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Recently, the first saxophone I ever owned turned 30. I was 15 in March of 1979 when it arrived brand new from Manny’s, the NYC music store. I still play it, although in the last 30 years it has gone through long periods of silence. It is an alto, Selmer USA, model Signet, and it cost me $325.00. A schoolmate played that sax in the inauguration and closing ceremonies of the 8th Pan American Games, held in Puerto Rico in July of 1979, while I played his tenor, a Selmer USA Bundy.
With my Signet alto I played at the School Concert Band from August, 1979 until my high school graduation in May, 1981. Then I played it at the Big and Concert bands of the University of Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus. In those college years (’81 to ‘86) I played with salsa and rock bands and had a blast.
In June of 1991 I was already a lawyer when I purchased, also from Manny’s, another alto, a Yamaha 62 (for which I paid $1,875.00 back then). Years later, when I overhauled and played again the Signet alto, I noticed that it sounded better than the Yamaha. Last September I sold the Yamaha and got a Mauriat soprano, which I found much better sound wise than the Yamaha 675 I had and also recently sold. Now I’m planning on getting a Yanagisawa A-991, either the lacquered one or the silver plated. Any suggestions and insights are welcome!
- Roberto A. Fernández
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For some reason (silly I know) silver sax’s don’t do it for me. I would go for the lacquered one.
Doris, it’s not silly. Preferences are what they are, period. In fact, I’ve never played a silver plated sax. I just know it’s supposed to have a brighter, more powerful sound, because the lacquer partially absorbs the harmonics of the brass as it resonates. The Yani 991-S is more expensive than the lacquered one, so that’s also a consideration. It’s a shame that, whatever decison I make, it would not be preceded by play testing the horn. Thanks for your comment!
It certainly is a shame… I would find it very hard to buy that way.