[SmoothSaxPlayer]

Do you own, played or has heard any of the Venus' saxophone that is being sold on Ebay? I've searched but I have not really gotten a lot of feedback about this saxophone. The Ultra cheap horns article by Stephen Howard mentioned and recommends this brand. But the link for the Venus brand he encountered is to DLM Music from UK and not musicalwheel of Ebay. I did some research and it looks like they are selling the same horns just by looking at their pictures. I also emailed musicalwheel and the owner said that they are partnered with another UK company call DM (differnet from DLM), which I believe is the same as discount-musical.co.uk that carries Venus saxes only.

I want to hear feedback from people who actually has played or heard the tone of any of the Venus' sax. Are they any good or maybe on par with any of the big 4 brands?

 

[HenryN]

There's a discussion about Venus here
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=29394&highlight=venus

 

[SmoothSaxPlayer]

I've read the whole thread but it seems like the people who gave positive feedbacks are trollers. I hope that's not true and I don't mean to insult those who posted. I was just a little bit concerned about Gandlafe's post at the end of the thread.

 

[SmoothSaxPlayer]

I don't know what to think why there are no replies on this post. It's either I should stay from the Venus brand or people on this forum are tired of talking about ultra cheap Chinese horn.

 

[gary]

Well, I felt sorry for your lonely voice crying in the wilderness so I went back and reread the thread referenced above. I think probably the reason you're not getting any nibbles is that,

- very few forum members play or have played Venus saxes and that,
- that thread probably gives you all the information you're going to get about the saxes.

...the rest is up to you. Good luck!

 

[SmoothSaxPlayer]

this is the scary part. looks like i just have to bite it and see it for myself. $300 shiny brass flower vase shouldn't be too bad if that ever happens

...the rest is up to you. Good luck!

thanks for the company... lol

Well, I felt sorry for your lonely voice crying in the wilderness so I went back and reread the thread referenced above. I think probably the reason you're not getting any nibbles is that,

- very few forum members play or have played Venus saxes and that,
- that thread probably gives you all the information you're going to get about the saxes.

 

[Canadiain]

In the light of no firm positive feedback, why would you go ahead and buy an unknown quantity anyway when there are usable known quantity saxes out there for $300?

 

[leseylex]

I've read the whole thread but it seems like the people who gave positive feedbacks are trollers. I hope that's not true and I don't mean to insult those who posted. I was just a little bit concerned about Gandlafe's post at the end of the thread.

So how do you determine who a troll is?

 

[Canadiain]

So how do you determine who a troll is?

Two posts in praise of a certain product, and then never seen on SOTW again is usually a good indication.

 

[SmoothSaxPlayer]

In the light of no firm positive feedback, why would you go ahead and buy an unknown quantity anyway when there are usable known quantity saxes out there for $300?

I am basing my purchase from Stephen Howard's recommendation of ultra cheap horns. btw, u probably meant quality not quantity.

So how do you determine who a troll is?

You can't, that's why I started this thread.

 

[Canadiain]

"unknown quantity"...idiomatic English coverall phrase meaning you don't know what you are going to get.

Damned stupid language when you look closely at it, no wonder foreigners (including those on the Western side of the Atlantic) have such difficulty with it

As you yourself point out Stephen is talking one distributor, you are talking potentially another, and he was able to examine the horn in person to make a judgement. It just seems risky, unless you have some sort of meaningful response from people who bought from the same ebay seller. I would not put much faith in ebay feedback as most people are just relieved a cheap horn bought for their kids has shown up, is shiney, and junior can make some sort of noise on it... Look at the recent "simba" threads for evidence of that.

For $300 with a bit of patience on ebay you can get a lightly used Antigua Winds 520LQ (used to be top of the Antigua winds alto range), have money left over for a technician have a look at it, and know you are getting a great playable (at least intermediate level) horn for your money.

 

[Morry]

I've really been wanting one. I have Venus envy.

 

[Canadiain]

B'boom Tish!

 

[leseylex]

Two posts in praise of a certain product, and then never seen on SOTW again is usually a good indication.

Well if you go back and read the thread, there are also people who post regularly who said good things about the horn. I guess my point is I have only posted about 6 times but that doesn't mean I'm not on this forum everyday. And like Gary said in the other thread, the posters who bashed never played the horn before.

 

[Canadiain]

There is a lot of ignorant bashing of cheap horns that goes on here for sure. Some are worth way more than they cost, unfortunatley many are not.

You can check in a posters profile when their last activity was if thats helpfull to know?

 

[SmoothSaxPlayer]

I am a big lurker on this forum too (i visit everyday). But praising a horn as your first post is kind of questionable to me. I at least introduce myself first on every forum I go to.

 

[Starsax A2]

I have about decided to buy a Venus tenor next month. The only experience I have with the brand is that a friend has a Venus piccolo, and it is solid. I know there is a difference in complexity between a sax and a piccolo, but it is an indication.
I have a Chinese alto which is a photocopy of a Mark VI. No, I'm not saying it has the quality or sound of the Selmer, but it is well built and sounds fairly well (and in tune). I think we are on the cusp of a quality improvement by our Chinese friends like we experienced with the Japanese in the '70's. This may be a good time to pick up some cheap, fairly good instruments while most people are still turning up their noses at them.
The telescope pictured in my avatar is 100% Chinese. I consistently hear from my fellow astronomy club members how good they think the image is and how they wished their scopes showed stuff that well. The optics are excellent. Chinese manufacturing is improving, and prices will be going up in the foreseeable future.

 

[musicteen098]

Do you own, played or has heard any of the Venus' saxophone that is being sold on Ebay? I've searched but I have not really gotten a lot of feedback about this saxophone. The Ultra cheap horns article by Stephen Howard mentioned and recommends this brand. But the link for the Venus brand he encountered is to DLM Music from UK and not musicalwheel of Ebay. I did some research and it looks like they are selling the same horns just by looking at their pictures. I also emailed musicalwheel and the owner said that they are partnered with another UK company call DM (differnet from DLM), which I believe is the same as discount-musical.co.uk that carries Venus saxes only.

I want to hear feedback from people who actually has played or heard the tone of any of the Venus' sax. Are they any good or maybe on par with any of the big 4 brands?

DO NOT BUY ONE if you want I'll take some pictures of the problems on mine its a beautiful sax but sucks trust me there rip offs i bought it for 300 invested 1200 trying to fix it in the last three years, 7 of the keys fell off it in the first three weeks i got it, they use cheap glue the pads are just horrible you cant touch them or they sink in there are so many leaks trust me its a waist of money by a used bundy at a store do not by of ebay unless you get help dont buy celio either

 

[musicteen098]

if i were you id goto pawn shops and flea markets and pray to god someones parents died and they went threw the attic and found a sax and didnt even know if was an alto or tenor and took it to a flea market and is selling it for WAY cheap and i f you want a venus I'll sell you mine i would just get it fixed up one more last time and go on ebay and sell it for 150 bucks but i dont want to do that to a person

 

[Starsax A2]

Musicteen, I am sorry you had such a bad experience with your Venus sax. Every manufacturer puts out duds and lemons which slip through. In the 70's and 80's, 50% of Chrysler vehicles lived in the shop and the other 50% ran for 200,000 to 300,000 miles with little more than oil changes and the occasional brake job.
I've gleaned a few positive remarks about Venus saxes and one really negative. They've been selling for awhile. C'mon, folks. If you have one, sound off either way! I'm ready to put some moolah down.