[bluetenorsax]

Hi. I am a beginner, and I have been renting this Yamaha student model tenor for almost 1.5 year. I enjoy it a lot and I am planning to buy one. I read from here that Taiwanese horns are good. I read Phil Baron's sax are MIT.

I am going to Taipei this month for wedding. Does anyone know any speicifc shops to go and models to look for? I am looking for something no more than $2000US

 

[evan1]

Theres a lot of threads on here about specific models. Go to the Barone Forum and you will read plenty of reviews on the Vintage and Classic Models. Phil doesnt have a dealer in Tapaei at least I dont think so. He sells from his website directly so why dont you drop him an email.

 

[milandro]

well, OP is asking where to buy a sax while in Taipei............

Of course you can go to the very glamorous new Showroom at Taipei 101 by P.Mauriat or the other very glamourous address of the LC showroom. Outstanding but expensive products.

Otherwise you might get in touch with my friend Ms. Moon Chen, here at http://www.ecrownmusic.com/easycrown_web/contact.asp she could have some more conveniently priced saxophones for you

You find the address there and you can contact her office directly , good luck!

 

[bluetenorsax]

Yeah. I 've read Phil Baron's sax are from Taiwan. I figure since I am going to Taiwan. I may get it cheaper while I am there. Yeah, I will check out Taipei 101. My impression of stuff there are more expensive.

 

[milandro]

think your impressions are right! :bluewink:

 

[koumou]

Milandro, which makes of Tawanese saxes do you consider as good value for money, in Europe?

 

[milandro]

Well, I think that almost ( :bluewink: ) ALL the Taiwanese saxophones are good value for money! but really it very much depends what you need or want

Aside from the better known brands : Cannonball, P.Mauriat.......... there are many other brands which are known to the forum members for being of Taiwanese origin and there are MANY more that aren't know as to be Taiwanese but still, they are!

Not everyone who claims to be a " maker" on Taiwan and elsewhere is necessarily a "maker" meaning that they own their own facilities to produce the saxophones sold under their own names.

If you go to a trade fair like in Shanghai or Frankfurt anyone can, quite literally, enter the booth of a " maker "and get out with his own line of saxophones which will be sent to him and them from him around the world with his own name on it........ but I know for a fact that also some taiwanese companies who appear or claim to be maker are only trading companies.

To make things even more complicated, some of these " makers " don't make anything while some make by themselves some of the things which they sell and the rest they buy from other makers.

So you can go to one of these " makers" at a trade fair and order your line of saxophones and then they go to their suppliers and order the saxophones which then will be delivered to you.

So, the best value for money is , generally speaking, in the lines of intermediate saxophones which have been contracted by medium sized shops or distributors whom went to trade fairs themselves and ordered directly from factories.

In Europe there are several shops or companies with their own line of Taiwanese saxophones, I think they offer all very good value for money.

 

[Rich Maraday]

un lacquered raw brass TK Melody Tenor Yard bird display model $1400.00. Black Mac sax Classic $1400.00 used like new. both solid choices 845-361-9353

 

[swperry1]

un lacquered raw brass TK Melody Tenor Yard bird display model $1400.00. Black Mac sax Classic $1400.00 used like new. both solid choices 845-361-9353

The TK Melody tenors are excellent! At $1400usd you can't go wrong...You would never NEED to buy another tenor.

 

[milandro]

makes you wonder why people sell them.......... no I am joking...........:twisted: :mrgreen: :bluewink: ...........viking are great horns! I hear from many here.:lick:

 

[Dr G]

I think there exists some confusion, Milandro. AFAIK, TK Melody and Viking are two different lines of horns, two different designs.

 

[milandro]

I don't have direct knowledge, must admit to hearsay form SOTW members

 

[Dr G]

http://viking-instruments.com/

 

[Rich Maraday]

A lot of horn for that kind of money. I just need to move this stuff for more stock coming in...

 

[milandro]

well, long gone are the days when a rose was a rose and by any other name it would have been still a rose , nowadays no one is sure of who is who and what is what.

 

[Rich Maraday]

The Viking has a smaller body tube much more like the dimensions of SBA and has more resistance . The post rib is not the same. Viking m58 close but not exact to series 111 post rib wise. The neck reciever is smaller and the neck is very very much like a VI Neck. You can't swap necks on these two brands. The keys on Viking are Vi like on low C,Eb and front F and the pearl s are a little smaller The TK has a taller neck with a VI taper more of a cross between S8011 and MK VI. Keys are typical modern pearls larger.The Viking is much much lighter and has no F# key The TK has F# These horns are made in 2 different factorys and blow and feel very different. The TK is a work of art engraving wise The Viking has SBA engraving nice as well. These horns are built on 2 seperate unrelated bodys.. I could go further but you can call me if you want more. I just got a TK IPANEMA TENOR in that has to be one of the most stunning looking horns made. The Mac sax Classic I have is close to the TK but the bell is not the same. MACSAX CLASSIC bell is Fatter and less of a flare at the end Blows good and free but less harmonics then the TKs that I have. Brass is a big factor and every one is messing with the more copper less copper thin wall whatever. Bottom line not the same horns .Player say TK sounds like a Conn Chu Berry/30m Viking m58 Like a SBA /early MK VI

 

[CrazeeAyDee]

Interesting thread - it makes me wonder - you could go to Taiwan and pick up a sax built there, but who will set it up and back it up - If you were buying a Cannonball, P Mauriat, Viking, TK Melody or Barone, would you not be better off buying locally. If you were on a visit to Taiwan and made a visit to Houli, how would one be able to ever choose a sax and know what you are getting. In the end would you save anything? - I guess you really need to know what you are looking for, where to get it and how much to pay before heading out.

 

[Dr G]

well, long gone are the days when a rose was a rose and by any other name it would have been still a rose , nowadays no one is sure of who is who and what is what.

That holds true for Selmer as well - you can't just say "Selmer" anymore and have consensus on what that means.

The Viking M58 sounds like a different animal from most of the other contenders that seem to be copying the good ol' Mk VI (whatever that is, which one?). Given the recent popularity of the Selmer SBA, it'll be interesting to see whether people pick up on the M58. The idea of taking the SBA tube and updating the mechanism certainly has merit.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Otherwise you might get in touch with my friend Ms. Moon Chen, here at http://www.ecrownmusic.com/easycrown_web/contact.asp she could have some more conveniently priced saxophones for you

I can vouch for these, they are among the better Taiwanese saxophones.

If you were on a visit to Taiwan and made a visit to Houli, how would one be able to ever choose a sax

By playing them!

 

[Rich Maraday]

I asked for what I wanted with the Viking m58 sent specs and samples to get what I wanted. Now doing the same with Acoustic Balance M40. This ain't easy and its expensive. Takes a painfull amount of time to get right .... I'll know my Vikings models are not off the rack when all is said and done. If your willing to spend the money you can get anything made to your specs. I'm just try to copy the good stuff ...