Looking for Tenor or Bari

[beyondreasonabledoubt]

Hello everybody !
I've been neglecting my alto saxophone in favor of my clarinet for the last few years, primarily because the local community band had a position for clarinet, but the local jazz big band did not have an opening for saxophone.
I think my chance of getting into the local jazz band would be improved if I had a tenor or bari sax. So, I'm beginning a search. Two questions really: 1. What makes and model of tenor and baritone should I be looking for? (We're talking used instruments here, semi professional to professional grade, jazzy. My alto is a YAS-82Z.) 2. Have any of you got a good tenor or bari you'd like to sell?
Thanks!

 

[Gandalfe]

There are so many fine instruments out there from numerous makers. Also, it can help if you try them out first. Ask any three serious saxophonists this question and you will get three different answers. What have you tried so far?

 

[pete]

I'll preface this with, "This isn't a sarcastic post. I really want to know." What was your thought process on buying your clarinet and alto? Did you just hear from folks that this clarinet/sax is considered pretty good and go from there? My thought process when I bought my Yamaha bari 40ish years ago was having the dealer say, "We only have a Selmer USA (Bundy), a Selmer Super 80, a Yamaha 52, and a Yamaha 62. Try them and see which one you like." And that I couldn't afford the Super 80.

 

[ghostler]

1. What makes and model of tenor and baritone should I be looking for? (We're talking used instruments here, semi professional to professional grade, jazzy. My alto is a YAS-82Z.)

Welcome to the forum. Your question is rather open ended, what is your budget, what ceiling price are you looking to? IMO, just about any sax can be jazzy, even a Selmer Bundy bari, depends more on the player and your set-up (mouthpiece / reed combination, etc.) Also, where are you located? Helps with identifying a possible retailer for you, shipping costs if bought on-line.

2. Have any of you got a good tenor or bari you'd like to sell? Thanks!

I certainly don't have dibbs on one for you. There are a number of reputable sellers of vintage saxes with overhauled and refurbished ones. I can't say exactly who, because I don't keep up with it.

One retailer out of the Seattle, Washington area also advertises here. He is Quinn the Eskimo, ad at the top of the page. I bought a new discontinued Antigua Winds BS3220LQ Low A bari from him about 5 years ago. It is classified as an intermediate instrument, but it plays like a pro model. Metallurgy is stout plus comes with a luggage grade hard case with wheels with quality latches, not the cloth covered hard foam zippered cases with the bargain saxes.

I purchased it during Covid for $2,500 US shipping included. 2014 prices from mainline on-line musical instrument stores were selling it for $4,400 US. He is reputable, and if you go to his on-line store, you can purchase for less than his entries in on-line auctions, because he doesn't have to pay the overhead auction fees. You can also call him. He may have instruments that he hasn't listed yet in stock. It is also possible that he could give you a special price by calling him.

His shipping prices are reasonable. Sax was double boxed, arrived in New Mexico in pristene condition. It was untouched with all the factory wrappings, blocks and literature in place.

Antigua Winds is manufactured in Taiwan. I don't know if it is a Jupiter stencil, but I have it and a used pro model alto by them. The alto plays as well as my Yamaha YAS-61 pro model I had in the early 1970's.

He has a combination of new and used instruments.