Advantages: Nice Dark tone, good intonation, and smooth engraving
Disadvantages: This horn is quite expensive and the positioning of the palm keys doesn't quite suit my hands - the price is the only real disadvantage though!

...This is a good, high quality instrument from selmer, and is reckoned to be among the best professional tenor saxophones in the world. I own a serie II alto sax, however the serie II tenor seemed fairly different to the alto to me, and I play a selmer reference 36 tenor. The Serie II has a lovely tone, which is very resonant, making the whole horn vibrate, creating a dark rich tone. The intonation on this horn is also fairly good, but I didn't find the intonation quite as good as on the Serie III. I like the design of the Serie II, and it feels comfortable to play, except for the right hand palm keys, which for some reason, to me, feel like they are in the wrong position, and they seem quite a stretch to reach. Other than this though, the keys are responsive, and work well, as on the Serie II Alto. I find the little finger keys... Read review

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Advantages: All the hero's in one
Disadvantages: Mixed sound recordings Sound louder and quieter in places

...At first glance you would imagine the CD to be the normal mainstream nonsense with Russell Watson singing Amor ti Vieta, but when looking at the back you do see that this is a quality CD. So lights down low CD player on high and a nice Glass of wine and you are ready for an audio trip through operatic tenor modern history. Track List: (THERE ARE 27 TRACKS IF YOU WANT A SUMMARY OF EACH ONE THEN READ ON OTHERWISE HEAD FOR BOTTOM OF REVIEW) Track 1: O Paradis sung by Enrico Caruso What a start to the Cd. Nothing but quality technique and voice on show here, one of the best renditions you'll ever hear Track 2: Morgenlich leuchtend sung by Peter Anders Not my favourite song and a big jump in quality from the first track but still an adept singer, the first sign that there is going to be a wide variation of voice and style... Read review

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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... Read review

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Advantages: Well made and solidly built. Nice tone and good intonation. Supplied with lightweight case with carrying strap
Disadvantages: Quite expensive, keys are quite flat (they seem too large when I play this sax) and the tone is not quite as rich as some other professional saxes (eg.selmer references)

...of this sax is that it is supplied with a hard case with a carrying strap, unlike many saxes which are now supplied without a case (it is not supplied with a mouthpiece). Having tried out all of the leading tenor saxophones, I rated this very highly, and it was my favourite after the two new selmer reference series saxophones (which are incredible!) - I actually found the intonation on this yamaha better than on my own reference 36 tenor! It made a pleasant change to find myself enjoying playing one of the professional yamaha saxes, however in the end I opted for a selmer reference 36, because it just seems to have that something extra (I also find my fingers fit the keys on the selmer better)... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful music and 2 top artists
Disadvantages: One or two items are a bit long

...In the operatic field there is no doubt that tenors are more popular than other male singers, partly because the composers usually used the tenor voice as a vehicle for his most beautiful tunes and the tenor is usually the hero in opera (with a few exceptions) This album by two of Americas greatest post war singers has been long awaited by opera enthusiasts. Samuel Ramey is one of the greatest bass singers in recent years. He can sing most of the bel-canto repertoire with ease and has a wonderful, effortless way of singing. Thomas Hampson too is a very important baritone and Lieder singer of some repute. This CD is interesting in that they chose certain duets that are not well known (Cimarosa "Il Matrimonio Segreto" and Donizetti's "Marino Faliero" ) The "Attila " duet is a bit disappointing as Hampson sounds very bland on it ; not like... Read review

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Advantages: All the quality of a Selmer, fantastic deep rich sound, just like the Super Balanced Actions, only with improved keywork and intonation
Disadvantages: Quite expensive, and I find intonation is still slightly dodgey

...After finally saving up enough money to buy myself a new tenor sax, I went and tried out all of the leading saxes, and the selmer reference 36 was my choice. The keys sit perfectly under the fingers, and the horn is a joy to play. Selmer have captured the tone and spirit of the Balanced action that this is modelled on superbly, and the sax has a beautiful tone (which reminds me a lot of Sonny Rollin's sound!). I find that both the reference saxes (54 and 36) have darker tones than the selmer serie II and III, and with the saxes that I tried, for me the 36 had a slightly richer sound. This sax has got a beautiful finish, in dark gold lacquer with exquisite hand engraving (fairly similar to the reference alto finish). My only criticism of this sax is that I find I have to do a fair bit of adjusting to get the intonation right... Read review

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Advantages: Yamaha's consistently high standards.
Disadvantages: Fixed thumb hook - owch...

...After much deliberation, and playing close to £8500 worth of various tenor saxophones, I settled on the YTS-25, an entry level to intermediate instrument. It cost me £950 - RRP about £1100 but the music store was open to some negotiation: These saxophones will meet a pretty consistent standard, so it matters less where you get them from. For my £££ I received: - Tenor sax body, crook (neck) & mouthpiece; - Mouthpiece cap; - Selection of reeds; - Leather neck strap; - Neck & mouthpiece brush; - Key oil & applicator; - Cork grease; - Hard case (l 80cm x w 32.5cm x d 19cm). The metalwork is laquered brass and has maintained a high shine despite continual use. (I use a cloth with laquer polish impregnated.) The keys (buttons) are generally well spaced for my (male adult) hands with the exception of the bflat side key - which... Read review

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Advantages: Near perfect saxophony.
Disadvantages: Too smooth.

...The Very Best of Stan Getz. Sax Moods. The cost of this double CD varies, I actually got mine from a boot sale for £3, it can be bought on Amazon for less than a fiver. Stan Getz, to me, on