Cecilio saxophones

[verrückter Fuchs]

Has anyone had any experience with these horns. I've looked all over the internet for an original manufacter's website with no luck. I can only find them on ebay, other auction sites, or instrument wholesalers. Along with the price and availability it leads me to believe they are cheap mass produced chinese horns. although I am looking for a student model, i'm just an amateur and price is a factor. If anyone has any feedback it would be much appreciated

http://cgi.ebay.com/SALE-CECILIO-Gold-Silver-2-Tone-Tenor-Saxophone-Sax_W0QQitemZ130166354558QQihZ003QQcategoryZ16234Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[verrückter Fuchs]

I've also found Anaxa and Victory horns on Ebay. $200 for a Tenor, up to $300 for the extremely garrishly colored horns. Do any of you guys think its worth it for a begginers tenor sax, or should I wait and buy a Tenor that isn't a Stapel von ***.

[ianhart]

I am going to base this warning off of the cecilio "saxes" that I have seen/played.

Aesthetics: Bad. The finish is horribly done, with the lacquer, if you can call it that, flaking off if you even look at the horn wrong. I played two of them (belonged to freshmen at my high school), both of them gaudy colors, one green, one purple/gold. When I was done playing, there were flakes of metal on my right hand from the body of the sax. In other words, it falls apart, and honestly, (IMHO) who would buy and continue to play a purple saxophone throughout their life?

Durability: I would guess that these horns would last maybe one or two years, at most, then be in dire need of an overhaul. The pads are cheap, and not really waterproof, so they stick all the time. Not exactly substantial bracings, either. These horns are just like the "Selman" brand, from what I have seen on ebay, with a different name "engraved" on them. Also, it seemed that there were uneven toneholes all around the horn, and one or two that were even out of round.

Playability: I couldn't get the darn things in tune with themselves, no matter what I did (tried MULTIPLE mouthpieces, and also tried a C*, which, being a Selmer copy, should have worked well). Could chalk that up to the leaks in the horns, but it doesn't matter, because I don't know a repair tech that would touch them. Also couldn't get below a :treble: :line2:, or above :treble: :space3: 8va.

Overall, I would give these horns a big, resounding, NO. Spend the extra few hundred to get either a used Yamaha 23, or spend a little bit more and get a brand new Kessler/Kessler Custom horn (apparently they are highly recommended around here, never tried one, though).

I would give the EXACT same review to the other brand mentioned above, as they are probably made in the same factory.

[verrückter Fuchs]

How unfortunate, guess i'll have to wait a little longer. Thanks for your input.

[sirreed555]

i hav a cecilio and it plays just as good as ne other sax i've ever played. i've had it for over 3 years and play it almost every day its held up through two marching seasons and is still working good. the only place where the lacquer is coming off is where i've laid it on the ground its been a really good sax. and i hav no problem going form above the staff F to below the staff B flat. i know im not a professional but i still know how to play sax and mines a really good deal for what it costs. i think u should buy that cecilio. and heres the website for them http://www.ceciliomusic.com/

[zxcvbnm]

i hav a cecilio and it plays just as good as ne other sax i've ever played. i've had it for over 3 years and play it almost every day its held up through two marching seasons and is still working good. the only place where the lacquer is coming off is where i've laid it on the ground its been a really good sax. and i hav no problem going form above the staff F to below the staff B flat. i know im not a professional but i still know how to play sax and mines a really good deal for what it costs. i think u should buy that cecilio. and heres the website for them http://www.ceciliomusic.com/
yeah...uh no
Have you ever checked it against a tuner?

[monzamess]

I bought an Anaxa tenor, but it actually has "Hawk" engraved on it. I got it for $140 shipped off eBay. It's my most in-tune saxophone, but most of my instruments are of the cheap kind, so I don't know if that's saying much. It's good enough to practice with and learn on, for sure.

Edit: I also bought a Victory alto sax. Its intonation is pretty bad. I replaced it with a a used Antigua, which was also cheap, but much better in tune.

You can read about it and other cheapo things I bought in the "Cheap Instruments" link below.

[sirreed555]

yeah...uh no
Have you ever checked it against a tuner?

mine stays in tune fine, i can get it tune in high c, middle c, and low c at once

[Jazz House]

When I used to live in Lima there were quite a few Weltklangs around. I played a bari and it was really nice... really, really nice. Better than any yamaha. Plus the interesting keywork was fun...

[fluteypiccolosax]

cecilios are pretty bad.
i tried my friends tenor, that thing was sooo out of tune, the stock mouthpice was horrible, and it didnt sound much better with mine:(

basically stay away from chinese *#$#$@!

[bradshawm]

From my experience, the problem with saxophones like this is that quality control in almost non-existent. So, while the original design (a copy of one of the big 4) was good, when it comes to the final product, you never know what you are getting. Also, from one year to the next, you never know if it even comes from the same factory. So, today's Cecilio's parts may not be from the same factory as they were a year ago. Hence, one might play well, with good intonation and resilient finish, and another is a total lemon in every way.

Some good advice I heard from different people on this forum over the last couple years (nothing original here).

1. Never buy unless you can verify the reputability of the seller.
2. Never buy without a 100% money back guarantee and a generous trial period. (WWBW has a 45 day return period).
3. Buy local if at all possible from a dealer who services the instruments they sell.
4. If at all possible, get the dealer to throw in a service plan. Most dealers service the horns they sell for up to one year as part of the package.
5. Verify that parts are readily available and in stock in the US (without ordering from overseas) .
6. Talk to the tech at the store you are purchasing from. He will have worked on these horns and can give insight.

[oversaxedman]

Owned one sold it lost $$$$$$ bad bad bad

[Pete Thomas]

From my experience, the problem with saxophones like this is that quality control in almost non-existent.

Are you talking from experience playing this actual brand, or just similar saxophones? It's hard to tell from what you say.

[Mal 2]

I played a few horns at the Cecilio booth at NAMM 2010. The real reason I stopped there was to test their "Sax Partner" mute (really a case with holes for the neck and your hands), and the horn they were using for the demonstration was actually very good. I wouldn't say it was excellent, but it was certainly good enough for most purposes.

Later that day, I tried their bari and it was just awful. It was the only true stinker I played that entire day. The second octave was horribly out of tune, the double register keys kept jamming, and the sound was just bland.

(Before you wonder if this was the mouthpiece or reed choice, know that I took my own bag of mouthpieces to the show. The same Link STM 7* performed beautifully on the Tubax at the Oleg booth, the M22 bari at the Rheuben Allen booth, the Vietnamese bari at the Tenon booth, and is my piece of choice for my own Dolnet Bel Air.)

I also ordered a Cecilio piccolo about four years ago. It was a complete waste of $200, it's an unplayable piece of s***. I hacked on it and hacked on it, and it's marginally playable now, but it's still a polished turd.

So... if you can play it first, and you like it, don't let the name put you off. They do actually have some good ones. But I really can't recommend buying one you haven't played first. The design is fine, they ripped off a decent horn. The quality control is another matter entirely.

It seems the Chinese saxophones are in the same position Taiwanese saxophones were 20 years ago. They make good ones, bad ones, and mediocre ones, and they SHIP THEM ALL. Either cherry-pick one yourself (and be willing to walk away), or ante up for a reputable distributor that will do it for you.

[bruce bailey]

I have been selling some of them in the Marketplace section as I get curved sorpanos from distributors and often are Cecilios. The build quality is good, the intonation OK (not as good as a Yana but as good as vintage) BUT the padwork is always totally out of adjutment. With a few hours of fiddling, they are quite nice.The necks often don't fit either. Good lacquer work. The plastic body piccolos are good but the metal ones stink.