ZEUS Saxophones

[Aalto]

I have shopped until I dropped and came up with ZEUS as the very best value for my money. They seem to be top professional instruments for about half the price. I heard nothing but great things about them except from some people on this forum who have never played them and which were not documented and concrete.

As of yet anyone who actually owns one loves these instruments.

Prices are great and the same as cash payment plan is wonderful, which no other dealer can match.

Why would I not buy one of these?
Is there a disaster looming here?

I am a comeback player who played seriously through highs cchool and college. Just need a great sax at a great price. I don't go for brand names much, that's for the snobs.

[Jerry K.]

Here we go again. Is it just me or does this post look like an unpaid advertisement?

"... the very best value for my money."

"... top professional instruments for about half the price."

"Prices are great and the same as cash payment plan is wonderful, which no other dealer can match."

"Just need a great sax at a great price."

Give me a break! :roll:

[xuanvu]

Yeah, give me a break too!!! Registered on 22nd, and on the 24th, start doing the samething like he/she was doing before!

[Dave Dolson]

Let's see . . . should I buy a Yanagisawa/Yamaha/Selmer/JK or a ZEUS? Colt or a Norinco; BMW or a Kia; Breitling or a Timex; Buffet or a Unison?

I guess I'll stick with the brand names. DAVE

[Pete]

Jerry, et al, I feel your pain, as do our other Admins and Mods -- we're the ones that have had to delete ZeuS spam from this Forum. However, y'all gotta remember this guy's only had one post and he's using a non-commercial e-mail address (and his IP's also non-commercial).

While Aalto might be a ZeuS dealer, he might actually be a beginner that really likes his student horn. Give him a chance to post a few more times. If there aren't future posts, I'll have one of the Mods/Admins delete this thread.

[Aalto]

I am not advertising any brand. I have been reading this forum for quite some time and got some very good info on things. I have finally joined today to ask this specific question. I understand that forums can get out of hand emotionally due to certain bias and prejudices that people may have. I also know that this forum has many members who market their own horns and own music stores and competition is fierce.

I have simply given you the fact as I see them on Zeus instruments which I discovered on the internet. It is not advertising. If anyone can prove to me that these are false or incorrect in any way then let me know. I am not interested in hearing prejudices however.

I am no pro player but as a consumer I have not found a better deal then Zeus. I also understnad how many of you who own very expensive instruments may be offended by a new brand which claims to be better at half the price. I just spent a lot of money on gulf clubs and if you come and tell me that I can buy a better set for less then half the price, in effect you are saying I was a fool. I would not be very happy with you either.

I am willing to put this claim about the high quality of Zeus to the test and if its true then I am rewarded with a fantastic deal on a new saxophone. Is that fair?

As I said I am not here to buy a NAME. I want to buy a saxophone.
Please don't attack me, I do not mean to offend anyone here. Just want some fact if you have any.

[Carl H.]

What is the specific question you are asking?

If zeus is that good, how about some actual feedback about the sax in your hands - action, intonation, what mouthpiece, fit and finish. Where did you purchase it, was it delivered on time and well setup? I had a student buy the kessler lil' bird special, and to me that instrument is a good value for any player. Dave posted his price here and delivered a playing horn exactly as promised with great playing mouthpieces. If your horn can compete with that, most of us will follow your lead. . .

[Aalto]

The specific question is why so much negativity agains a brand of saxophone which to me seems to be the best value on the market. Specifically from people who have never even seen or played one. This is strange from a forum which prides itself on being fair.

I personally have been very impressed with Zeus. I can't tell you about the actual instrument at this point becuase I have not purchased it yet. I do however have an open mind and I am not tied to any company. I know that some companies advertise on this site and may want to keep Zues from getting any sales.

[Pete]

Oooh. I can answer that one :).

* Longtime SOTW members take a dim view of people spamming the Forum, specifically when the folks doing the spamming are dealers. Whether deserved or not, the horn that was being "spammed up" gets negative pub.

* There are quite a few negative comments about ZeuS horns in this topic area, not just from players, but from fairly well-respected technicians. There are also some comments from respected SOTW members about how they've had problems contacting ZeuS dealers after buying horns and how ZeuS/Zachary's Music isn't being very forthcoming about ZeuS manufacture info.

There are a couple positive comments about OTHER ZeuS products sprinkled about this Forum, just not regarding their saxophones.

[Harri Rautiainen]

The specific question is why so much negativity agains a brand of saxophone which to me seems to be the best value on the market.Aalto,
put your money where your mouth is. If Zeus is so good, why are you procrastining in getting it?

Specifically from people who have never even seen or played one. This is strange from a forum which prides itself on being fair.This Forum is great and fair, because we have knowledgeable members who actually own and play the saxophones they are talking about.

I personally have been very impressed with Zeus. I can't tell you about the actual instrument at this point becuase I have not purchased it yet. I do however have an open mind and I am not tied to any company. I know that some companies advertise on this site and may want to keep Zues from getting any sales.Your e-mail address tells me that you are in music business dealing in both string and woodwind instruments.

[retread]

Wow. Harri sunk him with one shot.

[Dave Dolson]

So Aalto, tell us where WE can buy one of these marvelous instruments, too!!! And please don't call us snobs for liking and owning nice things. DAVE

[Aalto]

saxpics
I am glad you motioned some of these negative comments. None of that stuff is specific. Its almost like saying I know "saxpics" is an alien from space and I have good information that he assassinated JFK. I don't think I have read anything negative about the instruments themselves, only very positive things.

The negativity is more about the way Zeus markets the instruments. I suppose manx people are upset that Zeus does not disclose their manufacturers. This is their right. My local woodworking tool supplier will not tell me where they get their interesting products, why should they. I frankly don't care if they are made by Martians.

I am still waiting for any concrete and verifiable information which will confirm some of the negative statements.
If these are pure fabrications than it is very unfair for individuals like myself who are in the market for a horn. People like me would be falsely intimidated in not considering a fine product.

Thanks to "saxpics" for the support. I am offended that Jerry and others misinterpreted my first post, but let's get on with life. My question is "What is bad about Zeus?"

I like Zeus because the horn has a great price and quality and anyone I have talked to simply raves about these saxes. The guy selling them loves and really knows instruments and is apparently very successful at what he does. He has repaired instruments for years and I understand that all Zeus instruments are second to none in their category.

Anyone who has any specific and verifiably negative comments about Zeus please come forward.

Yes, I do play both guitars and saxophones.

[Pete]

<snip>

I worked on a Zeus in april 1995.

The job sheet paints a pretty sad picture: Malformed spring cradle needed reconstruction, corks falling off, Modify octave mechanism to make it capable of working, tighten many loose screws, an enormous amount of adjustment.... I noted that the pads were not glued at their centre, so they were sort of 'floating', making accurate adjustment and reliability impossible.

By chance, I worked on an almost new Zeus flute in the same month. The job sheet reads no better, with a comment that the pad membranes were thin and brittle, and failing all over the flute.

Gordon's a rather well-respected repair tech that posts on this Forum often.

As I mentioned earlier, I moved all the ZeuS threads into this topic. You can see ALL the comments by browsing.

========

BTB, did y'all see Harri's addition to my "Important" thread in this topic? A ZeuS dealer wants you to boycott the Forum because we banned a couple dealers from posting here.

[Hurling Frootmig]

I have shopped until I dropped and came up with ZEUS as the very best value for my money.

What else did you look at? New, Used, Vintage? Specific brands?

They seem to be top professional instruments for about half the price.

Seem to be?????? That's your glowing recommendation?


I heard nothing but great things about them except from some people on this forum who have never played them and which were not documented and concrete.

How about a link to all of these glowing recommendations that counters what our forum members have posted. You probably haven't done a full search of the archives since some folks have documented their impressions of the Zeus product.


As of yet anyone who actually owns one loves these instruments.

<dripping sarcasim on> Must be an amazing product if they have 100% satisfaction. <dripping sarcasim off>

Prices are great and the same as cash payment plan is wonderful, which no other dealer can match.

So you've contacted every dealer in the U.S. in regards to their terms and this is your conclusion? I know for a fact that my local Sam Ash has very agressive plans as does Woodwind and Brasswind. Not that I am looking to finance a sax. Most local music stores have programs that are very similar.

Why would I not buy one of these?
Is there a disaster looming here?

That's your call. I would normally recommend that a returning player purchase either a quality used instrument or a quality vintage horn depending on their playing goals and style.

I am a comeback player who played seriously through highs cchool and college. Just need a great sax at a great price. I don't go for brand names much, that's for the snobs.

Having owned a bunch of different horns I can tell you one thing - A great Selmer Mark VI is something to behold. There's a reason they are the most copied horns ever made. I also own an Antigua Winds (who's very upfront about where their horns are made) soprano because it's a great playing horn for the price. Most of us who play are really only snobs about one thing - good horns.

The specific question is why so much negativity agains a brand of saxophone which to me seems to be the best value on the market. Specifically from people who have never even seen or played one. This is strange from a forum which prides itself on being fair.

I still don't know what you are basing your argument on that indicates that this is one of the best values on the market. Compared to what? The premium Zeus tenor is $1700 or $1800 depending on finish according to his site. I can pick up from Woodwind and Brasswind a brand new in the box Yamaha 62 tenor for for $2200 or a Keilwerth SX-90 with straight tone holes for $2075. Either would make a great pro horn. I can buy used Yamaha 62's for between $1200 and $1500. I can buy a used 8xx or 9xx series Yani for less than the new Zeus. My local Sam Ash has a brand new B&S Medusa tenor for $2200 or the alto for $2000. Again well worth the extra money.

I personally have been very impressed with Zeus. I can't tell you about the actual instrument at this point becuase I have not purchased it yet. I do however have an open mind and I am not tied to any company. I know that some companies advertise on this site and may want to keep Zues from getting any sales.

You can't tell us about the product but you are critizing others for their critique of said product. Your mind is open while thost that are critical of the Zeus product are closed minded? This is ripe.

We have a banner ad that has been graciously paid for by Kessler Music. Does that mean that Harri or I or any other moderator trumpets Dave Kessler - no. I have purchased one item from Dave and it was before I was involved in moderating the forum. I came across the item on eBay and it was a vintage Yani alto. Did I have a good experience with the purchase - yes. I only mention all of this in the spirit of full disclosure.

What shop are you planning on getting your horn from?

[Aalto]

[quote=Gordon (NZ)]<snip>

I worked on a Zeus in april 1995.

The job sheet paints a pretty sad picture: Malformed spring cradle needed reconstruction, corks falling off, Modify octave mechanism to make it capable of working, tighten many loose screws, an enormous amount of adjustment.... I noted that the pads were not glued at their centre, so they were sort of 'floating', making accurate adjustment and reliability impossible.

By chance, I worked on an almost new Zeus flute in the same month. The job sheet reads no better, with a comment that the pad membranes were thin and brittle, and failing all over the flute.

Gordon's a rather well-respected repair tech that posts on this Forum often.

Your rather well-respected memeber has fabricated the whole thing. This post did catch my eye and I checked it out. I contacted Zeus and its hillarious because there was no Zeus in 1995. In fact, not even the owner knew about it, he had not even thought of Zeus at that time. I was told that he first took delivery of the first Zeus instruments in 1997 and did not even have a website until 1998. So there was nothing sold mail order until 1998. Also to date, there have not been any Zeus instruments sold or sent to New Zealand.

[Pete]

Dude. Thank you for posting the exact comments from Zachary's Music before he was banned. Combining that with the fact that you have the same ISP, I'd say you're the same person.

You've violated the rules about a dozen times, Aalto, not including the latest insult to another Forum member. I will be suspending your posting privileges.

I think that's about sufficient. Anyone object to having this thread closed and locked?

[Hurling Frootmig]

I'm guessing he worked on a Zeus labled horn if he said he did. It's very plausible that the Zeus he worked on is not the same as the Zeus that you are presently shilling for. It would have impressed me if the Zeus folks had taken that tact with Gordon rather than attacking him and finding his post amusing. To insinuate that he fabricated the whole thing speaks more to the motives of the folks at Zeus than it does about Gordon. I find it reprehensible that people associated with Zeus continue their attacks on members of this forum. If they don't like what is said here then I suggest that they follow through on their boycott and actually boycott the forum rather than making repeated attempts to shill here.

You present yourself as an impartial returning player (a common Zeus shill tactic by the way not to be confused with the other tactic of young high school student) and yet profess to have first hand knowledge of how a respected member of our forum has fabricated a lie about a product that you proclaim to only have an interest in purchasing but yet all of the facts lead me to the conclusion that you are nothing but another Zeus troll attempting to hawk product by playing up these horns. Additionally, you profess to have knowledge of the sales of this product to foreign countries which isn't something the average buyer gets interested in or normally goes asking.

I have all of my correspondence to and from the various dealers that we have had to ban for shilling Zeus saxophones and I doubt that they would like me to post our exchanges since I believe that it refects very poorly upon their sales tactics. I would also like to point out that I haven't had any correspondence with the owner of Zeus saxophones only his dealers whom I view as his problem.

[Hurling Frootmig]

I am making the call to lock and close this thread.

Update as of October 1, 2004:

The website noted above has chosen to remove their boycott recommendation of this forum on their site.

I would like to further note that I had a very good conversation with the owner of the ZeuS line on the phone the other day and he came across as a very nice guy. I believe that it's necessary to bring up this point as I do not believe that it is fair for the actions of a couple of dealers beyond his control to sully him. We had a fruitful conversation and I have I noted some of the specifics of that conversation in another post in regards to the quality of these horns.