TS 100 Tenors [Archive] - Sax on the Web Forum

Rahspeak

02-01-2004, 08:31 PM

I played one for about 7 years before I got my Keilwerth SX-90R. I got the Keilwerth only because the price was so great (on ebay) and of all the horns in existence, it's my favorite, so I jumped on the chance to get one in mint condition for a huge bargain. But I had very few complaints about the TS 100--I think it's an underrated horn. Many people here the words "Selmer USA" and think, Bundy, but the TS 100 is no student horn. It's really free-blowing with great projection, sounds on the edgy side at first but I was able with my mouthpiece and long tones to warmen it up. Many times, when I play tested it against bigger name pro horns, I decided I either liked the TS 100 more outright, or the difference wasn't enough to warrant buying a new horn (the notable difference being the Keilwerth). My biggest problem was that the horn developed leaks quite often, but part of that problem could've been that I didn't take great care of it the first couple of years, and banging it around some probably hurt it's long-term durability. Also, I had to fight with the intonation a lot more than I fight with my JK. But overall, it's a good horn...biggest strength...tone, biggest weakness....durability.

If I may make a suggestion, I don't know how you'll be going about getting this horn, but if you have the option of trying a Yanagisawa T991, it's about the same price, and it has excellent intonation and is built more sturdily. Or, for a little more than that, the Yanagisawa T992 is basically the same horn as the T991, but is made of all bronze, and has a warm, rich tone that is just beautiful. If you get that one, you'll never need another horn, and it's a great price in comparison to other top-of-the-line instruments. Any of these horns, you can't go wrong, and won't have excuses to not be a better player.

Hope this helps,
Miguel.