Jeff's making more noise with his Windsor Alto Sax

Advantages: Great sounding instrument at a real bargain price
Disadvantages: only comes with one reed and the sling supplied is a bit thin.

...I've been of work for about six weeks now, following surgery on my left shoulder and idle hands go surfing for toys. Following a bit of a bonus and some commission and remembering a hankering to try the sax, my surfing fingers chanced on this little beauty on Amazon, being sold by a company called Mango Music. I placed the order and a few days later the Parcelforce man turned up with a large cardboard box addressed to me. The sax came in a sturdy hard case, the main body of the instrument was in one section, in two smaller sections were the crook and the mouthpiece. There is another section for accessories which contained a pair of white gloves, the sling, a cloth and has plenty of room for those extra bits and pieces that you inevitably collect as you go along. The sax came with one 2.5 strength reed, Reeds are rated for their...

JeffFromPoole 27.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Windsor Alto Saxophone

The best sax in the world!(Selmer reference alto)

Advantages: Incredible tone, easy to play, good intonation - everything you want in a sax!
Disadvantages: It's quite pricey - around £2600+

...This is without a doubt the nicest alto saxophone that I have ever played, and I have played almost all of the leading saxes, (including 2 Mark VI's, Serie II, Serie III, Keilwerth SX90R, yamaha customs, professional yanagisawas etc.) This saxophone is my perfect saxophone, and if I could afford one then I would most definitely trade up my Serie II for one! This sax is basically a mark VI, but improved! It has the same classic tone of a mark VI, but it is easier to play, with improved intonation, and also the keys are more responsive and better designed. This sax is finished in dark lacquer, to try and mimic a vintage look, and it looks spectacular. Selmer have also recently started making a version in an antique matt finish and not engraved, which I don't like as much, but it still looks impressive and sounds great. I would...

poooookie 17.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Selmer Reference 54 Alto Sax

Sax

Advantages: Good quality, enjoyable
Disadvantages: A little pricey

...My dad brought me a new Jupiter saxophone for £500, you had 2 options you could rent it and see whether you wanted to but it after a year playing or you could buy a saxophone for £500 and after a year if you don't want to play anymore then you they would take the sax back and you would receive some money back but not the full amount you payed.My dad chose to buy me a saxophone for my birthday and I started having lessons when I went back to school. I have been playing the sax for 3 years now and I will be taking my grade 3 in June next year. I have learnt lots of scales and appregios, many pieces out of books such as: Practise Sessions by Peter Wastall and Session Times also by Peter Wastall and recently my teacher has been teaching me improvisation which is very interesting! I love Jazz but I haven't done much of it yet but hopefully I...

aimeewilson 24.09.2000 · Read review
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Review of Jupiter Alto Saxophones

Which idiot put sax in the brass?Its WOODWIND!

Advantages: Beautiful sounding. wonderful instrument
Disadvantages: None

...and i love the pieces it gives you to play for exams. Having just gone from flautist to saxaphonist i found the mouth shapes very different and i wouldnt advise playing both instruments at the same time as for the saxaphone you need a relaxed mouth shape and for the flute it is very tight and controlled. I use 21/2 reeds and find them very comfortable to play with although when i first started playing my lips bled all over the place and vibrated for hours after i played! I hope to progress onto a barritone sax, or a cute little soprano. If you are looking for a saxaphone then buy this one. It is immense quality and i love it so much....

alico 06.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Jupiter Alto Saxophones

Selmer Mark VI Alto Sax

Advantages: An amzing vintage instrument, with that classic sound which most saxophone manufacturers strive to achieve.
Disadvantages: Its hard to find these saxes in good condition for sale, and if you manage to find one it'll probably cost you near to £3000!

...become famous, and some saxophonists have it custom engraved on their horns! Overall, the only setback with these horns is that it is becoming increasingly hard to get your hands on one in good condition, and if you do find one then you will have to be prepared to pay around £3000 for it, and also to spend some money having some work done on it. The Mark VI is the nicest sax that I have ever played, except the new selmer reference alto, which is modelled on the mark VI, and is very similar to it, just with a few bits of tweaking, such as improved intonation and some improved keywork design, and I believe the reference to be the perfect alto sax! I would reccomend the Mark VI to saxophonists of a high standard, looking for a sax with a classic tone, but I would not reccomend it for beginners, who may find it hard work to get the best out...

poooookie 17.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Selmer Mark VI

Sax in the city

Advantages: Well made, well finished and well supported.
Disadvantages: A little higher price than Taiwanese alternatives

...Recently purchased a Selmer Bundy II Alto Saxophone and it's been a joy ever since. I'm an adult beginner and this instrument is not one of the Taiwanese toys that is often inflicted on younger students. The instrument is a joy to play and a delight to look at. The instrument has a rich tone and accepts a range of mouthpieces that alter the sound significantly. There has always been a certain kudos attached to sax players - let's face it they are a sexy instrument and for a beginner's instrument the Bundy II is one of the sexiest. I highly recommend these instruments....

kimbowa 09.01.2001 (04.03.2001) · Read review
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Review of Selmer Alto Saxophones

Suzuki Alto 2009 Zh4, an ALTOunative to the Hyundai i10?

Advantages: Much better looking than the i10, Very cheap to run, Spacious interior, Reasonably well appointed
Disadvantages: Lack of power in 3rd gear at low speed, A boot would be a nice addition

...Suzuki`s new Alto has everything you need for A-B travel at a bargain price, the basic model comes with electric windows, power steering and ABS. Pretty standard for a modern car I know but let?s face it other manufactures will have these as more expensive options. Most reviews you will read compare the Alto to the Hyundai i10; I think this is fair so I will do the same. The i10 comes with a more complete basic package and nice little additions like rear discs brakes the Alto also is without a proper glove box for storage ot Sat Nav etc. The Alto also lacks the adjustable rear seats of other small cars like the Twingo, if you think about it though an ?adjusted? rear seat is no longer a seat due to lack of leg room. As far as ride goes I test drove the i10 and found it quite harsh compared with the Alto. The Alto has sharp (maybe too...

KershTriumph12 25.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Alto 1.0

Jazz up your life

Advantages: Fantastic music and atmosphere.
Disadvantages: Smokey and packed.

...As some of you may have seen from some of my previous reviews, my wife and I spent christmas last in Amsterdam. One of the reasons that we went was to go to one of the oldest and most famous jazz cafe's in Europe, the Alto Jazz Cafe. Free to get in (a rarity in Amsterdam) and open most nights (not Mondays). The cafe is situated right in the heart of the restuarant and club district of Amsterdam and is easily acessible by foot or public transport, driving there is not so easy. The address and telephone number are: Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115 Amsterdam Nederland Telefoon: 020 6263249 The club opens at 9pm and my advice is to be there at 9pm otherwise the likeliehood of getting a seat is remote. There is always at least one live band playing and on many evenings more than one. The resident saxophonist is Hans Dolpher, and whilst...

paulhanton 06.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Alto

Does not cramp my style at all.

Advantages: Great sound, easy player.
Disadvantages: Expensive, hard to find parts.

...*~*~*~~Some background~~*~*~* I started learning to play Alto Saxophone in December 2006. The first saxophone that I had (still have as a spare) was a Trevor James Artemis, cost me about £350. Within 10 months I decided that I wanted something that sounded a little 'richer', bit less tinny on the higher notes. My budget was about £1,200 and for that I could buy a half decent new Yamaha or even a Selmer. Selmer are thought by most players to be the best, most players, not all. However my music teacher suggested I 'try out' a couple of older saxophones and gave me the name of a guy, Stuart Macdonald who owns 'Woodwind Exchange' in Bradford. Woodwind exchange is on the bottom floor/basement of a warehouse and has very little 'shop front', basically it is a workshop/storeroom/Aladdin's cave for saxophonists and clarinettists. There...

paulhanton 23.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Buffet Crampon Dynaction Alto Saxophone

The jazzcafe of Amsterdam

Advantages: jazz all week long
Disadvantages: expensive booz

...Alto is the only cafe in Amsterdam that programs jazz every night of the week. It features the creme the la creme of the local jazz scene. Lying in the centre of town near de the famous Leidse Plein it invariably draws the attention not only of the local jazz-fans but also of their counterparts from all over the world. The establishment is a so-called 'pijpenla', a cosy long and narrow cafe, so typical of many of Amsterdams cafe's and bars. Disadvantage is that the bar only serves cold drinks (so no coffee!) and they are rather expensive (a simple beer costs 4,50 guilders). The concerts, however, are free of charge. Concerts start at 21.00 and proceed till about 2.30 in the morning. The establisment is easily recognizable by the large altosax (hence it's name) at the front of the building. So be there if you like jazz...

milko 31.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Alto