Woodwinds, Brass, and Harmonica

[orbm1]

Hi everybody:

First post in this forum...

I am planning to start practicing again sax... and I need an instrument...

I have a friend that works at the distribution center for Wisemann instrument in Michigan and he told me he could hook me up with a new sax for a GREAT price.... now, my questions is, anybody knows anything about this instruments, good or bad?

Thanks!

[orbm1]

BUMP

[sunburstbasser]

Wisemann is a new one to me. From the descriptions online, they don't look like bad instruments. Do you remember enough about playing to play test it? Especially if you can compare it to some known brands like Yamaha or Selmer you can tell if its a decent horn for you. BTW, try sending a PM to Lambros. He is a sax player and knows far more about the instrument than I do, and can give you a better idea of what makes a good sax. There are some other sax players that don't frequent this forum, but have accounts. Hopefully a few will chime in.

[orbm1]

Thanks a lot!! Hopefully they are, that is the only instrument I could afford right now. I have conn sax but needs repair and I have been quoted for $400 to fix it. For a little more I could a get a wisemann brand new, and again, not because of retail prices, but because the hook up from my friend! We'll see. BTW how do I find a user? Can I search for user names? Thanks again! :wave:

[sunburstbasser]

Use the Memberlist link at top or find one of his posts using a search. Lambros has a few in this forum if you set it to display all threads; otherwise it'll cut out the older ones. good luck!

[orbm1]

Update: I went to the warehouse yesterday and I between buying these 2 saxs: This is the new beginner model, pretty basic, the link to the page is here, not a lot of description, but from what I saw, they look like good instruments, solid, heavy, smooth, the valves make good contact to all the holes, looks awesome for being a Chinese instrument... unfortunately, I do not remember enough to give it a try... they come with 90 day warranty... This is the second one I liked: Description page is here This one looks STUNNING in person... I got a nice catalog from them, with more info, but I do not know with these info I could make an appropriate decision... They have a few artists that endorse this brand, you can see them here 2 questions: based on the pictures, and descriptions, what do you think I should pay for them?.... I'll tell you how much he offered for each later, but I would like to hear your opinions... FYI, here is thecatalog , it is not the same I got, this one is more basic Thanks in advance... Omar

[orbm1]

Sunday Bump!

[hrnlip]

IMO and only MO I would stay away from brands made in China or India. True, the Chinese are getting better in their quality but are still nowhere near the known brands. You could get an excellent used intermediate student model for the same price, if not a little cheaper from a music store that rents instruments to school kids. It will be a name brand, working and repairable sax and it can always be sold at about the same price. Bought a practice/knock-around trumpet from a Chinese company and it didn't last the year. Made a lamp out of it! Some of the Asian companys use cheap discarded pot metal for their horns. Again OMO.

[sunburstbasser]

The Chinese instruments are a bit hit-and-miss. Some are playable, student-level horns. Most are junk. Every Indian horn I've played is crap.

[orbm1]

Thanks guys... I thought the same, but when I went I was surprised.... unfortunately 'cause I do not remenber how to play I could not give a judgement about sound quality.... but they look strudy and great... and when I mention about chinese, even Yamahas are built in china now... anyways.... because nobody mentioned a price.... The first one I was offered $395 out the door with a case and everything else...the second one for $503 out the door, with case mouthpiece, reeds, and everything else... should I jump into these, fix my conn (around $400-$500 to fix), or buy another brand??? Thanks!

[hrnlip]

and when I mention about chinese, even Yamahas are built in china now...

Not really! Some parts are manufactured for the big brands by certain companies in China, like, valve clusters, tuning slides, braces, etc..., but are all sent back to their native country for full assembly and testing. Yami's are assembled in Japan and America, Selmer, Leblanc, Bach, etc... are all 95% made in America.
In my opinion, I would repair the Conn to specs and at least you know you have a good horn that you can later sell if you want to, for about the same price.

[orbm1]

Well I went to a store today and I asked to see the box from a yamaha sax I was thinking about, for my surprise, it said, parts made in japan, assembled in china!!! The salesman was speechless and embarrased, cause he was saying the same thing but the box did not lie, unfortunately he did not let me take a picture from the box so I could have hard evidence... Anyways, appreciate the feedback given so far, would like to hear more from you guys! Thanks!

[orbm1]

found this demo:

[YOUTUBE]jhjXQ39VNRo[/YOUTUBE]

[sunburstbasser]

$500 for a full setup of reeds, case, mouthpiece and the like is a very good price, especially if it isn't a throw-away set of reeds. I'm sure the Wiseman isn't the best sax out there but for $500 it'll work. If getting the Conn fixed at the same price INCLUDES a good mouthpiece and reeds, I would suggest going that route. If not, get the Wisemann. For $500 it'll do well enough to get back into it, and if you really do start playing more you can drop the money on a great vintage Selmer or a new Yamaha or something like that when you want to.

[Lambros]

Omar, this is the review I was telling you about. I can tell you from experience that having owned one of these "BIG" name cheapies for a few months about 20 years ago (it was a Chinese made Buffet alto) I would have rather gone the route of a vintage Conn.
Ironically enough, I later opted to get a very Conn influenced late 70s Keilwerth alto which was then named the H. Couf Suberba I. Yes, it was a pro stencil horn and it was chosen over a Yamaha 62 and an even nicer silver early Mk VI. I wanted that Conn sound in a modern horn back then and have gone full circle ever since with an early 90s Yanagisawa (more in the vintage Selmer range but still uniquely its own sound).

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Selmer_Prelude_AS700.htm

[orbm1]

Omar, this is the review I was telling you about. I can tell you from experience that having owned one of these "BIG" name cheapies for a few months about 20 years ago (it was a Chinese made Buffet alto) I would have rather gone the route of a vintage Conn.
Ironically enough, I later opted to get a very Conn influenced late 70s Keilwerth alto which was then named the H. Couf Suberba I. Yes, it was a pro stencil horn and it was chosen over a Yamaha 62 and an even nicer silver early Mk VI. I wanted that Conn sound in a modern horn back then and have gone full circle ever since with an early 90s Yanagisawa (more in the vintage Selmer range but still uniquely its own sound).

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Selmer_Prelude_AS700.htm

Lambros:

Thanks a lot for your input... I actually found that same review doing my research about Wisemann sax....

Still, not sure if I should go that way....

anyways, I took the used old sax I have, it is a CONN alright, but it is made in Mexico.....mmmmm, is this one a fake???? I did not know they made some in Mexico....

the number in the backs says: N 41771

I am puzzled, maybe somebody can give me a little more insight about this sax.

Also, it is in pretty rough shape... bad, needs padding, reattach a few keys (they are in the case) and a DEEP cleaning, I try to post pics later...right now, I have to go to work.... Thanks!

Omar

[Lambros]

Omar, your horn is actually a real Conn made in Mexico in the early 70s and it should be a 16m. Check out this thread:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=8454

[orbm1]

Omar, your horn is actually a real Conn made in Mexico in the early 70s and it should be a 16m. Check out this thread:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=8454

So, should I repair it? is it worth it? because in thread you shared basically they say they are ok, but nobody will pay more than $200 for it, It will cost me $400- $500 to repair it, if not more....

What do you guys think?

[sunburstbasser]

Well, you could go on Ebay, buy a 10 year old Yamaha, and get a very good instrument at that price. If they update the saxes like they do their trumpets, a model a few years old has little resale value for a nice instrument.

[Lambros]

exactly...a yas-475 is a great deal to be had on the bay...btw the resale value of Yamaha saxes actually hold up rather well.

Well, you could go on Ebay, buy a 10 year old Yamaha, and get a very good instrument at that price. If they update the saxes like they do their trumpets, a model a few years old has little resale value for a nice instrument.