The Saxophone

Tips for Beginners

World wide, no other wind instrument is played more then the saxophone. This has resulted in a wide range of available instruments including recommendable low price models suitable for beginners. Acoustic brilliance can not be expatiated from instruments costing around 300 € (incl. case and accessories) but you will get very good instruments that are ideal for everyday use. Instruments that meet higher demands and offer excellent sound characteristics can be found from around 800 – 950 €, these also have a higher re-sales price if things don’t work out. If you should be thinking about purchasing a used instrument, please be sure to consult a specialist such are a music teacher, anonymous buying of instruments that haven’t been tested, maybe via the internet, can be very risky. If the keys do not close properly or the pads are worn, a further general overhaul may cause annoying and considerable follow-up costs. So be sure to keep an eye open! Our specialists service all saxophones in our own workshop; they are fully checked and adjusted before they leave our house.

The most important criteria for a good saxophone are:

• an easy going mechanics
• absolutely airtight keys
• good pads
• clean finish
• the instrument should feel right
• the instrument most have a proper intonation

Maintenance

The Saxophone should always be dried toughly leaving as little moisture in the instrument as possible. If a saxophone is regularly stored away being damp, the leather pads under the valves will soon become hard and crackly and this will result in the necessity for a costly overhaul.


Accessories

• Padded straps (shoulder straps) for best comfort
• For children with undeveloped back muscles or musicians with heavy instruments such as baritone saxophones, we recommend shoulder straps, that balance the weight
• Wipers
• Reeds. Reeds with a strength of 1, 5 have proven to be best for young players and strengths of 2 are best for adults and beginners.

No matter if you are a beginner, advanced player or professional player; the preciser you describe your wishes, the better we can help. We like to set our own standards when helping customers, as our sales staff are all musicians themselves, with a found knowledge of the market and scene.They all started as beginners and have become professionals and are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of most instruments through their everyday work.