Tenor Sax purchase on a budget

[kornflakes]

Hi all! I need some general feedback here please. I don't gig professionally more than maybe twice a month, but do teach quite regularly. I want to purchase a Tenor Sax but don't want to go in the red.
Whats the general consensus of budget saxes being produced via the far east at the moment? I had a student alto sax made in Taiwan, and that played pretty well, enough to do my grade 8 any way which i eventually traded for the YAS 62 which i think plays very well. However occasionally i get the odd student who starts on tenor, so it would be nice to have one around the home too. Don't really want to spend more than a few hunded pounds. Has any one come across a budget/student/intermediate horn they considered good for the price. It would of course need to have reasonable intonation and not leak to death!

Their seems to be so many cheap saxes on the market now, it's hard to believe with market forces and modern technology that they are all crap. I guess that's why i need some feedback. Of course, if i was a full time pro i'd be looking at the 'big 4', but for my needs this tenor would be more for light general use. Thanks all in advance Andy! :D

[singlereed]

Hi Andy, I see you are in the UK too. Getting a bargain sax is a bit of a lottery, but at least as a player, you can try them and see for yourself. The real quality student horn is the Yamaha YTS 275, definitely better than the others you will see from Taiwanese makes like Jupiter, Elkhart, Earlham, Trevor James. Neverthless, all these play OK and I have heard the latest Elkhart ones are pretty darn good. Perhaps a sale, ex-demo or shop soiled example will be worth a saving. Secondhand depends on how they have been treated, a lot of saxes never get played as people give up, my first one was a few years old but mint. I have a good technician who charges less than £20 to give a sax a basic check-over so I would buy a sax that mechanically was good even if it had a few leaks. Your other option is to go for an old US, French or German instrument of a less fancied name or model and enjoy the classic vibe. Trouble is, it could well have been in the wars. Its worth looking at the stocklists of the shops around the UK, most of which have an on-line presence. Ones they sell on commission are usually better value.

[kornflakes]

Thanks for that! A number of people have told me most of these Taiwanese saxes are all made in the same factory, so i guess the overall quality will be about the same. I was thinking of spending no more than about £500, so it's going to have to be either a new budget student sax or second hand.

What are good second hand saxes to look out for that go in that price range. I have a couple of instruments i'm selling, like a nice french horn and cornet which i intend to use towards buying my tenor sax. I've looked on eBay, but i'm concerned about the hidden costs, you know the usual, leaks, re-ajustments or worse reppadding.

I'm a bit of a eBay veteran though, so i'm aware of the pro's and con's with online buying, but i'd have to say 95% of my transaction were good.

Buying from the USA can be a nightmare, due to postal costs and the evil customs charges, but it has'nt stopped me yet! Actually some of my best instruments where purchased via the States.

I do know of the older models, Bundy's and and Old's parisennes are not looked upon well. Its a mine field if you don't know what your looking for or not looking for. Also i have heard good things about Buescher 'Aristrocats', not sure if i spelt that right. However i'm gonning to check ebay now to see what they go for.

[singlereed]

For £500, you may grab a Yamaha YTS 25 or 275 secondhand (the new model is a lot better and actually cheaper too funnily enough - they can be had for £650 new at musicalinstrumentmegastore). Avoid the Jupiter 500 Series, Boosey & Hawkes 400, Buffet Evette.

Look at saxophones.co.uk, or maybe give them a call, an ex-rental horn might be a good bet. The new Elkhart big bell tenor is supposed to be a good buy (see Myatts), you might just scrape one new inside your budget. I have found good deals at one time or another at: starland.co.uk, netmusicalinstruments.co.uk, musicalinstrumentmegastore.co.uk, myatt.co.uk, dawkes.co.uk, saxophones.co.uk - most of these have clearance items at one time or another. Sorry, they are all South England based, but that is where I live! I can say they are all fine to deal with.

[kornflakes]

I had an Elkhart alto for a few years, it was fine for the price. The intonation was'nt good at the top end but that may have been me as i was still learning when i played it. A few years later i got to try another Elkhart and the keys felt like i was playing in a 'fast food cafe'(sloppy), needless to say i liked it in a quirky way! So i think i'll check it out and the Yamaha you mentioned, generally call fall off with Yamaha. Not the best sounding instruments in the world but consistent in quality and reliability. :D

Thanks again SingleReed.

[smusax]

Take a look in the F/S section. I have a Tenor Buescher Aristocrat 400 that I have had posted. I was asking 400.00USD complete shipping included.
For UK $350.00USD and shipping charges/insurance.
email if you have interest.
DF