[drdan01]

I'm looking for something that would make for a good intermediate sax, and have found one of these. I cannot seem to find much in the way of info on them but am especially interested in knowing whether anyone here has had any experience with them or knows more about them.

Here's the marketing pitch that I'd found:
"Selmer Artist Series Alto Saxophone ARTIST LIMITED LTDA 1BG The NEW LTD Series of saxophones is built to Selmer Vintage specifications. The ARTIST LIMITED LTDA 1BG Alto Saxophone is designed to provide more flexibility in tonality and color and to "bridge" the price point between the Paris instruments and the student instruments with a quality pro sax. Manufactured to satisfy the requirements and versatility of a professional,
it is designed to capture the vintage sound and feel of the earlier, most popular Selmer Saxophones. The new ARTIST LIMITED LTDA 1BG Alto is in a price range all by itself. Nothing can touch the quality and features of this fine instrument."

 

[BarrySachs]

A good intermediate saxophone is not what you want. Get a vintage professional horn that will retain it's value. If your dream is to have a vintage MK6 or a new fancy Yanigasawa, but you don't have the cash, get an old Conn or Martin.

I don't know what your price range is, but a Conn can be had for around $1000 and up.

A used Yanigasawa, Couf/Keilwerth or Yamaha will have a more modern action. They can also be found for under $2k.

The Selmer "intermediate" horn is most likely made in China.

Get a real horn! Buy vintage. You are also recycling in the process.

 

[drdan01]

A good intermediate saxophone is not what you want. Get a vintage professional horn that will retain it's value. If your dream is to have a vintage MK6 or a new fancy Yanigasawa, but you don't have the cash, get an old Conn or Martin.

I don't know what your price range is, but a Conn can be had for around $1000 and up.

A used Yanigasawa, Couf/Keilwerth or Yamaha will have a more modern action. They can also be found for under $2k.

The Selmer "intermediate" horn is most likely made in China.

Get a real horn! Buy vintage. You are also recycling in the process.

That does make sense. I'm actually just starting out, and have a Selmer AS-300 that a friend gave me...but it has some minor problems (not biggies but it's been beat up in a couple of places) but was thinking that I might simply enjoy learning to play on a better sax. And as I'm...ah, just a bit older than the average new player...it's not like I'll be lugging it to band practice or such, so am assuming that I'll be taking pretty good care of whatever I get.

I think that I was considering an intermediate if only from a belief that it might be easier for me to play vs. a professional model. But perhaps I'm wrong about that? Maybe my question is what makes something a student sax vs. one that isn't? Is a student more likely to stand up to abuse, and is it easier to learn to play on?

I'm taking private lessons from a professional and had asked him about what he'd recommend if I wanted to move up. He did say that he would recommend the MK6...but also suggested that I might want to consider waiting just a little longer to get a better sense of what kind of sound I want. But again, I guess I'm wondering if there are technical reasons to not move to a much better sax now. Frankly, his recommendation along with yours for the MK6 is highly persuasive as I know that I love the sound of a MK6 (Candy Dulfer being one of my favorite).

My price range...well, was assuming that I'd need to pay at least $1500-2000 for something much better. But assume that a decent MK6 is going to be more than that.

 

[drdan01]

Well, took your suggestion to heart and bought a beautiful MK 6 last night. It was more than I thought that I'd spend, but think it was a great deal for one of these and the shape that it's in.