Zeus saxes?

[jjpgracia]

I saw this page about this brand:

http://www.zacharymusic.com/Zachary_Music/NewSax.htm

That I've never heard.
Somebody has tried this saxes?
In any case, are they good?

[Gandar]

http://saxontheweb.myforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=1503

[phoenixfem35]

I'm looking for an intermediate sax for my son. Has anyone tried one of these saxes yet? This seems to be a rather contentious topic. Thank you so much.

[Dave Dolson]

Phoenixfem35: From the absence of any recent posts about these instruments, I'd guess that no, no one has tried them. Or at least no one has reported - and that tells me either the horns weren't experienced or weren't worth even a comment. Most of us will post our observations about the various horns we've tried, good or bad.

If you want a decent intermediate saxophone for your son, go no further than Dave Kessler's shop in Las Vegas. He has a model he imports called the Solist. I've played one and others report good things about them, too.

But, depending upon your son's skill-level, and his commitment to taking care of his property (some kids can - and some can't), you may want to buy better than intermediate. I did so for my kids when they were playing and it paid off in spades. They still have their horns and still play them as adults. A pro-level horn can be a lifetime gift to say nothing about pride of ownership and encouragement to always play. Yes, they cost more, but . . . DAVE

[Helen]

Before you buy any brand of horn, do your homework about both the make of horn and the dealer.

I've had a number of students show up with relatively obscure brands of new horns that were bought sight unseen on the Internet, that are not worth the metal they are made of.

If you want to buy a horn for your son, make sure that you buy from a dealer (either in person or on line) with a good reputation. This way if there are problems with the instrument, you have some recourse.

[saxchado]

One of my students told me today that her mom bought her a Zeuss sax for marching band. The instrument was purchased at "Sam's Club" any questions?!?!? She said that she prefered her 30 year old bundy to the Zeus. (her main horn is a series III)

[Bnatural]

Sam's Club :banghead: when will people learn, a $100 instrument just isn't going to work

[Helen]

There has been some discussion in other Zeus threads about Zeuss. The water is a bit murky as to whether Zeus (single "s") and Zeuss (double "s") are made by different companies, or if the name has just been misspelt. :)

[Hurling Frootmig]

My feeling from talking with the owner of the ZeuS brand is that his horns are made for him and I'm guessing would differ from the zeuss stuff at Sam's Club. My guess on those horns (zuess) is that they are made in China. The ZueS line has been around for some time and while I wouldn't be able to venture a guess as to their country of orgin I am pretty sure that they are not made in China.

[newking70]

My feeling from talking with the owner of the ZeuS brand is that his horns are made for him and I'm guessing would differ from the zeuss stuff at Sam's Club. My guess on those horns (zuess) is that they are made in China. The ZueS line has been around for some time and while I wouldn't be able to venture a guess as to their country of orgin I am pretty sure that they are not made in China.
Is somebody already copying ZueS saxophones? They must be really good saxophones :roll:

[Hurling Frootmig]

I doubt anyone is copying. I have no idea who is making him his horns other than to say they aren't Chinese.

[newking70]

I doubt anyone is copying. I have no idea who is making him his horns other than to say they aren't Chinese.
hurling, would you venture a guess as to where they are made? i know there has been some controversy as to where their trumpets are made. some say it's made by kanstul in california, but i doubt kanstul makes woodwinds....... :?

[goodsax]

hurling, would you venture a guess as to where they are made? i know there has been some controversy as to where their trumpets are made. some say it's made by kanstul in california, but i doubt kanstul makes woodwinds....... :?

Kanstul is right across the street from where I work in Anaheim, CA and they do not make woodwinds there, only brass. I can hear someone QC'ing trumpets once in awhile and he has excellent chops.

[newking70]

cool do you ever see zig kanstul? he's a legendary trumpet mfg, he goes all the way back to the olds instrument company. :salute:

[goodsax]

cool do you ever see zig kanstul? he's a legendary trumpet mfg, he goes all the way back to the olds instrument company. :salute:

Sorry, wouldn't know him if I saw him. Their company is directly across the street from ours. They also have a smaller building around the corner that might be for administrative offices. I find it interesting that the building they're in used to be a Bondo manufacturing company. But, this is too far off topic, so I'll leave it at that.

[Hurling Frootmig]

I've read some of the trumpet forums about speculation about where the trumpets are made but I wouldn't begin to attempt to guess about the saxophones.

[Morry]

I'm looking for an intermediate sax for my son. Has anyone tried one of these saxes yet? This seems to be a rather contentious topic. Thank you so much.

I'm not usually a big fan of instrument rental programs, but you'd be better off renting a decent horn from a reputable dealer until you know whether your son will stick with it or not, and then buying a good used horn by one of the major brands.

It's often said that "you get what you pay for". If you're paying $300 for a new sax, then you're probably getting "less than what you pay for".

[Dave dix]

I cant even understand why Zeus has even got its own column?
A company that refuses to say where it sources its instruments(at least the country of manufacture)and even tells porkies about being manufactured in Kanstul USA!!


Dave

[newking70]

I cant even understand why Zeus has even got its own column?
A company that refuses to say where it sources its instruments(at least the country of manufacture)and even tells porkies about being manufactured in Kanstul USA!!


Dave

HERE, HERE........But I don't understand what you mean by porkies?

[JMac]

newk - I b'lieve it's Brit slang for lies, if I haven't bollocksed it up?

Ah yes, according to : http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/ - Noun. Lies, from the rhyming slang pork-pies.

[Dave dix]

JMac is spot on.It also gets me around being edited out
Dave

[finmac]

I checked out the ZeuS Canada site and made a comparison between the 1000 level tenor and the Yamaha 875 tenor. The bare bodies and necks of the horns seem identical w/ only minor variations in key shape, rod placement, etc.
I realize that small differences can effect playability, but I'm in the market for a serious tenor and am considering a drive to Windsor, Canada to try the horn out. It could end up being a $1800 lacquer customized Yamaha custom!

[bariman]

Well, if you do, please let us know how it turns out.

Bariman

[Pete]

I cant even understand why Zeus has even got its own column?
Because it's easier for the SOTW staff to track ZeuS dealers that are advertising -- without permission.

See http://www.saxontheweb.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=20934

[sax_man_trips]

ZeuS saxophones are made in Europe, their upper end trumpets are made by Kanstul, and most of their entry level instruments are made in Englehardt, Indiana. If you look at the entry level instrument photos on some of the dealer sites you will see the Englhardt stamp. None of their instruments are made outside of the USA or Europe.

ZeuS does not sell any instruments through Sam's, or any other dealership other than those posted on the Zachary Music website.

[Jerry K.]

ZeuS saxophones are made in Europe
This has never been proven to my satisfaction. Please don't make this statement unless you are willing or "able" to provide a "European" manufacturer for these horns. Even if European (doubtful), there is a "huge" difference between say an Amati and a B&S, Selmer or Keilwerth.

Please don't provide unsubstantiated claims as they are not helpful and hurt the credibility of this brand you wish to promote in my opinion.

[Dave dix]

Europe is a large place.Theres western europe,eastern europe and even China is connected to europe!!!!
How about a country in europe?Or perhaps that may dent the wonderful creditability of the now infamous zeus saxophone.
Dave

[gary]

And don't forget us in, er, harumph - "Old Europe"! :occasion:

[sax_man_trips]

And don't forget us in, er, harumph - "Old Europe"! :occasion:

"Old Europe" indeed! Just cannot say with 100% conviction who it is, and so I will not go there.

"Please don't provide unsubstantiated claims as they are not helpful and hurt the credibility of this brand you wish to promote in my opinion."

Well, all but the sax claims are 100% substantiated. I am also not trying to promote this brand, I was merely providing some information. I know there is a lot of unknowns about ZeuS, and so I took it upon myself to do some research and detective work. The trumpets were easy, as it is general knowledge on the trumpet forums. There are a couple of manufacturers in Indiana, but it basically boils down to one who makes the flutes.

If you went to NAMM this last week and did a Kanstul tour (could not get into the show so I did the next best thing) then you saw a lot of Zeus' on the assembly line, this merely confirmed what I had been told on the trumpet forums.

I am not familar with the history of the now "infamous Zeus," nor have I ever seen one except for photos.

[IPlayTenor]

I bought a ZeuS intermediate tenor about 2 or 3 years ago as a beginner horn for around $900 I think it was and still play it to this day. My overall experience with the horn has been good. My only complaints are that the placement of the keys is a bit uncomfortable (the side key used to play D3 is too low causing an awkard hand placement and curve to hit the key) and the silver on alot of the keys has worn off and now is pink for some reason. I've played other horns and haven't been just blown away by any of them compared to my ZeuS but i've only been playing for 2 or so years so the only things I really noticed were the sound projected a little easier on for example the 82Z I played and key placement felt alot 'tighter'. I plan on stepping up to a professional horn but i'm almost certain it won't be a ZeuS, although i'm sure their professional horns are very nice as well i'd rather just go with a name brand.