able to get the unsuspecting father aside and warn him off.

I would not trust that man, Dom, as far as I could throw him.

[DirkW]

If he has attractive looking horns at attractive prices, he's probably going to sell some. If he's stuck with a lot of inventory, they'll get cheaper.
I can tell you that when I bought from him, he appeared to be moving a lot of Moniques. He claims to be the primary Monique distributor in North America, which I don't doubt. At one time, he was selling Moniques and DCs on eBay in lots of 10.

[martysax]

Hi Randall!

Yes, my name is Marty. I've been playing music for 36 years. I rarely buy horns until recently I purchased a new Alto and a vintage Tenor from Emilio. One purchase was for necessity, the other for desire.

I meant to say that Dominic is an Old world salesman. He does what he has to do, which means that sometimes people will get burned.

Have you bought a car recently? Car manufacturers portray their product in the best light. Dealers and salesmen, trying to earn a living for their families, must sell what some perceive as an inferior product. Unless someone can interrupt such a transaction, as you did, most unknowledgeable people will make a freshman mistake.

Do people learn from these experiences, usually. Most won't return to the purveyor of a perceived bad deal.

Emilio didn't pressure me in any way. I was comfortable, as always, with his knowledge, understanding, and professionalism. He allowed me plenty of room to make an informed decision.

Bottom line: Don't fall for a charming salesman's pitch. At least not more than once.

[saxchado]

At least not more than once.

That is the key. I've always said that the only true mistakes made are the ones made twice.

In any case, Portofino, you have been given some good advice, some given generally, some very specifically. If you make a mistake that someone has warned you about, that is the same as making it twice. Get a good used horn from a known manufacture with a good reputation.

[portofino]

Yeah!

[barfdog17]

I have a good YTS-52 for sale, just the B and Bb need some work, somehow the key got a little bent. Anyway its a good sounding horn, and im probably moving up to a Ref. 36. $750 takes it, ill get the keys repaired beofre its sent.

[bluesaxgirl]

Do not get a DC Pro. I own a Monique and it has decent tone for a beginner sax. I do admit the metal is soft, and I had to get repaired once in one year for bent keys.

[calisax]

Do yourself a favor - avoid both of these horns. Look for a good used horn from one of the major makers.

You know, it's funny... My cousin's wife calls me asking about a Monique sax she's considering buying out of the classifieds for their son. My immediate response was NO!!! I went to the seller's house in Vallejo and gave it a try. Man, I'm dumbfounded! Damn thing plays better than my Zephyr. I started off with a light play, then moved into his garage for some acoustics, and I tell ya... Not a bad buy, especially considering the low price. I may even pick one up just to have laying around. Let's face it, all of us are saxophone snobs!! "Major maker" only means "major notoriety!" Let us not forget that it's about the sound! Don't be fooled by the myths. If the hunk of brass fits the specs, it deserves a try. Of course part of this post may be related to my deep down bitterness of never having enough dough to pop for a VI or SBA... Smiss it... just thought I'd share the experience with y'all! 8-)