I have a few questions. I have started on and played a Mark VI alto for 5 years, and I decided to try a soprano. I wanted to know what brands are good and if Saxforte is a good dealer.

Mark VI Sopranos are excellent! Granted, I never played any other sopranos, but the Mark VI is, from what I hear, more in tune overall, compared to others. The tone is great, it suits every style of music. It`s just an excellent horn. I don`t know much about your dealer, but I would just recomend, that since these saxophones aren`t built from machinery, each one varies slightly, so try it out before you buy it! I`ve also had good experiences on eBay with buying instruments. Just some suggestions.

Okay, I only played soprano for two weeks, then I had to return it. It was an accent, and lots of players love it, according to my teacher, but I hated it. I can`t play well, so try before I buy won`t work well, as I will probably sound the same no matter what I play. Nowhere will let me rent a soprano, as they are "specialty instruments". So, I would love a mark vi too, but if I can`t try it first very well, then I could just as easily end up with crap as I could end up with the legendary and almost worshipped Mark VI.

So in other words, I have no idea what to do. I would rather get a more consistent saxaphone. Or else, someone teach me how to test a saxaphone that I virtually have no knoweledge of.

Make sure it feels comfortable on your fingers. Play around with it, and if it`s not 100%, or something you think you could adjust to, try another horn. Also, take a tuner with you , the middle C#, the D above that, and almost every note lower than a 2nd line G are most likely going to be a little out of tune on a soprano, try a bunch of horns and find a happy medium for you. Don`t go by with what everyone else worships, play what you find to be most comfortable. Also, you may wanna try a curved neck or a curved bell horn. Try playing with a neckstrap, and without one. Hope this helps.

Okay, thanks. I will play test one. I hope it helps, but if I am totally incapable of play testing, what should I get?

When I got my trial saxophone, I sort of had a slight oboeish sound. Is that normal? Is it my fault or the instruments fault?

It`s not your fault. Sopranos do sound a lot like oboes. I`ve only ever played a Mark VI, so I can`t recommend anything else, just make sure whatever you pick out is something you`re comfortable with playing.