Selmer AS210 vs Selmer La Voix

[foresterdjb]

I am a late bloomer, just getting started on the sax. I am currently renting a Selmer AS500 and I am now ready to buy.

I could buy my rental, but it seems that for a few dollars more (and still in my price range) I could buy either a Selmer AS210 or a Selmer La Voix (AS220).

I imagine that both of these are good horns, and the variety of players out there will have different subjective opinions on these models. I would like to know what is it, physically, construction wise, that is different between these two models. In addition, what is it that these differences are suppose to do for the horn's sound?

I know that I should ultimately test play each for my own opinion, but I can not locate either of these horns locally (Helena, MT) to test.

[DaveKessler]

The physical construction is different for a few reasons. Primarily, they are not the same factory.

Selmer AS210: Selmer USA, Elkhart Indiana factory
Selemr La Voix: Ping Factory, Taiwan.

That being said, I think the La Voix is the better horn. The AS210 is a good horn but for its price, it is not the horn that I recommend. Basically, I evaluate everything on a performance for cost ratio.

The AS210 is in the same price range as a Yanagisawa A901. The Yanagisawa is a better horn, hands down.

The La Voix is every bit as good of a horn as the 210, probably a little better, comes in a nicer outfit (case/mouthpiece) and is priced better.

Now, just so you know as well, the feel of the La Voix will be more familiar in your hands because the AS500 is also made in the Ping factory in Taiwan.

This is the same factory that makes Antiguas horns. In fact, the La Voix is the same design as the Antigua Power Bell. The primary difference is the material. The LaVoix is red brass for a much mellower tone while the Antigua is standard brass and is a little brighter. Antigua also does engraving all the way up the horn and is about $350 less then the LaVoix, but at the same time doesnt have as nice of a case/mouthpiece setup, but at least the Antigua case is good.

The LaVoix is following the trend of the other Taiwan saxes with the "Ultra Bell" and double arming of lower keys. In the end, I do not think that any of these are an advantage to the standard setups from the same factories, but they dont hurt it either.

Hope that helps.

[foresterdjb]

Thanks for the reply. Now I just need to get my hands on one and try it out.

[Dave Dolson]

Forester: I lived in Whitefish for a time (almost 20 years ago now) and played many times in Helena (at their trad-jazz festivals). You are right, there are few places to play-test anything in MT. I recall there is a pretty nice store in Great Falls, and a guy named Russ Larson in Somers (north shore of Flathead Lake) deals in band instruments.

But, you are not that far from Kessler's in Las Vegas and it may be worth your time to make the day+ drive down there. DAVE

[JPSaxMan]

I have a LaVoix tenor and after playing a TS200 tenor along side of it, I'll keep my LaVoix. IMHO, the LaVoix is a pro horn labeled as intermediate only because of where it's made, that it's labeled USA, and the engraving is only on the bell. Plus the LaVoix doesn't have the fancy 'S' blued into the neck like the Paris horns do (it has an S, but not the same one :D). That's my two cents. Take care and good luck.

[Saxdaddy]

JP I am glad that you like your horn, but don't you think that if Selmer could get a pro horn price for a horn that they would? Now don't think I am putting your horn down now, I have played many a gig on a student horn, and it was just fine, its really more about the player than the horn anyhow. If your horn has a good scale, is set up well, and you have a decent mouthpiece, your going to sound good.

[JPSaxMan]

JP I am glad that you like your horn, but don't you think that if Selmer could get a pro horn price for a horn that they would? Now don't think I am putting your horn down now, I have played many a gig on a student horn, and it was just fine, its really more about the player than the horn anyhow. If your horn has a good scale, is set up well, and you have a decent mouthpiece, your going to sound good.

Saxdaddy,

I didn't see this remark so never responded...consider this a x-mas present :lol:

Hmm...yes, I guess they would. But I look at the construction, and see it has many features of pro horns (maybe not Selmer related) and it labeled as intermediate makes me wonder. It doesn't have they body-to-bow connection of the Serie II nor the spring loaded hinge rods of the II, but it has the metal resos with metal tone boosters, kid leather pads, a metal not typically found on horns period, so I'd think these things would make it pro. Guess not, but oh well. I probably will upgrade from this horn anyway as most music majors have to :D

[MikeCa]

Back to the original post. The AS500 is very similar to the La Voix. The La Voix has a lot smoother keywork but the same basic characteristic sound (big, full). The AS 500 is one of the best buys (right arond $1000.00 but very near professional sound) out there in a student level horn, but for some reason I tend to forget about them! If it's more than a couple hundred more and you aren't too concerned about nuances I'd go with the AS500. The La Voix is definitely a more modern horn than the AS210 (though it's been quite a while since I played one), in other words the keywork is kind of clunky.
Selmer doesn't always mean overpriced as is the case with the AS500 (actually that may be the only example, though the Selmer Prelude is a pretty good horn in the under $500.00 category also, certainly not one of the disposables).

Hope that helps