[TheDuke24]

Hi all, as the title says, I'm looking to buy a soprano. Here's my back story:

I'm currently a sophomore in high school, been in band since 5th grade, but taught myself how to play clarinet in 4th grade(6 years musical experience). I started playing the alto in 6th grade, and I'm currently playing first part in my schools second best band(just under college level music)

Anyways, been looking for a reasonable soprano to play in my free time and in sax choirs/quartets/etc. I found the Allora Paris Series Professional Soprano and have been getting mixed reviews on that. It goes for about $1,000 and seems to be a decent sax. I wanted opinions on that and recommendations for similar/better sopranos i should look at.

Thanks all that help

 

[Dave Dolson]

Welcome to SOTW. I'd give Dave Kessler in Las Vegas a call (a site sponsor, too). He has his house-brand sopranos and also sells Antiguas and other inexpensive saxophones. I have an Antigua (among many brands) that is a decent player and when I bought it, the new-price was under $1K. May be higher these days.

I'm sure your post will generate a list of brand names an arm's length long. DAVE

 

[TheDuke24]

I actually was just looking at another thread about the Antigua Sopranos. The only things i noticed when i looked up their professional soprano was:
1. It had standard Pisoni Pads, not Pisoni pro, whats the difference?
2. It doesn't seem to be sold anywhere online, and only gives one store in my state to buy it from(not as big of a deal).

(oh and thanks, i'll probably be using these forums a lot )

 

[bruce bailey]

For a first soprano, Kessler is probably your best bet. He is known for good service and a good profit. Stay away from the WWBW type horns as there are too many to find which is the good model. Vintage horns are my choice but you need to know which one you want and who is a good seller.

 

[saxmsy]

+1 Dave and Bruce.

I had the same type of question as yours when I planned to buy a soprano sax this year. After all I made the decision to buy an Antigua. I've never played other good brands(selmer, yani. etc) soprano sax. But I am happy with it and it plays a important in my life. I've been praticing the sop since March. Actually I do not feel I improve much from the time I stick to super session MP; but my neighbor and my roommate keep saying that my sound is getting better everyday (Hopefully that is what they really think).

Same as Bruce said, I would definitely stay away from WWBW type horns. Another inexpensive/good sops widely discussed here are: BW and Phil Barone.

 

[69193]

I ordered a Kessler for my first soprano (should arrive tomorrow) . Call Dave, tell him your budget, and see what he has to say. From what everyone on this forum says, he does a good job of matching up people with a horn that suits their needs.

Their in house instruments get good reviews. Granted I haven't touched the horn yet, but from what I've heard, you can't really beat their instruments as far as "bang for your buck" goes. Just my uneducated opinion.:mrgreen:

Edit: I decided to go the new route...but if you decide to look at old/vintage instruments...talk to Jayepdx (a forum member). He has a few sopranos. He has a good looking silverplated German horn for ~$600.

 

[Sasquatch]

I got an EM Winston off of the scratch and dent table at Musicians Friend for $350. It doesn't play as nice as the Yamaha I used back in high school, but I can't find any big problems with it. Intonation is kind of iffy on the palm keys, especially in the second register. But it is fine for messing around with.

Save your parents a bunch of money and stick with your alto.

 

[Dr G]

Save your parents a bunch of money and stick with your alto.

+5

Good call.

 

[Flâneur]

I bought a new Yamaha 475 from Kessler off eBay! last january for $1250. Great horn. Deals can be found.

 

[Dr G]

I'd give Rich a call.

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?170312-BLACK-FRIDAY-Sale&highlight=

Sale 8am-8pm Friday

Gold Plated Viking Legend series m58 curved neck 1 piece body sample Mint $1000.00

Shipped out of Orange county NY
Viking Instruments
845-361-9353

 

[Dr G]

And here's yet another swingin' deal at SotW:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?138198-CE-Omega-Bare-Brass-alto-and-curved-soprano

 

[TheDuke24]

Can anyone tell me the difference between Pisoni and Pisoni pro pads?

 

[Little Sax]

Hi all, as the title says, I'm looking to buy a soprano.[...]

I'd sell you one of mine, but they're out of your price range.

Perhaps you should buy this one.

 

[windman53]

Can anyone tell me the difference between Pisoni and Pisoni pro pads?

ok,This is what i know, might not be 100% correct, just for your references. Pisoni regular which is the common pad which is widely used in a lot of the brands, selmer conn, bundy, Yamaha, selemer...Etc , it is one of the most trusted pad. The Pisoni pro pads are also used in a lot of teh brands, mostly in the high end product. Fro example, selmer paris use the regular in the lower lever product and the pro in the higher level product. The main differences in the Pro and regular is hardness of the pad, regular is softer and the Pro is more firm. The leather which they used to make the pad is also different( I am not sure 100%, which is which, but I know they are different) and also the final coating on the surface of pad is different as well.

honestly, I would say both regular and Pro are very good,but if you are very slective on the pad , you can also pay extra and ask Tec to help you to change into what you want.

good luck hunting..

 

[trice]

...Perhaps you should buy this one.

Just buy this one ASAP. And you're in business.

 

[69193]

I'd sell you one of mine, but they're out of your price range.

Perhaps you should buy this one.

Yup. That's a deal. The other good thing about it is that if you decide that soprano isn't your thing...you won't be out a lot of $$$.

My KCS-1 showed up last night...I got to play it for a few minutes before the kids hit the fan, lol. Very nice/well made horn.

 

[69193]

That guy is at $375 shipped for his KCS-1 now.

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?170484-Kessler-Straight-Soprano-FS

 

[TheDuke24]

Bummer, just missed it. I think im gonna save up and buy the Antigua at a later time, because it looks really nice and ill probably end up upgrading my alto this christmas Thanks all for the suggestions.

 

[NissanVintageSax]

I got an EM Winston off of the scratch and dent table at Musicians Friend for $350. It doesn't play as nice as the Yamaha I used back in high school, but I can't find any big problems with it. Intonation is kind of iffy on the palm keys, especially in the second register. But it is fine for messing around with.

Save your parents a bunch of money and stick with your alto.

When I bought my first Soprano (EM Winston ProI silver plate) back in 1994 ($899 new at the time), I bought it with gig money. My parent's had nothing to do with it! They bought me my first Alto,Tenor (and several years later into my adult life!) a Bari, but the Soprano was all on me!! I ended up selling it a few years ago (it's still seeing gigs!) to a member here after getting a Conn stencil curvy rebuilt.

The Conn has far better tone, and tunes far easier! But, that Winston (truly a brand to be wary of, though there were a very few good ones, my old soprano being of them) served me well for over a decade .

I wold say to look for a used Yamaha, Yanagisawa, Whitehall (Yani stencil), Vito VSP (Yani stencil), Vito (France), or new or used Antigua, or even a Barone. Kessler has nice reviews, as does Bauhaus Walstein, so those are two new brands to look at too.

 

[NissanVintageSax]

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?170484-Kessler-Straight-Soprano-FS

He still has it for sale! Better jump on it!