Okay. I`m back. There is currently only one helmke saxophone on e-bay. Their popularity must have decreased in the last year. It only costs $200.
I am looking into getting a soprano saxophone to play in jazz band. I have heard they are hard to play but i picked up the alto and i could play pretty well in three monthes.
What brand should I get? Is this a good idea at all? What should I do?
HELP PLEASE!

Does anyone have input on saxes from FE Olds Company? I believe all are made in Taiwan today, but cant` be sure. I`m looking at a Soprano from them maybe. Any input on Olds brand saxophones is appreciated.

I was just looking at buying a tenor saxophone also. I found one that i love soo much its beautiful. The only thing is that its a Selman...not a Selmer. I was wondering if this was a known good brand or what. Also, its got this purple finish on it and gold keys which i love but was wondering if the purple would like chip easy or what. It`s a 2006 model that sells in stores for 2500$ but i found a great deal to get it for between 400 and 500. Tell me if i should go for the deal!!!

I have a saxophone and the low notes ain`t coming out.
I looked up in ebay and got this `Selman` brand for like 300
should I buy?

PS anyone heard of `Bently` brand?

Selman is, obviously, somebody trying to sell cheap saxes and make you think that you are getting a Selmer. Olds was an old US brand, long gone.

The best deals I have seen on Sopranos are on used L.A. Sax sopranos. L.A. Sax makes some good saxes, a few top players play L.A. Sax. Because of their "second level" position in desirability, I have seen their sopranos go used for under $ 500 in very good condition. The ones I have encountered were their "intermediate" straight sopranos, I believe the model 110, and played very well. L.A. Sax has a low cost one, the good ones have "L.A." engraved on the bell. The next step up would be to a Cannonball in good condition or Yamaha YSS-62, with a lot of lacquer wear, which would bring the cost down to about $ 1000- which is a different league.

We have just received a new soprano under the FE Olds label. Go to www.feolds.com to see their product line. This intermediate level instrument made for them to their specs in Taiwan. Very impressive. Tone good, stays in tune well, good keywork. Talking with them I`m very impressed with the efforts to have good quality. Peter LaPlaca of LA Sax fame is involved with the revival of this brand and their sourcing of good quality products.

Well hi, i`m planning to buy a saxophone but i don`t really have any experience and i don`t know what to buy... i saw that purple selman and i thought it was good...but if you said no...well.
So please can anyone help me...i`m looking all over ebay...
I want a good but cheap saxophone... i dont want it to be more than 250$

Please help!!!!!

well u have another thing coming if 250 is all you want to spend...I would spend at the least 400. That`s about as cheap as they come these. I`m sorry but 250 dollars for a sax is almost close to impossible. My friend found the cheapest for his on ebay at 450. My friend is selling me hers for 450. And as far as brands go, i would go for more heard of brands like Yamaha. Just my opinion though...
-dee

I bought a Schill tenor sax for my daudghter a year ago. She was playing a Yamaha yts 23 and was happie to give it back. The Schill had a better sound. Her music director could not belive the sound it was that good. She has played it in marching band concert band and jazz band. She did all the jazz solos with the Schill tenor. No problems so far after a year. Checked it with a leak light and no light leaks. But she does play with a Rico Royal b5 and a c5 mouthpiece. Thanks

schill is a decent beginer horn.. not bad. Olds makes good solid intermediate saxes, play well, got high F#, ect.
Selman is a imitation of selmer, and probably cheaply made, and while it may turn out real good, it may not. My favorite g\beginer horn is a bundy. look it up. If oyu have any questions, email me, i know a lot more than i can type on this

I have played sax semi professionally and done some recording over the last 35 years. I have owned and played to death two vintage Mark VI tenors. I sold my tenors several years back when the prices were low and a couple of years ago purchased a new Artist Series Jupiter Tenor for $1249. Today that horn sells for $1700+. I must say using a vintage Selmer Jazz D mouthpiece, I get as good a sound as I ever did with the Marks. I am a decent player and do know a good horn. I would recommend this horn, both tenor and alto to anyone. However, I do recommend playing any horn before you buy it unless you are buying it so low that you can`t turn it down. Then you are taking a chance.

What do ya`ll think of http://cgi.ebay.com/ProTec-Ballistic-Alto-Sax-Case-BLACK-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ7355689838QQcategoryZ38112QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting ? I`ve been looking at it for days.

My mom says I shoudln`t get one thats not a big brand, but their silver ones are way expensive for our income...

Oops! Wrong link! So sorry!!!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000BU763S/qid=1131230636/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xglna/002-2271223-5499255?v=glance&n=507846

For any sax I`d suggest a CannonBall and for the Tenor a CannonBall Big Bell

Trust your mother. She is right. The cheap saxes will always be cheap saxes. A good used, student level, name brand sax in good condition that you purchase for $ 500 will be worth that much when you sell it. Technicians will service it. Parts will be readily available. If you go on, you can sell it for the down payment on the pro level instrument. If you don`t continue playing, you will not have lost anything.