MI Pro

With retail still holding out against the pressures of the recession, spare a thought for the saxophone retailer. While the boom years of the instrument are still within the living memory of many, sales have been pretty flat, with some barely notable exceptions, for years.

However, the saxophone, with a little time, care and effort, is still an option well worth considering for a dealer looking for a new line. With many Chinese-made models achieving playable quality (although this is still an area that gets many hackles up among the high-end guard) there is an ease in supply and prices that are hugely attractive to the customer. One does have to be careful, though, as there are as many dodgy saxes from the Far East as there are excellent ones.

On the pro side of things, people still think automatically of the so-called big four – Selmer, Yamaha, Yanigasawa and Keilwerth – but challenges are coming in strong from the likes of P Mauriat and the Swiss ‘boutique’ manufacturer Inderbinen.
Selmer, of course, remains the ‘Steinway of saxes’ and despite the greatest efforts of the many pretenders, the brand still wears the crown. With the entry-level pushing expectations up, however, the pretences of the professionals are becoming ever more detailed and eyes are regularly being cast more widely. The market is changing.

J MICHAEL
This Japanese brand has been in the UK for around ten years thanks to the UK and Ireland supplier FCN Music. The brand has steadily grown and is now acknowledged in the educational sector as supplying robust reliable instruments. The most popular instrument is the AL500 – a good starter student instrument at £369. The AL780 is a better student instrument for those going on to higher graded exams, while the AL980GM goes a step further for long-term advanced use. Another gem is the Curved soprano sax – a lovely little instrument suitable for smaller hands and at £460 very affordable.

J Michael saxes are good for both sale and rental purposes and FCN is keen to point out that there is a full margin for the dealer while still being affordable. FCN checks all the instruments once they arrive in the UK, carries a large range of spare parts and can normally turnaround parts to dealers immediately. It also offers technical advice from an in-house brass and woodwind technician.

YAMAHA
Yamaha covers just about every angle conceivable in the sax world. Its saxes are considered by many to be the best and it offers a full range from the Custom and Pro models, to Intermediate and Standard series. Some of the major pluses that have made the brand so popular are, from the most basic instruments, a highly accurate intonation and a quick response. Prices range from a few hundred quid up to thousands.

Yamaha has recently launched a dedicated online resource for sax players, plugging the Custom range. The website showcases the instruments in an informative and intuitive online environment while offering saxophone related information and exclusive video footage, top tips and interviews with many of Yamaha’s artists, including George Shelby, Otis Murphy and Peter Weniger.

YANAGISAWA
Despite the continuing increase in global demand and the limited manufacturing capacity of Yanagisawa saxophones, it is pleasing to know that it has not gone down the route and trappings of mass production and out-sourcing parts. Apart from the pads, every component of Yanagisawa saxes is manufactured at the Tokyo factory to keep the tightest of grips on quality.

Recent trends in the saxophone have been more cosmetic than mechanical and Yanagisawa has taken this on board with a new antique finish to emulate the horns of the past. Barnes & Mullins keeps a limited amount of 991 and 992 series, unlacquered altos and tenors in stock. These models also have a fast and reliable modern action. Snake Davis, who spent most of his life playing vintage horns, switched to Yanigasawa four years ago and has a whole set of series 992 bronze saxes.

The demand for the 992 bronze series and the 993 series solid silver saxes continues to grow with the addition of the 9933 models. These comprise of solid silver crook and bell with a brass body and bow, synonymous with the vintage Silver-sonic Super 20 of yesteryear. The -9932J custom alto and tenor, referred to as the Peter King models, continue to turn heads.

ANTIGUA
Barnes & Mullins, of course, also handles the Atigua saxophone catalogue in the UK. While seen primarily as an entry level and student range, the US manufacturer is pushing hard on its 4000 series of saxes, which it also refers to as its Pro range. The Pro Power Bell tenor (named after the extra-wide flare on the bell), for example, offers contemporary design, premium materials, impeccable craftsmanship and road-worthy reliability, as well as a ‘closely guarded’ annealing process.

STAGG
Say ‘Stagg’ and think ‘entry-level’. Well, things are moving on for EMD’s sax range, at least. On top of the expected £450 to £700 models, which are instruments that are in themselves constantly being upgraded and improved, the brand now has a flagship instrument on the shape of the 77-SB baritone. This heavyweight beauty clocks in at £2,355 and takes the Stagg brand on to a new level.

Besides this, there is the extremely popular 77-SA alto with high F-sharp key and a rocker octave key mechanism, as well as a tenor version and the SS sopranos in curved or straight models.

P MAURIAT
Putting in a very respectable challenge to the ‘big four’ pro sax manufacturers, P Mauriat (supplied to the UK through saxophones.co.uk) is causing ripples of approval throughout the pro artist world.

Models such as the 66R and the 76 are being hailed as ‘the new Selmer’ with their vintage lacquer, flared bell, abalone key touches and fine engraving, combining with a very rich tone and fluid payability.

Interesting to note that one pro on the web was very excited about switching the neck of a 66R with that of the 76 and discovering something of a Holy Grail for himself.

ODYSSEY
JHS’ brand is another of those that has gone from strength to strength, indeed scooping the ‘best seller’ top slot in MI Pro’s dealer survey in February this year.

For less than £400, punters can buy the OAS130 alto sax outfit with its polished gold, clear lacquer brass body, engraved bell, power forged keywork, stainless steel rods, springs and pins, pearloid keycaps, high F# key, double braced pad cup on low C, fine tuning adjustment and adjustable thumb rest. All of this with JHS sales and support behind the brand makes it a real tempter for those looking to get into the sax market – and, of course, ideal for the beginner player.

JUPITER
Another entry-level to semi-pro brand is the ever-growing Jupiter range. Made in Taiwan and supplied in the UK through Korg, these instruments come in several lines: student models, the Artist series and the Professional line.

Jupiter makes soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones in each line. Its Artist and Prohorns in particular have a very good reputation and its student horns are considered to be good, too.

The 989 Artist tenor, for example, has a hand-hammered brass neck, gold-lacquered body and keys, an engraved bell, high F#, front F and tilting G# to Bb table keys.

EARLHAM
Earlham saxes weigh in as an extremely attractive option for the student, being eminently playable instruments, with a tone that really does belie the sub-£700 price point. On top of this, players are increasingly attracted by the sometimes stunning finishes the instruments are available in. UK supplier Bill Lewington also supplies all instruments with Rovner ligatures, which adds a nice touch for those looking for that little bit of added value to their purchase.

Selmer (Vincent Bach)    020 8358 8800
Earlham (Bill Lewington)    01268 413366
Jupiter (Korg UK)     01908 857100
Odyssey (JHS)     0113 286 5381
P Mauriat     saxophones.co.uk
Stagg (EMD)     01293 862612
Yanagisawa/Antigua (Barnes & Mullins)     01691 652449
Yamaha     01908 366700
J Michael (FCN)    01892 603733