Monique alto saxaphones

[flamingochick]

Can anyone tell me about the quality of a Monique alto saxaphone? Some listed on ebay. Am looking for a sax for my 11 year old daughter.

[colibri]

Good enough for jazz.

[mostly alto guy]

There is one word that describes the Monique quite well--Junk. Though a pro tech can make one play pretty well and a pro player can make one sound good, it will not stay in adjustment, so a beginner will have trouble learning and will get frustrated. This is true of most Asian (non-Japanese) saxes.

You didn't say whether your daughter is already playing, but at her age I'll assume she is either just beginning or is still in the early phases of learning. For a beginner, or for anyone who may not always take the best care of her sax, I'd choose a used Yamaha 23/25 (generally accepted as the best beginner sax) or, if your budget can support it, a Yamaha 52 or Yanagisawa 901, both considered intermediate-level horns. All of these are generally excellent players, and they are sturdy. Most any teacher would support these choices.

A lot of teachers and players would disagree, but another option would be a vintage Buescher Aristocrat, Martin Indiana or "The Martin," or Conn 6m, but make sure it's in playing condition and does not need more than a few new pads or extensive adjustment. To be good value, any used horn must play as is. Often these older horns are ugly to look at, having lost a lot of their finish coat of lacquer (some players seek horns in this condition), but appearance by itself does not affect how a sax plays. (Vintage saxes such as these can be among the best-playing saxes in the world, as they were built as professional level instruments, but a quality repad or extensive adjustments would likely cost more than the instrument itself).

Whatever direction you go, have your daughter's band director or teacher put some effort into mouthpiece selction. This is key, since these are not very expensive, but will have at least as much to do with her ability to make the horn play as the horn itself. There is no way to know what is the right piece up front, but a good teacher will have some experience in this area. And make sure to have the horn verified mechanically sound and free of air leaks before you buy.

[goodsax]

I think a Monique alto pro model is probably okay for a beginner, or someone who just wants to sit around the house playing the sax for their own amusement. For serious musicians, or those with plans to become a serious - read professional - musician, I wouldn't recommend the Monique. And that comes from personal experience.

I've been all over the map with altos, sopranos and a few tenors recently, trying to settle on a collection that best fits my community band participation level of playing and a silver Monique Pro model passed through rather quickly because I thought it didn't have the quality "feel" that I wanted, and after trying several different mpc-reed combinations, it didn't have the full sound I was looking for. I sold it at a slight loss.

The one big advantage of the Monique Pro is the relatively low price you can get a brand new one for - under $400. But, be careful because it's a classic case of you get what you pay for. Mine played okay, nothing fell off the sax when I first played it, and it really didn't need much adjustment to reach all the notes from top to bottom. It just didn't have the quality feel and sound I was looking for, and what I think most serious beyond beginner players would be satisfied with.

This is just my not-so-humble opinion. YMMV... 8)

[flamingochick]

Thanks to each of you for your careful and thorough responses. I feel much better informed. :)

[saxcop]

I wonder how many people on this forum ever get paid for playing or even play regularly for an audience. The web is full of people who think that only a vintage horn is any good.

I play a Dave Guardala tenor, a Monique silver pro series alto and a silver saxello soprano from the ww+bw. I play guitar much better than sax, but I'm not bad. I play live 4 times a month.

No one has ever said that my monique doesn't have a pro sound. The key work is good and it is built solid. Its real silver plating and I paid $325 for it new.
I pro series monique is a great horn for a begginer and good enough for me.
If I made my living playing sax, i'd probable get a better alto. I wish I could go back in time and not buy that $2600 Guardala. I'd buy a $500 pro series monique tenor and go to Disneyland with the savings.
most your audience's cant even sing a tune. Do you really think a child needs a vintage horn.
They have horrible key work....by the way I played a selmer mk VI in high school....big deal
save your money

[Kareeser]

I liked that post, saxcop... and I do agree... why get a vintage saxophone for someone who won't appreciate the sound and is most likely harder to play?

Modern saxes rock, :P