JAZZ MUSIC

Is this a good alto sax to buy?

http://www.kkmusicstore.com/mendini-by-cecilio-gold-lacquer-alto-saxophone-p-242.html

so i kind of need this for marching season, concert season and jazz band im a softmore in high school and planing on buy in it so is it a good instrument??
ive been playing alto since freshman year so

The Cecilio brand saxophones don’t have a particularly good reputation, based on multiple manufacturing and material quality issues. I notice that your question doesn’t say you currently have a saxophone, so keeping an old one for marching season (a good idea, if you’ve already got a horn) and saving your new axe for indoors may not be an option for you, due to budget or availability.

But. . . I wouldn’t run right out and buy a Yamaha or a Selmer either. I love Yamahas, and Selmer was once the gold standard in saxophones. However, those names come with high price tags, particularly compared to the Cecilio.

There are several acceptable brands that are manufactured in Taiwan and China, and a couple of brands that have traditionally been U.S. made–it’s hard to keep track of this these days, what with the new trade environment we live in–that won’t break the bank. Many of them come out of the same factory, and some have their own exclusive manufacturing setups.

These horns won’t put up a huge fight over intonation (YOU are the main reason a good horn plays out of tune), and won’t fall apart or turn color if well cared for.

These are the brands I would look at, roughly in order of low to high prices for their student model horns:

Kohlert — an old name on some new Asian manufacturing, these aren’t too bad.
Stephanhouser — they have website problems, but if you look around (Google and online retailers) you can find deals. Intermediate models can be pretty inexpensive if you shop used. These are interesting horns from a mechanical perspective, but that’s another topic.
Bundy — Don’t laugh. These are pretty good horns. Even old beat up ones play pretty good.
Kessler custom — beautifully finished instruments, and a steal at the prices. These are only found at one place: http://www.kesslermusic.com/html/saxophone.html
Conn — (not Conn-Selmer–ok but different. Not Prelude–avoid these) used and new instruments from the 1990′s to current are OK. Look for a deal, and be careful not to get ripped off.
Woodwind (brand) — These are very well made in a Taiwanese factory.
Jupiter — Once the worst, now pretty good, Jupiter gets a bad rap for their early problems. Their artist models are top notch. Their student lines are just fine for the price.
Amati — once upon a time this German brand had some soft brass issues, but they’ve come back.
Buffet — if you can find a good price, this is currently some of the best stuff out there.
Keilwerth — I’ve only played the professional horns, and they’re great. It’s a good name, so you might trust it.
Yamaha or Selmer (La Voix)– these are the highest prices on student horns. They approach professional quality, but are marketed to beginners. Worth it if you’ve got the green.

There are more brands out there, and some of them are OK. Check with a teacher, or an _honest_ salesman who also plays.

Good luck, and happy sax!

Cecilio and Kapono……About You

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Cecilio AS280LN Gold Lacquer Alto Saxophone With Nickel Plated Keys $545.99 Cecilio Musical Instruments offers handcrafted instructor approved band and orchestra instruments that are held to rigorous quality standards and are designed with the student instrumentalist in mind. We test every instrument at our overseas factories and then reinspect them at our Los Angeles distribution center to ensure that you get the very best product possible. Alto Saxophone Features Gold lacquer body with nickel plated keys Key of Eb High F sharp key Large bore High quality leather pads with metal tone boosters Contoured keys with faux mother of pearl inlays Hand engraved bell decoration Outfit Includes Ebonite mouthpiece with ligature and cap Plush lined nylon covered hard shell case with backpack straps Cleaning swab neck strap box of 10 reeds polishing cloth and a pair of white gloves

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