Brass Instruments

Advantages: very cheap and good for beginners
Disadvantages: basic and not for the professional

...my first trumpet was a YAMAHA which I bought some years ago now for a bargain price of £250. I think that the model I bought was the one below this one, but they are still very similar and fundamentally the same. This model comes with three valves... there's a surprise, and mobile 1st and 3rd valve slides. It is available in gold laquer as well as silver plating, but the silver plating will cost a little extra. These more basic models are easier ...
...gets even slightly bent. The YAMAHA has a more simple mechanism consisting of a screw which catches on the rim at the end of the tubing to stop it coming all the way off. I have had absolutey no complaints about my YAMAHA trumpet since i have had it which shows that it is fairly sturdy and lasts well. I have probably had it now for eight or nine years now and the only dents and scratches in it are my own fault really... it still blows fine even ... Read review

Advantages: Good value for money, attractive, good range
Disadvantages: Ring operated 3rd slide

Although I have recently bought a new cornet, this is the one that I played for the first 3 years of being a musician. Most music shops advise that this instrument is best for beginners, and I would definately agree with that. It is a very attractive instument, which can produce a sweet sound. Although not the best sounding instrument on the market, it is more than satisfactory if you are only a beginner. Also, with it not costing a fortune, it ...
...One drawback of this instrument is that the 3rd slide, which can help tune Ds and C#s, is operated by a ring. While some musicians prefer this mechanism, a spring system is much more effective for advanced players, which I why I would recommend it mainly for beginners. This instrument comes with a standard sized mouothpiece, which, again, is suitable for beginners, but more advaced musicians may want to use their own in order to obtain the best sound ... Read review

Advantages: Good quality and always reliably in tune.
Disadvantages: Cost a bit more than similar student trumpets.

Yamaha have been making musical instruments for over one hundred years and I have always found their brass instruments to be reliably in tune, which is not always the case with other student trumpets. Since about 1980, they have always had a student instrument priced between £250 and £300. The 2320 model was originally the only one in this price range. It is a well made instrument with quite good valves, and hard wearing gold colour lacquer finish. ...
...regularly cleaned and oiled. Yamaha machine the valves so finely that the slightest bit of dirt, and they will stick! When the T100S was priced over the £300 mark, the next student trumpet appeared. This was the 1320. This was a medium-large bore, like the 2320, and available either in silver plated or nickel plated versions. The silver one feels better. The nickle plated trumpets always felt slippery to the touch but they do have that extra shine ... Read review

Advantages: Well made and durable. Good for beginners - easy to play with good intonation
Disadvantages: Factory made, so lacks the individual tone of those hand made saxes (eg selmers), and the tone is obviously not as rich as professional models

...and works well with the yamaha mouthpiece it is supplied with (4C). This sax has a reasonable tone, but it is obviously not as good as the tone of the more expensive professional models. The YAS-23 is no longer made, and was superceded first by the YAS-25, and then this was replaced with the YAS-275. My favourite of the three is the 25, because I find this has the nicest tone, and i also find the keywork design is best on this, although the 275 does ...
...features of the more expensive yamaha saxes, and they are also well made by yamaha, who are regarded as one of the best student instrument manufacturers in the world. These saxes are normally supplied with a plastic yamaha mouthpiece (4C) and in a hard case, with adequate pull-throughs and cleaning equipment supplied. While the case is solid, and protects the sax well, it only has one carrying handle, and does not benfit from either a shoulder strap ... Read review

Advantages: Cheap for a saxophone, decent sound, good, reliable manufacturer
Disadvantages: Some parts not that robust, need to shop around for best price

I was recommended the Trevor James Artemis Saxophone (Eb) by my music teacher when I began learning the saxophone about 7 months ago. It was recomended mainly due to price, and for the price I am pretty sure that there is not much better out there. I have realised that it is a 'beginners' sax as the tone is not as rich as a more expensive one, nonetheless it is perfectly adequate for the beginner and I expect to keep it for some years, and, though ...
...this as a spare rather than pass it on. It is a fairly good looking saxophone, not that this is very important, what is important is that all the keys and mechanics work well. Considering the prices that most saxophones are, there is no doubt that more people would play if it was widely known that this saxophone can be purchased for around the £220 mark, though it is advertised at up to £400 in places. Added to this the instrument comes with a ... Read review