[JL]

I had a MkVI soprano that I bought new in the late '70s. I eventually sold it, but now wish I'd kept it. That was a great horn. Nowadays the VI is expensive of course. Another good option you can find at a more reasonable price is a Buescher TT soprano.

As to an inoffensive, soprano, that's up to the player!!

 

[JL]

The OP is looking for something he can get for under $1000 (about $700). I don't think either of these qualifies. In addition, while those are both great horns, neither is what I would recommend for a soprano beginner, and both have significant idiosyncracies that might be worth pointing out (e.g., no strap rings, no front F, old-style LH pinky tables, awkward palm keys, etc.).

Thanks for pointing that out. I read through too fast and missed that the OP wants something for less than $1k. It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure my MKVI soprano had a strap ring. And it had no idiosyncrasies (aside from being a soprano) that I recall. It's been a lot of years, though.

 

[JL]

No such thing.

"Have you ever heard of anyone playing soprano with a good solid tone?"
- Dexter Gordon, qtd. in Maxine Gordon, Sophisticated Giant

​

Zoot Sims:
Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise - Zoot Sims - YouTube

I also loved Coltrane's tone on soprano, but I know not many share that view.

 

[JL]

In any event, I think JL meant "not many here share that view" which is likely based on his impression formed over nearly 20 years of experience (and tens of thousands of posts!) on this forum.

Yeah, you read me right, mmichel. I remember being somewhat surprised in the past at some of the negative reaction on here to Coltrane's soprano tone/sound. And no, not all of it was negative. But everyone has their own opinion and that's fine with me. I can't really explain what it is that I like about his sound on the soprano; maybe it's just that I heard it early on in my 'jazz listening experience' and loved it from the start. And maybe, as Jay implied, the intentional "intonational squirrlliness and sonic reediness" that he utilized in an exotic fashion that attracted me to it. Who knows what kept me listening ecstatically to his rendition of "My Favorite Things" so many times? (Maybe it was just the drugs ). In any case, I've always liked that sound!

Anyway, I have trouble recommending a cheap (ok, inexpensive) soprano, after owning, and foolishly parting with, that MKVI I had.