The most well made saxophone?

I would like opinions on who makes the nicest professional saxophone today in terms of quality of materials and craftsmanship. I'm only interested in new pro horns. I'm not interested in discussion about tonal quality(ie - one horn is bright the other is dark) as much as the machining and finishing of the horn. I would like opinions about the machining quality of the product and attention to detail by the manufacturer. Also, are there and quality builders besides Selmer, Yanigasawa(sp?), Yamaha, Guardala,Keilwerth, that make pro horns that are high end saxophones?

The most well made horn on the market today? Almost unarguably, the Yamaha Custom saxophones are the most well built saxophones. Their craftsmanship is impeccable.

What's your experience with the other horns? Have you owned Keilwerths, Yanigasawas, Selmers, Amatis, Cannonballs, etc?

I haven't had a great deal of experience with any horn other than Keilwerths, but I've owned 4 and none have ever had any problems. I have a lot of friends with Keilwerths, and none of them have ever had any problems, either. I know that Selmers aren't very consistent, because they're manufactured in such large quantities. Yamahas seem to be very good, but I've seen some crappy ones. Yanigasawas seem to be very consistent, too.

They're all great horns, but individual cases vary.

Selmer, Paris seems to have the highest resale value due to their reputation for quality - including materials. Yamaha and Yanigasawa also seem to be close matches according to most of those who know all of them well, but they don't have quite the same retention of resale value.

The only complaints I've heard about the Selmers lately is that they come from the factory pretty badly out of adjustment. This is a minor complaint, since you should plan on having a good tech set up a new horn anyway.

Keilworth has advocates and detractors. From what I've heard of them, the advocates seem to have it right, but I've never owned one, so I can't say for sure. I know a lot of hotshot players get very nice sounds out of them, but hotshot players can often get good sound from poor instruments.

Likewise, Cannonball has advocates - but they are a small circulation product, so real background is hard to find.

If money is no object, you are always safe getting a Selmer from Paris. That's not a Selmer, USA - which is really a Bundy with a Selmer name.

I have three Cannonballs (Tenor, alto and curved soprano) and a King Super 20 alto. I've played lots of horns, and feel that the Cannonballs (especially for the price) are as well-machined as any, particularly the new big-bell series. They are heavy, and most important to me, well in-tune. The King has held up well over the years, but is a bear to play from an intonation standpoint.

The CBs all have a nice left hand cluster, pretty similar to a Selmer (from whom I'm sure they copied).

-bebopper

On Sun, 02 Sep 2001 16:03:31 GMT, 'Rick Busarow'

Hmm, if I were to rank them (1 being the greatest), they'd be...

1. Yani 2. Keilwerth 3. Yamaha 4. Selmer

1,2 and 3 are really close though. I've played on all and I have worked on them in repair shops. Great build and they hold adjustment well. The Yani bronze series are absolutely beautiful, and Yamaha Custom saxes are very good as well. Keilwerth horns are coming around, now that their prices have dropped.

Then there was Selmer...

Being in a military band and assisting the repair tech on occasion, we usually ordered Selmer saxes when we needed new ones. We'd get them and have to do some major work on them. Keys not aligned properly, corks falling off or missing, and the ACID BLEEDS!!! (acid bleeds occur when you solder on a sax post or something and don't neutralize the flux and clean it off before you lacquer, you'll see a dark patch under the lacquer which is actually eating through the lacquer and the metal....yummy).

Well that's my opinions through experience. Selmer lovers please don't chastise me...it's a very non-biased opinion.

~Matt

I agree that these are the only four currently manufactured professional quality horns. I'm not sure I totally agree with this ranking but it's close.

Yamaha Custom or Yanagisawa.

Lots of votes go to Selmer but if they can not send horns out of the factory in good adjustment, they probably make other mistakes. Too many times, process problems in one part of a manufacturing process signify a poor approach to other parts as well.

Yanagisawa is far and away the best. Not only for quality craftsmanship, but for intonation and tonal quality. I have a solid silver alto, a bronze tenor and a curved silver soprano and they out perform the new Selmer, Keilwerth and Yamaha horns which I previously owned.

jerryztoyz, you gave a very passionate recommendation there thanks for sharing your experience!