See correction below.

 

Allora is made for Selmer in China to the Selmer specifications. It will have a Selmer Paris neck piece. The price sounds good to me.

Not correct sorry. Made in Vietnam not China and not distributed by Selmer.

Wholly owned and distributed as WWBW basic brand.

You are thinking of this: https://www.amazon.com/Selmer-USA-AS42-Alto-Saxophone/dp/B00APTUTCK

 

Thanks for your response 1saxman,

WWBW says that Allora Paris Series Professional Sax are made in Vietnam, i'm Not sure if that is better or worse than China?

The reg. price $1700.00, for the Allora Pro series, sale price at $1250.00, plus i have a 10% and a 15% coupon, i can use a 15% coupon which brings the price down to a decent level.

 

westgl: I don't think it matters in which country the instrument is made as long as wherever the factory is located, that the re-seller ensured that proper quality-controls were met by the factory AND that the seller actually goes through the horn before delivering it to you.

Note that one of our site-sponsors, Kessler in Las Vegas, has some of their house-brand saxophones made in Vietnam and his horns are well-regarded on this site. I've purchased two of them - and played many more over time. They are a good value, too.

I have purchased a few instruments from WW&BW too, and they've been good. I talked to a saxophone "expert" there before I pulled the trigger, and paid him an extra amount of money (after I received the horns) on the promise that the horn would arrive in top playing condition. Some retailers only un-box and ship without a tech going through the instrument first. Or even worse, they drop-ship it to you.

With Kessler, you'll get a horn they went through first - and you can talk to Dave Kessler before you decide to buy.

I'd go Kessler if you are looking for something new. The one's your tech has may be better for you rather than a new Allora sight-unseen - at least you can play them first and then decide. Your choice. DAVE

 

My own personal experience with the exact same model but in matte finish was that it was a great horn for the money and that it is primarily an intermediate horn suitable for an advancing HS player but not for University study.

Pads were not the highest quality, the action was somewhat weak and even after a thorough adjustment the upper end played sharp.

IMHO the best horns coming out of Vietnam are the LA SAX Big Lip and X models. Also Chateau upper end horns and of course Kessler because they know quality.

 

I would suggest buying a used Cannonball professional model. Every so often I see them selling for as low as $1000. The professional models include Vintage Reborn, Key series, and Big Bell Stone Series.

 

I have an Allora Paris series tenor for sale in the Marketplace. I also own a Chicago Jazz horn. I have been to Kessler and I believe they are the exact same horns Kessler sells. The Chicago Jazz horn is stamped made in Taiwan. The Paris series horn does not state a location. I also have a Vento Broad Bell. It is nearly the identical horn to the Chicago Jazz horn. Its location of make is not stamped. I believe that the unstamped ones are probably made in Vietnam.

The new La sax horns are very good and they are stamped Taiwan. The older model that was identical to the Vento was made in Vietnam. I have a friend that is a La sax dealer. The pads on the Allora horns are Pisoni pro pads so I don't know where one could say the pads are poor.

I think the Allora horns are pretty nice or I wouldn't have bought them. I do own some of the best horns made(MKVI, BA, Yani 9937) so its not like I don't know. To the OP. The Allora alto is a fair price for a new horn. However if you are willing to buy on Ebay a slightly used one will save you few hundred. The other ones you listed are over priced. The only Jupiter to get is the 800 series or higher. I got an alto if you want to PM me.

 

I have an Allora Paris series tenor for sale in the Marketplace. I also own a Chicago Jazz horn. I have been to Kessler and I believe they are the exact same horns Kessler sells. The Chicago Jazz horn is stamped made in Taiwan. The Paris series horn does not state a location. I also have a Vento Broad Bell. It is nearly the identical horn to the Chicago Jazz horn. Its location of make is not stamped. I believe that the unstamped ones are probably made in Vietnam.

The new La sax horns are very good and they are stamped Taiwan. The older model that was identical to the Vento was made in Vietnam. I have a friend that is a La sax dealer. The pads on the Allora horns are Pisoni Pro pads so I don't know where one could say the pads are poor.

I think the Allora horns are pretty nice or I wouldn't have bought them. I do own some of the best horns made(MKVI, BA, Yani 9937) so its not like I don't know. To the OP. The Allora alto is a fair price for a new horn. However, if you are willing to buy on Ebay a slightly used one will save you few hundred. The other ones you listed are overpriced. The only Jupiter to get is the 800 series or higher. I got an alto if you want to PM me.

There is a pretty good trail leading to the Allora Paris being 80 series made in the Tenon-owned Vietnam Crown Hope factory.

The LA Sax Big Lip X soprano may also me made by Tenon at the Crown Hope Factory, but I have no evidence other than key work configuration, which is often unreliable. The LA Sax Big Lip V sopranos seem to be made by Gutai in Taiwan. I have not explored Big Lip altos and tenors, but they are possibly the same. Other models may be made by yet other manufacturers.