What do you think, are all ninos produced in the same factory?

[mosplace]

I keep asking myself, if the biggest part of the ninos are produced in the same Asian factory and just get a different engraving.

I don'T think that there are a lot of producers that have ninos on their list, so I guess there are maybe 1-3 factorys that basicly produce the "cheaper" no-name ninos.

[amoram]

I think there are a lot of ninos made in the same factory (as you said) but there are some ninos from small companys too and some from very big ones (selmer, yanagisawa ...) So in a way you're probably right (for the cheap ones then)

[sycc]

My R1 Rampone sopranino was hand made in quarna,Italy. It has a handmade price tag too.

[mosplace]

Yes, the expensive once are most likely produced in the own factorys. But i meant the "no name" ones. I guess these are almost all made by one or two factorys.

[Grumps]

Thing is, these beasts are hard enough to maintain good intonation with. And since they're so small, there's less room for error in their manufacture and design. I just wouldn't want to go the ultra-cheap route and get soured on something that could really interest me; if I were you, that is. Sometimes folks unload theirs here on the Marketplace. The good ones, even. I'd wait for one of those, and being second hand, should you need to flip it you'll get your money back.

[sycc]

Here is one Mosplace.http://cgi.ebay.com/Selmer-Paris-50-Series-II-Sopranino-Saxophone_W0QQitemZ120211480209QQihZ002QQcategoryZ 16203QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Beware the super 80 series II has a bad rap for being overly bright. not good for a nino. Perhaps some other SOTWers can weigh in!!!

[soybean]

(removed by soybean)

[cmelodysax]

Ah, but there's 'knowing', and then there's 'telling'....

It may be that all the 'low end' nino components come from pretty much the same place, but then maybe they're assembled/finished/tested to different standards in other places ?

The new generation of 'stencils' !

[twocircles]

I was told that there were only 2 or 3 sax manufacturers in Taiwan and only about 5 in China, but there are tons of distributors and manufacturers of other things who sell saxes who would have you believe they make their own saxes.

The question is who makes the equipment to make the saxes? These will be the guys that dictate sax designs. Then, how much is automated and how much is hand made? And they've been making saxes in Asia long enough and have done enough stencils to the big names' standards that they know a good sax from an inferior one.

As for Ninos, I would guess that half or less would make them.

[Michael F]

I bought an Earlham sopranino from sax.co.uk about six years ago; I think it's a Taiwanese stencil. Despite being extensively rebuilt after it was run over by a classroom piano, it plays really well and I have no qualms about using in many musical settings; high obbligato in a trad band, variety or comic relief in a classical recital or as a quasi-piccolo trumpet in hymn descants in church. IMHO, much of the faultfinding and whinging about saxophone intonation and the shortcomings of particular instruments is a bit precious. The sax is inherently out of tune and regardless of what make or model one plays, a good ear, musical intelligence and diligent practice is required to play accurately; these qualities are far more significant than instruments, mouthpieces etc in determining accurate and musically satisfying saxophone playing.

[SaxophonicTektonic]

Michael F hit the nail on the head. I mean, i have heard guys on the junkiest POS's sounding like God's nipples. (they sound good.) and people playing on the latest cyborg, intonated, handcrafted love machines from Yamaha or Selmer and Sounding like...well perhaps I'd better stop myself. Point is, as long as there are no leaks and the thing has cork on the neck and is in one piece, or in Michaels sopranino's case, one pieace AGAIN, you should be able to get sweet sweet saxophone sounds. That being said, the better the horn, the easier that may be. Excelsior.

[Dr G]

The question is who makes the equipment to make the saxes? These will be the guys that dictate sax designs...

Not really. A tonehole drawing machine will let you put the hole anywhere along the length of the tube you like - and some makers are more random than others.

If you are going to play a 'nino, please play in tune. The dogs in the neighborhood will appreciate your efforts.

[Little Sax]

Not really. A tonehole drawing machine will let you put the hole anywhere along the length of the tube you like - and some makers are more random than others.

If you are going to play a 'nino, please play in tune. The dogs in the neighborhood will appreciate your efforts.

Does that mean the neighborhood dogs will howl in-tune as well?

[Dr G]

I used to have a dog that howled in tune. I'd practice multiphonic long tones and she'd come in the room, sit down beside me, and just howl. Her "brother" would howl along too but never quite so musically.