I probably don’t have good ears because all 3 mouthpieces sounded the same. And with the notes came out as correct and good as I thought, i did not hear any problem with this “world cheapest sax”. 🥰
@@oluwakemiituen2737 Indeed... Also ur live sound guy or engineer make a massive difference More than the price of ur instrument usually Just expanding on ur point mate
It definitely takes a bit to tune in to the subtle differences, but after playing for a while you can tell. Also horns and mouthpieces change the difficulty and comfortability of the player mostly
When you become more proficient in playing, you will demand more from the instrument, and then even small things will get in the way of you advancing with your playing. So for a beginner, they won't notice the difference.
I bought a no name soprano for around $280(AUD), then bought a Morgan jazz sop mouthpiece (which cost more than the sop!) I remember watching my teacher do jazz gigs around town, even though had had 6 altos he would rock up with a Yamaha student model and made it still sound like a mkvi, so when I went to buy a sop I want to stuff around on, I made sure the mouthpiece was right, and it works just fine for me on gigs… I don’t have to be scared about knocking it around and breaking my “precious investment”. It’s a great idea for pro players who would rather leave their selmer at home and use something that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to fix and maintain. PS. Have you tried a selmer neck on cheap altos? That changes the sound immensely IMO
thanks for the review, I must admit I was not surprised by your review, think in the last ten years the quality of chinses saxophones have really improved, I recently got a Ammoon sop and it was really good for the money, (£200) I also got last week a gear 4 music tenor and it really shocked me as just how well made it was, again its a Chinese sax. with a Yamaha 4c mouthpiece it plays very well and had a really good tone... I also like the mellow tone of your using the 4c mouthpiece best on your alto. i do hope you video does encourage more people to buy a cheap sax and start learning and playing the sax. a lot of people put off when the see a starting sax at £700... also intimidating to walk into a shop to try a sax when you have never played one before.
bill reed If you never touched a sax before, don't walk into the shop without a skilled advisor, better a tutor! The worst brand new saxophone in the world looks a million dollars in a glass case with a bright light!
Quite agree with you, as saying goes" Practice makes perfect" everything depends on us, friends, Im sax beginner and let's be Sax pals, Good luck, saxfriends!
A few years ago I picked up a used "Freedom" alto for AUD50. I suspect it's one of those Chinese made cheap ones, no model or serial #. I've been noodling around teaching myself, so I really don't know if my sound is the sax or just me, but it has served my purpose well. For the money, I would be happy with a sax that doesn't play B or Bb, but if I was serious, I'd probably avoid the cheapies or plan to upgrade soon. I did add a Yamaha 4C. Cheers.
I bought an Ammoon Alto two years ago from the Wal-Mart website, that I managed to get for 169 dollars. One big complaint is the case. The horn has never left the house, yet a few weeks ago, one of the zipper handles snapped off and broke. I then noticed it was made out of plastic. My other concern is the case doesn't seem like it will protect the instrument well if I take it out in public. It is a pretty looking horn, and looks like a 4,500 Yamaha Custom, even thought it of course doesn't play as well. The middle section in both full octaves, high c# down to low c, it does very well. Anything below the low C is an issue. The high d key was designed wrong. The foot of it sits very high up, and there is no amount of added cork or felt I could install under the foot to shorten the opening, so it doesn't drift flat. The rods are not very strong and seem to bend, but bounce back into shape when picking up the horn by any method other than by the bell. You sound wonderful on this saxophone. I am also dissapointed that there is no serial number on this instrument. I have had difficulty finding a repairman to work on it. I don't expect perfection. Let's compare this with my 62 year old Martin Indiana. The Indiana does blow it away. The rods are strong and solid. Of course the sound is far better, in many respects. I don't think the Ammoon will be anything other than a lamp within a few years. I wish I would have gotten a used Yamaha before getting the Ammoon. If the Ammoon breaks, I can't find someone to repair it. It also sounds way too tinny when I play it. It is frustrating not being able to get those bottom notes.
I really appreciate the rare acknowledgment that what's best varies for everyone. How much one can and feels good about spending alone can be so different for each individual... An absolute beginner musician might confidently spend their life's savings if they're certain that this is their calling. But an experienced musician with plenty of money to blow, but no certainty about whether they wanna be serious about the instrument, might be best only spending the bare minimum on what may be just a glorified toy. Me, i don't have a huge budget but I'm an experienced multi-instrumentalist just deciding if my interest in this particular instrument is strong enough to make what, for me, is a somewhat hefty investment, but one that could potentially be invaluable... 😊 So anyway, thanks for giving a very nuanced take, that also covers some detailed considerations i might keep in mind deciding if and what to buy.
Great tone. Good choice for someone unsure if sax is for them. Repair costs may be higher as cheapies have a bad rep for going out of regulation faster, requiring more ongoing maintenance.
IMHO, the cheap import saxophones are fine beginners after two cheap updates: Yamaha 4 MP (alto) / Yamaha 5 MP ( tenor) and a neck strap that does not slip. Lots of criticism five - seven years ago, but as a price to value proposition, these imported instruments are giving kids and parents a legit and pleasant opportunity to play music and enjoy a life long relationship with some axe. When I was young, lucky to find working instruments at pawn shops. These are new, with case. I'm grateful.
Not bad for the price. Good for a beginner horn. Yes, change the mouthpiece. I would also recommend fixing the low notes. I still have my YAS 23 from back in 88. My parents paid around US$ 720. I still use it and still plays great!
i got about the same kit for about 170$ CAD free shipping. no leak and perfectly working out of the box. my octave key is a little bit sticky, but i didnt even oil anything yet.
A couple of days ago I ordered a tenor black matte saxophone from an Aliexpress seller for 381USD. I hope it arrives in good condition. I received a damaged alto saxophones from Aliexpress a couple of years ago, but it works fine nevertheless. 381USD is not much for a tenor saxophone if it works acceptably well, is somewhat durable, and doesn't fall apart. But it's quite a bit of money in my opinion, if your paying for trash. That's why I actually have a few requirements even for a Chinese saxophone. Especially now that the dollar is high. Chinese saxophone quality has vastly improved the last 10 years.
@@directcurrent5751 Absolutely agree with this. I've purchased a number of band instruments recently that I never had a chance to try when I was a school-kid. The Chinese prices make this possible. I bought a whole range of Clarinets (G, A, Bb, C, Eb). I tried to stick with the Moresky brand as they had a factory store, and had a better reputation. They were all excellent. I bought their C Clarinet in blackwood with silver keys (twice the price of synthetic, but still in the $400-$500 range, that's Canadian $), and it was superb. Even the stock mouthpiece on that one was great. I replaced the mouthpiece on the G Clarinet with a Yamaha which helped a lot. I bought one other C Clarinet that was not Moresky (a synthetic one), and it had a broken spring, and two other springs that were weak/failing. This was the first wind instrument I bought from China that needed some work. I bought the two pliers needed to remove and install springs, and some spring material, and fixed it myself. After the repair, it worked perfectly. I recently bought a Soprano Saxophone, the entry-level ones, but with "phosphor bronze" look (copper color, with brass keys). It looks stunning. Too bad they stamped "Yanagisawa" on it, as it obviously was not a Japanese instrument! Anyway, I'm just starting on Sax, but it seems to play well. I also bought an open-hole flute which works well (again, they stamped "Sankyo" on it, but it's not!). And a few picollo's. The first was ABS with gold-looking keys and traditional mouthpiece. The second one was advertised as "composite wood" (but actually it was the same ABS body as the first one!), with the head stock that has the newer-style shaped mouthpiece, and silver keys. The newer style mouthpiece is definitely a bit better. And finally I got a pocket trumpet. It also works well. I actually had more problems with stringed instruments (guitar, mandolin, uke bass, etc.) The build quality was usually quite good, but there were issues with action, string-depth at the nut, etc. These are fixable problems, but they take extra and unexpected time.
I also bought a Mendini by Cecilio" on Amazon for $229 with $20 off= $209. After going threw your SaxTuition course (which I highly recommend) I found a professional Saxophonist who is great. He looked my Sax over and over and played it at several different lessons of which I have had 8 lessons or 8 weeks. He loves my Sax, “you got a steal! The tone is very good and all keys are where they are supposed to be. I am now playing songs with accompaniment after Jeremy hooked me up with “Tomplay” which I HIGHLY recommend! At my instructors advice I bought the Yamah mouthpiece Jeremy talked about. Over all, I LOVE MY SAXOPHONE!
David, that's awesome! I'm so glad you're enjoying the sax, thanks for your recommendations 😊 Would love to hear your progress, so reach out anytime! - Jeremy
Chinese musical insruments are usually made in factories located in towns and villages that specialise in instruments by type. This means a highly skilled workforce develops and components can be efficiently sourced locally. Quality assurance can still be a problem but selling direct online, based on price, cuts out numerous middlemen in wholesale and retail product distribution and aviods promotional and advertising costs. For students most instruments represent outstanding value. Those of us who have been around for a while can remember when Japanese and Korean manufactured goods were made fun of. Not anymore.
Sounded quite nice! How does the maintenance of a cheaper model compare to a pro model? Do you find that you spend more on maintenance of a cheap model as opposed to a pro model?
My PoV is spending less than $200 for brand new horn, use for 8 - 10 months for testing interests, then move up a brand. Sort of a consumable for family and singles giving it a try.
By the time I saw this video, in May, the item was out of stock. I have purchased a Muslady Eb Alto Saxophone from Walmart 150USD ( a lot closer than China!) just because I've never touched one of these instruments before and I don't want to sink a bunch of dough on something that will be a hidden hobby. You mentioned that a 2.5 reed would be too hard for a beginner, but you don't say what size you'd suggest for an absolute beginner. Amazon store shows reeds from a range from 1.5 to 3, in boxes of 10 , some all one size, some a variety. I don't even know what this part of the instrument does, how often I will need replacing etc. So I don't know what I should look for. Also noticed the Yamaha 4C you suggest doesn't come with a reed or cap, so I guess this stuff is interchangeable? Thanks for your videos. I've watched the beginner video and am about to watch your beginner mistakes. Figured I should get some ideas in my head before the instrument arrives. You are easy to watch and listen to and understand. Great qualities in a teacher.
Thanks so much! Really glad you were able to track down a cheap sax closer to you, and at $150 that’s even cheaper than the cheapest sax I could find on the internet 😉 For absolute beginners, I would recommend starting on a 1.5 strength reed, apologies for not mentioning that in the video. Go for either the Vandoren Traditionals (in a blue box) or the Rico / D’addario Royals. For these rubber mouthpieces, the caps and ligatures will generally always be interchangeable, so you can use whatever came with your Muslady sax. Good luck with everything, feel free to reach out if you have more questions 😊
hey, i could only find the muslady and ammoon brands for cheap sax where i live and like you i dont wanna spend too much. i cant find any reviews on the muslady so how was it? did u find it enough to learn on? what about the maintenance?
As I expected, they ALL (mouthpieces) make YOUR individual tone..Nearly all mouthpieces will do! The sound is YOURS but the choice is ...Does one play /respond better to your blowing requirements? Remember that the next sax box opened might easily have no leaks at all or may have them all over like, an Eb colander!
Nice video. Get your sax together also did a great video on used Yamaha’s. I always watch these videos on my phone and they sound the same. I’m glad you covered the playability and quality because the sound is in the ear of the beholder and the player. To a novice, I’m not sure getting a used saxophone is less risky. Either way you have to plan to have maintenance. A used one may need a repad which is much more expensive. IMO a used cheap sax is the worst way to go. I started with an old Armstrong. It is full of leaks. I ended up replacing most pads myself. I learned a lot but it still doesn’t play great, not surprisingly. It’s ergonomics aren’t great and sound isn’t fantastic. I won’t get the money back out of it and I really don’t enjoy playing it that much. I will probably eventually figure out how to seal up the leaks and it will be ok and a learning experience. My Yamaha YAS-21 slays it. I always watch out for another cheap Yamaha so I can keep one at the office, one at home.
Thanks Craigie, totally agree about used cheap saxes being the worst way to go, and yep, most of the tone absolutely comes from the player. Great choice with the YAS-21!
@@directcurrent5751 the switch up was insane because I changed my mind. I'm learning trumpet (just over 3 weeks now) and planning to switch by the marching season rolls around
Excellent review as always and really love your channel. I was wondering what you thought about the pmauriat horns especially the system 76 dark lacquer alto?
Actually, for the price, not bad, but chuck that stock mouthpiece and spend the money with a good one. The Yamaha 4C will do the trick. That Meyer does that sax well. Thanks for your videos! Cheers Mate!
You said it correctly my friend...Its best to by a used name brand that you know will help you in the end. a used YAMAHA with a little bit of age to it.
There are some videos about replacing pads. I've never done a sax, but I will be doing a Clarinet soon. Seems you can use hot-glue, and either a small torch (if you are careful not to get the flame on the body), or a soldering iron with a big tip. If working on a new instrument and the pad is in new condition, you might be able to just heat up the metal key to soften the glue, and then press the key/pad down onto the hole, allowing to glue to dry while the pad is seated properly. This may re-seat it in the desired position. That's what I understand, but I haven't tried yet. Of course, if the key is actually positioned wrong, or bent, then it would need to be straightened. Some videos show making a type of feeler gauge out of very thin plastic, and using it to find out where the pad is not seating. Check out videos by "The Brass and Woodwind Shop".
Must watch this review if you are supporting a new young potential player. Spot on for need to replace a mouthpiece like the stock one pictured. Need to know more about key pressures for youth (10-12) playability and adjustability to know if this is maintainable by a tech. Kids want to know about lowest note as it feels cool; it is more than a sound. What is required to fix it?
Hey Rick! I actually spoke about sax leaks in depth in this video if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/wA8nzTt-HGQ/видео.html The possible fixes can be quite numerous - it could be the pad isn't seated correctly, the tone hole isn't level, the body of the sax is bent out of alignment, the key is bent out of alignment. It needs a trained eye from a technician with the right measuring tools to make a proper assessment. Even as professional player I can't usually look at a leak and know what the issue is. For that reason, it's difficult to give an estimate on cost, but I would say on average $100 USD would be a safe starting point. Hope that helps somewhat! - Jeremy
Great demo for a low quality instrument. The mouthpiece difference was very noticeable. Difference was in you. You let yourself “take off” when playing the Meyer. This was very apparent! I was impressed with the horn though.
It’s a very bad quality. As a beginner student I was suffering with the same kind of Sax. Worst part was the intonation. I was so close to quit the whole thing. Until I lay down my hands on my new professional high quality sax. I’m so glad that it reached me at the right time.
I had the opposite experience, I was shocked by the quality and loved playing it. But that's part of the risk of buying from aliexpress or dhgate, you can get a great product or compete trash from an identical listing
I just bought a 79$ Saxophone today(September 24 2021). The only instrument I play is Clarinet, and Piano so I'm really excited but I'm also nervous because of how cheap it was.
Нello, friend. Month ago I ordered my first Sax in Aliexpress and still have been waiting with impatience there are a lot of bad opinions about Chinese saxes but your video inspired me much, Id like to keep in touch with you if you don't mind my friend, looking forward to hear from you
I just picked up a "Mendini by Cecilio" on Amazon for $229 to begin learning how to play, but it looks just like this one with the same included items minus the white gloves haha. I'm literally just taking it out of the box so we'll see what happens. Cheers!
Yeah it sounded surprisingly good! Unfortunately there's not much even a professional can do if the saxophone isn't sealing properly. The only thing you could try is to give it a TON of air and try to push past it (or push really hard on the keys), but unfortunately on this sax the leak was too severe. Thankfully being on the 2 bottom notes of the sax meant it didn't interfere with the tone above those notes. I made a video all about sax leaks here if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/wA8nzTt-HGQ/видео.html
@@kyrtap4991 When the pads do not close completely then some air leaks from those keys, meaning the notes will not play properly. This is usually not a difficult repair job for a pro sax repairman, but it can cost enough to make the "cheap" sax not worth it in the long run. I bought a cheap soprano sax, but I was able to test it before buying to make sure there were no leaks, and that it played in tune.
I have used DHGate - very good soprano no leaks. But a mouthpiece bought from DHGate was rubbish and a refund of part of cost was achieved but with difficulty. Chinese attitude is polar opposite to Amazon UK.
The thing about the cheap ones is, the materials are cheap. The keys are made of a zink composite and bend out of shape easily, making all the keys eventually leak. The keys on more expensive sax's are made of steel. Also the finish or lacquer is cheap and peels after 2-3 weeks. The least amout you should spend is around $500 new or a used one for $250.
That's just NOT true anymore. Do some research. This hoary old belief that a lot of American older musicians have, that anything not made in the U.S is junk...just doesn't apply anymore. They havnt used "pot metal" for years.
@@christoguichard4311 it is actually true that the chinese manufacturing method uses cheap metals for the keys. Hence why it is cheap. I dont just believe in "US manufacturing" and infact I believe the japanese are superior in their quality and craftsmanship. Please dont put words in my mouth from your perspective. I have proof from my experiences hence why I believed my opnion matters. Do you have a different experience with a chinese sax? Please let me know how the quality is on yours if you do.
I've never seen a sax with steel keys. They're all made of a "zinc composite"; it's actually an alloy of zinc and copper - that is, brass. And of the Chinese instruments I've had for years, none have yet shown peeling lacquer. Painted ones are subject to chipping and rapid wear, particularly around the lanyard loops, but that's about it. Here's a tip for buyers of used instruments - avoid anything which has been dropped. The world is full of instruments which haven't been dropped, so look for one of those. Any damage can be repaired, but it can run to lots of $$$.
@@gordwrath6811 The Japanese were of course once primarily known for making cheap knock-offs. Later other countries took that role. The question however is not whether a much more expensive Japanese saxophone is better quality, but whether the Chinese ones are actually really good for the price. The answer to that is that in fact many of them are extremely good given how cheap they are. And of course even Japanese companies have had to move manufacturing of more budget products out of Japan, because it is otherwise too expensive. I'd also love to know which Japanese brands use steel to manufacture their saxophones. Yamaha says they use brass. In others words zinc and copper.
Well the choices today are not just goofy colors. You can get: all silver-look, copper color (they call it phosphor bronze) with brass keys, antique brass look, black nickel plating, antique red (copper color), and the standard "gold". Some of these look very nice.
Yeah I didn't hear much difference in the mouth pieces either. But if you were an experienced player, you would be able to tell. An experienced player will be able to do more with a good mouthpiece than a cheap one.
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Once again... The proof that the best gear is oneself. I like so much your reviews. Thanks.
I probably don’t have good ears because all 3 mouthpieces sounded the same. And with the notes came out as correct and good as I thought, i did not hear any problem with this “world cheapest sax”. 🥰
Its not usually the instrument. It's the player that matters
@@oluwakemiituen2737
Indeed...
Also ur live sound guy or engineer make a massive difference
More than the price of ur instrument usually
Just expanding on ur point mate
It definitely takes a bit to tune in to the subtle differences, but after playing for a while you can tell. Also horns and mouthpieces change the difficulty and comfortability of the player mostly
Best comment to see on every single sax video
When you become more proficient in playing, you will demand more from the instrument, and then even small things will get in the way of you advancing with your playing. So for a beginner, they won't notice the difference.
I bought a no name soprano for around $280(AUD), then bought a Morgan jazz sop mouthpiece (which cost more than the sop!) I remember watching my teacher do jazz gigs around town, even though had had 6 altos he would rock up with a Yamaha student model and made it still sound like a mkvi, so when I went to buy a sop I want to stuff around on, I made sure the mouthpiece was right, and it works just fine for me on gigs… I don’t have to be scared about knocking it around and breaking my “precious investment”. It’s a great idea for pro players who would rather leave their selmer at home and use something that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to fix and maintain. PS. Have you tried a selmer neck on cheap altos? That changes the sound immensely IMO
These days, the cheap import horns only need little better mouthpiece and do a fine job for beginners.
thanks for the review, I must admit I was not surprised by your review, think in the last ten years the quality of chinses saxophones have really improved, I recently got a Ammoon sop and it was really good for the money, (£200) I also got last week a gear 4 music tenor and it really shocked me as just how well made it was, again its a Chinese sax. with a Yamaha 4c mouthpiece it plays very well and had a really good tone... I also like the mellow tone of your using the 4c mouthpiece best on your alto. i do hope you video does encourage more people to buy a cheap sax and start learning and playing the sax. a lot of people put off when the see a starting sax at £700... also intimidating to walk into a shop to try a sax when you have never played one before.
bill reed
If you never touched a sax before, don't walk into the shop without a skilled advisor, better a tutor!
The worst brand new saxophone in the world looks a million dollars in a glass case with a bright light!
Quite agree with you, as saying goes" Practice makes perfect" everything depends on us, friends, Im sax beginner and let's be Sax pals, Good luck, saxfriends!
A few years ago I picked up a used "Freedom" alto for AUD50. I suspect it's one of those Chinese made cheap ones, no model or serial #. I've been noodling around teaching myself, so I really don't know if my sound is the sax or just me, but it has served my purpose well. For the money, I would be happy with a sax that doesn't play B or Bb, but if I was serious, I'd probably avoid the cheapies or plan to upgrade soon.
I did add a Yamaha 4C. Cheers.
$50 AUD, wow! That's impressively cheap. The 4C will definitely help :)
Just the $25 mouthpiece upgrade makes these half respectable horns.
I bought an Ammoon Alto two years ago from the Wal-Mart website, that I managed to get for 169 dollars. One big complaint is the case. The horn has never left the house, yet a few weeks ago, one of the zipper handles snapped off and broke. I then noticed it was made out of plastic. My other concern is the case doesn't seem like it will protect the instrument well if I take it out in public. It is a pretty looking horn, and looks like a 4,500 Yamaha Custom, even thought it of course doesn't play as well. The middle section in both full octaves, high c# down to low c, it does very well. Anything below the low C is an issue. The high d key was designed wrong. The foot of it sits very high up, and there is no amount of added cork or felt I could install under the foot to shorten the opening, so it doesn't drift flat. The rods are not very strong and seem to bend, but bounce back into shape when picking up the horn by any method other than by the bell. You sound wonderful on this saxophone. I am also dissapointed that there is no serial number on this instrument. I have had difficulty finding a repairman to work on it. I don't expect perfection. Let's compare this with my 62 year old Martin Indiana. The Indiana does blow it away. The rods are strong and solid. Of course the sound is far better, in many respects. I don't think the Ammoon will be anything other than a lamp within a few years. I wish I would have gotten a used Yamaha before getting the Ammoon. If the Ammoon breaks, I can't find someone to repair it. It also sounds way too tinny when I play it. It is frustrating not being able to get those bottom notes.
I really appreciate the rare acknowledgment that what's best varies for everyone. How much one can and feels good about spending alone can be so different for each individual... An absolute beginner musician might confidently spend their life's savings if they're certain that this is their calling.
But an experienced musician with plenty of money to blow, but no certainty about whether they wanna be serious about the instrument, might be best only spending the bare minimum on what may be just a glorified toy.
Me, i don't have a huge budget but I'm an experienced multi-instrumentalist just deciding if my interest in this particular instrument is strong enough to make what, for me, is a somewhat hefty investment, but one that could potentially be invaluable... 😊
So anyway, thanks for giving a very nuanced take, that also covers some detailed considerations i might keep in mind deciding if and what to buy.
Just buy the bottom rung Yamaha mouthpiece immediately.
Great tone. Good choice for someone unsure if sax is for them. Repair costs may be higher as cheapies have a bad rep for going out of regulation faster, requiring more ongoing maintenance.
IMHO, the cheap import saxophones are fine beginners after two cheap updates: Yamaha 4 MP (alto) / Yamaha 5 MP ( tenor) and a neck strap that does not slip. Lots of criticism five - seven years ago, but as a price to value proposition, these imported instruments are giving kids and parents a legit and pleasant opportunity to play music and enjoy a life long relationship with some axe. When I was young, lucky to find working instruments at pawn shops. These are new, with case. I'm grateful.
Not bad for the price. Good for a beginner horn. Yes, change the mouthpiece. I would also recommend fixing the low notes. I still have my YAS 23 from back in 88. My parents paid around US$ 720. I still use it and still plays great!
That’s around the time I got my YAS-23. Around the same price. For that price, not bad, especially for beginners.
I definitely recommend to change mouthpieces and reeds. I still have my YAS, and is still a great horn after 30 years.
i got about the same kit for about 170$ CAD free shipping.
no leak and perfectly working out of the box.
my octave key is a little bit sticky, but i didnt even oil anything yet.
also i bought a padded strap because the stock one cut your head off its so bad.
A couple of days ago I ordered a tenor black matte saxophone from an Aliexpress seller for 381USD. I hope it arrives in good condition. I received a damaged alto saxophones from Aliexpress a couple of years ago, but it works fine nevertheless. 381USD is not much for a tenor saxophone if it works acceptably well, is somewhat durable, and doesn't fall apart. But it's quite a bit of money in my opinion, if your paying for trash. That's why I actually have a few requirements even for a Chinese saxophone. Especially now that the dollar is high. Chinese saxophone quality has vastly improved the last 10 years.
Vastly improved and wonderful opportunity to try things once out of reach. $$$
@@directcurrent5751 Absolutely agree with this. I've purchased a number of band instruments recently that I never had a chance to try when I was a school-kid. The Chinese prices make this possible.
I bought a whole range of Clarinets (G, A, Bb, C, Eb). I tried to stick with the Moresky brand as they had a factory store, and had a better reputation. They were all excellent. I bought their C Clarinet in blackwood with silver keys (twice the price of synthetic, but still in the $400-$500 range, that's Canadian $), and it was superb. Even the stock mouthpiece on that one was great. I replaced the mouthpiece on the G Clarinet with a Yamaha which helped a lot.
I bought one other C Clarinet that was not Moresky (a synthetic one), and it had a broken spring, and two other springs that were weak/failing. This was the first wind instrument I bought from China that needed some work. I bought the two pliers needed to remove and install springs, and some spring material, and fixed it myself. After the repair, it worked perfectly.
I recently bought a Soprano Saxophone, the entry-level ones, but with "phosphor bronze" look (copper color, with brass keys). It looks stunning. Too bad they stamped "Yanagisawa" on it, as it obviously was not a Japanese instrument! Anyway, I'm just starting on Sax, but it seems to play well.
I also bought an open-hole flute which works well (again, they stamped "Sankyo" on it, but it's not!). And a few picollo's. The first was ABS with gold-looking keys and traditional mouthpiece. The second one was advertised as "composite wood" (but actually it was the same ABS body as the first one!), with the head stock that has the newer-style shaped mouthpiece, and silver keys. The newer style mouthpiece is definitely a bit better. And finally I got a pocket trumpet. It also works well.
I actually had more problems with stringed instruments (guitar, mandolin, uke bass, etc.) The build quality was usually quite good, but there were issues with action, string-depth at the nut, etc. These are fixable problems, but they take extra and unexpected time.
Very professional, and informative video! I don't even play the sax and enjoyed watching this video!
I also bought a Mendini by Cecilio" on Amazon for $229 with $20 off= $209.
After going threw your SaxTuition course (which I highly recommend) I found a professional Saxophonist who is great.
He looked my Sax over and over and played it at several different lessons of which I have had 8 lessons or 8 weeks.
He loves my Sax, “you got a steal! The tone is very good and all keys are where they are supposed to be.
I am now playing songs with accompaniment after Jeremy hooked me up with “Tomplay” which I HIGHLY recommend!
At my instructors advice I bought the Yamah mouthpiece Jeremy talked about.
Over all, I LOVE MY SAXOPHONE!
David, that's awesome! I'm so glad you're enjoying the sax, thanks for your recommendations 😊 Would love to hear your progress, so reach out anytime! - Jeremy
Chinese musical insruments are usually made in factories located in towns and villages that specialise in instruments by type. This means a highly skilled workforce develops and components can be efficiently sourced locally. Quality assurance can still be a problem but selling direct online, based on price, cuts out numerous middlemen in wholesale and retail product distribution and aviods promotional and advertising costs. For students most instruments represent outstanding value. Those of us who have been around for a while can remember when Japanese and Korean manufactured goods were made fun of. Not anymore.
Sounded quite nice!
How does the maintenance of a cheaper model compare to a pro model?
Do you find that you spend more on maintenance of a cheap model as opposed to a pro model?
My PoV is spending less than $200 for brand new horn, use for 8 - 10 months for testing interests, then move up a brand. Sort of a consumable for family and singles giving it a try.
How much time do you think this saxophone will last? I still have doubts about whether it can last long or not
Can't you adjust the screws or align pads by yourself to fix the leaks?
By the time I saw this video, in May, the item was out of stock. I have purchased a Muslady Eb Alto Saxophone from Walmart 150USD ( a lot closer than China!) just because I've never touched one of these instruments before and I don't want to sink a bunch of dough on something that will be a hidden hobby.
You mentioned that a 2.5 reed would be too hard for a beginner, but you don't say what size you'd suggest for an absolute beginner. Amazon store shows reeds from a range from 1.5 to 3, in boxes of 10 , some all one size, some a variety. I don't even know what this part of the instrument does, how often I will need replacing etc. So I don't know what I should look for.
Also noticed the Yamaha 4C you suggest doesn't come with a reed or cap, so I guess this stuff is interchangeable?
Thanks for your videos. I've watched the beginner video and am about to watch your beginner mistakes. Figured I should get some ideas in my head before the instrument arrives.
You are easy to watch and listen to and understand. Great qualities in a teacher.
Thanks so much! Really glad you were able to track down a cheap sax closer to you, and at $150 that’s even cheaper than the cheapest sax I could find on the internet 😉
For absolute beginners, I would recommend starting on a 1.5 strength reed, apologies for not mentioning that in the video. Go for either the Vandoren Traditionals (in a blue box) or the Rico / D’addario Royals.
For these rubber mouthpieces, the caps and ligatures will generally always be interchangeable, so you can use whatever came with your Muslady sax.
Good luck with everything, feel free to reach out if you have more questions 😊
hey, i could only find the muslady and ammoon brands for cheap sax where i live and like you i dont wanna spend too much. i cant find any reviews on the muslady so how was it? did u find it enough to learn on? what about the maintenance?
As I expected, they ALL (mouthpieces) make YOUR individual tone..Nearly all mouthpieces will do!
The sound is YOURS but the choice is ...Does one play /respond better to your blowing requirements?
Remember that the next sax box opened might easily have no leaks at all or may have them all over like, an Eb colander!
Nice video.
Get your sax together also did a great video on used Yamaha’s.
I always watch these videos on my phone and they sound the same. I’m glad you covered the playability and quality because the sound is in the ear of the beholder and the player.
To a novice, I’m not sure getting a used saxophone is less risky. Either way you have to plan to have maintenance. A used one may need a repad which is much more expensive.
IMO a used cheap sax is the worst way to go. I started with an old Armstrong. It is full of leaks. I ended up replacing most pads myself. I learned a lot but it still doesn’t play great, not surprisingly. It’s ergonomics aren’t great and sound isn’t fantastic. I won’t get the money back out of it and I really don’t enjoy playing it that much. I will probably eventually figure out how to seal up the leaks and it will be ok and a learning experience.
My Yamaha YAS-21 slays it. I always watch out for another cheap Yamaha so I can keep one at the office, one at home.
Thanks Craigie, totally agree about used cheap saxes being the worst way to go, and yep, most of the tone absolutely comes from the player. Great choice with the YAS-21!
@@BradleyUppercrustIII345just replace neck strap and mouthpiece after Week Two. Yamaha 4C or Yamaha 5C really elevate the whole instrument.
@@directcurrent5751 the switch up was insane because I changed my mind. I'm learning trumpet (just over 3 weeks now) and planning to switch by the marching season rolls around
Excellent review as always and really love your channel. I was wondering what you thought about the pmauriat horns especially the system 76 dark lacquer alto?
For the money, sounds great
I bought a cheap one on temu. Its not bad im having fun with it. New mouth piece and neck strap is key.
Good afternoon. Am looking to move up from my Aristocrat, $1000 is the budget. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Actually, for the price, not bad, but chuck that stock mouthpiece and spend the money with a good one. The Yamaha 4C will do the trick. That Meyer does that sax well. Thanks for your videos! Cheers Mate!
You said it correctly my friend...Its best to by a used name brand that you know will help you in the end. a used YAMAHA with a little bit of age to it.
A nice suggestion, but I know that where I live used ones are rare.
sounded good to me. B & Bb are important. Is DIY possible to improve closure?
There are some videos about replacing pads. I've never done a sax, but I will be doing a Clarinet soon. Seems you can use hot-glue, and either a small torch (if you are careful not to get the flame on the body), or a soldering iron with a big tip. If working on a new instrument and the pad is in new condition, you might be able to just heat up the metal key to soften the glue, and then press the key/pad down onto the hole, allowing to glue to dry while the pad is seated properly. This may re-seat it in the desired position. That's what I understand, but I haven't tried yet. Of course, if the key is actually positioned wrong, or bent, then it would need to be straightened. Some videos show making a type of feeler gauge out of very thin plastic, and using it to find out where the pad is not seating. Check out videos by "The Brass and Woodwind Shop".
I can't believe the sound difference with the "good" mouthpiece. Alot warmer
Can hardly go wrong with a $155. Purchase! Thanks for the review
Must watch this review if you are supporting a new young potential player. Spot on for need to replace a mouthpiece like the stock one pictured. Need to know more about key pressures for youth (10-12) playability and adjustability to know if this is maintainable by a tech. Kids want to know about lowest note as it feels cool; it is more than a sound. What is required to fix it?
Hey Rick! I actually spoke about sax leaks in depth in this video if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/wA8nzTt-HGQ/видео.html
The possible fixes can be quite numerous - it could be the pad isn't seated correctly, the tone hole isn't level, the body of the sax is bent out of alignment, the key is bent out of alignment. It needs a trained eye from a technician with the right measuring tools to make a proper assessment. Even as professional player I can't usually look at a leak and know what the issue is. For that reason, it's difficult to give an estimate on cost, but I would say on average $100 USD would be a safe starting point. Hope that helps somewhat! - Jeremy
Great demo for a low quality instrument. The mouthpiece difference was very noticeable. Difference was in you. You let yourself “take off” when playing the Meyer. This was very apparent! I was impressed with the horn though.
Do you have link of this from where you buyed
It’s a very bad quality. As a beginner student I was suffering with the same kind of Sax. Worst part was the intonation. I was so close to quit the whole thing. Until I lay down my hands on my new professional high quality sax. I’m so glad that it reached me at the right time.
I had the opposite experience, I was shocked by the quality and loved playing it. But that's part of the risk of buying from aliexpress or dhgate, you can get a great product or compete trash from an identical listing
I just bought a 79$ Saxophone today(September 24 2021). The only instrument I play is Clarinet, and Piano so I'm really excited but I'm also nervous because of how cheap it was.
Wow, $79!? What’s it called?
@@SaxTuition I'm not so sure, but it looks super nice, and it has a 5 STAR RATING! :O
que marca es el saco
Нello, friend. Month ago I ordered my first Sax in Aliexpress and still have been waiting with impatience there are a lot of bad opinions about Chinese saxes but your video inspired me much, Id like to keep in touch with you if you don't mind my friend, looking forward to hear from you
I just picked up a "Mendini by Cecilio" on Amazon for $229 to begin learning how to play, but it looks just like this one with the same included items minus the white gloves haha. I'm literally just taking it out of the box so we'll see what happens. Cheers!
Oh no, but how will you play without the gloves? 🤣
My cousin also gave that same Sax from Amazon. She heard me a while ago I was thinking on learning Sax and that was her pushed >
Goes to show it’s mostly the player that effects the sound even more than the mouthpiece or instrument. Great review 👍
Lol I love how they have piano music playing in the background music of a saxophone review! 😁
Have you ever come across Apollo saxophones and if so do you know whether they are any good?
Sorry I haven’t! Seems like there are new brands popping up every day…
Do a nuvo jsax 2.0 review!!!!
can you please review the mendini saxophone
I would prefer the smooth, warm sound of the Y-4c mouthpiece
Is there a link
Sounded pretty good
Amazing sound for such an inexpensive alto sax! As an experienced player can you play through the leaks on the low B & Bb?
Yeah it sounded surprisingly good! Unfortunately there's not much even a professional can do if the saxophone isn't sealing properly. The only thing you could try is to give it a TON of air and try to push past it (or push really hard on the keys), but unfortunately on this sax the leak was too severe. Thankfully being on the 2 bottom notes of the sax meant it didn't interfere with the tone above those notes. I made a video all about sax leaks here if you're interested: ruclips.net/video/wA8nzTt-HGQ/видео.html
You made this cheap sax sound warm and clear.
I'm thinking of buying a cheap sax to start learning, what does leaking mean on a sax?
@@kyrtap4991 When the pads do not close completely then some air leaks from those keys, meaning the notes will not play properly. This is usually not a difficult repair job for a pro sax repairman, but it can cost enough to make the "cheap" sax not worth it in the long run. I bought a cheap soprano sax, but I was able to test it before buying to make sure there were no leaks, and that it played in tune.
@@robstevens9590 But if you bought a cheap instrument, and have some tools and desire to learn, you may be able to fix it yourself.
Around here used cheaper Yamaha models are nearly non-existent. Pretty much have to buy new if you want a Yamaha.
I have used DHGate - very good soprano no leaks. But a mouthpiece bought from DHGate was rubbish and a refund of part of cost was achieved but with difficulty. Chinese attitude is polar opposite to Amazon UK.
link???
Great review mate.
you did not mention the scale of saxophone.
Wow as a guitarist who wants to learn sax this looks like a great way to not break the bank until I can afford a more expensive one
Just a great sound . So If you by another in some years it will be even better.
It apparently plays well for the less than a 1 year rental costs.
THIS. Cheapest first year possible.
The thing about the cheap ones is, the materials are cheap. The keys are made of a zink composite and bend out of shape easily, making all the keys eventually leak. The keys on more expensive sax's are made of steel. Also the finish or lacquer is cheap and peels after 2-3 weeks. The least amout you should spend is around $500 new or a used one for $250.
That's just NOT true anymore.
Do some research.
This hoary old belief that a lot of American older musicians have, that anything not made in the U.S is junk...just doesn't apply anymore.
They havnt used "pot metal" for years.
@@christoguichard4311 it is actually true that the chinese manufacturing method uses cheap metals for the keys. Hence why it is cheap. I dont just believe in "US manufacturing" and infact I believe the japanese are superior in their quality and craftsmanship. Please dont put words in my mouth from your perspective. I have proof from my experiences hence why I believed my opnion matters. Do you have a different experience with a chinese sax? Please let me know how the quality is on yours if you do.
I've never seen a sax with steel keys. They're all made of a "zinc composite"; it's actually an alloy of zinc and copper - that is, brass. And of the Chinese instruments I've had for years, none have yet shown peeling lacquer. Painted ones are subject to chipping and rapid wear, particularly around the lanyard loops, but that's about it.
Here's a tip for buyers of used instruments - avoid anything which has been dropped. The world is full of instruments which haven't been dropped, so look for one of those. Any damage can be repaired, but it can run to lots of $$$.
Can you name some models that use steel?
@@gordwrath6811 The Japanese were of course once primarily known for making cheap knock-offs. Later other countries took that role. The question however is not whether a much more expensive Japanese saxophone is better quality, but whether the Chinese ones are actually really good for the price. The answer to that is that in fact many of them are extremely good given how cheap they are. And of course even Japanese companies have had to move manufacturing of more budget products out of Japan, because it is otherwise too expensive.
I'd also love to know which Japanese brands use steel to manufacture their saxophones. Yamaha says they use brass. In others words zinc and copper.
You made that cheap sax sound great. Someone with less than $200 can have a brand new horn.
sorry you did mention the scale
Alto saxophone sounded really good
Nice I am impressed
Sounded good
A kid or anyone for that matter with a $155 can now learn to play.
4C is soft and greet
So, here it is! *ad*
Sounds good for a cheap sax
I am in Burundi and I like to have one 1 $155 sax
they are trying to tell you the finish should not be handle with your bare hands
not hand engraved
NICE VIDEO!
Also teach me how to play saxophone, sir🙏🏻
Ain’t the cheapest, but close. My friend got Non used one for 130
Sounds very nice, but then you are clearly a top pro. I think it would be great for a beginner.
You got your money’s worth. It came with gloves!
They have 20 bucks sax now on aliexpress , wonder how they sound like
$20? Is that what you meant to type? Those are usually just miniature decorations.
@@PracticaProphetica they are functional but probably sounds like my ex wife
@@rabih1978 I'm on Ali a lot, but I've never seen an actual Sax for $20! And I don't know what your ex sounds like! 😄
Only promotion play the sax outside the your house and not used the reverb and your microphone when you play the saxophone
Please help me I love learning saxs but I don't have enough money please can you help me
Not bad
You stopped your sax lesson with only one lessson. I was disapointed
The music is too loud.!,😭
After this video they jacked up the price of their saxophone 😭
Hopefully the workers who make these saxophones got a bit of a raise. We can always hope.
"MULTIPLE COLOUIRS AVAILABLE", and you just buy a normal gold lacquered? Missed opportunity to have a stupidly coloured sax :D
Well the choices today are not just goofy colors. You can get: all silver-look, copper color (they call it phosphor bronze) with brass keys, antique brass look, black nickel plating, antique red (copper color), and the standard "gold". Some of these look very nice.
yaqmha is japan to the somali how cost to camen somali
Homer Simpson be like:😯
They look great and even sound good and play surprisingly well but...they won't hold up.
The stock mouthpiece definitely sounds cheap.
Sounded all the same
Yeah I didn't hear much difference in the mouth pieces either. But if you were an experienced player, you would be able to tell. An experienced player will be able to do more with a good mouthpiece than a cheap one.
BRO JUST FUCKING PLAY IT ALREADY