TRY LA SAX STRAIGHT SOPRANO

[mrd]

Absolutely fantastic horn.
Tone, intonation, tuning, setup.. By far, superior to the Yani played before.
I think their product cannot be beat by any of the other brands.
I wouldn't pay more for any other. Just great to play.

[Rowinc]

i have to agree with you dude there is no question that the L.A sax soprano is the best on the market today. L.A Sax is doing a good job proving that you dont need a selmer or yamaha to have a quality saxophone. believe me guys i have played many many saxes and nothing comes close to the sweet contemporary sound of L.A saxophones. i plan to get a L.A tenor in the near future. every sax player should try an L.A sax and tell me what you think. Kim waters and jay beckenstein love these saxes.

[Dave Dolson]

Rowinc: Oh, there's a question here. DAVE

[Steve J.]

I have to disagree. My memory of an L.A. Sax soprano trial was very negative. Very closed off in upper register and no redeeming sound quality - not even a good student starter horn.

[goodsax]

... i plan to get a L.A tenor in the near future. every sax player should try an L.A sax and tell me what you think.My new LA Sax GL850 tenor did me proud during a recent 17-piece dance band practice. I'll be using it a 90th birthday party bash this Saturday in that band. It's a good solidly constructed horn with a resonant and colorful tone high and low.
My only problem is with a slightly binding right pinky D# key that wants to stay a bit open at times. Not a good thing, but controllable until I can get it fixed. The hard shelled case that came with it is very nice with Samsonite-type catches and two handles and plenty of storage space inside. All that for only $635. Not too shabby.

[Mark5047]

I know this thread is regarding the LA soprano, but I have an alto and tenor that I recently got (750 and 850) and could not be more satisfied with the quality for the price. If I didn't just get both of these within the last month I would look at adding a sop. to the collection. I probably will one day.

[GHawk]

Can you play C# on the soprano with your right hand down?

[Super 20 Player]

Can you play C# on the soprano with your right hand down?I think I know what you're getting at, but could you elaborate on that a little?

[Hurling Frootmig]

The LA Sax sopranos that I have played haven't been in the same ballpark as my Antigua Winds A-590SP or the offerings from the Big Four (Selmer, Yamaha, Keilwerth, and Yanagisawa) and were even behind the various vintage soprano's I have played.

This could change when they bring out their new lines of horns at the upcoming NAMM.

[Dave Dolson]

Hurling: That has been my experience, as well. The one's I've played were not up to level of any of my sopranos, modern and vintage, nor up to the level of most of the sopranos I've sold/traded.

I don't doubt that among all the horns being made by L.A. Sax that some will play. And as is true with the latest products coming out of Taiwan, there very well could be some improvements already in the marketplace and in the future with L.A. Sax products.

But to make the claim that there is no question that the L.A. Sax soprano is the best available today, well . . . I think many of us disagree with that claim.

Can one example of an L.A. Sax soprano be a good player? Yes. Does that mean that all examples are good players? No. And, does it mean that L.A. Sax sopranos are the best across the broad spectrum of modern and vintage sopranos? No. DAVE

[goodsax]

I'll probably never know whether an LA Sax soprano is better, or as good as, my Antigua 590LQ because I'm so satisfied with my 590 I have absolutely no inclination to try anything else. And that's a first for me. That said, I'm feeling the same about my LA Sax GL850 tenor. I like it so much, I've stopped looking at other tenors. Now, if one of the five altos I've accumulated recently help turn off that GAS spigot, I'll have a complete and fairly permanent setup and be saying bye-bye to eBay, except for selling, forever.

[Dave Dolson]

Rob: Congrats on finding horns that work for you. I'm wondering what made that tenor such a player? Do you know where it was made (Taiwan, stenciled somewhere else)?

As for me, I'm not a tenor player but am enjoying the Kessler Custom more and more as my chops develop for the larger horn. I am not looking for anything else in the tenor line, though (neither in alto or soprano - I'm set there). DAVE

[GHawk]

I think I know what you're getting at, but could you elaborate on that a little?

Playing from D-C# (all fingers down to all fingers open) presents two problems. First, the "covered sound" of D2 is quite different tonally from the very "open sound" of the C#2. Leaving the right hand down will make the C# sound a bit more covered and congrous with the D2.

Second, when playing very rapid passages leaving the right hand down facilitates the playing of D-C#-D.

I ordered an L.A. Sax on trial from WWBW several years ago and found that this was impossible to do. The C# came out like C (or close to C). With my playing style, the horn was not adequate for me. I'm sure that others will like the horn fine - one of the local guys here who plays for a living plays one and he likes it.

Just my 2

Greg

[goodsax]

...I ordered an L.A. Sax on trial from WWBW several years ago and found that this was impossible to do. The C# came out like C (or close to C)...Aha, the connection is made. That's very interesting. I'll have to try that on my tenor when I get home tonight, and my other saxes for comparison. Good tip.

Dave - I'm quite sure the LA Sax GL850 tenor is made in Taiwan by one of the ubiquitous sax factories, not sure which one. I now have to decide which of my altos to stick with, the Allora 502 (currently in use), The Martin Indiana (for sale), silver Recording King (Martin stencil), Buffet-Crampon SDA, or The Martin Handcraft Committee II. The last two are being completely gone through by my repair tech and I'm scheduled to pick them up August 8th.

[Rowinc]

i do agree with what everybody saying about sticking keys and other problems but in my experience all soprano sax keys seem to stick when the horn is new. however u should leave a good amount of time to break it in before making any judgments. for the price it is a lot better than most, in my case its my favorite sax. i particularly like the ease of switching octaves. most would disagree aparently. tell me guys what kind of L.A sax sopranos have you tried LA 615, 650 ect

[Hurling Frootmig]

I've tried whatever model is out now and the model that was out a few years ago. Both left a lot to be desired.

[Morry]

I think that Beckinstein plays the L.A. Sax Chicago Jazz horn, which is not really an L.A. Sax horn at all. It is a B&S Medusa stencil. B&S doesn't make sopranos, to my knowledge, so it comes from some other builder, making Jay's use of the horns irrelevant.

[goodsax]

I think that Beckinstein plays the L.A. Sax Chicago Jazz horn, which is not really an L.A. Sax horn at all. It is a B&S Medusa stencil. B&S doesn't make sopranos, to my knowledge, so it comes from some other builder, making Jay's use of the horns irrelevant.If the LA Sax 800 is a Chicago Jazz series, you might be right. But, I don't think it is. On their website, LA Sax carefully distinguishes their Chicago Jazz series from the 800 series saxes. This from their website:

"What a stroke of genius to have Jay aboard!!” said L.A. Sax president James Gavigan. “Jay is quite the addition to our Dream Team of saxophone artists.” Jay’s new L.A. Sax of choice is the LA-800, Burnished Brass Tenor. L.A. Sax has begun working with a Burnished Brass finish model saxophone which was introduced at the NAMM, January 2003."

[mvspur]

Jay still playes the Burnished Brass Tenor and loves it. It is indeed an LA Sax horn, not B&S. I know Jerry at Orpheus music personally. I live in the same city and I bought all of my horns from him. Alto & Tenor are Guardala. Soprano is LA650 Burnished Brass. You owe it to yourself to try one of these horns. I played through multiple saxophones and chose this one and I'm sure glad I did. The finish is very resilient as well. Love the high G key too.

I recommend Otto Link, Dukoff, or Jody Jazz on the horn. They really sing. Just depends on what sound you're after. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to jazz, but this thing can do whatever I need it to.

I'm amazed at the scale on this horn. Find the right piece/lig/reed setup and let the horn do the rest.

I'm not getting paid to say this, I really believe it. LA Sax is one of, if not THE BEST horns you can buy FOR THE MONEY. Big bang for your buck, no doubt. Not saying it's the best out there, just that for the money, you can't beat it.