Agreement with you on the Jean Paul sax, really like the sound and the price is unbelievable for such a great sounding sax. Hands down the Jean Paul wins this.
Vladimir Lopez I also have one or mite I say I just got one and for the price it does it’s job without any complaints for me or those I play with best backup sax.
Kasey K Student level baris aren’t really a thing and it would be hard to find anything under $800-$1000 that won’t fall apart on you and be extremely leaky
I would like to see that as well, however I've always seen people start on alto then switch to tenor. That type of video is pretty much already up tho, as he has posted cheap-ish tenors vs pro tenors.
I agree with the quality of Yamaha however one small argument I make about resale value is that if I buy a Jean Paul for $500 then upgrade some time later I may sell it for $200 or so. If I buy a $2000 Yamaha yas26 and decide to upgrade some time down the road I may sell it for under $1,000 maybe $800. So where did I lose more money? And yes there are a ton of yas26’s for under 1,000dollars.
Man I just scored a Jean Paul AS-400 on craigslist for $80. I was extremely stoked before I even knew how good of a horn it was. Let alone the value! This thing plays 10 times better than this hunk I found at a garage sale. It's given me the confidence to actually play again for the first time in 15 years. Big recommendation to Jean Paul here
I bought the Jean Paul AS-400 because of your review and it doesn't disappoint!!! I am a complete beginner and when I put it together and watched your videos on how to produce sound it automatically blew a perfect note. Very easy to put together. It comes with everything you need to get started. Thanks Jay for recommending this to me!!!
Jay, as a result of your video a couple months ago I bought the Lade alto from Amazon (called Ammoon there) with overnight delivery because I had an alto gig in two nights and my Conn Naked Lady decided not to put out when I needed it. Needless to say I was nervous about this Chinese saxophone but it was the only thing I could do at the time.. it played quite well out of box, was very in tune and looked pretty darn good ( black lawyer with gold keys and rods). It saved my neck on the gig and no fellow player complained about the sound. I would recommend it if you are on a budget!
Hey Jay. Wanted to say that your videos have inspired me to blow the dust off my Tenor after 8 years of closet time. My kids were pretty stoked on the Imperial March tune I blasted out for them. Thanks for the content!
The timing of this was perfect. I was watching all three of your reviews on the saxes to decide which one to buy just a day ago, and this really did help. Thank you so much!
I literally went on shopping to test all the saxes they sell in the music shops around my part of the sity that day (about 15 saxophones overall, sadly), and Jean Paul one was definitely the best i could find. Some for 1500 did sound worse than this one, only losing a little bit to $3000 ones. So, good timing for solidifying my decision.
I am always a huge fan of the Yamaha. I got a second hand one in 6th grade. That horn not only lasted through high school, but also survived one tour in Afghanistan back in 2003. I have a cannon ball now and wouldn’t go back, but always recommend them for beginners.
Just bought the Jean Paul alto a couple of weeks ago and it is a solid instrument with very good fit and finish. Agree with Jay that it is great value for the price.
I bought the Jean Paul AS-400 a few months ago so I didn't have to play my Selmer on parade marches and very happy with it. They say it's for beginners and intermediate players but it's built like a professional horn, it has almost the same feel as my Selmer reference 54. I took the horn to my local sax repair technician and he said he can service it when the time comes and he was impressed with it. I like how they payed extra attention to the details by installing metal resonators and blue steal springs giving me a better response. I've even played the Jean Paul in professional Jazz bands and it's held up and hasn't let me down or given me any issues. This is a perfect instrument for beginners and a perfect instrument for professionals that don't want to take their professional horns on a parade march where they might damage their professional horn. Highly recommend it!
I played throughout middle school and into high school on rentals as I switched over the years between Alto, Tenor and eventually landed on Bari (all Yamaha's). Since I never bought a horn of my own, the joy of playing sax sort of fell by the wayside once I went off to college but the desire to get back to it hasn't ever strayed. Now that I'm graduated and a working adult fortunate enough to have a little money in my pocket, I felt it was time to check out the market. As a former Yamaha player, I'm still a little torn between the gold standard YAS-280 and the up-and-coming AS-400 - but I feel like for the value, the Jean-Paul just can't be beat. Being stuck at home in quarantine these days and without the luxury of being able to go to the local shop and test/play them before buying, these videos are more invaluable than ever in assisting folks like me in making an informed decision. Thank you so much, Jay! Hope you and yours are staying healthy and safe!
For me, a student saxophone is the one who everyone can buy it, it has to have a good built quality, to have a good balance in the octave registers! I'm also a teacher for saxophone and clarinet and i let my students to choose their sound ( like my teacher did with me), i just show them the path to develop their personal style of playing, and i'm insisting with the technique playing. In other words, for beginning, every saxophone is good for beginning. Not all of us have money to purchase a Yamaha for example, especially for complete beginner!
Jean Paul sounds best and represents the best value of the 3 reviewed. I agree with the Jean Paul sound being a bit "darker" than the Yama, but I also prefer a darker image and lends better to jazz and rock. I think in time, with the right setup, the Jean Paul is the clear winner up to and including intermediate players. Then, it's a Selmer or a Yani, but at $4k+, that is a helluva leap for most of us.
Yeah I agree with this video especially on the Amazon sax part. My parents bought be a Mendini by Cecilio saxophone off of Amazon for Christmas last year. I would say that it is a great pick for a beginner in middle school of you are not sure if your kid will even stay in band. But as a saxophone for high school or college I wouldn't recommend it. It's great to get started on until you realize that the pads do not seal very well and that the instrument is susceptible to breaking. I have had my saxophone for about 8 months and within that time my instrument has had 4 things wrong with it. Out of the box the instrument had a thick layer of plastic on the octave pin that caused my octave hole on my neck to be open all the time. (Causing me to struggle a whole lot with low notes) Took me about 2 weeks to figure out. The pads aren't too good either. My bis pad is leaking and my octave hole is leaking. The corks also fall off sometimes but you can glue them back on I have a lot of play (is that how you spell it?) in my keys on the right hand Finally, yea I cannot get it fixed because the repairman does not have parts for mendini. So if you or someone you are buying the sax for is planning to play seriously for a while, get something better.
I have the alto and tenor Yamaha (280). They are both great. And as Jay said in a previous video. "Unless you are at a very high level, you won't ever need another saxophone. I think he's right.
@@bettersax I'd be curious as to the difference between a beginner and an intermediate sax. I've been playing off and on for years, but sadly, I'm not sure I'm an intermediate. lol Great videos.... very helpful... thank you.
As a repair person and player I recommend YAS 23 ‘s to beginners. I think they were made better in Japan. I was unimpressed with the new ones but Yamaha makesthe best student horns. ( I play my 774 flute over my Haynes and YSS 875 EX for classical and yani 901 sop over my vi for jazz). A yamaha horn is always worth fixing.and has good resale value if one upgrades or decides not to play..you do a great job Jay. I also recommend you..🎷😁
I think if you have Yamaha players in mind (let's say, Mindi Abair (YAS-82z) or Dave Koz (YAS-62S) I think this horn probably sounds very pleasing. The notes sound like they comes out so effortlessly - all with fast attacks on the notes. It's smooth and light and sounds like it begs to play fast passages. On the Jean Paul, he seems to feel a wee bit of resistance, which enables him to add a little more expression - he can push or pull back his air to shape the attack of his notes and makes it sounds like he's "speaking" his phrases. The Lade/Ammoon horn sounds a bit rougher than both. It doesn't seem to sing as sweetly. But he plays very well. If you didn't have an A/B/C test right after each other, you wouldn't have minded or even noticed something different or lacking. If he did a few more takes on each, he could modify his playing on the Yamaha (hold back his breath a little) to sound more similar to his sound on the Jean Paul and vice versa (on the JP, blow a little harder/put more air in the horn), but this test gave a good sense of the innate differences of the horns.
I just got back into playin my sax after years and years of playing my drums. I played with a ton of Sax musicians and its true they all say. Its not just the sax, but the mouth piece and reed and embouchure. They ALL matter. But....if you get a middle of the road Alto or Tenor. You just can't go wrong with any Yamaha horns. They all play great and feel great. Easy action and smooth sound. Its the gold standard without getting crazy and paying HUGE bucks. Even a used older Yamaha's are really solid.
Jay I've been following your vids and lessons as a member since 2017. I appreciate your wisdom and I want to tell you that your vids are getting so much more detailed. Great editing and audio, it's clear that you take your time to make sure everything is up to par. Bug hi five buddy and thank you! 🎷Dave Wilson Sax
I’m really grateful that we have Jean Paul nowadays. I played sax for around 8 years in school, and fell off for a couple years in college. I picked up a TS-400 for $700 when I decided to get back into it and I was blown away. I also bought a Otto Link mouthpiece off eBay for $100 and for under $850, it’s the best sounding sax I’ve ever played.
I play tenor and bought the Jean Paul alto to double. It did not have a swab, but it was discounted and had a pro classical mpc included. About $450 w shipping. I love it and I am using it in a concert this week. Can’t wait for your tenor reviews. The JP alto plays in tune better than my Mark VI tenor!
Started out with a YAS 275 and loved it, but lucky enough to be able to upgrade to a Yani AW01 after a couple of years and WOW, what a difference in intonation and general ergonomic ease of playing! The Yamaha held its value really well though, so I got a great trade-in price for it.
I used to play Alto saxophone in elementary school band but eventually quit because my teacher and I didn't vibe, and there were so few kids in my grade taking band that I was basically told I'd repeat the entire year that I had just learned--so I just quit. The saxophone was then used by my little brother, who eventually dropped band to play competitive highschool basketball. The saxophone is now back in my hands and with COVID-19 and basically being trapped inside soon because of Saskatchewan winters, I've decided to relearn. I've been playing through old band books and watching all of your videos, and it's been so nice to try and relearn. I know I need to get my instrument maintenanced (thanks to your other video!) but I wanted to say thanks for these videos! They're going to help me keep up a hobby that will hopefully keep me somewhat sane during this isolating pandemic winter, and I'm grateful for them!
Man i love this man he is amazing in all sax reviews what more can we ask from this guy ahahaha love him big big big fan and hope to take lessons from this big guy soon :) Cheers From Montreal Canada
I was not happy with the JeanPaul AS400. It was very difficult to play the regular upper register from middle D on up. Since I got it through Amazon and my deadline for return is coming up this week; I went to try more expensive altos and went with the Cannonball Zephyr. It’s amazing how easy it was to play all registers. Good luck to y’all out there.
Great vid. Have been using a cheap thomann sax and today bought a 2 year old YTS-275. Made in Japan, serviced a year ago with no issues, immaculate condition and €450. I'm stoked!!
I like the Jean Paul. So much so that I bought one based on you inital "out of the box" appraisal. For the price I am very pleased with it. I also bought the Jean Paul Tenor. I purchased it to leave at church. I play sax at church every Sunday. I like both of the saxophones alot. I still play my Yamaha YTS 61 on gigs.
Jeeez back when I started on SAX 38 yrs ago I was given a 1957 Kholert Alto which I still have and use! I never used a student Sax ( at the time Bundy, Conn & Yamaha were the beginners Sax's)
I’ve had the JP for almost a year now, playing it daily. I must say I’m truly happy with it. Met all my expectations and then some. I do however want to buy a new sax and put some more money into it. Now I’m just completely lost to what I should buy, because I’m really happy with my JP!
As a former french horn player and also on a budget I bought the lade from Amazon and it should arrive within the next few days. If I had the choice I would have bought the Jean paul because it was a good middle of the road and middle budget instrument. But the blade had mostly good reviews, sounded well in your video and I loved the aesthetic of it. Invested in a different mouthpiece, reeds and some cork grease ha! Crossing my fingers it's a good product! Thank you for your videos!
I AM PLAYING A SLADE ALTO SAXOPHONE. IT IS SIMPLY WONDERFUL!!! THE INCLUDED MOUTHPIECE IS SO GOOD, IT IS NOW MY VERY FAVORITE MOURHPIECE. EVEN THE REED IS EXCEPTIONAL!!! EVERYTHING FLOWS EASILY WHEN PLAYING THIS COMBINATION. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES SEEM FAR OVERPRICED CONSIDERING THE MANUFACTURING COSTS.
I just ordered a Yamaha Alto Sax and will begin lessons as early as January starting one day per week. Have always wanted to learn to play since the 6th grade. We were to poor to afford on back then. I am now about toretire from Active Duty Army and plan to study in depth Piano and Saxophone....Playing by ear or number system.
I played the YAS-280 for many years, and it was pretty easy to play though it really needed pads and/or adjustment to get the low notes out consistently. For a used horn that cost me $500 20 years ago, it suited me well until I upgraded to a YAS-62III.
Yamaha had a more rich and fuller sound. The Lade had a more airy lighter sound and the Jean-Paul was in between. Although I do think you make them all sound great! I just started playing Tenor again after a 30 year hiatus, and I just ordered a Lade alto (broadening my range) from Amazon based on your review of that instrument. I am on an extremely low budget, so I greatly appreciate you reviewing these instruments.
You can't go wrong with a Yamaha but the Jean Paul just has such an amazing price and value for what it offers, as well as a cool and recognizable sound signature
Nice comparison Jay. The Yamaha is the big name. However, the Jean Paul wins in terms of price ratio to Yamaha with basically same quality. The Lade is representing itself well in third position for its price. I own and play a Lade (a blue one with gold keys) a few months now. I hope to get the Jean or Yamaha in your give away. Thanks
Two thoughts: 1. If you're keeping this line of videos reviewing entry horns, maybe review a 'Buffet'? They have a bunch of student models which are very interesting i think. 2. However, for me personally the videos on gear are already getting kind of exhausting. I would like to see a video that is more about music.
I've got a lot of videos about how to play and improve on the saxophone. I've even put them into playlists so you can find what you're looking for more easily. Check my Channel page. The gear is fun to discuss and something that lots of people are very interested (based on the number of views). I will of course continue to make more educational videos as well.
@@bettersax Of course, i know that theres a lot of videos in your channel that discuss more musical stuff, and i watched almost all of them. I'm just saying, there is a lot more to learn and discover, obviously. and again, i was just expressing my own personal feeling... I get it that information about gear is interesting and important to a lot of people.
#1 the Yamaha. It had more clarity in the high register with notes having more depth, or richness and resonance. The Jean-Paul is next though very close to the Yamaha. There didn't seem to be quite as much richness to the tone. The Lade sounded very thin and constricted in all registers especially above the break.
I recently purchased the YAS 280 and I’m very happy with it. Aesthetically, I wish it had the teardrop front Altissimo key and the standard cages at the bottom. It does however play very well in tune and is very easy to play. Overall, I am quite satisfied.
I'm thinking of getting a Yamaha YAS 280 cause it just has a sort of no nonsense look and character to it. It's just here to be a saxophone. It seems to have a tone that's easy tip work with by swapping mouth pieces and such.
I'll choose and get the Jean Paul 400 Saxophone because of its quality and its value, it has the right and exact sound that an intermediate saxophone has. It also a good quality of materials that will make the saxophone working for decade only if its not been abused by the owner. The Yamaha saxophone is also a great horn but it wasn't that good enough for a $1100 saxophone just to think of it that you can buy 2 Jean Paul saxophone with the value of the Yamaha 280 it only changes the brand but the quality of the instrument is almost the same, the yamaha 280 is only made from Indonesia not from its original factory from Japan so its not included as a original japanese made saxophone same us the Jean Paul that it says from the US but it only came or made from Taiwan, as you can see brands are only for the attraction or to get the attention of the customers they will make a way for the saxophone to be bought they are only using the brand that is buyable in the market. I suggest to not buy the Lade saxophone eventhough you are a beginner your playing will not be determined whether you are excelling or not because of the sound quality that is poor coming from the sax specially when if its not in tune.
I have a Yamaha tenor, YTS62, that I love so I would be inclined to pick the Yahama alto. I also liked the sound in your video, but to be honest, I think it is the player that makes the sound. I think you could make anything sound good:) Better sound is what I’m always striving for no matter what I’m playing. Having said that I would also like to see a video like this comparing tenors.
I have been playing my TENOR yamaha student model for over 30 years. It is all I have ever needed. Did 8th grade Trinity exam, jazz, rock, dixie, classical etc styles. I do agree it has a 'brighter' sound, and I have had a couple of professional musicians play it who said it plays as well as a pro model! My only issue at the moment with my instrument is low B and Bb can be difficult to squeeze out when playing softly (but this could be that it needs a little adjustment (it is overdue for some maintenance) or just me needing to do more practise in this register!). Glad to hear that Yamaha student is still up there!
I was looking for some newbee stuff when I bumped into this video. I bought a Jean Paul AS-400 from their website last week! Jay. thanks for sharing stuff from your "shed". It's helped me alot. I'll be reaching out to you soon. Regards, Paul Freeman aka Googalar.
I prefer a warm, mellow tone and it's always been interesting to me what people think is the best sound for an alto. I have always hated Yamaha's and they just sound too bright to me. This model is no exception. That being said, I prefer the sound of the Lade. To each his own. Thanks so much for the killer reviews!
The best entry level sax is the Yamaha YAS-23 or it's stencil brother, the VITO made in Japan by Yamaha. Now the YAS-23 is called the Yamaha YAS-26, however the YAS-280 is almost intermediate.
I had to sell my Yamaha few years ago because of financial situations. Recently I got the Lade/Ammoon. Out of the box the keys were a little stiff, but it loosing up with some wiggling. The lower notes are playable if I tightly squeeze the keys. I would say it is good for the price, good for a hobbyist like myself. It is good for most jazz songs, long you dont play the lower note.
When I got mine the Low C and D# key were slightly misaligned and every note below C was stuffy and didn't play well. Bent the two keys so they would close properly (all other keys were fine) and voila easy speaking and great sounding low notes. If you can't do it yourself take it to a tech, he'll sort it out in a minute.
I have the (S)Lade alto sax and it is better than expected. It will do me for now as I am only 3 months in ( at age 55 ) and this is a cheap and cheerful way to see if saxophone is for me. If I am still playing after 6-12 months then I will upgrade to a better quality/sounding sax.
I always find your views insightful Jay. Thank you. I don't play myself but I find your channel invaluable for research purposes in outfitting and encouraging my young son who's showing promise of being a very talented saxophonist. He's got an AW01 for his main instrument but I want a less valuable horn for band use and as his instrument is often left unattended, at risk of loss or damage, at school. I now have no doubt that the Jean Paul AS-400 is the right choice for the purpose. Thanks again.
I brought a Yamaha Tenor Sax 480 as it was felt it was a good as any alleged professional saxophone and could not justify the added expense. The tone comes from me and the mouthpiece! Sounds terrific! The Yamaha sounds more consistent and smooth in these tests with the Lade sounding too squeaky! Yamaha.
The yamaha has a bright tone, and how you are playing it seems like it suits your play style. When I first saw the lade sax video I was blown away, yet comparing the three it doesn't blow me away as much. You get what you pay for I guess! I've always liked yamaha so sorry if I sound biased :)
Somehow, I actually thought the Lade/Ammoon sounded the best at the sound portion of the video ~6 minute area. You made all of them sound good, but I couldn't believe how good the Lade sounded. I wouldn't actually get one myself (recently bought a Selmer AS-42B) but I was surprised by how it sounded for being that cheap. Out of theses three, if I were a beginner, I would 100% go with the Yamaha, though. A big part of that is I see these as a material investment too, not just as a musician, but being someone who grew up without much money.
As for why it sounded the best (I almost forgot)--I'm not sure if you added a little twang to it or not, but it honestly sounded the most like a professional was playing it. Pretty interesting...
Thank you for the reviews. I am surprised you didn't give the Lade 3 starts for accessories because it did have gloves! ;-) At the price of the Jean Paul, you could buy that for about what it would cost to rent a sax for the full school year. That wasn't an option back in the day. I did get my first sax for $100 (used). It was a 1928, brushed silver Conn. It was a nice horn and I played it for years. The only reason I don't have it is I got a Selmer Series II Paris and I sold the Conn back to the person from which I had purchased it all those years ago (and for only $100).
I bought a throw away saxophone from a company I found on Amazon called gear4music. As a beginner I didn't want to pay £1,000 just incase I couldn't get on with it as I have health problems. I sent the first one back as I noticed a problem and they replaced it with one that sounds awful. I now don't want to play it and wish I'd kept the first one and had it repaired. They are refusing to do anything about the second one stating they found nothing wrong with it. I wish I'd paid more and got the yamaha!
Jay I will have to go with the Yamaha not only because I play with them but for consistency, durability and return value. Yes they are quite bright, that can easily be fix with a good mouthpiece reed set up.
I rarely see Buffet reviewed. I've always had Buffet horns with good results. I currently have a tenor 400 which is immaculate and was set up right, out of the box. Pretty good by my standards, and I picked it up at a very steep discount.
Recently knocked the dust off my Yamaha YTS 62 and then decided to expand my horizons and invest in an Alto sax. Being out of the market for a decade, the search proved ridiculous, my head was swimming in overwhelming confusion. After watching your video I decided on and purchased the JP USA AS-400 for $250. I am pretty excited, it arrives in a few days. Thanks!
A Yamaha was my first horn, and it held up beautifully, out of the box most of these will be ok, but what really shows is the test of time, and my yamaha held up against the harsh conditions that are the hands of a 5th through 8th grader (10 to 14 years old) who didn’t take care of it all too well.
I bought my first alto sax second hand for £200. I had the opportunity to trade that in at my local music shop and buy a Yamaha YAS 280 for the other sax plus £400. The Yamaha breathes a lot easier than the previous one and the top and bottom notes were easier to produce. The only issue I have had with the Yamaha was getting my little finger onto the D# and C keys. I solved this by filing out the slot on the thumb hook until my little finger rested naturally on the D# and C keys. I upgraded the mouthpiece to the Yamaha 6CM, which I found breathed easier than the Yamaha 4C that came with it. I have subsequently upgraded to a custom SYOS mouthpiece, which has given me a mellower sound, similar to the P. Mauriat Grand Dream. The Yamaha is a lovely versatile sax that will see me through my musical career for the foreseeable future.
I ordered both the AS-400 and the TS-400 tenors as my jazz band rental instruments. They all come with exactly the accessories they needed to open up the case and go, but on one of the altos the neck screw just snapped. I wasn't even cranking it but the metal was so soft that it failed pretty easily. It was an easy fix (my tech didn't even charge me), but still an annoyance and something to consider when buying Chinese instruments with softer metals for the smaller parts.
Hehe nice, now i just need to get gud to really need a decent sax, i bought a chinese "Mendini" sax cuz i'm a 27 year old software engineer who wanted to go back to music as a hobbie and im already learning to play the sax, (i used to play some other instruments), and so far my god i love this instrument sooo soo much, more than i expected, if u have your doubts about learn to play sax, seriously just do it, also the videos of this channel are soo beginner friendly and well explained, thank u a lot!
Something would be great for these videos would be a low background soft jazz base!!!!!!! I'm listening "Almost like being in love - Red Garland" and it makes a really nice warm athmosphere!
I'd like to see a video on common used saxophones, and if any are worth buying. I've seen some on Reverb priced between the Lade and the Jean-Paul, and I wonder if those would be a better buy than a Lade.
Got the Jean Paul AS-400 in today. After 30 years of not playing, then playing a clarinet for a week or two... After 30 minutes I was able to belt out summertime and a few other tunes. I won't say they sounded great - embouchure, but they sounded... Again, thanks for reviewing this sax and comparing it to some others!!! Made my choice easy!
I just bought the JP Sax per your recommendation using your link. Thank you and you're welcome. If I continue to improve at a rapid pace per your lessons, I'll buy a more expensive horn in a couple of years.
I bought a Glory alto sax recently from Amazon, for around $350 Australian dollars and it has been great for a beginner like myself. I wouldn't have been brave enough to buy a cheap Chinese saxophone online if it weren't for these reviews, so thank you.
My bud got a 280 and he got a leak in the D key when e dropped it on the ground and it sounds terrible now! But here in Norway our marching bands own our instruments so we borrow and they dont wanna send it on overhaul i have a 275 and i love it!
Sound- I think they all have an acceptable sound for a beginner...when you play them. You and others have said basically "you will sound like you on whatever sax you play'. I would pick the Yamaha based on the upper register sound. However, I would like to hear each one played by a beginner to make my final decision. Quality- I would definitely pick the Yamaha for quality. Yamaha is world renowned for quality and for their support when repair is needed. Second would be the Jean-Paul and last is the Ammoon. Aside from no parts availability, beginners are not always the most careful and could be prone to accidents that will put their sax out of commission causing a discouraging set back in their learning. Accessories- They don't count much in my book especially if they are poor quality or don't serve any real purpose. Value- The best bang for the buck is the Jean-Paul due to its price. But the Yamaha has real value in durability and resale so I pick the Yamaha. But this brings up a question that is even harder to answer. Is the beginner in love with the saxophone? I started on clarinet, as did my daughter and grandson (the same LeBlanc clarinet after overhauls) but we all switched to another woodwind instrument. My daughter to Bari sax, my grandson to contra-bass and bass clarinet and myself to Alto sax and Bari. I would say if you can afford it, get the Yamaha. Even if the beginner does not stay with the alto sax, it can be sold or kept and passed down. If the Jean-Paul fits your budget better it is still a good choice. If money is tight, get the Ammoon. It will get your beginner started but definitely buy a better case. Student instruments get carried on school buses, band buses and public transportation. They need the protection of a good case. I play a Buescher Aristocrat alto (1955) and a Buescher Big-B Baritone sax(1949).
Agreement with you on the Jean Paul sax, really like the sound and the price is unbelievable for such a great sounding sax. Hands down the Jean Paul wins this.
David Endsley I agree
Same it’s pretty dang good
I own one and it is quite good for the price.
Vladimir Lopez I also have one or mite I say I just got one and for the price it does it’s job without any complaints for me or those I play with best backup sax.
I bought it and compared it with a Yamaha yas24 and is not a winner. Jean Paul is better that most Chinese saxes but is not worth the price.
I'd love to see a similar video to this on entry level/student TENOR Saxophones, please ... ? :)
I agree!!
Kieren Moore and bari too!!
Kasey K Student level baris aren’t really a thing and it would be hard to find anything under $800-$1000 that won’t fall apart on you and be extremely leaky
I would like to see that as well, however I've always seen people start on alto then switch to tenor. That type of video is pretty much already up tho, as he has posted cheap-ish tenors vs pro tenors.
Me too😃
I think Yamaha's are some of the best instruments you can buy, they're just safe, sturdy, easy to find parts, and usually hold up value
yes for sure.
I agree with the quality of Yamaha however one small argument I make about resale value is that if I buy a Jean Paul for $500 then upgrade some time later I may sell it for $200 or so. If I buy a $2000 Yamaha yas26 and decide to upgrade some time down the road I may sell it for under $1,000 maybe $800. So where did I lose more money? And yes there are a ton of yas26’s for under 1,000dollars.
Vladimir Lopez then why’d you buy a $2000 yas26 if you can find plenty under $1000
Logan Graham stay woke my friend.
yeee
Man I just scored a Jean Paul AS-400 on craigslist for $80. I was extremely stoked before I even knew how good of a horn it was. Let alone the value! This thing plays 10 times better than this hunk I found at a garage sale. It's given me the confidence to actually play again for the first time in 15 years. Big recommendation to Jean Paul here
I purchased a Jean-Paul for my son last year and i'm glad to see that we made a good choice in a starter alto sax.
I bought the Jean Paul AS-400 because of your review and it doesn't disappoint!!! I am a complete beginner and when I put it together and watched your videos on how to produce sound it automatically blew a perfect note. Very easy to put together. It comes with everything you need to get started. Thanks Jay for recommending this to me!!!
Great to hear this. I'm glad.
Wait... you have to put it together?
@@richardpatterson4312the mouthpiece to neck, neck to body
Jay, as a result of your video a couple months ago I bought the Lade alto from Amazon (called Ammoon there) with overnight delivery because I had an alto gig in two nights and my Conn Naked Lady decided not to put out when I needed it. Needless to say I was nervous about this Chinese saxophone but it was the only thing I could do at the time.. it played quite well out of box, was very in tune and looked pretty darn good ( black lawyer with gold keys and rods). It saved my neck on the gig and no fellow player complained about the sound. I would recommend it if you are on a budget!
Black lawyer?
@@mr.squidward9936 i think he meant lacquer
Dang auto correct does that alot!!
Are the quality and sound still good after 1 year?
I want to buy an alto sax but have a low budget.
Hey Jay. Wanted to say that your videos have inspired me to blow the dust off my Tenor after 8 years of closet time. My kids were pretty stoked on the Imperial March tune I blasted out for them. Thanks for the content!
haha. great to hear this.
The timing of this was perfect. I was watching all three of your reviews on the saxes to decide which one to buy just a day ago, and this really did help. Thank you so much!
good I'm glad.
What did you decide to buy (and why)?
I literally went on shopping to test all the saxes they sell in the music shops around my part of the sity that day (about 15 saxophones overall, sadly), and Jean Paul one was definitely the best i could find. Some for 1500 did sound worse than this one, only losing a little bit to $3000 ones. So, good timing for solidifying my decision.
@@Soundwave1900 Oh, thank you, = really helps to make decision.
@@sablezubshruz9811 No probs :) 1.5 years after and it still sounds great and plays easy, no complaints whatsoever.
I am always a huge fan of the Yamaha. I got a second hand one in 6th grade. That horn not only lasted through high school, but also survived one tour in Afghanistan back in 2003. I have a cannon ball now and wouldn’t go back, but always recommend them for beginners.
Just bought the Jean Paul alto a couple of weeks ago and it is a solid instrument with very good fit and finish. Agree with Jay that it is great value for the price.
Glad to hear it is serving you well.
I bought the Jean Paul AS-400 a few months ago so I didn't have to play my Selmer on parade marches and very happy with it. They say it's for beginners and intermediate players but it's built like a professional horn, it has almost the same feel as my Selmer reference 54. I took the horn to my local sax repair technician and he said he can service it when the time comes and he was impressed with it. I like how they payed extra attention to the details by installing metal resonators and blue steal springs giving me a better response. I've even played the Jean Paul in professional Jazz bands and it's held up and hasn't let me down or given me any issues. This is a perfect instrument for beginners and a perfect instrument for professionals that don't want to take their professional horns on a parade march where they might damage their professional horn. Highly recommend it!
I played throughout middle school and into high school on rentals as I switched over the years between Alto, Tenor and eventually landed on Bari (all Yamaha's). Since I never bought a horn of my own, the joy of playing sax sort of fell by the wayside once I went off to college but the desire to get back to it hasn't ever strayed. Now that I'm graduated and a working adult fortunate enough to have a little money in my pocket, I felt it was time to check out the market. As a former Yamaha player, I'm still a little torn between the gold standard YAS-280 and the up-and-coming AS-400 - but I feel like for the value, the Jean-Paul just can't be beat. Being stuck at home in quarantine these days and without the luxury of being able to go to the local shop and test/play them before buying, these videos are more invaluable than ever in assisting folks like me in making an informed decision. Thank you so much, Jay! Hope you and yours are staying healthy and safe!
For me, a student saxophone is the one who everyone can buy it, it has to have a good built quality, to have a good balance in the octave registers! I'm also a teacher for saxophone and clarinet and i let my students to choose their sound ( like my teacher did with me), i just show them the path to develop their personal style of playing, and i'm insisting with the technique playing. In other words, for beginning, every saxophone is good for beginning. Not all of us have money to purchase a Yamaha for example, especially for complete beginner!
That's why the Jean Paul is such a great option.
I use the Lade gloves for cleaning the sax, so it does have a use after all hahaha
I have a Yamaha YAS 280... bought it used for 275$ Canadian 2 years ago and I haven’t got any problems.
Jean Paul sounds best and represents the best value of the 3 reviewed. I agree with the Jean Paul sound being a bit "darker" than the Yama, but I also prefer a darker image and lends better to jazz and rock. I think in time, with the right setup, the Jean Paul is the clear winner up to and including intermediate players. Then, it's a Selmer or a Yani, but at $4k+, that is a helluva leap for most of us.
Yeah I agree with this video especially on the Amazon sax part.
My parents bought be a Mendini by Cecilio saxophone off of Amazon for Christmas last year.
I would say that it is a great pick for a beginner in middle school of you are not sure if your kid will even stay in band. But as a saxophone for high school or college I wouldn't recommend it. It's great to get started on until you realize that the pads do not seal very well and that the instrument is susceptible to breaking.
I have had my saxophone for about 8 months and within that time my instrument has had 4 things wrong with it.
Out of the box the instrument had a thick layer of plastic on the octave pin that caused my octave hole on my neck to be open all the time. (Causing me to struggle a whole lot with low notes) Took me about 2 weeks to figure out.
The pads aren't too good either. My bis pad is leaking and my octave hole is leaking.
The corks also fall off sometimes but you can glue them back on
I have a lot of play (is that how you spell it?) in my keys on the right hand
Finally, yea I cannot get it fixed because the repairman does not have parts for mendini.
So if you or someone you are buying the sax for is planning to play seriously for a while, get something better.
I've had my Mendini for four years. Only issue I had was with a part of the octave key cork that fell off.
I have the alto and tenor Yamaha (280). They are both great. And as Jay said in a previous video. "Unless you are at a very high level, you won't ever need another saxophone. I think he's right.
for sure.
@@bettersax I'd be curious as to the difference between a beginner and an intermediate sax. I've been playing off and on for years, but sadly, I'm not sure I'm an intermediate. lol Great videos.... very helpful... thank you.
As a repair person and player I recommend YAS 23 ‘s to beginners. I think they were made better in Japan. I was unimpressed with the new ones but Yamaha makesthe best student horns. ( I play my 774 flute over my Haynes and YSS 875 EX for classical and yani 901 sop over my vi for jazz). A yamaha horn is always worth fixing.and has good resale value if one upgrades or decides not to play..you do a great job Jay. I also recommend you..🎷😁
zangsax I agree, yas 21, 23, or 26 are all cheaper used options
The Yamaha sounds the best in my opinion
I think if you have Yamaha players in mind (let's say, Mindi Abair (YAS-82z) or Dave Koz (YAS-62S) I think this horn probably sounds very pleasing. The notes sound like they comes out so effortlessly - all with fast attacks on the notes. It's smooth and light and sounds like it begs to play fast passages.
On the Jean Paul, he seems to feel a wee bit of resistance, which enables him to add a little more expression - he can push or pull back his air to shape the attack of his notes and makes it sounds like he's "speaking" his phrases.
The Lade/Ammoon horn sounds a bit rougher than both. It doesn't seem to sing as sweetly. But he plays very well. If you didn't have an A/B/C test right after each other, you wouldn't have minded or even noticed something different or lacking.
If he did a few more takes on each, he could modify his playing on the Yamaha (hold back his breath a little) to sound more similar to his sound on the Jean Paul and vice versa (on the JP, blow a little harder/put more air in the horn), but this test gave a good sense of the innate differences of the horns.
Jean Paul was my favorite tone -- more warmth IMO
Yeah, it is a bit warmer but with less power.
Was my favorite as well that’s why I bought it.
I just got back into playin my sax after years and years of playing my drums. I played with a ton of Sax musicians and its true they all say. Its not just the sax, but the mouth piece and reed and embouchure. They ALL matter. But....if you get a middle of the road Alto or Tenor. You just can't go wrong with any Yamaha horns. They all play great and feel great. Easy action and smooth sound. Its the gold standard without getting crazy and paying HUGE bucks. Even a used older Yamaha's are really solid.
Jay I've been following your vids and lessons as a member since 2017. I appreciate your wisdom and I want to tell you that your vids are getting so much more detailed. Great editing and audio, it's clear that you take your time to make sure everything is up to par. Bug hi five buddy and thank you! 🎷Dave Wilson Sax
Thank you Dave. A lot of work goes into these, but as with playing saxophone, practice makes better...
Yas 275 Yamaha was my first sax. And the newest Model 280 is the better sounding of the 3.
Can you please make more bari content? I love your videos and knowledge!
More bari content will be coming for sure.
I own the cheapest of the 3
Had it for almost a year and it still plays perfectly just as it did when i got it. Played 100% right out of the box
I also have the cheap one and I am in the first stages of learning but I think it sounds good.
I have the Jean Paul Alto, and I think it's good for it's price and I'd recommend it.
12:25 "The Yamaha has always been a sound investment." I see what you did there, lol. 😂😂😂
I’m really grateful that we have Jean Paul nowadays. I played sax for around 8 years in school, and fell off for a couple years in college. I picked up a TS-400 for $700 when I decided to get back into it and I was blown away. I also bought a Otto Link mouthpiece off eBay for $100 and for under $850, it’s the best sounding sax I’ve ever played.
I have my dads yamaha Yas 23 and it has been great for my first year of playing and has no problems so I recommend it
I play tenor and bought the Jean Paul alto to double. It did not have a swab, but it was discounted and had a pro classical mpc included. About $450 w shipping. I love it and I am using it in a concert this week. Can’t wait for your tenor reviews. The JP alto plays in tune better than my Mark VI tenor!
Glad you're happy with it.
Started out with a YAS 275 and loved it, but lucky enough to be able to upgrade to a Yani AW01 after a couple of years and WOW, what a difference in intonation and general ergonomic ease of playing! The Yamaha held its value really well though, so I got a great trade-in price for it.
Yanagiswas is the best for me too.
I used to play Alto saxophone in elementary school band but eventually quit because my teacher and I didn't vibe, and there were so few kids in my grade taking band that I was basically told I'd repeat the entire year that I had just learned--so I just quit.
The saxophone was then used by my little brother, who eventually dropped band to play competitive highschool basketball.
The saxophone is now back in my hands and with COVID-19 and basically being trapped inside soon because of Saskatchewan winters, I've decided to relearn. I've been playing through old band books and watching all of your videos, and it's been so nice to try and relearn.
I know I need to get my instrument maintenanced (thanks to your other video!) but I wanted to say thanks for these videos! They're going to help me keep up a hobby that will hopefully keep me somewhat sane during this isolating pandemic winter, and I'm grateful for them!
Man i love this man he is amazing in all sax reviews what more can we ask from this guy ahahaha love him big big big fan and hope to take lessons from this big guy soon :) Cheers From Montreal Canada
I was not happy with the JeanPaul AS400.
It was very difficult to play the regular upper register from middle D on up.
Since I got it through Amazon and my deadline for return is coming up this week; I went to try more expensive altos and went with the Cannonball Zephyr.
It’s amazing how easy it was to play all registers.
Good luck to y’all out there.
Great vid. Have been using a cheap thomann sax and today bought a 2 year old YTS-275. Made in Japan, serviced a year ago with no issues, immaculate condition and €450. I'm stoked!!
Great deal you got, congrats.
I can't believe how great each of the saxophones sounds in the hands of a genius professional! Thank you.
I like the Jean Paul. So much so that I bought one based on you inital "out of the box" appraisal. For the price I am very pleased with it. I also bought the Jean Paul Tenor. I purchased it to leave at church. I play sax at church every Sunday. I like both of the saxophones alot. I still play my Yamaha YTS 61 on gigs.
Jeeez back when I started on SAX 38 yrs ago I was given a 1957 Kholert Alto which I still have and use! I never used a student Sax ( at the time Bundy, Conn & Yamaha were the beginners Sax's)
Thank you so much for producing all these videos for beginners. Without you, we would be lost :-))
I’ve had the JP for almost a year now, playing it daily. I must say I’m truly happy with it. Met all my expectations and then some. I do however want to buy a new sax and put some more money into it. Now I’m just completely lost to what I should buy, because I’m really happy with my JP!
I’ve had the YAS-280 since 8th grade and it’s been nothing but amazing. Years later it still sounds great and I’ve never had any problems with it
As a former french horn player and also on a budget I bought the lade from Amazon and it should arrive within the next few days. If I had the choice I would have bought the Jean paul because it was a good middle of the road and middle budget instrument. But the blade had mostly good reviews, sounded well in your video and I loved the aesthetic of it. Invested in a different mouthpiece, reeds and some cork grease ha! Crossing my fingers it's a good product! Thank you for your videos!
How did it turn out? how long did you keep it for
I AM PLAYING A SLADE ALTO SAXOPHONE. IT IS SIMPLY WONDERFUL!!! THE INCLUDED MOUTHPIECE IS SO GOOD, IT IS NOW MY VERY FAVORITE MOURHPIECE. EVEN THE REED IS EXCEPTIONAL!!! EVERYTHING FLOWS EASILY WHEN PLAYING THIS COMBINATION. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES SEEM FAR OVERPRICED CONSIDERING THE MANUFACTURING COSTS.
Hi men I'm fron Nicaragua I'm a bass player and i love your vídeos continiu like that Good bless you god content
I just ordered a Yamaha Alto Sax and will begin lessons as early as January starting one day per week. Have always wanted to learn to play since the 6th grade. We were to poor to afford on back then. I am now about toretire from Active Duty Army and plan to study in depth Piano and Saxophone....Playing by ear or number system.
I played the YAS-280 for many years, and it was pretty easy to play though it really needed pads and/or adjustment to get the low notes out consistently. For a used horn that cost me $500 20 years ago, it suited me well until I upgraded to a YAS-62III.
Yamaha had a more rich and fuller sound. The Lade had a more airy lighter sound and the Jean-Paul was in between. Although I do think you make them all sound great! I just started playing Tenor again after a 30 year hiatus, and I just ordered a Lade alto (broadening my range) from Amazon based on your review of that instrument. I am on an extremely low budget, so I greatly appreciate you reviewing these instruments.
You can't go wrong with a Yamaha but the Jean Paul just has such an amazing price and value for what it offers, as well as a cool and recognizable sound signature
I have the Lade / Ammoon for 2 months now, works for me as a student. Sound is focused, and haven't had falling corks so far. haha
Glad it's working well for you. take care of it and it will be fine.
Nice comparison Jay. The Yamaha is the big name. However, the Jean Paul wins in terms of price ratio to Yamaha with basically same quality. The Lade is representing itself well in third position for its price. I own and play a Lade (a blue one with gold keys) a few months now. I hope to get the Jean or Yamaha in your give away. Thanks
Best sax content on youtube, Jay, many would love it, myself included, if you made one of this for tenor sax. Thanks for the awesome videos!
Coming soon!
Two thoughts:
1. If you're keeping this line of videos reviewing entry horns, maybe review a 'Buffet'? They have a bunch of student models which are very interesting i think.
2. However, for me personally the videos on gear are already getting kind of exhausting. I would like to see a video that is more about music.
I would suggest that you rewatch Jay's videos that are about music then. A lot of people need the information about gear.
I've got a lot of videos about how to play and improve on the saxophone. I've even put them into playlists so you can find what you're looking for more easily. Check my Channel page. The gear is fun to discuss and something that lots of people are very interested (based on the number of views). I will of course continue to make more educational videos as well.
@@bettersax
Of course, i know that theres a lot of videos in your channel that discuss more musical stuff, and i watched almost all of them. I'm just saying, there is a lot more to learn and discover, obviously.
and again, i was just expressing my own personal feeling... I get it that information about gear is interesting and important to a lot of people.
I've had experience with the Buffet. Has some rather serious tuning issues, and some quality ones as well. It's also rather heavy.
@@HearnToddWoodwindDblr
My experience with the Buffet is exactly the same.
Good to know it's not only me.
#1 the Yamaha. It had more clarity in the high register with notes having more depth, or richness and resonance. The Jean-Paul is next though very close to the Yamaha. There didn't seem to be quite as much richness to the tone. The Lade sounded very thin and constricted in all registers especially above the break.
I recently purchased the YAS 280 and I’m very happy with it. Aesthetically, I wish it had the teardrop front Altissimo key and the standard cages at the bottom. It does however play very well in tune and is very easy to play. Overall, I am quite satisfied.
I'm thinking of getting a Yamaha YAS 280 cause it just has a sort of no nonsense look and character to it.
It's just here to be a saxophone.
It seems to have a tone that's easy tip work with by swapping mouth pieces and such.
Now you gotta do a video on 3 Tenor Saxoohones.
Jean Paul Tenor Sax
China Tenor sax
what's the third one?
Yamaha yts 480
I'll choose and get the Jean Paul 400 Saxophone because of its quality and its value, it has the right and exact sound that an intermediate saxophone has. It also a good quality of materials that will make the saxophone working for decade only if its not been abused by the owner. The Yamaha saxophone is also a great horn but it wasn't that good enough for a $1100 saxophone just to think of it that you can buy 2 Jean Paul saxophone with the value of the Yamaha 280 it only changes the brand but the quality of the instrument is almost the same, the yamaha 280 is only made from Indonesia not from its original factory from Japan so its not included as a original japanese made saxophone same us the Jean Paul that it says from the US but it only came or made from Taiwan, as you can see brands are only for the attraction or to get the attention of the customers they will make a way for the saxophone to be bought they are only using the brand that is buyable in the market. I suggest to not buy the Lade saxophone eventhough you are a beginner your playing will not be determined whether you are excelling or not because of the sound quality that is poor coming from the sax specially when if its not in tune.
I have a Yamaha tenor, YTS62, that I love so I would be inclined to pick the Yahama alto. I also liked the sound in your video, but to be honest, I think it is the player that makes the sound. I think you could make anything sound good:) Better sound is what I’m always striving for no matter what I’m playing. Having said that I would also like to see a video like this comparing tenors.
Another great video. I like your reasoning. I think I'd go for the Jean Paul.
thanks
Mark Hancock agree! I actually own the jean Paul alto saxophone and I think it is a wonderful saxophone
I have been playing my TENOR yamaha student model for over 30 years. It is all I have ever needed. Did 8th grade Trinity exam, jazz, rock, dixie, classical etc styles. I do agree it has a 'brighter' sound, and I have had a couple of professional musicians play it who said it plays as well as a pro model! My only issue at the moment with my instrument is low B and Bb can be difficult to squeeze out when playing softly (but this could be that it needs a little adjustment (it is overdue for some maintenance) or just me needing to do more practise in this register!). Glad to hear that Yamaha student is still up there!
I was looking for some newbee stuff when I bumped into this video. I bought a Jean Paul AS-400 from their website last week! Jay. thanks for sharing stuff from your "shed". It's helped me alot. I'll be reaching out to you soon. Regards, Paul Freeman aka Googalar.
My jean Paul did come with a cheap neck and mouthpiece swab, but no body swab.
I think you've just convinced me for the JP TS 400
You’re such a great player you could make any saxophone sound great.
I prefer a warm, mellow tone and it's always been interesting to me what people think is the best sound for an alto. I have always hated Yamaha's and they just sound too bright to me. This model is no exception.
That being said, I prefer the sound of the Lade. To each his own.
Thanks so much for the killer reviews!
The best entry level sax is the Yamaha YAS-23 or it's stencil brother,
the VITO made in Japan by Yamaha.
Now the YAS-23 is called the Yamaha YAS-26, however the YAS-280 is almost intermediate.
Love the videos! I played sax for a year then gave it up for guitar but I miss it so I'm researching to get back into it!
Thanks
I had to sell my Yamaha few years ago because of financial situations. Recently I got the Lade/Ammoon. Out of the box the keys were a little stiff, but it loosing up with some wiggling. The lower notes are playable if I tightly squeeze the keys. I would say it is good for the price, good for a hobbyist like myself. It is good for most jazz songs, long you dont play the lower note.
When I got mine the Low C and D# key were slightly misaligned and every note below C was stuffy and didn't play well.
Bent the two keys so they would close properly (all other keys were fine) and voila easy speaking and great sounding low notes.
If you can't do it yourself take it to a tech, he'll sort it out in a minute.
I have the (S)Lade alto sax and it is better than expected. It will do me for now as I am only 3 months in ( at age 55 ) and this is a cheap and cheerful way to see if saxophone is for me. If I am still playing after 6-12 months then I will upgrade to a better quality/sounding sax.
Glad it’s been a good purchase for you.
I always find your views insightful Jay. Thank you. I don't play myself but I find your channel invaluable for research purposes in outfitting and encouraging my young son who's showing promise of being a very talented saxophonist. He's got an AW01 for his main instrument but I want a less valuable horn for band use and as his instrument is often left unattended, at risk of loss or damage, at school. I now have no doubt that the Jean Paul AS-400 is the right choice for the purpose. Thanks again.
I preferred the sound of the Yamaha: mellower and more open.
I brought a Yamaha Tenor Sax 480 as it was felt it was a good as any alleged professional saxophone and could not justify the added expense. The tone comes from me and the mouthpiece! Sounds terrific! The Yamaha sounds more consistent and smooth in these tests with the Lade sounding too squeaky! Yamaha.
CSMedia If you bought it new I think, in my opinion, you made a mistake; a used 62 is only marginally more expensive and plays much better
You know, although it's clear that the Jade has a more inconsistent sound, I like the fact that the inconsistancy also brings character.
I have the Lade and it's easy to get a great sound on it, soundwise it's somewhere in between vintage and modern, very flexible, plays great too.
The yamaha has a bright tone, and how you are playing it seems like it suits your play style. When I first saw the lade sax video I was blown away, yet comparing the three it doesn't blow me away as much. You get what you pay for I guess! I've always liked yamaha so sorry if I sound biased :)
Somehow, I actually thought the Lade/Ammoon sounded the best at the sound portion of the video ~6 minute area. You made all of them sound good, but I couldn't believe how good the Lade sounded. I wouldn't actually get one myself (recently bought a Selmer AS-42B) but I was surprised by how it sounded for being that cheap. Out of theses three, if I were a beginner, I would 100% go with the Yamaha, though. A big part of that is I see these as a material investment too, not just as a musician, but being someone who grew up without much money.
As for why it sounded the best (I almost forgot)--I'm not sure if you added a little twang to it or not, but it honestly sounded the most like a professional was playing it. Pretty interesting...
Thank you for the reviews. I am surprised you didn't give the Lade 3 starts for accessories because it did have gloves! ;-) At the price of the Jean Paul, you could buy that for about what it would cost to rent a sax for the full school year. That wasn't an option back in the day. I did get my first sax for $100 (used). It was a 1928, brushed silver Conn. It was a nice horn and I played it for years. The only reason I don't have it is I got a Selmer Series II Paris and I sold the Conn back to the person from which I had purchased it all those years ago (and for only $100).
I love the Yamaha Y 80 it’s like the best alto saxophone you could ever have
I bought a throw away saxophone from a company I found on Amazon called gear4music. As a beginner I didn't want to pay £1,000 just incase I couldn't get on with it as I have health problems. I sent the first one back as I noticed a problem and they replaced it with one that sounds awful. I now don't want to play it and wish I'd kept the first one and had it repaired. They are refusing to do anything about the second one stating they found nothing wrong with it. I wish I'd paid more and got the yamaha!
I play on a conn 6m, 10m, and Eastman 52nd street, but I cannot stop watching these videos lol
Jay I will have to go with the Yamaha not only because I play with them but for consistency, durability and return value. Yes they are quite bright, that can easily be fix with a good mouthpiece reed set up.
I have a Jean Paul tenor sax, and it plays amazing
I rarely see Buffet reviewed. I've always had Buffet horns with good results. I currently have a tenor 400 which is immaculate and was set up right, out of the box. Pretty good by my standards, and I picked it up at a very steep discount.
Recently knocked the dust off my Yamaha YTS 62 and then decided to expand my horizons and invest in an Alto sax. Being out of the market for a decade, the search proved ridiculous, my head was swimming in overwhelming confusion. After watching your video I decided on and purchased the JP USA AS-400 for $250. I am pretty excited, it arrives in a few days. Thanks!
The Lade sounds almost shrill, to my ears… Saving my pennies to buy a Jean-Paul AS-400 🎷
A Yamaha was my first horn, and it held up beautifully, out of the box most of these will be ok, but what really shows is the test of time, and my yamaha held up against the harsh conditions that are the hands of a 5th through 8th grader (10 to 14 years old) who didn’t take care of it all too well.
I bought my first alto sax second hand for £200. I had the opportunity to trade that in at my local music shop and buy a Yamaha YAS 280 for the other sax plus £400. The Yamaha breathes a lot easier than the previous one and the top and bottom notes were easier to produce. The only issue I have had with the Yamaha was getting my little finger onto the D# and C keys. I solved this by filing out the slot on the thumb hook until my little finger rested naturally on the D# and C keys.
I upgraded the mouthpiece to the Yamaha 6CM, which I found breathed easier than the Yamaha 4C that came with it.
I have subsequently upgraded to a custom SYOS mouthpiece, which has given me a mellower sound, similar to the P. Mauriat Grand Dream.
The Yamaha is a lovely versatile sax that will see me through my musical career for the foreseeable future.
MyJP AS-400 arrives tomorrow. Can’t wait to get started!
I ordered both the AS-400 and the TS-400 tenors as my jazz band rental instruments. They all come with exactly the accessories they needed to open up the case and go, but on one of the altos the neck screw just snapped. I wasn't even cranking it but the metal was so soft that it failed pretty easily.
It was an easy fix (my tech didn't even charge me), but still an annoyance and something to consider when buying Chinese instruments with softer metals for the smaller parts.
I bought Jean Paul 5 months ago. No issues at all. I am sure it normally plays well except when I play.
It will get better.
Thank you. I am benefiting so much from your videos. Please keep them coming.
Hehe nice, now i just need to get gud to really need a decent sax, i bought a chinese "Mendini" sax cuz i'm a 27 year old software engineer who wanted to go back to music as a hobbie and im already learning to play the sax, (i used to play some other instruments), and so far my god i love this instrument sooo soo much, more than i expected, if u have your doubts about learn to play sax, seriously just do it, also the videos of this channel are soo beginner friendly and well explained, thank u a lot!
Something would be great for these videos would be a low background soft jazz base!!!!!!! I'm listening "Almost like being in love - Red Garland" and it makes a really nice warm athmosphere!
I'd like to see a video on common used saxophones, and if any are worth buying. I've seen some on Reverb priced between the Lade and the Jean-Paul, and I wonder if those would be a better buy than a Lade.
Please do tenor I’m signing up for band and I think I wanna do saxophone I’m not sure which on yet
Got the Jean Paul AS-400 in today. After 30 years of not playing, then playing a clarinet for a week or two... After 30 minutes I was able to belt out summertime and a few other tunes. I won't say they sounded great - embouchure, but they sounded... Again, thanks for reviewing this sax and comparing it to some others!!! Made my choice easy!
I just bought the JP Sax per your recommendation using your link. Thank you and you're welcome. If I continue to improve at a rapid pace per your lessons, I'll buy a more expensive horn in a couple of years.
I bought a Glory alto sax recently from Amazon, for around $350 Australian dollars and it has been great for a beginner like myself. I wouldn't have been brave enough to buy a cheap Chinese saxophone online if it weren't for these reviews, so thank you.
My bud got a 280 and he got a leak in the D key when e dropped it on the ground and it sounds terrible now! But here in Norway our marching bands own our instruments so we borrow and they dont wanna send it on overhaul i have a 275 and i love it!
Sound- I think they all have an acceptable sound for a beginner...when you play them. You and others have said basically "you will sound like you on whatever sax you play'. I would pick the Yamaha based on the upper register sound. However, I would like to hear each one played by a beginner to make my final decision. Quality- I would definitely pick the Yamaha for quality. Yamaha is world renowned for quality and for their support when repair is needed. Second would be the Jean-Paul and last is the Ammoon. Aside from no parts availability, beginners are not always the most careful and could be prone to accidents that will put their sax out of commission causing a discouraging set back in their learning. Accessories- They don't count much in my book especially if they are poor quality or don't serve any real purpose. Value- The best bang for the buck is the Jean-Paul due to its price. But the Yamaha has real value in durability and resale so I pick the Yamaha. But this brings up a question that is even harder to answer. Is the beginner in love with the saxophone? I started on clarinet, as did my daughter and grandson (the same LeBlanc clarinet after overhauls) but we all switched to another woodwind instrument. My daughter to Bari sax, my grandson to contra-bass and bass clarinet and myself to Alto sax and Bari. I would say if you can afford it, get the Yamaha. Even if the beginner does not stay with the alto sax, it can be sold or kept and passed down. If the Jean-Paul fits your budget better it is still a good choice. If money is tight, get the Ammoon. It will get your beginner started but definitely buy a better case. Student instruments get carried on school buses, band buses and public transportation. They need the protection of a good case. I play a Buescher Aristocrat alto (1955) and a Buescher Big-B Baritone sax(1949).
thanks for your input.
Amazing review. Thank you so much. This helps a lot.