What do you think of Unison saxes

[korhie]

I am a high school student and am currently playing a Conn piece of crap and would like to get a new sax. I am looking at a Unison s400 and wanted someone’s opinion on either the brand or the series.

Thanks!:D

[G-dawg]

Try searching "unison" brand (above). Quite a few folks have posted.

I recently tried the horn and was very impressed, especially for the money.

[Dave Dolson]

I used to own a Unison S300 - it was a nice alto for the money. Recently I tried a Unison 2000 and it too was very impressive but twice the price of the horn I bought (for my grandson).

Now you come up with S400 - I'm wondering what these various model designators mean? And maybe you should do more research before actually buying the horn, given that it appears that Unison has a variety of models out there. Of course, if you've played the horn and like it and the price is right, do it.

Where do you live? And, do you intend to buy mail-order or go to stores to try them? DAVE

[bradshawm]

I have the SG300 alto and it has been a great sax for the price, but I am out growing it and am looking to upgrade, probably to a Ref 54 or Keilworth. I played a Unison 2000 tenor when they first hit the US market, and was very impressed with it. I felt at the time that it was an improvement over the 300in in both action, tone and response. And, the prices are excellent now that they are going direct to the dealers and do not have all the price controls in place (Check out Kesslers). I have not played the S400, and am not familiar with that designation but you might find info on it on the Unison web site - www.unisonsax.com.

Good luck!

[gary]

I am a high school student and am currently playing a Conn piece of crap and...
Well, I'm always curious at statements like that. What kind of Conn is it, how old is it, and what is there about it that you don't like? In other words, what makes it "crap"? Sometimes it's not the horn, or the horn is good but just needs a good working over by a tech.

[korhie]

Well, I'm always curious at statements like that. What kind of Conn is it, how old is it, and what is there about it that you don't like? In other words, what makes it "crap"? Sometimes it's not the horn, or the horn is good but just needs a good working over by a tech.
I am not sure what model it is but I do know that it was made after Conn moved to Mexico and it is so bad the key bend when I play and am constantly taking to the repair shop to be fix and the low D at all and last time I brought it in it took the guy two weeks to fix it because he would have to bend something back which would end up bending something else which would unbend the original correction. You can barely play some of the notes like the G in both octaves and you can not play quiet at all and it is not just me my instructor can't play it neither can my band director.

[bradshawm]

I went up the road and tried out the Unison 2000 alto, and compared it to my Unison SG300, Yanagasawa 991 and 992, JK ST90 (not rolled tone holes). Sound on the 2000 was a darker and smoother than my SG300 and played very evenly from top to bottom, but I did not see the action as really being any better, nor the quality of build. Granted, I like the quality of my SG300, but it is by no means a pro horn. The JK didn't play very well in the top end and could have been a set up issue, but definitely had much better action and response. There was absolutely no comparison to the Yani's. They played and felt like they were many steps above the Unison, as they should. All in all, I did feel that the Unison 2000 is a great deal for the money and that one would have a hard time finding a better new horn in that price range