Stephanhouser Saxophones - Test of SAS2000-SE model

[DaveKessler]

We just finished testing the majority of the Stephanhouser line of saxophones in my shop. We have been evaluating them one by one over the past 2-3 months.

The one that most people were curious about is the SAS2000-SE which has a Sterling Silver bell and a Sterling Silver Neck (as well as a standard brass lacquer neck).

Let me again point out that "I" in the reviews refers to actually observations and opinions of my "Review Team" which consists of 2 of my techs & 2 local sax pros.

Review of SAS2000-SE Retail: $4,495.00 (Sale: $2495.00)
Very big sound.

We mainly compared it up against the A901 & A902 (bronze) Yanagisawas. I personally prefer the A902 over all the Yani models myself.

The Stephanhouser doesnt feel as good as the Yani's and also has a more tempermental scale compared to the Yanis.

The only thing that the Stephanhouser had over the Yani's was the volume of sound. It is one of the biggest sounding horns we have EVER had in our shop. But the SAS1500-BK isnt that far off of the mark and is Half the price of the 2000SE.

The only way I would recommend the SAS2000-SE to anyone is if they were absolutely needing the loudest horn that still plays well.

The real determining factor for us is the scale. The Stephanhouser can be played in tune easily enough when you are thinking about it but when you are on a gig and getting in to it, you dont want to have to think about it. Thats where it loses it. A new Yanagisawa, while it doesnt have the same level of sheer volume, is a much better all around horn.


Review of SAS1500-BK Retail: $1,995 (Sale: $1195)
While this horn has the same overall scale issues as the previous reviewed model, this is a little more practical because of price.

It is 95% the horn of the SAS2000-SE and is a monster. The horn is Nickel Silver plated with a Clear/Black mixed lacquer and silver plated keys.

This horn is also very full sounding but at half the cost of the SAS2000-SE. This horn is the real flagship of the line in my opinion.

Review of SAS1500-LQ Retail: $1695 (Sale: $995)
Same overall horn as the SAS2000-SE again with same issues but being at the $1000 price point makes it attractive. This is the main design model that all of these other horns are based on featuring the 3 US Patented designs.

This horn is above and beyond ANY Taiwanese horn on the market. The sax is a greal blowing and sounding horn that will fit pretty much any style of playing.

Overall, the only major complaint that I have is the mouthpiece. It is terrible! But appearantly there are plans to switch to a 50/50 (Hard Rubber/Plasitc) compound and should be a better piece.

We are currently working with Stephahouser trying to see if they will sell the Sterling Silver neck seperately. We feel that the SAS1500-LQ with a second sterling silver neck will be an affordable and great playing combination.

[retread]

The preceeding was an unpaid advertisement presented by Kessler Music. While I applaud the apparent honesty of some comments, wouldn't this be more approriate in the new products category?

[1saxman]

Dave; Can you fill us in on where these horns come from? I don't really keep up with new horns and hadn't heard of Stephanhouser.

[DaveKessler]

retread,
This isn't the 1st time that these saxes have been discussed on this forum so I thought it would be more appropriate here. But if the mods decide differently, then it will go where they choose.

Yes, you are correct that this is an unpaid post. We were sampling these for our own stocking curiousity as well as I have a gentleman in the UK who wanted us to sample the SAS2000-SE for him since he could not get his hands on one.

1saxman
Stephanhouser is a Taiwanese made horn. They are only one of 3 (to my knowledge) Taiwanese brands that actually own their own factory (Unison & Jupiter are the other 2 that I am aware of). This means that their horns cannot be purchased under a different brand name.

Stephanhouser currently completely makes their altos where the tenors, sopranos & baris are not completely made by them yet. They are just about done tooling their factory to completely manufacture the tenors and sopranos themselves. We will evaluate those horns at that point because we were not happy with the tenor as it is right now.

They also have 3 US Patents on these models that are fairly interesting. You can read on them at www.stephanhouser.com

[Gaijin-san]

Doesn't every "new" Taiwanese horn co claim at one point or another to have their own factory?

[DaveKessler]

Doesn't every "new" Taiwanese horn co claim at one point or another to have their own factory?

Not in my experience. They may make comments that will elude that their horns are only available under their name with comments along the lines of:

"we have worked hard with our factory to develope... blah blah blah"

or something along those lines.

I know the owner of Stephanhouser very well. He used to work for Antigua Winds (whom I have dealt with since their inception) until he started Stephanhouser in 2000.

The way to tell is to compare horns that seem similar. And so far in my experience, Unison, Stephanhouser & Jupiter are the only Taiwanese made horns that I cant locate a duplicate to. They all have features that you basically cannot find under different name.

Now this does not mean that Every other Taiwanese made horn model can be had under different names. There are inside contracts that basically have a factory making a model specifically for one company and that they will not sell to anyone else. Antigua has that with their new lines of Sopranos.

[retread]

DaveKessler, I apologise. I thought you were selling these saxes now, not sharing your evaluation of them as you consider selling them.

[DaveKessler]

DaveKessler, I apologise. I thought you were selling these saxes now, not sharing your evaluation of them as you consider selling them.

Not a problem. I will most likely be stocking the 1500 series (and I do have them in stock) but the 2000-SE is one that we are definately NOT going to stock.

Those prices that I listed were the actual MSRP and the sale prices are what I sell them at.

[Gaijin-san]

And so far in my experience, Unison, Stephanhouser & Jupiter are the only Taiwanese made horns that I cant locate a duplicate to.


I've also heard it said that there are only 3 factories producing horns in Taiwan. I cannot verify this, but if this is true, and the above three companies produce their own saxophones as well as those of other brands, wouldn't it be true then that you COULD find similarities between Unisons, Stephanhousers, and Jupiters and these other horn brands?

[DaveKessler]

And so far in my experience, Unison, Stephanhouser & Jupiter are the only Taiwanese made horns that I cant locate a duplicate to.


I've also heard it said that there are only 3 factories producing horns in Taiwan. I cannot verify this, but if this is true, and the above three companies produce their own saxophones as well as those of other brands, wouldn't it be true then that you COULD find similarities between Unisons, Stephanhousers, and Jupiters and these other horn brands?

Not true, I can think of about 10 seperate sax factories that I am aware of aside from the 3 exclusive ones. My guess is that whomever you heard that 3 figure from was really referring to that there were only 3 exclusive sax factories in Taiwan.

[1saxman]

Dave; Thanks for the review. You must be the only retailer in the world that would actually post anything negative about a horn that he sells or is going to sell. I find your attitude refreshing and your review informative. I have purchased a Taiwan horn from you (Kessler Bari) and you were very 'up front' about that, too. That bari is in regular service, and has proved to be a decent horn. It also proved to be a tough, well-made horn last New Years Eve when a partying chick jumped up on the bandstand and knocked it off it's stand. Fortunately, it was near the end of the show, because the horn wouldn't play. Assuming some bent posts and/or bent body, I took it in. All it needed was some tweaking - there was not a dent or bend on the horn. It looks every bit as new right now as it did when we got it last summer. Some key arms on the upper bow were bent, and that was all.