Need to buy a saxophone... as you do !

arushofblood

I posted the original thread for this a while back. After trying to put off the inevitable purchase, DS is nagging me more and more due to the state of his loaned sax from our County Music Centre !

http://www.dawkes.co.uk/ was pointed out to me by more than one person and yes, it looks a great place for what we're after. It's quite a trek from Warwickshire though, so before we venture off on a day trip are there any recommendations for music shops, which sell saxophones, in Warwickshire or surrounding counties please ?

I presume it's better to try out these things rather than just purchasing online ?

Thanks again for any advice

diluvsdiscounts

If I were you I'd take a look at ebay,I've just been looking and one has just sold for £160 plus£20 postage but it could be worth keeping an eye on there.

arushofblood

diluvsdiscounts wrote:

If I were you I'd take a look at ebay,I've just been looking and one has just sold for £160 plus£20 postage but it could be worth keeping an eye on there.

Yes diluvsdiscounts, you're right about Ebay. Trouble is you really don't know what you're buying ? My lad quite fancies one of the blue ones on Ebay but the reviews of these seem quite dire. I would rather buy a more expensive item from a reputable shop I think... then again... !

headintheclouds

I take it you've asked your DS's music teacher for recommendations. Don't buy an instrument without your DS trying it first, and preferably taking it to a lesson so that his teacher can have a look. A lot of music shops - and some online suppliers - will let you have an instrument on trial for a week or so - you may have to pay just a small amount for insurance. Don't rush into it, whatever you do - it's worth spending a bit of time to make the right purchase.

John Myatt is a very good shop for wind instruments but not too close to you - based in Hitchin. They also have a good range of secondhand instruments. http://www.myatt.co.uk
They would be able to offer you advice by e-mail or 'phone and I'm pretty sure they offer a trial before you make a final purchase.

Sobraon

DS1 plays a saxophone - splashed out on a Yamaha. DD1 plays flute and DD2 plays clarinet. The point is they all required 'setting up' by a time served musical instrument 'tech' at the time of purchase. I have used a local guy for all three instruments and an initial set up + annual service is IME very worthwhile. None of the teachers the children have had seemed to know much about the mechanics of the instruments but the technical guy always shows me the fault/miss- adjustment and explains what is needed.

(As it happens the technician I have mentioned is a semi-pro saxophone player and has about 20 second hand saxophones in his rather decrepit workshop. I would recommend him and if the OP is local to Lincolnshire and wishes to PM me I will pass on contact details - I am just a customer)

mwjmum

You might want to talk to the school music teacher - we have a scheme here where you can buy the instrument VAT-free if your child is having music lessons at school or doing GCSE music. The instrument is paid for by the school, then you pay the school.


I would agree with trying out the instrument first - we got one from a local shop on a scheme where you start off renting, then can buy outright if you like it. My local shop let me do this and combined it with the VAT-free thing, so we paid about 700-odd rather than 850 for our son's sax. Well worth the paperwork. HTH

anonymousie

Got DD1 a good yamaha clarinet on ebay a year or so ago. You need to know model numbers etc so you are getting the quality of instrument you expect (and not the "student" equivalent etc) . We had it serviced by a local repairer for a small fee and it has been great since-I guess her next instrument (if she carries on) will have to be from a "proper shop" as it'll cost far more than I can risk- paid £100 for an instrument suitable for up to grade5 plus.

anonymousie

arushofblood wrote:

Yes diluvsdiscounts, you're right about Ebay. Trouble is you really don't know what you're buying ? My lad quite fancies one of the blue ones on Ebay but the reviews of these seem quite dire. I would rather buy a more expensive item from a reputable shop I think... then again... !

I'd be awfully wary about buying anything instrumental from ebay that wasn't a "knoen brand" and model no, there is an awful lot of far eastern origin cr*p around!

Firefly

I totally agree with others that your first port of call shoud be a discussion with your childs tutor. They often know the best place to go and in my area we have an interest free credit and no VAT scheme.

What instrument is best will depend on the style of music played and grade being studied. Don't buy from eBay without advice of a tutor or technician.

I paid what seemed like a fortune for my daughters clarinet and it's lasted her well and is one of her most treasured posessions. It's worth it.

Dee140157

Recently I had to get my daughter's bassoon attended to as it was in dire need of some work. Although a school instrument on loan, I decided to pay for the work and looked up a local repairer of woodwind instruments. He did a fab job. The point of this story though is that it turns out he refurbishes instruments and sells them too. And a lot cheaper than in the shops. So look in your local directory (or online) for local repairers and see whether they can help you. He is currently restoring a bassoon which I plan to buy off him!! (Since they start at £3,000 for a good new one I definitely need second hand).

msianb

Also worth noting that Myatt offers a discount (used to be 10%) to members of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society (http://www.clarinetandsaxophone.co.uk) and similar discount to members of the Musicians' Union.

CASS membership £20 (students) £25 (adults) per year.

HTH