Walmart saxes? do you have one? They brand probably used to be good but now has to be bad. Walmart = bad. Tell me if i`m wrong.

Selmer all the way. People like yamahas because they are more freeblowing, but, with a little more SKILL, the selmer can have the best tone. Go for a 1954-69 selmer mark VI. NOTHING is better.

I liked the sax lesson, contrary to the rude disliker. We post here to help, man. Not be a sarcastic A-hole. Lay off the BS. If we have no life, you sure as h-ell dont

thanks for advice everybody - getting back to the sax after some years away, and looking for a horn with good tone that I can get to know again (and afford)

Definetely a Yamaha. Better sound control and tone quality

It is interesting to read people`s opinions.
I presently play an LA Sax which I purchased from
the Woodwind and Brasswind. I don`t own
stock there, I simply mention them because
they have a policy of letting people try
the instrument before buying. I played a
Selmer Mark VI in college. I performed my
Senior Recital on it. It was a great horn,
but not all Mark VIs are great. I also
tried several Yamaha models along with the
LA Sax I ended up buying. It was the most
free blowing of the bunch. I use different
mouthpiece/reed setups for different
types of gigs.

My point is, if you can, play the horn you plan
to buy. What you like may be different
from what I like, or any of the people
posting here. As a saxophone instructor, I
tell my students that Selmer and Yamaha both
make good horns, but when you play the
right horn for you, you will know it.

By the way, the saxophone was invented
by Adolphe Sax, not Antoine Sax. Don`t
believe everything you read.

Glad I found your forum. I just rented a Jupiter JTS 689-687 which was highly recommended by the music store, so it`s illuminating to hear what you think. 3 other people said the Jupiter was now a good horn. Seems to work ok for me so far, but I`m a beginner (former flute player). Anyone else hear that Jupiter has changed and is now a good make? BTW, it`s not cheap--$1495 retail.

Mike (or anybody)

I`ve heard that LA sax isn`t so good. Obviuosly they are or you wouldn`t have one. Was LA sax bad? If so, how can we identify which saxes were?
Thanks

There are many opinions about saxophone brands.
I really like the LA Sax which I bought about
four years ago. It has proven to be durable
although I bought it because of the open
tone. With a Selmer S-80 C* mouthpiece, I
am ready for classical and with a more open
metal mouthpiece I am ready for jazz, R&B
and rock situations. There is a long list of
artists who play the LA Sax. For example
Jay Beckenstein from Spyro Gyra.
Check out their website to see who
they are.
{http://www.lasax.com/L_A__Sax_Artists/l_a__sax_artists.html}

It is difficult for a beginner to know what saxophone
to buy. Different brands of saxophones
play differently, and even different instruments
from the same brand play differently. Just as a
car can be a lemon, so can a saxophone. Take the sax
for a test drive is at all possible.

For my students, I recommend the yamaha student
model if they have the money. That horn will easily
take them through high school. At that
time, the student will know what they
want in a saxophone sound. That is what I
meant by knowing the horn for you when
you play it.

Many saxes have problems which can be adjusted for.
I read in these forums about intonation
problems which can be fixed as you play.
I still have my student model conn which
I got in the fifth grade. It was sharp in
the low end, and flat in the high end.
The second line G was horribly sharp, but
I learned to compensate over the years.
What a joy it was to get a horn that played
in tune without much compensation.

Another area you will find differences in
horns is in the altissimo register. Beginners
don`t need to play there, and many people
never play there, but the Selmer Mark VI I
played in college was great up there, while
my old conn student model was horrible up there.

Play before you buy!

If you want and American made horn, try a King.
I have heard good things about the Woodwind Brand
from the woodwind and brasswind. One of
the junior high directors here in the Los
Angeles area swears by them. They are
inexpensive.

Beware of unknown brands if you want to keep the
horn for many years. They often are not
repairable. This is a long post, but I hope it helps.

ill sell you a yamaha tenor sax for 2,000 played it 1 year in highschool email me if your intrested

I have a somewhat-used Yamaha tenor sax that I play with a new Selmer C* mouthpiece and Vandoren 3 reeds, and I`m loving it. I have a school horn, but it`s never really been used because I`m the only tenor sax player that`s gotten my hands on it. I used to play an old Selmer Mark VI, and my band director said that it was supposed to be a very good horn, and it had the potential, but it was just beyond repair from years of abuse from the high school kids. My advice is to either get a Selmer or Yamaha, and to check it out before you buy it. Have somebody who knows what they`re doing look at the pads, corks, and keys before you spend a lot of money on a horn. Good luck!

DO`NT get a jupiter they suck the also break easily.You should go for a selmer or a yamaha.

In my opinion, dont even get a Selmer. It would be a BIG waste of money if you were to buy one,and not end up liking the tenor at all. Unless you are really serious in playing the tenor for a good portion of your life, i say rent one from a music store, or go for a cheaper, more affordable brand.

Try getting a keilwerth they`re really good, although i play jupiter tenor (which isn`t as crappy as everybody says, it`s a beginner horn) i play a keilwerth st90 alto, great quality AMAZING!! also try to get a good mouthpiece rather than stock ones, try meyers they`re great, but try out a couple in the store see how they sound.

Hi everybody ~ are any tenor mouthpieces recommended ?

ive had my jupiter for almost 3 years and it plays great! i now play in the RCC band and also at three other schools/organizations. it works great for all styles being played. but one thing is if getting a jupiter go for the professional brand.

I have been a sax player for 30 years. I play Alto, Soprano and Tenor. Being a jazz player I have tried all the saxes mentioned (excluding the Walmart Special) and the best Tenor I have played is the Yamaha 82 Custom Z. The sound is wonderful and the new G1 neck it gives the sax an airflow that makes it seems like the sax plays itself. Of course you will have a great number of opinions on what Tenor is really the best and it`s really all a personal preference. Finger placement, action, plating (gold, nickel etc) or even unplated all makes a significant difference in the sould and playability. The best suggestion I can offer is to go to a large shop (like Sam Ash) bring the mouthpiece and reed set up that you are most comfortable with and then paly some of the top models. It they are too expensive work you way down in price until you find the make and model (and price) that best suits you.