help for a beginner

[bskim]

Dear All;

I would like to begin learning how to play saxphone. I've never had experience of playing any musical instrument in my whole life of living 50 some years. I am visiting Heidelberg, Germany from Seoul, S.Korea for this summer. A friend of mine in Korea who learned Saxphone for three years advised me to buy an Alto Sax from Selma while I stayed in Heidelberg.

I wonder whether this Selma Alto Saxphone is a good choice for a beginner. I don't even know why he recommend me Alto Sax. If Selma Alto Sax is a good one for a beginner, would someone recommend to me places that I can contact for the purchase. I am willing to pay up to 2500Euros. What kind of things should I buy together? I will go back to Seoul in early October, 2003 and start learing after I find a tutor.

Thank you in advance for your help.

BSKim

[Lambik]

You surely mean a SelmER alto sax?

You'll need a mouthpiece, but any decent salesman will give you a mouthpiece that fits with the instrument.

You will need, of course, reeds (2, 2 1/2 or 3 is the choice for beginners -and for me).

You will need a strap, which are normally included with the instrument.

You want to have a case, prices can differ.

Perhaps such a thingie on which you can place your saxophone can be helpful, but it isn't highly needed.

I got a sax alto Selmer model SA-80II, mouthpiece, case, strap, etc for 2378.73 (21% TAV included). Adding two packs of Vandoren Traditional reeds, made it up to 2425 euro.

I bought these in Belgium, not in Germany, though.

[modre]

I would suggest you first sit down with someone who already plays and glean lots of info...understanding the next guy will have different views.

alto or tenor are good starting points, alto is easier to schlepp around, but if you get involved with other players in a band situation, the tenor is a shortcut.

you have to see and fuss with both to see what grabs you. either are good starting choices

the question now is expense vs. quality...and there are a zillion views on that. if you want cheap think $3-500...if you want resale investment, think $2-3000. the reality is (after 40+ years playing experience) I can make a $300 sax do (almost) anything a $3000 sax will
...AS LONG AS IT's IN DECENT REPAIR.
BIG POINT. buying someone's hand me downs can be a crap trap because there are weasels around every corner...on the selling end as well as the repair end.

before you go drop a load on a Selmer, look around and talk to 100 players...preferably not dealers.

Filed under "put your money where your mouth is" I bought my kids 2 perfectly adequate Woodwind brand altos (but I repair as well so it's not an obstacle) for $500 /per...but the other day, I was in Sam's Club (USA) and saw what looked like a decent starter alto brand new for $300(I didn't have a mp w/me, so I can't get behind it with a full endorsment yet) . The glitch down the road is if and when they need a fix...repair guys with an agenda may make that an uncomfortable hurdle.

If you're at the mercy of others, you may want to stick with a main street brand...Selmer pro horns are great, but their student horns are easily matched (and bettered) by Yamaha and a dozen cheaper brands.

[bskim]

Dear Lambik and Modre;

Thank you for your advice and invaluable comments. May I ask Modre to recommend me a few brands in the range of 300-500 USD? Are these brand new or used one? I may consider buying a rather cheap one for the first few years until I pick up some feeling of the 'good sound' and later buying a better quality sax.

Thanks again for your comments and taking time for responding me.

Regards,
BSKim

[Andy Mann]

[quote="bskim"]Dear All;

Hi Geezer, firstly, Selmer are really good saxaphones - up there with Yanagisawa et al. These are professional level instruments and tend to be quite expensive. For a beginner, my recommendation would be (for either alto or tenor sax) 'The Horn' made by Trevor J James. A brand new alto will set you back about £450-£500 whereas a tenor will rush you for about £650-£700.

Both of these saxaphones have won awards for their sound and craftsmanship and are ideal for a beginner.

Happy playing

Andy

[Gordon (NZ)]

Wise words from Modre.

Just one example, beskim:

Yesterday a horn came in with 3 areas of failed soldering. I looked at the sax, then said to the customer, "It's a Jupiter, is it?"

Now I've serviced over 70 brands of sax. Sure, I may have got a few clues as to parentage by the look and feel of the thing, but my assumption from the failed soldering says volumes about my mind's associations with Jupiter. Those are the sort of risks you take with any cheaper instrument. Failed soldering is very rare with Yamaha.

As far as cheaper horns go, Jupiter's reputation has not been too bad, and their spare parts dept is probably second to few. There are dozens of worse makes.

BTW, Andy Mann wrote "Hi Geezer, firstly, Selmer are really good saxaphones - up there with Yanagisawa et al." For a newby to the scene, this needs qualifying:

New Selmer Paris saxes are up there with the best, but with a wide range of shoddy production issues that should not be associated with a top instrument. These have been 'discussed' before at length.

American Selmers are a totally different animal, and some of these instruments bearing the name Selmer are pretty shoddy - definitely NOT up there with Yanagisawa.

[Lambik]

Of course, one shouldn't think black - and - white. There ARE good Selmer NY, and there ARE bad Paris based Selmers.

The problem could be solved, if you want to play with a brass and woodwind band, which will give you normally a saxophone if you ask politely and show up for the rehearsals enough :) I know from expertise that it is very hard to choose a saxophone, let alone prefer one, if you don't know what you like about a saxophone :)

[iplaydasax]

first of all i would get a good teacher she/he will tell you all the infomation you will need to know.

[Perfect Pitch]

Definitely a good idea to play for a while before you buy. You might loan from a school or hire from a shop. This will give you the knowledge that you want to learn, rather than buying a new horn and dropping $$$ when you resell. You might also use the first period with an alto and then try a tenor. The tenor is easier to play in a band situation, the alto being more for lead playing. Alto is lighter, cheaper and higher pitched. Good luck :mrgreen: