Antigua A500 vs A520

5272 Views 7 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Dave Dolson, Sep 13, 2007

Nolzman

Discussion Starter · Sep 13, 2007

Are there any significant differences between the Antigua A500 versus the A520. I know the A520 is classified as a low-end "Pro" model and the A500 is an "Intermediate". But is there anything that makes the A520 (or A521), a far superior horn to the A500. The A500 looks like it would be a great student horn.

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Canadiain

· #2 · Sep 13, 2007 (Edited)

For the difference in money you would pay on ebay, hold out for the 520. Its better made, probably with better pads and more care and attention to detail goes into making it. It also has ribbed construction, meaning the posts are attached to ribs that are attached to the body...this makes for much better allignment of the posts (and rods), and a more heavyweight construction.

Based on the info on the website there is no mention of a detachable bell on the 500 (and the picture is inconclusive) The bell on the 520 is removable, so if there is a dent in the body, its potentially much easier (and cheaper) to repair than the 500 if that one is soldered on.

The annealing of the body perhaps maybe also accounts in part for the very solid tone that my 520 gives...I havent played a 500, but many cheaper / student horns have a somewhat thin, uninvolving tone.

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Canadiain

· #4 · Sep 13, 2007

Dave Dolson said:
And, this no slam on Antigua saxophones - I own one (a soprano 590LQ) and I've tested others. Yes, they play and can fill a lot of players' needs. But to me, a "pro" saxophone is not an inexpensive Taiwnese-made horn.

I recently got a B&S, and there is a distinct difference between it and the Antigua, the tone is slightly fuller, the keys fall more naturally under my fingers, The biggest difference is the quality of the adjustment screws and overall mechanism, the Allore can be set up "just so", whereas the 520 could was a case of "good enough"

To be honest I am not close enough to being a good enough player that the horn held me back, but things like respone sluring down steps through the octave are noticably better on the B&S, and the tone quality more even througout. It didnt bother me at all on the Antigua, but now I think, "Oh, that was easy" on the B&S. In short the tollerances and quality are that much finer on a true "pro" horn, but the differences on the Antigua are not such that they will significantly hold most players back, and we are talking a 500% difference in the cost for me to buy.

I have no doubt that more expensive Taiwanese brands like Cannonball and Mauriat are fully capable of the level of workmanship and quality of a true pro horn, but again, thats a different price level entirely, and perhaps the keyword in the quote above is "inexpensive". I think the Antiguas are excellent for the money they cost, especially on the used marker, but no, they are not top of the range big buck pro horns...if you want that, then you have to pay for it.

If you want a good quality modern horn for marching, or as a back up for rowdy gigs, or if you dont want to invest $1000+ in a true pro level horn for the level of playing you do, then you can do worse than an Antigua.

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