I started on the alto sax, at the age of 53. I kicked off, with a Yamaha
275; rented from www.saxophones.co.uk <http://www.saxophones.co.uk/> .

Four months later, I bought a Yamaha Custom 875. A truly great sax. Things
got even better, with a Meyer 5M mouthpiece.

I have looked at the Selmer Ref 54. Beautiful instrument, but far too many
negative comments about quality control. The Yani horns look interesting,
especially those with the exotic finishes; solid silver, pink gold!

My only real problems have been with sore and painful thumbs. Practicing too
long and too hard. Making up for lost time!



Regards,

Peter Lewin.





-----Original Message-----
From: David Topping [mailto:davidtopping@...]
Sent: 12 July 2004 13:28
To: thesaxophoneclub@...
Subject: RE: [The Saxophone Club] Re: Alto sax



Hi Freddy

Good reading. I like to listen to the pros. That's what this club's

about for me.......sharing experience.



Dave Topps





-----Original Message-----

From: freddyflares [mailto:no_reply@...]

Sent: 12 July 2004 11:24

To: thesaxophoneclub@...

Subject: [The Saxophone Club] Re: Alto sax





Hey guys sorry i've not made any contributions for so long I have to

brag but i've just got back from a tour so been very busy.





Be VERY VERY carefull over what Sax you buy!!



Do not buy anything that you wouldnt get in a music store you may

hear people and there maybe people on here who have got lucky but

that's all you have been lucky.



Those of you that dont know me im a pro in his 20's and i got conned

into buying a "odyssey" soprano it was to put it bluntly CRAP.



I use all Yamaha Horns and although I've had to spend a fair ££ to

get the good one's alot of my students use the 275 and they are

great horns.



A little story to help you in buying Saxophones. I purchased a

Yamaha 85 Custom Tenor aged 16 around (£2,800) I must have played in

excess of 700+ gigs on the horn before having it serviced around 6

years after buying it. Now I look after it but not like alot of my

adult students look after there horns, I dont clean it that often

nor do I spend ages oiling it, i'd rather play the thing. Anyways

the moral of the story after all that gigging in smokey places and

me drinking and eating then playing it it went for a service after 5

years and all it needed as a few (im talkin 3 i think pads) a few

screws and THAT WAS IT!!Total cost £85 I have had a selmer alto

which are regarded by many as the best horns, they are very good but

they need servicing every year or so and bits have habits of falling

off Yamaha's are so well built like most things Japanese and offer

great value for money!!. (plus selmers are very expensive)



Yanigisawas have a very bright modern sound and are regarded as the

best Soprano for under £1,500. The Jap models tend to have a better

re-sale value as well so worth thinking about!



It is very important to get a good horn as many ppl can stop because

of bad instruments thinking its down to there personal skill.





If your on a budget then Elkhart offer a good in tune budget horn

i'd be very carefull with Arbiter i've seen some bad one's Trevor

James also do a good horn but as I said above Yamaha are just so

well made I recommend them to everyone!!



Dan



ps Northwest ppl Wynton Marsalis at the Bridgewater Hall on July

27th with Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra an AMAZING band



--- In thesaxophoneclub@..., YingKo2@a... wrote:

> I started with an Alto too (and am about your age, Charlie.) I

personally

> picked up a second hand Yamaha and though it's not a professional

model level

> instrument I can say I love the tone of the thing. I play guitar

and mandolin in

> a small group and am now working on a couple duets with another

member who

> plays a tenor and they sound pretty nice together. I have always

had good luck

> with Yamaha guitars as well (as entry and intermediate level

instruments).

>

> best, Howard

>

>

> THE SILVER MINE SPOOK by Lance Howard (Howard Hopkins)

> One bitch, one gypsy and a whole lot of silver just made the west

a little

> more wild!

> Hardcover from http:// www.amazon.co.uk http://www.bn.com

> Homepage:http://www.howardhopkins.com







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