Unpacking my latest ebay purchase raised lots of questions – including who made it, when, why it lacks a middle Bb key and what’s going on with the mouthpiece. This one’s a bit of an enigma and I’m sure some of my clever readers will be able to correct my assumptions (as always!).
Continue readingFiled under: Alto, Orsi, Saxophone Reviews | Tagged: alto saxophone, Dupont Artist Ideal, Orsi, Saximus Maximus | 2 Comments »
As you can see from other posts on this sites, I love Buescher saxophones. They are sturdy horns – built to last. I was lucky enough to find this one recently on Facebook Marketplace. It was very reasonably priced and came with a newish case, strap, vintage Lafleur mouthpiece and a few reeds.
Filed under: Buescher Series 1a, Saxophone Reviews | Tagged: alto saxophone, Buescher, Saximus Maximus | Leave a comment »
I acquired this alto from a charity shop in Reading via an eBay advert. It’s a simply brilliant horn.
It was named after the year it was made, 1932.
Continue readingFiled under: Alto, Boosey & Hawkes | Tagged: 32, alto saxophone, B&H, René Guénot | Leave a comment »
I have been intrigued with French saxophone manufacturers for many years, so it’s great to be able to review another one on this site. From the example of this sax, Pierret seems just as good as most other French makers, of which only Selmer is still in business. I came across Pierret as a saxophone brand when discussing the maker of an unusal instrument some time ago and so was excited to see one on ebay, which I snapped up. Pierret was in business from 1906-1972, although it’s possible that it was selling previously manufactured stock for its last few years. Continue reading
Filed under: Alto, Pierret Oxford | Tagged: #saximax, alto saxophone, Pierret | 1 Comment »
We’re keen browsers at car boot and jumble sales. The Island Donkey Sanctuary regularly runs events locally from which we typically buy clocks and other retro things. I bought this from a car boot sale there about 10 years ago. The saxophone had been used as a school instruments. I can only presume that whoever bought it originally did so from New Zealand, Australia, or perhaps Brazil. Continue reading
Filed under: Condor | Tagged: alto saxophone, China, Condor, Far East, Saximus Maximus, Taiwan | 4 Comments »
I spend a lot of time in Dorset and Devon and enjoy visiting Exeter, where there a number of good secondhand shops – especially if you’re looking for good quality guitars. On a recent trip we decided to go a bit further out to N. E. Tingz, a shop packed with interesting stock. Continue reading
Filed under: Amati AAS22 | Tagged: AAS22, alto saxophone, Amati, Saximus Maximus | 2 Comments »
This splendid American saxophone came to me from my fixer-upper, which I bought from in 2006. I haven’t played it much, but intend to, especially as its big brother is currently my favourite tenor. Continue reading
Filed under: Buescher New Aristocrat | Tagged: Alto, Buescher, Elkhart, Saximus Maximus, saxophone | 2 Comments »
Lizzie was a keen clarinettist, playing a Conn metal instrument and a fine Buffet. She decided to take up the saxophone and I was keen she used something modern and good. We bought this from allegro in Oxford. It was already some 20 years old, but had not been played much and still looks shiny and pristine. Continue reading
Filed under: Yamaha YS62 | Tagged: Alto, Yamaha | 1 Comment »
Kate plays saxophone in the Earley Music Centre Big Band. She’s been sitting on the front row with the altos in front of us tenor players for years, although she’s just moved to baritone – so we’re also going to review of her Selmer Pennsylvania Special here. Ours is a rehearsal band which plays occasional concerts to friends and family, having an annual outing to the Victoria Embankment Gardens in Westminster, London. We play a good variety of big band music from swing to blues to pop and jazz. We’re lucky to have Tom Benellick as our conductor. Continue reading
Filed under: Dolnet Belair | Tagged: Alto, Belair, Dolnet, Mantes | 12 Comments »
We’re very pleased to bring you a review of this excellent, unusual German saxophone written by Peter Chadwick – a keen player based in the West country…
I bought this instrument from eBay out of curiosity (it wasn’t expensive!). I have become a fan of European saxophones after dumping my Martin to buy a Selmer Pennsylvania Special (see an earlier article by Saxuimus Maximus). I have been unable to discover much about pre-war Kohlert instruments although there is a lot of company history to read if you are that way inclined. I understand that during the late 1920’s Kohlert used the year of manufacture as the model name. I have seen pictures of a “Modell 1926” and a “Modell 1928” – mine is a “Modell 1927” and doesn’t look much like the others. Continue reading
Filed under: Kohlert Modell 1927 | Tagged: alto saxophone, Germany, Graslitz, Kholert, Peter Chadwick, Saximus Maximus | 6 Comments »
Saximus Maximus 