[J-Moen]

Eastman 52nd St Tenor Review

Recently Acquired this beautiful new horn, and I'm loving every second of it, despite a few issues I'll be going over. However, I wanted to create a detailed review for all members of SOTW and figured I would use all the resources I have in order to provide the best information possible. Enjoy some photos and sound clips and my thoughts!

Shipping Issues
This horn was shipped by someone who didn't really know what they were doing. The box and the case were very well padded, but the inside of the case was just left to float around. Luckily, all items from the storage compartment were moved, but it still rattled the Bell keys. Currently, the C#/G# mechanisms work, but they both create a lot of key noise. I'll be taking this to a tech soon to smooth over and hopefully have this thing playing even better!

Noisy G#/C# Key Sounds

As you can hear, the keys are bouncy and very noisy. Hopefully i can have this corrected very soon and I'll add to the review

Case:
Huge case as you can see above. This thing has tons of storage compartments. It took me quite a while to search through everything. Came with a Rovner Versa Lig (no mpc), some cork grease, and a wide neotech Neck Strap. Seems like a very great case. However, it is not quite form fitting to the horn, which helped attribute itself to the shipping issues I had above.

First Week:

Lots to do here in the first week with the horn. But It was a great surprise. The action was as I remembered, so much smoother and lower than my previous horn. Everything seemed to flow really well. However, My tone was all over the place. This could have been my personal issue, or the setup. I have found that the 10mfan Piece doesn't suit my ear as well with this horn, so I've been trying to use a Gottsu Hibiki 7 more and more on it. However, I have a little ways to go before this gives me a great tone. However, I'm going to keep working at it .

I'm In the Mood For Love Practice Take 1

This was the first recording of the horn, and it is rather crude, as I hadn't learned to wrangle the beast yet. But it is progressing perfectly! This Was played on the Gottsu Hibiki 7 with a Rigotti Gold 2.5 Reed, and I do love the sounds I'm hearing when my tone is controlled and breath support is good!

Previous Tenor Comparison:
In order to make an accurate comparison between this and my previous tenor, I've changed to my original setup from the CE Winds horn and recorded one of my takes of Pent Up House from last TOTM
"Pent Up House" - CE Winds Brushed Gold Tenor, 10mfan Boss 8*, Forestone Hinoki Reed


New "Pent Up House" - Eastman 52nd St Tenor, 10mfan Boss 8*, Forestone Hinoki Reed

Did not enjoy this setup as much, so here is my preferred setup:
Final "Pent Up House" - Eastman 52nd St Tenor, Gottsu Hibiki 7, Rigotti Gold 2.5

Sound with Various MPCS:

Here I decided to noodle around with some D blues and a small portion of "What's The Rush" To show off my various MPC combos and how much I'm enjoying this horn! Tell me which one you guys preferred of them all!
Eastman - Mystery Vintage Piece (More Info soon)
Eastman - 10mfan Boss 8*
Eastman - Gottsu Hibiki 7
Eastman - Jody Jazz DV NY 8*


Final Thoughts:

Action:
This horn really flies. I can even tell its not playing 100% as compared to the other Eastman I tried, but Its really a world apart from where I was. I'm having so much fun on tenor now! The keywork blows away every other horn I've tried as far as speed and ease of action.

Weight:
I didn't find the weight to be heavy, as many others have said. I actually felt it was lighter than my previous horn, and Lighter than the Yamaha 62IIIS, Cannonball Big Bell, and P. Mauriat 66R that I tried.

Tone:
Man this thing has some sound too it. I've never had something quite as responsive and tonally brilliant. I feel like there is so much more core to the sound. I have also found that the mouthpieces have a much larger degree of variance on the tone than my previous horn. I have tried tons of mouthpieces from super dark, to very bright and I've noticed so much more sound change from each of these. The horn really brings out the best qualities of all the mouthpieces I've tried with it, as you can hear above.

Intonation/Registers:
No alarming issues here, I've had good luck with multiple mouthpieces - super friendly so far. The horn is smooth and even across all registers. I had some issues with octave jumps with larger tip openings, but that has always been a problem for me. Middle D was about 10 cents sharp, but it wasn't something new to me. Otherwise, I've found it very good and within reason when playing alongside a tuner.

For anyone who is looking for a great tenor, I can't recommend one of these enough. I'll be sure to update this after some repair work is done and its given a once over. Although I'm also considering getting some roo pads and a full rework done, so it may be a little longer. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will answer to the best of my ability!

 

[J-Moen]

I forgot to mention build quality. Everything feels extremely solid. I have heard some people say that these had shotty build quality a while ago. This horn is 3 years old, and the keys, springs and cups all seem extremely well built. I think the adjustments will be minor when I take this in despite the bad shipping - which I can attribute to a great build quality!

 

[J-Moen]

And here is my most recent take: much better sound as I get this horn dialed in:

[SOUNDCLOUD-PT]https://soundcloud.com/user-805266588/the-mood-for-love[/SOUNDCLOUD-PT]

 

[KeithL]

The C#/G# clicking may be coming from the guide on the C# side of the left-hand table keys. The C# has a small sort of peg that sticks off the side and rides inside that guide. The tolerances aren't good between the channel in the guide and the peg on the C#. I think they put some sort of grease in there at the factory but it eventually spreads out and drys up a bit which leaves play that makes that clicking. My Barone started doing this a few months after I got it. It's a long time ago now but I believe Tim took the guide off and put a small piece of rubber tubing over the little peg to take up the space and then put it back together with a couple drops of oil and it's been fine since.

 

[J-Moen]

The C#/G# clicking may be coming from the guide on the C# side of the left-hand table keys. The C# has a small sort of peg that sticks off the side and rides inside that guide. The tolerances aren't good between the channel in the guide and the peg on the C#. I think they put some sort of grease in there at the factory but it eventually spreads out and drys up a bit which leaves play that makes that clicking. My Barone started doing this a few months after I got it. It's a long time ago now but I believe Tim took the guide off and put a small piece of rubber tubing over the little peg to take up the space and then put it back together with a couple drops of oil and it's been fine since.

Thanks Keith! That actually makes sense. I was looking at the mechanism and realized it did seem to have a something to do with it. I can actually see the c# key fluctuating from the vibrations as it's opened. I will see if I can get something similar done!

 

[rcpayne]

On my Yanis there's a small rubber or plastic spacer that fits over the peg. Yours probably split and fell out or it's stuck in one of the ends of the channel. One of mine split and I replaced it with a bit of heat shrink tubing. Took all the play out and so far works great.

 

[J-Moen]

Sound with Various MPCS:
View attachment 262636
Here I decided to noodle around with some D blues and a small portion of "What's The Rush" To show off my various MPC combos and how much I'm enjoying this horn! Tell me which one you guys preferred of them all!
Eastman - Mystery Vintage Piece (More Info soon)
Eastman - 10mfan Boss 8*
Eastman - Gottsu Hibiki 7
Eastman - Jody Jazz DV NY 8*

Does anyone have any thoughts on which mouthpiece sounded best here? Curiosity has me wondering

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I purchased a Giardinelli Eastman GAS-10 alto which from most reviews is the same horn but with fake pearls.

It is such a good alto I decided to replace the fake with real white pearls and keep the horn for regular use.

An outstanding instrument

 

[J-Moen]

I purchased a Giardinelli Eastman GAS-10 alto which from most reviews is the same horn but with fake pearls.

It is such a good alto I decided to replace the fake with real white pearls and keep the horn for regular use.

An outstanding instrument

I had heard that and did some investigating to see if I could find one of those. Looks like everyone selling found out that it was an Eastman as well because the prices were right up with them! Glad you like yours they really are great!

 

[HeckMan]

It is a really beautiful tenor, I almost by one myself, but was outbid.

 

[Olaf1]

What a pity all these photos in your review are lost and links to recordings don't work too (at least most of them). I had a luck and googled a copy of this review on reddit, where all these missing pictures are still visible. If someone is interested in it, it is here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/saxophone/comments/hc4gnl

 

[J-Moen]

What a pity all these photos in your review are lost and links to recordings don't work too (at least most of them). I had a luck and googled a copy of this review on reddit, where all these missing pictures are still visible. If someone is interested in it, it is here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/saxophone/comments/hc4gnl

Thanks Olaf! I'll try and fix this post up so it's relevant again!

 

[Rockplayer]

I purchased a 52nd St tenor over a year ago, fantastic horn. It’s my main tenor now. I also purchased a 52nd St Bari a few weeks back, amazing player. A couple days back I found a great deal on an Alto and purchased it, hoping it’s equally as good as the other two.

 

[KeithL]

Well I'll offer this; right now there are a few Eastman 52 St baris for sale on Reverb and Ebay one being sold by a shop in Oklahoma, one from a shop in Texas, and one by Saxquest. The Saxquest horn is CLEARLY a different horn than the other two. The keywork, banding, and bracing are totally different and the Low A mechanism moves in opposite directions. These horns were made in different places by different manufactures and yet are being sold as the same model. Eastman also has moved the production of their altos & tenors from Taiwan to their own factory in China which means the old altos and tenors are not really going to be the same as the new ones either.

 

[J-Moen]

Thanks for chiming in Keith! I also needed to provide a couple updates on the newest model 52nd St horns, which I started a thread on here: Eastman 852 incoming!

I'll comment more details about what i''ve learned on the new model (852) in that thread but, yes they are from china, through Eastman's private factory. Numerous changes to the horn, definitely not the same beasts - Now you'll have to check and make sure you have a certain model!

For my review here - My horn is Definitely the old model (652) Taiwanese horn, and I am very happy for that!

 

[Rockplayer]

Update, I’ve had the Eastman 52nd St alto now for a couple months and it’s a fantastic playing/sounding sax, couldn’t be happier.

 

[2ndtenor2ndsop]

Just purchased one of the old Eastman 52nd st tenors and am extremely pleased with it. I’ve been playing for over thirty years but still had the same sax and felt it was limiting my progress. I tried both the new and old models in the shop I went to . For me, the old one had a bigger sound so the choice was a bit of a no brainier.
I imagine the ergonomics are better in the new one. However, since I found both a little alien having come from my YTS62, I couldn’t really judge it.
I’m told that the sound in the new one is more focused sound wise . But for me I’m really happy with my choice . I feel a lot closer to creativity and my instrument is no longer “in the way”.