Chris, it probably applies in Shanghai just as much as anywhere else that you will get what you pay for. I carry a line manufactured in China, and my manufacturer is not actually a manufacturer but an agent, who acts as a go between with the manufacturer. This means I pay more for my product, but it also means that I get a higher level of quality control because there is an overseeing entity between myself and the factory. When I get the saxophones, there is another layer of service/repair and quality control (i.e. me).

I can tell you from firsthand experience that if you can find a good brand/manufacturer, you will still want to ideally get the saxophone set-up by someone who knows what they're doing. If all the quality control is in place, you can end up with something very special and inexpensive. If not, if you're lucky you will get something that is OK-to-pretty-good in a state of so-so repair; if not so lucky, then you could end up, potentially, with a saxophone that has serious problems.

The best idea is the same as here: if possible, go with someone who can help you -- hire a good tech if you can find one, there, to go with you. A good tech, there, will probably be familiar with most of the major factories with product out in China.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I know the best is to get someone who knows sax tech with me.
Unfortunately i don't know anyone like that...
I've been trying on a local chinese sax forum, but there doesn't seem to be anyone really techy over there... also the communication is pretty difficult with my chinese skills being what they are ...:argue:

I'll keep trying to see if i can find someone who knows enough... maybe ask some sax teacher in a music school or something like that ... i don't know.

In any case, if anyone ever heard of those brands or even better, tried them, i could use some info.

Thanks

 

No prob. Good luck.

You know, you could also hire a player for a couple of hours to playtest for you, and share her/his thoughts, if you have (or hear) a player whose playing you like, over there. Just stating the obvious, I'm sure.

Chances are it wouldn't be that costly to do that, though. I can't imagine the saxophonists over there are making a lot per gig.

 

Yo guys.
I finally did it. Turned out one of my colleague could play sax. So we went on a try out session. And i ended up buying the Selm a402gl.
He never heard about it. But when he tried it he was amazed by the still decent sound and feel of the saxhe said he was able to play really easily and the sound was pretty good. Nothing like a yamaha or selmer of course. But still given the price 1900 yuan(200euros) he said the ratio price quality was amazing.
He tried every single notes and didn't find any problem. All springs were ok and everything opened/closed properly.

Anyway I'm really pleased to have found something good enough to start learning at such a low price.
Sure it's not gonna last long but at least it sounds ok enough for my learning period

if you guys want I can post some pics later.

Thanks again for your help

 

Glad to hear you found a good bargin. But why do you say it won't last long? My own no-brand Chinese sax is now 10 years old and still going strong.

 

well i wish the same to mine ...
but usually stuff i buy over here don't last more than 6 months... hehe

i hope you're right though !

 

are the stuff from factory dirct all made in china?

 

Glad to hear it if the result is good, but this will freak some people out if it's the same maker/branding:

http://www.tradetang.com/for-sale/W...ofessional-Selm-r-Tenor-Saxophone-36-With-the-case-GOLDEN-/100777-2313128.html#

I think outside China's borders that'd probably be considered illegal. That one appears clearly to be "counterfeiting" Selmer's branding and specifically its Reference 36 product.

Previously, I think I wrongly presumed that saxophones being made in China were following international law -- now, I'm not so sure.

 

I don't think there's any reason to worry. That sax i bought is a China market only. They don't export it.
Also i don't think it's counterfeiting a Selmer's sax, cause it doesn't try to look like it, they don't copy the logo or try to write the same way, it's obviously different.
Another thing is now in China you don't really find fake instruments anymore.
But you find a lot of cheap brands with stupid names (like Selm) that make saxes for cheap based on the knowledge they got while working for famous brands...

For the link you posted that's something different...

 

lol....my father used to work in engineering. He was always coming across 'immitation' products that were kinda funny. He showed me some castors with the stamp 'Cradley Heath' on (it's a well respected town in the Black Country). Apparently they had set up a 'town' in china called Cradely Heath just so they could stamp it on the products.