Prestini

[djazzy]

I was considering buying a $500 Prestini tenor sax. wanted to ask: Is Prestini a good all around saxophone brand?

[Sidepipes]

I bought a Prestini tenor on eBay for about $500 for my son. Considering what I paid for it, it was OK. The action was somewhat clunky, but the intonation was OK for a non pro "make noise at a party" horn. Its not in the YTS-61 or -62 class though, but you can save some $$$.

--Sidepipes

[djazzy]

Are the YTS-61 and 62 the best class for Prestini?

[Blackwolf42]

Are the YTS-61 and 62 the best class for Prestini?

Prestini is a totally different saxophone. The YTS-61 and YTS-62 are made by Yamaha, while Prestini is a separate brand. What Sidepipes is saying is that the Yamaha 61 and 62 are much better horns than the Prestini and that they are in a "higher class" than a Prestini.

P.S.-YTS stands for "Yamaha Tenor Saxophone"

[djazzy]

Go figure. So should I purchase a Yahama if I want to sell my Conn?

[Jerry K.]

Go figure. So should I purchase a Yamaha if I want to sell my Conn? What? Totally different horns and not enough information! How old is the Conn, what type of music do you like to play, what is your budget, ...?

Ok, I'm a Prestini dealer and their horns range from cheap Chinese made student horns (ok for a $300 horn) to Entry Level Pro horns, The Classic Model, which is made in Taiwan. It really depends on what model (there are 5 or 6 quality levels in alto and tenor) you're looking at as to if it's worth buying or not. One good thing to be said for Prestini saxes is that they use their own pads, recognized as being excellent, on all but their least expensive model.

A few years ago Prestini was beginning to approach the sound and build quality of the Yamaha 62 series, but they have recently focused more on the inexpensive student level horns, and not on their pro level horns. As such, they are falling behind several of the other better Taiwanese made brands.

If you like the tone and feel of the Yamaha 62 series, and you can afford one, you should buy one. Really though, you should go to the nearest music store that carries several brands and play test a bunch of horns. That's the best way to figure out what you're looking for!

[djazzy]

My Conn was made in 1952, I like to play jazz music (I'd like to get an all around good horn), and I have a $500 budget.

[djazzy]

Thanks for the advice Jerry. I can't afford a Yahama but I saw a good priced Prestini.

[Jerry K.]

Happy to help. I've owned several Conns and though I love the tone, I could never get used to the left pinkie keys as compared to modern horns. Yous sounds like it could be a 6M (also called the naked lady due to engraving) and they can be really nice sounding horns. If you play and like the Prestini, let me know what the model is and I'll let you know if it's a good deal.

[djazzy]

The Prestini I was looking is $500 I saw it at saxophone.com

[djazzy]

The Prestini I was looking at is a Model No. ST-586J.
See The Sax at:
http://www.saxophone.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=272&HS=1

[Grumps]

You're not going to get an all around good horn for $500. Not new, anyway. What you could do with that $500 is pay a tech to overhaul and/or adjust your 10M. It boggles the mind that you're willing to put aside a horn that's been around for 50 years, and replace it with one that (if price is any indicator) will be lucky to still be playing after 50 minutes. How many times do you need to be told this? But please, go ahead. Buy a shiny new tenor for $500, but don't come back and ask the group why it's not working properly.

[thundersax]

I actually have a prestini step up model (not my only sax)....
I've been very pleased with this horn but.... I bought it local from a dealer with a good tech on site so I have good local support for adjustments etc....... it played well for me and the price was right (more than $500 though!)

[thundersax]

by the way the the tenor in my avatar photo is the prestini....

[djazzy]

I put the money into having a tech repair my horn. But what repairs should I get?

[thundersax]

for $500 you should be able to get a good repad and adjustment easy, and its all you should need unless you have some major problems.......