So I decided to give a try to this 250 GBP (300 GBP for EU customers) China-made tenor sax, intrigued by the positive comments of Pete Thomas in particular.
Since I own several pro tenors (see my signature) this purchase was not intended to replace any of those, rather to get a reliable, affordable sax to keep in my second home in Italy where I spend about 2 months each year (tired of travelling with a tenor and also unwilling to leave there a top notch one).
This by the way is the first sax that I buy brand new!
I believe those saxes are presently available only through woodwindandbrass.co.uk and that's where I got mine. Excellent service, I am totally satisfied. They did not ship it immediately because the new arrivals from the factory had to be still checked (I later learned by a well know repairman) and that sounded a very good reason to me, so I waited 4 business days without regrets.
The sax was delivered by DHL for just 8.5 GBP shipping from UK to Canada, which, I was later informed, was a mistake but the quote was honored (hat off to them).
It comes with an unstilish but functional case, complete of 3 straps (1 neck strap) and plastic mouthpiece, not so great but workable and not damn closes as a Yamaha 4C that comes with a new Yamaha. This one is maybe a 6.
The sax is made of what they call "Phosphor bronze" and looks rather pinkish. More so than a Yanagisawa if I remember correctly (I own a brass Yani only).
I guess some people may like that, I am rather indifferent and would not pay a buck more to have it of this color. Keys are lacquered.
Engravings look quite cheap (other than deep) and are not extensive: certainly not one of the strength of this model and something that might qualify for improvement in the future of this brand. At this price point I would not dare to complain though.
The sax looks built sturdily, not knowing the price I certainly would not have thought the model was so cheap. I would not put in the same league of the big four: surprisingly close, though. I certainly would put in the same league of a Jupiter, to name one (I had briefly a Jupiter Artist 889SG some time ago), or above that.
One change I'd make immediately is the strap hook position which should be more to the left to keep the sax in good balance. Anyways, easy fix if I want to (I'll add one).
My unit did not require any adjustment whatsoever: plays right out of the box and the intonation is really good (so far I seem to have problems only with the 2nd C#): I'd say along with the price it's the main strength of this model.
So how does it sound and play?
I had high expectations in light of the fact that Pete Thomas seems to prefer it to a Yanagisawa T901. I have to say that my opinion is the opposite, I have a T901 and I prefer it to the Walstein in just everything. I frankly think that he would come to the same conclusion by playing my 2 units but.... who knows. Wait for the comparative review that Pete is putting together among those, a Martin and a Conn, keeping in mind that he's a top notch pro and I am a hobbyst.
My humble opinion is that the sound
for the price is excellent. Intonation is about as good as my T901 but the response of the Yani is way better: any variation of air flow or embouchure produces an immediate variation in sound. The Walstein lags quite behind, although I would not call it sluggish. Sort of average.
The tone is surprisingly on the dark side with not so exciting mid register, excellent bottom and very respectable high register. I can't report about altissimo since I am not that good there so far. Not really a dark saxophone, but quite so and surely more than my T901, SIII, Cannonball. Also very, very easy to blow.
It's rather centered and quite on the Selmer side: if the designers copied a Yani, they copied well also this. Compares favorably to a Jupiter and I will compare it in a few days with a Yamaha 23 of a friend: so far I think I like the Walstein better.
Quite generic tone, in my opinion. I heard others labelling this way Yanis but I am not one of those, I think my T901 has a wonderful tone and it's probably more MVI-like than my SIII.
An untrained audience I am not entirely sure would hear much difference between the Walstein and one of those.
I have never played a bronze tenor and I wonder if I would be equally underwhelmed also by a Yani bronze. I just missed some "ring" in the sound and that might well be just a personal preference: others may come to the opposite conclusion.
So, to sum up, I am very satisfied with the purchase in light of the price and the intended use (again: not to replace a top-tier sax and pocket the difference). I will certainly recommend to starters and not just those. If you need an affordable backup tenor which plays in tune and that you're not afraid to ruin outdoor, this one will do it.
Also those of you who play those beaten-looking vintage tenors which, in a sense, do not look good enough for those "Tuxedo-evenings" where look counts, this one might do the job well (unless you have a Ref.54 as a backup like Al Stevens..:shock: ).
Since these come with a 14-days money back return policy, the picture becomes an even more tempting one...
Again keep in perspective that this is a review written by a hobbyst, wait for the more relevant that Pete said he's putting together (seems also with sound clips!).
