Got my "new" LA black alto from ebay

[Keith Ridenhour]

It has a strong , well defined tone compared to my Buescher. I think I'm gonna like it alot but there is a serious leak in the G pad making the lower stack unplayable. I'll take it to my tech. Not bad for 200 bucks plus shipping. K

[Keith Ridenhour]

Took 40 bucks to fix the leaks so I could get to the lower stack. Its louder than the Buechsr but seems way out of tune down low. I have about 300 into it so I'll play it for awhile and see what works out. K

[Rockplayer]

I just bought an LA Sax black Alto a few weeks back, plays nice, sounds great, needs some adjustments so I'll have to take it to a tech somewhere local. Pretty cool horns for the money, I paid $400, you got a killer deal!

[Keith Ridenhour]

Intonation is weird in the lower register but I'll see if I can fix that also. So far I do like it. The used alto market is way cheap these days. K

[Keith Ridenhour]

I put my dukoff on today and this horn kicks ***!! I am really happy. K

[Dog Pants]

It's refreshing to hear a review of a horn, based soley on its merits, by someone not swayed by a horn's reputation.

Is it a dang fine horn? Or are you gonna keep it for teaching? :D

Also, what mpc are you playing on it, Keith?

A nice alto for $300.

If only I needed another alto. Good tenors, on the other hand, aren't so cheap at the moment.

[Keith Ridenhour]

Andrew, I really like the tone using my Dukoff 7 (got that from Boot along time ago). I played some long tones and scales and the intonation is okay on this horn. What is really a surprise is that the tone is more complex than my Buescher Alto that I was using to teach. Plus, for me all the keys feel like they are in the "right " place I'm tempted to buy a tenor just for the ergos. Anyway, I'm enjoying playing alto alot more with this horn. I got it for 200 plus 60 shipping and I put 40 into repairs. The seller spilt that with me so its only 20. Now, all I need is a couple more years of overtone/long tones for tone, and scales and patterns for technique. Its so weird to play a horn that "feels" right. I like my Mk 6 alot and I sound better than I ever have but I miss my The Martin ergos. Anyway, Dog, I'd really recommend this horn if you can can get it under 400 or so. I don't know the model. Just says LA sax on the bell. The black lacquer is cool. K

[Mark5047]

Keith,

Best guess is it is a LA-Sax 700 model. The 750s have high G and F# keys, yours just has the F#, correct? I think the engraving was different on the earlier models as well.
Good horns, and you got a great price!

[Keith Ridenhour]

High F# , no G. It still has leaks. I hate working in a new horn but at times the tone is really good. Work , work , work. K

[ChuBerry47]

Andrew, I really like the tone using my Dukoff 7 (got that from Boot along time ago).

I will buy that mouthpiece from you! Name a price! Just not too outrageous!

[Keith Ridenhour]

This horn at times has response problems so I don't know if its the horn or the piece. Need more experimentation to find out. But all in all I'm stoked. K

[ChuBerry47]

But you said that Boots Randolph gave you that piece, right?

[Keith Ridenhour]

Naaaa, Bootman. Richard Booth from Austrailia. He's my boot!! K

[ChuBerry47]

Oh okay. I was going to say! I would have payed a thousand dollars for that mouthpiece. I am sure that Richard is good as well. I thought that it would have been cool, to be able to play on the same mouthpiece that belonged to a legend.

[Keith Ridenhour]

If you still want to give me the grand we can pretend that Boots played on it. I think he played Duks on tenor back in the day> K

[Keith Ridenhour]

Hey guys , whats up?? This alto is a very good horn. I'm surprised there aren't More LAers out there? K