hi guys, i`m really thinking of picking up the sax for leisure and for self expression.

Currently, i know nothing about playing it (though i have read up about the parts, the keys, and generally what to watch out for in a sax (i read "The Rough Guide to Saxophone" by Hugo Pinksterboer)). I live in a part of the world where you cant seem to get any rentals.

So my question is, as a beginning student, would you guys recommend getting a better sax, or just a student model that i will probably outgrow in time? Is it really that necessary that i absolutely must start with a student model, and not a more "pro" model? Reason i ask this is because of my 2nd question (pls see below).

Another question: anybody know anything about the Selmer AS100? I`ve done some hunting around and actually located a shop which seems to be selling it at a good price. Unfortunately, i just cant seem to locate this model at www.selmer.com (only the AS110), but google searches have turned up cases "designed for the Series 52/AS100". Does this mean that the AS100 is a discontinued model? If so, should I contemplate buying it still?

Financially, I am presently unemployed. But i am serious about learning the sax.

ps. sorry if that`s a lot of questions, but i`m really serious - and there`s nobody i know who can guide me with this. I`ve done my due diligence with self-research already, but i recognize that i still need some help from some real players.

Hi, jeff my name is Brian. I am a high schooler and have been playing the sax for 5 years, and have recently stumbled across an amazing instrument. Up to this point, I have been playing an old student sax. My band director is really fanatic about this unknown brand name Zeus. I of course was skeptical, but when she got one in and asked me to try it i pounced on it. It was a really nice sax. It even blew my good friends $3000 LA Sax out of the water. What is sweetest about it though is it only costs about $1500!!!!! You can buy a pro quality sax for that little. I highly suggest that you check them out, and don`t listen to nay sayer`s who haven`t actually tried them.The website is listed below.
-Good luck
www.zacharymusic.com

well thanks for the info - i will try out the Zeus instruments if there are stores around here that stock them. But at this point in time, i`m not about to buy a sax over the internet just like that - especially since i cant even play yet!

My questions remain as yet unanswered (pls see my first post).

AS100 IS OLDER BEGINERS MODEL. BEEN PLAYING SINCE AROUND 1970 SEEN AND TRIED A LOT OF HORNS. THERE ARE GOOD AND BAD IN ALL OF THEM. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE QUALITY AND WEIGHT OF THE METAL IN THE BODY OF THE HORN AND THE FINISH OF THE KEY`S, LINKAGE AND PAD SETUP. QUALITY COST. SOME OF THE CHEAPER HORN`S SOUND OK BUT YOU WILL NEVER GET THE DEEP DARK SOUND`S BECAUSE THE METAL IS CHEAPER AND THINNER. DEPENDING ON WHAT HORN ALTO , TENOR OR SUCH YOU START ON WILL VARY YOUR CAST FACTOR. GO TO http://saxking.com/ TO LEARN ABOUT THE SAX`S AND THERE HISTORY AND TO http://www.saxshed.com/ FOR ALL YOU NEED TO GET THE BASIC LITERATURE AND TEACHING AIDS. NOT KNOCKING THE OTHER POST ABOUT ZEUS HORN`S BUT I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF HORN`S COME AND GO AND THERE IS ALWAY`S BEEN THE STEADFAST MAKE AND MODELS THAT HAVE FORMED THE BACKBONE OF WHAT THE MODERN SAXOPHONE IS TODAY SUCH AS SELMER, KEILWERTH, YAMAHA, YANIGISAWA , BUSCHER AND SO FORTH. CHECK WITH http://www.saxquest.com/ OR http://www.vintagesax.com/ FOR A GOOD TRUSTED VINTAGE HORN IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. I HAVE A SELMER REF 36 , AND A YANI 9930 SOPRANO AT THIS TIME. HAVE FOUND WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST HORN YET TO DATE WITH http://www.olegproducts.com/ THIS MAN IS A GENIUS AND THESE HORN`S OUTPERFORM ANY I HAVE EVER SEEN AND THE QUALITY OF FIT FINISH AND MATERIALS IS 110% WORD`S CANNNOT DESCRIBE THESE HORN`S. I WILL OWN 1 OF EACH OF THESE EVENTUALLY. GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM KNOWN OF MANKIND THE JOY OF MAKING A SAXOPHONE SCREAM !!!

ok thanks! so the AS100 is an older student model... would you recommend getting it despite it being discontinued? (i assume it`s so because www.selmer.com doesnt list it anymore)

THE AS100 IS A GOOD STUDENT HORN TO START WITH. IF YOU REALLY WANT A DESIRE TO PRACTICE AND LEARN THE SAXOPHONE YOU WILL NOT FIND IT IN THIS HORN. MAY BE GOOD TO SEE IF THIS IS REALLY FOR YOU OR NOT. IT IS JUST IF YOU LISTEN TO A SAX ON A CD FROM YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIAN AND TRY TO MIMIC IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT CAN GET THE BASIC`S BUT THAT IS IT.

i don`t know about the zues i have yanagisawa and it is good, but it depends how much money you are planin to spend

If you want some help now or when you begin to learn, then try posting in this forum:

http://www.saxontheweb.net/

Yeah, those guys are all professionals. It`s really good there.

thanks guys! regarding yanagisawa, i think that`s probably out of my league right now.. don`t think i will be able to afford one right now. But if i ever get professional, i`ll certainly consider them!

alice, you`re referring to the "zeus" as to the AS100?