I’ve played sax professionally in the Seattle area for 50+ years. I came up through public school bands. I wish I’d had a band director as cool as you. 😂 I love the fact that you are reviewing low priced instruments. I’ve thought about getting a low priced curved soprano so if you ever want to review on of those, that would be cool. 😂 Keep on doing what you’re doing, Your band kids are lucky to have such an enthusiastic teacher.
@@SeattleJohn2009 lol, I was hoping to find a sick deal on a soprano when I heard the tenor is also discounted, but no luck :/ Thanks for the kind words 😊
As a alto sax player whos been playing on a $200 "Glory" amazon alto for the past 5 or so years, these things will last you as long as you dont toss them around and swab them. I currently use vandoren reeds with a vandoren mouthpiece. I'm also auditioning for my states allstate band and am planning on upgrading cause the sax is starting to show its price-age value.
I also have Glory alto saxophone, im enjoying my sax, but, sometimes i feel if I buy a better sax (more expensive) i will enjor more, but, im really falling in love with my Glory saxophone!!
I’m a freshman music Ed major with a percussion focus. I just found your channel through this video and am always here for a cheap instrument. Loved the video and am excited to check out more of them.
thank you for being a inspiration for alot of people. ive been watching you for a long time now and I just want to say that youve helped push me to want to be a music teacher. so thank you
I’m not a band person, and I can almost guarantee that I couldn’t get a note out of any woodwind instrument, but I am a music producer, and given your room acoustics, I honestly think they both sound fine! Great video, thanks a lot!
Thanks for the comments! My room is definitely not set up for perfect acoustics, I've had to do a lot of work to get the mics etc. to cooperate. It's still a work in progress but getting better!
@@MadMusicBand In my opinion, you’re definitely good enough for youtube! Seems to me the next priority is to stop sound from leaking OUT, to stop those weird text messages in the middle of recording :-) I’d love to see some videos on ridiculously cheap percussion instruments, in part because of a disease I have which makes me want to buy every single shaker on the planet, but also to get to hear you on your main instruments! Thanks!
20:40 B is the Amazon one and A is the Jupiter; Jupiter is much softer toned and has a slightly lower formant, whilst the other is sharper and a slighter sharpness and "squelchyness" than the Jupiter.
I actually didn't know that different colour saxophones existed, as an elementary 5th grade band kid playing saxophone, this is AMAZING. I subscribed already
I am a 72 year old Jazz Guitarist. I am still grateful to my High School Band director Mr Joe Miller for getting me started playing in a band and doing parades and stage gigs.
I play alto saxophone for my highschool band and I only started playing last year on the all brass edition of that exact brand and model of alto sax. I learned on it and, while all these people bash Mendini and amazon instruments in general, it did its job. as far as the playability, it was amazing to play because of it's springs, buttons, pads, and my particular favorite which was the mouthpiece. Man I loved that cheap sax. Unfortunately it had to be sent in for major repair by my band director because the poorly built soft case broke and indirectly damaged the D# key. Im on an old Armstrong right now but my go to when i can afford it will be that sax. Only change would be a high quality hard case WITH CLASPS
11:42 the tune korobeiniki is on the public domain. however, "individual performances" (the versions of the tetris themes used in the games) are still protected under copyright law.
@@MadMusicBand you know, I wish I could say it's just a coincidence, but the modern Tetris community is basically my only form of human connection at this point.
I've never understood why band directors are so against middle schoolers playing these cheap instruments. Most middle schoolers won't go beyond middle school band. Why do they need an $1,800+ Yamaha YTS-26? Throw a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece on that bad boy, and you're good to go. Tell parents to save the $50 a month they would spend on a rental to put towards an intermediate/used professional instrument for high school.
You're right that they dont need a $2000 yamaha, the value really isnt there. As for the cheap chinese instruments, more often than not the keywork is extremely soft, so the pivot points wear out rapidly, and keys bend easily, making it difficult to keep them in adjustment. All of the band directors in my area are having difficulties with this. I also have several of these instruments that I use to demonstrate how you can bend the keys just by playing the instrument shaped object.
To me the cheapest could be harder to play and sound bad. So I would go middle price instruments. When I taught guitar people would come in with cheap guitars and I would tell them to not even bother with them. I would let them borrow mine until they could afford a better one.
OMG!!! YOU MADE MY DAY!!! I did not believe you would post this. Thank youuu so much. I am new to the saxaphone so just wanted to know the cheapest. As again thank you so so much. Ur definitely my favourite youtuber👍👍👍❤
Mad music I just wanna say you are my favorite band TH-camr your videos are awesome I loved the video it sounded so good for its price I love this series too just imagine cheapest tuba
I started in 5th grade on a leaky student horn. When I finally got my chops on a Yamaha Professional ($3K-$4K range) that was adjusted well, getting a good sound through it was sooo much easier that I decided it was worth spending the big bucks and never wanted to go back. Since then I went all the way and got a really expensive classic Mark VI. Still... now that I've tried a variety of horns, I've realized that no matter how much you spend, pads don't last forever and any horn can spring a leak. A $100 student horn will play better than a $5,000 sax with leaks.
It’s super refreshing that you aren’t judgmental toward students with cheap and/or colorful instruments. I had a middle school band director who LOUDLY preached how garbage they were. Yeah, they aren’t gonna be professional quality, but if the purple sax is in the parents’ budget and makes the kid feel special and love music, then who cares.
I’m a Clarinet main but I also play Tenor sax and my brother plays Alto and I’ve learned that it definitely can be the instrument that effects your playing, because on my tenor the part that the octave key lifts up sometimes goes to the side and gets stuck so then I squeak if I play lower notes because it’s lifted up and my brother’s sax got dropped and he had to send it to the music shop to get it repaired and they sent him a loner sax but this loner sax is like falling apart so he’s having difficulty playing (he’s a beginner too so it doesn’t help him) I’ve also had an experience with my Clarinet where I couldn’t get a sound out and we thought it was the mouthpiece and I got a new mouthpiece and I still couldn’t play, eventually I figured out that I had needed 3 reeds instead of the 2 1/2 reeds because my embouchure had developed very fast, so yes your instrument can effect your playing just as much as you can yourself
My old flute was like 400-450 but it broke in a lot of ways and I got that same exact flute had it for a month it’s fantastic and comes with stuff a professional has.I recommend it your first 4 years but get another later on,forget to mention it’s open holed.
Tech here. This level of horn usually comes out of the box ok. When everything seals, they play well enough in tune and with a decent mouthpiece a good player could sit in a section with it without getting a side eye. …Until something breaks. The cases are usually styrofoam with some fabric glued to the outside. The metal the keys are made out of is very soft, and prone to going out of adjustment. The solder joints often do not have enough solder underneath. So if you knock the thing around, it’s going to break more easily. And while a willing tech could replace a few palm key pads no problem, if you actually need to replace a screw or a key on this horn your tech is not going to be able to order the part. Many techs will refuse to work on these horns for all the above reasons. Given all this, the best way to use this horn is to get a good mouthpiece to go with it, play it until something breaks, and upgrade instead of repairing it. Wouldn’t recommend this for a student because I think a student needs something more repairable. But it could be ok for a doubler who just needs a cheap way to get through a few gigs.
Hey dude, i just stumbled on your video. I gave up music (Bari Sax, Electric Bass, DAW) for close to a decade because tons of life stuff (scammers and scummers, music degree drama, "the real world of work") made me feel like playing was pointless. I appreciate your enthusiasm on the topic and in a way it actually makes me want to pick music back up. Thanks!
Chrismc - I'm very glad to hear that some players leave the reed on the mouthpiece, as I, a rank 66 year old beginner, does. Saves time futzing with the reed every time I pick the horn up. Also, I found the ritual of moistening the reed first seemed to not make any difference in the quality of my (beginner) playing. I simply adjust my Emboucher as the reed starts to absorb my saliva. I did notice that wetting the reed first, got the reed too mushy earlier. And even as a beginner I can hear my reed start to hit the "sweet spot" as I practice, the deteriorate as it gets too wet. Also, I keep my sax in a moldy basement, and haven't had mold problems yet on my reed after two months of ownership😝💦
Thanks for making music more accessible through these videos. I ordered the tenor version of this instrument based on your review. It was on sale in a rockin' black and gold for $84.99!! Even with a new mouthpiece (Yamaha 5C) and a box of reeds I'm all in for under $150, which would get me 2 months at the local rental shop.
@jeroenneve5807 I'll let you know once it's delivered. But also, I'm an adult beginner with no idea what I'm doing. Sounds like this channel will be doing a tenor sax video soon, watch that one!
@orangeiguanaduck - I am a 66 year old non music trained beginner who wanted to make sounds like Gene Ammons, Coleman Hawkins and all the other "Tenor Titans", (listen to Pandora 'Dinner Jazz' channel for beaucoup examples). So a coupla months ago I sprung about $275 of a gift card for my birthday to get the all gold-colored Mendini Tenor sax, taking the chance that if I couldn't make a sound with it, I could just hang it on the wall😛😂 My boxes arrived pre-opened and crapply, dusty taped😮😢 but the sax and acoutrements looked perfect and un-played / un-opened. Note that the 'throwaway' reed was a great example for me, as I hadn't a clue how to put the reed and ligature on the mouthpiece properly. And yes, the throwaway (11th?) reed was probably defective, and squeaked like a banshee, so I immediately put a new reed on. But still squeaked😧, so I thought I got a 'lemon' sax. Then with perseverance, I learned "The art of the Emboucher" and blatted some super-satisfying sounds out the thing very early in the game. The only problem was the leather seal on the thumb octave blowhole was slow to seal, so I compensated by puffing and tongueing the higher notes and I learned to transition from higher octave notes to the lower notes with breathing control. I believe the 'bad press' the Mendini is getting could be from people who want to sell expensive saxes, because I am a total noob, and even I can get great sounds out of the thing. (It is loud, though)😄I just need to learn the notes and fingering. The biggest and best byproduct of trying to learn the sax is how much greater my appreciation is of listening to advanced players and the "Titans" when they "show off", because I now have an idea of how difficult it is to make "some of those sounds."🎷🎶👌 PS - I wish I had gotten it "on sale", but cest la vie🤷 Edit :PPS- DO NOT BOTHER WITH THE NECKSTRAP THAT COMES WITH THE TENOR. Order a proper shoulder sling before you even get the horn. I am cheap and tried to get away with the included strap and that was a mistake. I ordered a $20 padded double shoulder sling and that transformed the experience.
Before watching this video, I knew nothing about saxophones, now I have learnt that if you suck on a small wood your instrument will change its sound and cheaper does not mean worse, because the sound of the purple one, was in my opinion marginally better :)
Oh man... Mendini That brings me back like a decade ago when I was wanting to buy cheapo instruments because I wanted to try stuff other than trombone.
You sound like someone that would annoy me at first but then become my favourite teacher after a few classes. That or you'd already be my favourite from day one.
Working at a music store and knowing the price of a brand new student level sax is terrifying. The Mendini also was quieter with the mechanisms. Could easily hear the movement of the mechanisms with the Jupiter. Very interesting video though!
I bought my son one 10 years ago. It was blue and gold. It was pretty to me, and he liked it when he was in 6th grade. He ended up in honor band and played it for 5 years. He never had an issue, and he swore it sounded better than his friends, which cost over a thousand, according to him. He still has it to this day, but he doesn't play it anymore. He then became a really good guitarist, and now he's trying his hand at music production doing mixing, remixes, and recording. Pretty good investment. Too bad he became a starving artist lol
I played alto from 7th grade till junior year in high school had to skip senior year for scheduling conflicts but still practiced then did my first year in college on alto before mine started falling apart. This saxophone sounds very similar to my old vito maybe a little brighter sounding but very close.
As a long time saxophonist and former band director myself, I knew immediately which was which. The Jupiter's higher quality brass and construction just have a fuller and rounder tone, and I wouldn't even consider Jupiter a top tier saxophone manufacturer. That's not to say that a brand new student will be able to take advantage of that, but even at semester you'll be able to tell a difference. As a standalone instrument, the Mendini and clones are not horrific items, but they do have multiple problems in my experience. Many of their woodwinds, particularly as the instrument gets smaller, have poor intonation and tone quality at the ends of their ranges. They use lower quality springs, corks, and pads, and these wear faster and thus need replacing / maintenance sooner. Many repair shops won't even work on them if anything major happens, and you wouldn't want them to, because the cost to replace is just lower than the labor to repair. Also, while they might cost half or even a third as much as a beginner instrument from a "reputable" manufacturer, that cost is unsalvageable. You will never be able to get any of the value of the instrument back if your kid decides to quit, or if they decide to stay and want to graduate to a higher quality instrument. You're just out the cost of the Mendini/clone, whereas if you buy a used Jupiter/Yamaha/X, you can quite easily get much/most of the cost back because there is a large used instrument market in most areas where school band is offered. I wouldn't recommend one to a student unless it was literally the only option for them to be able to participate, because that's the most important thing of all, but I would do everything in my power to find them another option, be it used, rental, or school-owned.
@@MadMusicBandJust such a huge amount of effort has clearly been put into the production of this video, I will enjoy taking my time looking back through your catalogue. I am a fan of all things creative, but music especially. Your students almost certainly do not know how lucky they are. 😂 I subsequently fell down into a Handpan and Kalimba rabbit hole. And bought a recommended Kalimba. 🥳 Woo hoo!
Alto is my main and it sounds good besides the chromatic and the multiphonic which is an issue I have on high G and high G# but I think it sounds great!
For Bb use the standard fingering, called side Bb, 2 fingers on left hand plus bottom side key on right hand, don't use 1&1 ,that more of a flute fingering.
Yup, that's my percussionist coming through haha. To your point though, I actually prefer the alternate flute fingering (not the 1&1) but that's a different discussion.
So I dont know why TH-cam recommended this video, but I enjoy brass instruments. But also I didn't know Andy Dwyer had a youtube channel. lol you earned a sub
I remember my mother making payments on my snare and bells for a couple of years!!! Found over the years if your willing to practice you make it on cheap we would have loved Amazon back in the day😊
@MadMusicBand Imagine being a hundred pounds or more dragging those things on the bud geez!!! Now they have fancy rolling bags and yes it was a torture well loved by my music teacher 😁
Suggestion would be to keep the mouthpiece consistent when testing the two saxophones. The mouthpiece reed combination actually plays a bigger factor into the sound than the horn itself despite costing less
That's true, but I think it's fair to test the two instruments with the mouthpieces they ship with, since that's what you actually receive and pay for when you buy it. The reed I did keep the same with both horns.
My band director plays clarinet and there were two times I remember him playing a piece, once was the national anthem and the other was (would you believe it) careless whisperer. I forgot to mention he played them on saxophone
Its surprising how good it is, I expected a few pad to be leaking. Im not shocked by the reeds the first one was wonky. I just had my alto flute serviced thats a surprise when you can get the full rang again without going purple. it was only the cost that made me flush.
A couple months ago i 3d printed an alto mouthpiece, it actually worked but i definitley wouldnt suggest it to anyone unless your just messing around and having fun
I feel like the low notes may not have been the reed. You kinda gotta just drop your jaw. And maybe it was the reed but I had the same problem, but after practicing my low notes after about a month they are way better. Source: I play sax
I've played alto for a while as well, but I don't have that problem with my Jupiter. It worked so much better with the new reed that I know it was definitely that at first. Everything that happened after the reed switch can probably be attributed to me lol, it works great now.
yeah, reed and mouthpiece I bet.... I had one of clarinets and thought about changing the mouthpiece too... that wobble is probably a loose pad if it goes away when you press hard then it is the pads. Try Hemke reeds, expensive but pretty nice, and 2.5 strength is sufficient for most players (my college professor who friggin rocked played only a 2.5, don't be a hero!) I loved my JD Hite mouthpieces. Nothing beats my metal Rovner, sorry they don't make them any more... such a shame. FYI, I was REALLY lucky to get a 15 minute clinic with the guy who wrote my lesson book.... Loosen your upper lip, and maybe play off the inside of your lower lip (if you have thin lips). You should almost be able to lift your top lip when playing, and just lose sound as you do. Otherwise, your pinching your sound off (why it is so loud). Not so much your jaw being dropped... your lip contact with the reed and be LOOSE not tight with your embrochure. It will change your sound.
Not going to lie the sound difference between that Jupiter and the tester it's not really that different. At least it's not completely noticeable and it seems like it's a great instrument to learn on. As a trumpet player who tried to play saxophone it makes me want to order that saxophone and try to learn to play the stupid thing again even though it's been 21 years since I played saxophone. Plus purple is my color.
I'm with ya, I figure, as long as it works to learn on for that price I'm ok if it doesn't sound as good, but honestly it's close enough in sound to not matter. Time will tell whether it holds up, but right now it's a heck of a deal.
I'd love a video on a Mendini clarinet! I have a really cheap Bb clarinet from them (bright blue) and I play it when I volunteer for elementary school band camp. It plays surprisingly well, and I'd love to see what you think of that brand's clarinets!
Whoa I just saw you have a "cheapest clarinet" video--my dreams have come true!! to echo what others say, please never stop making videos, your content is amazing!!
Actually performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2 weeks with one of these saxophones. If you know what you're doing, these horns work fairly well. They don't last as long as pricier horns, buuuuut they are gonna play well enough that, in the right hands, they can be used for collegiate level performance. Only hoping I won't still be on this sax next year.
It could be a cause, but it can also be the reed or embouchure not being correct for the note trying to be played. I still need to continue working on the quality of my lower notes on sax.
I'm a student who plays clarinet and I would recommend a glory or glorey I don't know the exact spelling but it's a little pricier at I think about 120 but mine came with 10 reeds gloves corck grease and those cleaner things a pull cloth and a little screwdriver and a stand all in one and I've had it for a year and a half may be two years it's amazing for what I know and you can have a payment plan for like 10 a month
Alto Sax is my next instrument. I've been playing clarinet since 2017. I am extremely stupid at math so I don't even know how long ago that was. My clarinet (Yamaha) came with 1 number 3 reed. I got some 1.5s. I'm still not great on a 3 reed. I do't like Rico reeds at all! I got some 2s and 2.5s Vandorens and they work best for me. The minute I see the slightest hint of a crack in one of my clarinet reeds it goes right in the bin. This is a rule. I split my lip on one. I gave myself a challenge. Pass grade 5 music theory and then get an alto sax, preferably in Iron Man red. Trouble is I'm allergic to nickel.
I haven't played sax in years and I can clearly hear the difference. The amazon sax has a pinging to it. Where as the Jupiter is much more smooth with consistency. It could be an issue with the cheap reed though
I dont really know much about instruments and can't read music. My band experience and career lasted for like less than a day as a freshman in high school. I'm 53 now and a retired Marine. Although I love listening to music. As for the differences between those two saxophones I couldn't really hear any.
I got this saxophone (regular brass color) for Christmas, even thought I told my mom I didn’t want a saxophone, but she kept asking me questions about it 😭 I would’ve rather wanted a clarinet tho (I got a Jean Paul clarinet on my birthday 5 months later, this year, so that’s a win) and now the saxophone is rotting in storage bc I quit playing it, it was too hard 🙏
Let me know what you all want to see in the future, I'm planning a tenor sax video now! :)
The black and gold colour is now only 99$!
@@zahaanhasham4426 that would probably be my choice... it's pretty
@@zahaanhasham4426 Just purchased the black and gold! Still $99! Thanks for the heads up
@@MadMusicBand I love the vid and I wanna get a case for my alto like the one in the vid
Piccolo :3
I’ve played sax professionally in the Seattle area for 50+ years. I came up through public school bands. I wish I’d had a band director as cool as you. 😂 I love the fact that you are reviewing low priced instruments. I’ve thought about getting a low priced curved soprano so if you ever want to review on of those, that would be cool. 😂 Keep on doing what you’re doing, Your band kids are lucky to have such an enthusiastic teacher.
@@SeattleJohn2009 lol, I was hoping to find a sick deal on a soprano when I heard the tenor is also discounted, but no luck :/
Thanks for the kind words 😊
I second that entire comment... (But I only spent 15 years playing in Seattle, lol).
Songs he played
1. Careless whispers
2. Epic Sax Guy
3. Hedwig’s theme
4. Uptown funk
5. ???
@@pandapugstudios 3 was happy birthday
I have the curved soprano version. It shreds! I genuinely love it for fiddling around on at home
You are GREAT! As a professional saxophonist, and former band director, you are doing everything right! Keep it up, you will succeed!!
Thanks! :)
Purple and gold actually looks amazing.
That One Band Kid With The Amazon sax
real
That would be me
My band has a guy with an amazon trumpet, even tho the school gives out free ones for the year and everyone is hating on him bc he cant play
The best, is when that kid with the Amazon horn is first chair ;)
@@MadMusicBand that’s crazier
Dude you super funny and you keep getting better every single video don't stop uploading
This is so true
Thanks! I'm doing my best to get better each time :)
As a alto sax player whos been playing on a $200 "Glory" amazon alto for the past 5 or so years, these things will last you as long as you dont toss them around and swab them. I currently use vandoren reeds with a vandoren mouthpiece. I'm also auditioning for my states allstate band and am planning on upgrading cause the sax is starting to show its price-age value.
Nice, good luck on your audition! What horn are you planning to update to?
I also have Glory alto saxophone, im enjoying my sax, but, sometimes i feel if I buy a better sax (more expensive) i will enjor more, but, im really falling in love with my Glory saxophone!!
@@victorhugobatresgamez2584 Mouthpiece matters more.
@@DDD11239 but, if I want to buy a new one, Im thinking for selmer prelude, or wait a lot more for yamaha saxophone?
@@MadMusicBandprobably something selmer, i was looking at a beautiful buffet Senzo too lol. Im not to sure though.
I’m a freshman music Ed major with a percussion focus. I just found your channel through this video and am always here for a cheap instrument. Loved the video and am excited to check out more of them.
thank you for being a inspiration for alot of people. ive been watching you for a long time now and I just want to say that youve helped push me to want to be a music teacher. so thank you
That's so awesome, thanks for reaching out and sharing that :) I wish you luck in becoming a teacher!
As a horn player, I would like to see a Amazon horn review.
Me too! I hope to get one eventually, but they're pretty expensive :/
Sameeee
Gormany
I just looked up how much a baritone would be!
I had a broken duck call once; every time I blew into it, all the saxophone players came out of the bushes.
😂
i love your videos! i watch them a lot. never stop uploading!!
I’m not a band person, and I can almost guarantee that I couldn’t get a note out of any woodwind instrument, but I am a music producer, and given your room acoustics, I honestly think they both sound fine!
Great video, thanks a lot!
Thanks for the comments! My room is definitely not set up for perfect acoustics, I've had to do a lot of work to get the mics etc. to cooperate. It's still a work in progress but getting better!
@@MadMusicBand In my opinion, you’re definitely good enough for youtube! Seems to me the next priority is to stop sound from leaking OUT, to stop those weird text messages in the middle of recording :-) I’d love to see some videos on ridiculously cheap percussion instruments, in part because of a disease I have which makes me want to buy every single shaker on the planet, but also to get to hear you on your main instruments! Thanks!
Love this guy's demeanor and attitude, very wholesome. Definitely earned a sub. 👍
20:40
B is the Amazon one and A is the Jupiter; Jupiter is much softer toned and has a slightly lower formant, whilst the other is sharper and a slighter sharpness and "squelchyness" than the Jupiter.
I actually didn't know that different colour saxophones existed, as an elementary 5th grade band kid playing saxophone, this is AMAZING. I subscribed already
I am a 72 year old Jazz Guitarist.
I am still grateful to my High School Band director Mr Joe Miller for getting me started playing in a band and doing parades and stage gigs.
I play alto saxophone for my highschool band and I only started playing last year on the all brass edition of that exact brand and model of alto sax. I learned on it and, while all these people bash Mendini and amazon instruments in general, it did its job. as far as the playability, it was amazing to play because of it's springs, buttons, pads, and my particular favorite which was the mouthpiece. Man I loved that cheap sax. Unfortunately it had to be sent in for major repair by my band director because the poorly built soft case broke and indirectly damaged the D# key. Im on an old Armstrong right now but my go to when i can afford it will be that sax. Only change would be a high quality hard case WITH CLASPS
I will agree that the cases are definitely not the best... Probably a huge cost savings for them.
18:50 “analysis like this is why they pay me those big teacher bucks” 😂💀 fr
😂 Truth
as a previous alto saxophonist (now tenor) i can say that this saxophone does not sound that bad
11:42
the tune korobeiniki is on the public domain. however, "individual performances" (the versions of the tetris themes used in the games) are still protected under copyright law.
Username checks out 😉
@@MadMusicBand you know, I wish I could say it's just a coincidence, but the modern Tetris community is basically my only form of human connection at this point.
more tetris enthusiasts...... hehehshehhdwyhxhwhcnwhdj
I just finished your cheap Trumpet vid lol, perfect timing before my gig
Sax is my main instrument. They sound exactly the same to me. And you play sax a lot better than I play percussion. 🙂
Ha, thanks! I've gotten a lot better over the past 5 or so years of putsing around with them.
I've never understood why band directors are so against middle schoolers playing these cheap instruments. Most middle schoolers won't go beyond middle school band. Why do they need an $1,800+ Yamaha YTS-26? Throw a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece on that bad boy, and you're good to go. Tell parents to save the $50 a month they would spend on a rental to put towards an intermediate/used professional instrument for high school.
You're right that they dont need a $2000 yamaha, the value really isnt there. As for the cheap chinese instruments, more often than not the keywork is extremely soft, so the pivot points wear out rapidly, and keys bend easily, making it difficult to keep them in adjustment. All of the band directors in my area are having difficulties with this. I also have several of these instruments that I use to demonstrate how you can bend the keys just by playing the instrument shaped object.
To me the cheapest could be harder to play and sound bad. So I would go middle price instruments. When I taught guitar people would come in with cheap guitars and I would tell them to not even bother with them. I would let them borrow mine until they could afford a better one.
OMG!!! YOU MADE MY DAY!!! I did not believe you would post this. Thank youuu so much. I am new to the saxaphone so just wanted to know the cheapest. As again thank you so so much. Ur definitely my favourite youtuber👍👍👍❤
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much 😊
@@MadMusicBandhey, I have a question.. What saxaphone should I get for beginners? Thanks👍
@@theonlyonegirl the first thing to figure out is your budget, the answer is very different depending on what you can afford.
Hmmm, about under 800 pounds@@MadMusicBand
I LOVE UR VIDS!! I PLAY ALTO SAX AND I WAS WAITING FOR U TO FINALLY GET ONEE!! UR MY FAVORITEEE
Thanks for the tips!! I'm just a Middle school alto sax player, this helped me get better!
My kiddo and i love your instrument reviews! She wants to learn a new instrument in band next year and requests you do an Amazon cheap Bassoon review.
That's awesome! I'll have to keep saving to afford a bassoon, but I'd love to do one eventually! :)
Mad music I just wanna say you are my favorite band TH-camr your videos are awesome I loved the video it sounded so good for its price I love this series too just imagine cheapest tuba
Cheapest tuba would make for a great video...gotta start saving money haha
13:14 this is where he starts playing
I started in 5th grade on a leaky student horn. When I finally got my chops on a Yamaha Professional ($3K-$4K range) that was adjusted well, getting a good sound through it was sooo much easier that I decided it was worth spending the big bucks and never wanted to go back. Since then I went all the way and got a really expensive classic Mark VI. Still... now that I've tried a variety of horns, I've realized that no matter how much you spend, pads don't last forever and any horn can spring a leak. A $100 student horn will play better than a $5,000 sax with leaks.
It’s super refreshing that you aren’t judgmental toward students with cheap and/or colorful instruments. I had a middle school band director who LOUDLY preached how garbage they were. Yeah, they aren’t gonna be professional quality, but if the purple sax is in the parents’ budget and makes the kid feel special and love music, then who cares.
Absolutely agree. Anything beats nothing
WOOHOO new video! As a band kid, this series is pretty entertaining yet informative, thank you!!
Thanks, they're fun to make too :)
I’m a Clarinet main but I also play Tenor sax and my brother plays Alto and I’ve learned that it definitely can be the instrument that effects your playing, because on my tenor the part that the octave key lifts up sometimes goes to the side and gets stuck so then I squeak if I play lower notes because it’s lifted up and my brother’s sax got dropped and he had to send it to the music shop to get it repaired and they sent him a loner sax but this loner sax is like falling apart so he’s having difficulty playing (he’s a beginner too so it doesn’t help him) I’ve also had an experience with my Clarinet where I couldn’t get a sound out and we thought it was the mouthpiece and I got a new mouthpiece and I still couldn’t play, eventually I figured out that I had needed 3 reeds instead of the 2 1/2 reeds because my embouchure had developed very fast, so yes your instrument can effect your playing just as much as you can yourself
My old flute was like 400-450 but it broke in a lot of ways and I got that same exact flute had it for a month it’s fantastic and comes with stuff a professional has.I recommend it your first 4 years but get another later on,forget to mention it’s open holed.
Tech here. This level of horn usually comes out of the box ok. When everything seals, they play well enough in tune and with a decent mouthpiece a good player could sit in a section with it without getting a side eye.
…Until something breaks. The cases are usually styrofoam with some fabric glued to the outside. The metal the keys are made out of is very soft, and prone to going out of adjustment. The solder joints often do not have enough solder underneath. So if you knock the thing around, it’s going to break more easily. And while a willing tech could replace a few palm key pads no problem, if you actually need to replace a screw or a key on this horn your tech is not going to be able to order the part. Many techs will refuse to work on these horns for all the above reasons.
Given all this, the best way to use this horn is to get a good mouthpiece to go with it, play it until something breaks, and upgrade instead of repairing it. Wouldn’t recommend this for a student because I think a student needs something more repairable. But it could be ok for a doubler who just needs a cheap way to get through a few gigs.
Hey dude, i just stumbled on your video. I gave up music (Bari Sax, Electric Bass, DAW) for close to a decade because tons of life stuff (scammers and scummers, music degree drama, "the real world of work") made me feel like playing was pointless. I appreciate your enthusiasm on the topic and in a way it actually makes me want to pick music back up. Thanks!
This comment made my night, thanks so much for the kind words :)
actually, a lot of professional/advanced players leave the reed on. they say it makes the seal better. not my thing but some people swear by it.
Chrismc - I'm very glad to hear that some players leave the reed on the mouthpiece, as I, a rank 66 year old beginner, does. Saves time futzing with the reed every time I pick the horn up. Also, I found the ritual of moistening the reed first seemed to not make any difference in the quality of my (beginner) playing. I simply adjust my Emboucher as the reed starts to absorb my saliva. I did notice that wetting the reed first, got the reed too mushy earlier. And even as a beginner I can hear my reed start to hit the "sweet spot" as I practice, the deteriorate as it gets too wet. Also, I keep my sax in a moldy basement, and haven't had mold problems yet on my reed after two months of ownership😝💦
Thanks for making music more accessible through these videos. I ordered the tenor version of this instrument based on your review. It was on sale in a rockin' black and gold for $84.99!! Even with a new mouthpiece (Yamaha 5C) and a box of reeds I'm all in for under $150, which would get me 2 months at the local rental shop.
yes, but how does it play? should I get one as a backup?
@jeroenneve5807 I'll let you know once it's delivered. But also, I'm an adult beginner with no idea what I'm doing. Sounds like this channel will be doing a tenor sax video soon, watch that one!
I ordered that tenor too, I'm pumped to get it :)
@orangeiguanaduck - I am a 66 year old non music trained beginner who wanted to make sounds like Gene Ammons, Coleman Hawkins and all the other "Tenor Titans", (listen to Pandora 'Dinner Jazz' channel for beaucoup examples). So a coupla months ago I sprung about $275 of a gift card for my birthday to get the all gold-colored Mendini Tenor sax, taking the chance that if I couldn't make a sound with it, I could just hang it on the wall😛😂 My boxes arrived pre-opened and crapply, dusty taped😮😢 but the sax and acoutrements looked perfect and un-played / un-opened. Note that the 'throwaway' reed was a great example for me, as I hadn't a clue how to put the reed and ligature on the mouthpiece properly. And yes, the throwaway (11th?) reed was probably defective, and squeaked like a banshee, so I immediately put a new reed on. But still squeaked😧, so I thought I got a 'lemon' sax. Then with perseverance, I learned "The art of the Emboucher" and blatted some super-satisfying sounds out the thing very early in the game. The only problem was the leather seal on the thumb octave blowhole was slow to seal, so I compensated by puffing and tongueing the higher notes and I learned to transition from higher octave notes to the lower notes with breathing control. I believe the 'bad press' the Mendini is getting could be from people who want to sell expensive saxes, because I am a total noob, and even I can get great sounds out of the thing. (It is loud, though)😄I just need to learn the notes and fingering. The biggest and best byproduct of trying to learn the sax is how much greater my appreciation is of listening to advanced players and the "Titans" when they "show off", because I now have an idea of how difficult it is to make "some of those sounds."🎷🎶👌 PS - I wish I had gotten it "on sale", but cest la vie🤷 Edit :PPS- DO NOT BOTHER WITH THE NECKSTRAP THAT COMES WITH THE TENOR. Order a proper shoulder sling before you even get the horn. I am cheap and tried to get away with the included strap and that was a mistake. I ordered a $20 padded double shoulder sling and that transformed the experience.
I learned on one of these and when I got a new sax, the change in my playing ability was almost instant
Before watching this video, I knew nothing about saxophones, now I have learnt that if you suck on a small wood your instrument will change its sound and cheaper does not mean worse, because the sound of the purple one, was in my opinion marginally better :)
16:26 - He doesn't realize the saxophone had a High F# tone hole or key lol.
as a bassoon player, I was not expecting you to mention it.
This is the video I’ve been waiting for, and as a saxophonist, I must say this seemed much better than I expected.
It's surprisingly ok!
Oh God!!! Everytime you switch to that purple horn, my ears scream! It's like chalk on a board! 😂😂😂😂
Oh man... Mendini
That brings me back like a decade ago when I was wanting to buy cheapo instruments because I wanted to try stuff other than trombone.
The purple and gold on the sax reminds me of Malos from Xenoblade 2. Looks like something he’d play!
My band directors weren't sax people either. You are not alone. Thanks for the entertaining vid.
Finally! The day ive been waiting for
You sound like someone that would annoy me at first but then become my favourite teacher after a few classes.
That or you'd already be my favourite from day one.
...thanks? lol
I have a trombone from the same brand I got it for 300ish dollars. It works so well and worth the price! Just take care of it❤
I have yet to get a cheap brass trombone, it's definitely on the list :)
Working at a music store and knowing the price of a brand new student level sax is terrifying. The Mendini also was quieter with the mechanisms. Could easily hear the movement of the mechanisms with the Jupiter. Very interesting video though!
I so would have paid extra for a purple sax when I was a kid (before purple was invented). Too cool.
you should do baritone/euphonium next! day 1 of asking
uh oh lol. I'll hopefully get to one eventually, but I've got a few more instruments chilling in boxes in my basement I need to get through first ;)
@@MadMusicBand alright :)
Amazon instruments come with the white gloves so the metal doesn't melt with the oil at your fingertips (don't fact check that)
I feel like "don't fact check that" could be my channels slogan 😂
I bought my son one 10 years ago. It was blue and gold. It was pretty to me, and he liked it when he was in 6th grade. He ended up in honor band and played it for 5 years. He never had an issue, and he swore it sounded better than his friends, which cost over a thousand, according to him.
He still has it to this day, but he doesn't play it anymore. He then became a really good guitarist, and now he's trying his hand at music production doing mixing, remixes, and recording.
Pretty good investment. Too bad he became a starving artist lol
One of us! 😉😂
Bros like GOAT band teacher 🐐
I played alto from 7th grade till junior year in high school had to skip senior year for scheduling conflicts but still practiced then did my first year in college on alto before mine started falling apart. This saxophone sounds very similar to my old vito maybe a little brighter sounding but very close.
As a long time saxophonist and former band director myself, I knew immediately which was which. The Jupiter's higher quality brass and construction just have a fuller and rounder tone, and I wouldn't even consider Jupiter a top tier saxophone manufacturer. That's not to say that a brand new student will be able to take advantage of that, but even at semester you'll be able to tell a difference. As a standalone instrument, the Mendini and clones are not horrific items, but they do have multiple problems in my experience. Many of their woodwinds, particularly as the instrument gets smaller, have poor intonation and tone quality at the ends of their ranges. They use lower quality springs, corks, and pads, and these wear faster and thus need replacing / maintenance sooner. Many repair shops won't even work on them if anything major happens, and you wouldn't want them to, because the cost to replace is just lower than the labor to repair.
Also, while they might cost half or even a third as much as a beginner instrument from a "reputable" manufacturer, that cost is unsalvageable. You will never be able to get any of the value of the instrument back if your kid decides to quit, or if they decide to stay and want to graduate to a higher quality instrument. You're just out the cost of the Mendini/clone, whereas if you buy a used Jupiter/Yamaha/X, you can quite easily get much/most of the cost back because there is a large used instrument market in most areas where school band is offered.
I wouldn't recommend one to a student unless it was literally the only option for them to be able to participate, because that's the most important thing of all, but I would do everything in my power to find them another option, be it used, rental, or school-owned.
I have no interest in the saxophone, but I watched the whole video because you are exceptional. Bravo!
Wow, thank you! 😊
@@MadMusicBandJust such a huge amount of effort has clearly been put into the production of this video, I will enjoy taking my time looking back through your catalogue. I am a fan of all things creative, but music especially. Your students almost certainly do not know how lucky they are. 😂 I subsequently fell down into a Handpan and Kalimba rabbit hole. And bought a recommended Kalimba. 🥳 Woo hoo!
Impressive, the vid is up for 5 minutes and already a dozen likes!
The issue is getting parts for them.But a beautiful horn! And it is so fun to watch yot❤️👍🏼
Yup, parts can be an issue for some of these horns, so you should kind of take that into consideration when purchasing. Glad you liked it 😊
Alto is my main and it sounds good besides the chromatic and the multiphonic which is an issue I have on high G and high G# but I think it sounds great!
I would like to see a video about the cheapest oboe or the cheapest piccolo.
I'm hoping to get those eventually!
For Bb use the standard fingering, called side Bb, 2 fingers on left hand plus bottom side key on right hand, don't use 1&1 ,that more of a flute fingering.
Yup, that's my percussionist coming through haha. To your point though, I actually prefer the alternate flute fingering (not the 1&1) but that's a different discussion.
So I dont know why TH-cam recommended this video, but I enjoy brass instruments. But also I didn't know Andy Dwyer had a youtube channel. lol you earned a sub
😂
I remember my mother making payments on my snare and bells for a couple of years!!! Found over the years if your willing to practice you make it on cheap we would have loved Amazon back in the day😊
I had one of those bell sets growing up, never played it 🤣. Those bells are torture to practice on
@MadMusicBand Imagine being a hundred pounds or more dragging those things on the bud geez!!! Now they have fancy rolling bags and yes it was a torture well loved by my music teacher 😁
YAY MORE VIDEOS FROM MY FAVORITE INSTRUMENT CHANNEL YAAAAAAAAAY!
🎉🎉🎉🎉
1. Careless Whisperer
2.Epic Sax Guy
3.Happy Birthday
4.Uptown Funk
5. (I'm not sure) I'm Blue
Finally thanks now do a vid trying cheap reeds
Suggestion would be to keep the mouthpiece consistent when testing the two saxophones. The mouthpiece reed combination actually plays a bigger factor into the sound than the horn itself despite costing less
That's true, but I think it's fair to test the two instruments with the mouthpieces they ship with, since that's what you actually receive and pay for when you buy it. The reed I did keep the same with both horns.
My band director plays clarinet and there were two times I remember him playing a piece, once was the national anthem and the other was (would you believe it) careless whisperer. I forgot to mention he played them on saxophone
10:50 as a tenor saxophone player, seeing you set it down like that made me cringe so hard 😂
I watched the part you linked, and I can't see what I did wrong lol. What did I do?! :)
@@MadMusicBand if you go back ten or so seconds you can see yourself it down, on the palm keys 😞
Its surprising how good it is, I expected a few pad to be leaking. Im not shocked by the reeds the first one was wonky.
I just had my alto flute serviced thats a surprise when you can get the full rang again without going purple. it was only the cost that made me flush.
I was actually suprised about the pads as well. Works great!
I have been waiting for this
👏
I forgot to say I play the alto Saxophone
A couple months ago i 3d printed an alto mouthpiece, it actually worked but i definitley wouldnt suggest it to anyone unless your just messing around and having fun
I've always wanted a 3d printer to mess around with stuff like this. I always thought a trumpet mouthpiece would be fun to try printing.
Prime example that it’s not the instrument that makes most the color of the sound it’s the player mainly.
I feel like the low notes may not have been the reed. You kinda gotta just drop your jaw. And maybe it was the reed but I had the same problem, but after practicing my low notes after about a month they are way better. Source: I play sax
I've played alto for a while as well, but I don't have that problem with my Jupiter. It worked so much better with the new reed that I know it was definitely that at first. Everything that happened after the reed switch can probably be attributed to me lol, it works great now.
You have such personality & style, you're awesome
yeah, reed and mouthpiece I bet.... I had one of clarinets and thought about changing the mouthpiece too... that wobble is probably a loose pad if it goes away when you press hard then it is the pads. Try Hemke reeds, expensive but pretty nice, and 2.5 strength is sufficient for most players (my college professor who friggin rocked played only a 2.5, don't be a hero!)
I loved my JD Hite mouthpieces. Nothing beats my metal Rovner, sorry they don't make them any more... such a shame.
FYI, I was REALLY lucky to get a 15 minute clinic with the guy who wrote my lesson book.... Loosen your upper lip, and maybe play off the inside of your lower lip (if you have thin lips). You should almost be able to lift your top lip when playing, and just lose sound as you do. Otherwise, your pinching your sound off (why it is so loud). Not so much your jaw being dropped... your lip contact with the reed and be LOOSE not tight with your embrochure. It will change your sound.
Congrats on 10k dude
I saw the Yamaha Venova in the background and I recently got one of those myself
Love legere reeds! been keeping my own cheap amazon sax going for over two years!
Using my legere and purple sax at a pep band game right now! 😎
Not going to lie the sound difference between that Jupiter and the tester it's not really that different. At least it's not completely noticeable and it seems like it's a great instrument to learn on. As a trumpet player who tried to play saxophone it makes me want to order that saxophone and try to learn to play the stupid thing again even though it's been 21 years since I played saxophone. Plus purple is my color.
I'm with ya, I figure, as long as it works to learn on for that price I'm ok if it doesn't sound as good, but honestly it's close enough in sound to not matter. Time will tell whether it holds up, but right now it's a heck of a deal.
This guy is a national treasure!
I'm always rooting for cheap instruments to be good, and this alto sax might just be the most insane value of all the gear you've showed thus far!!
Yup, it's crazy. One of the few instruments I've tried that "just worked". (granted...don't use their reeds).
LOVE THE VIDEO KEEP UP THE HARD WORK MAN!!
Thanks :)
Dunno why I got recommended this, but it was super enjoyable. You're very Chris Pratt-like (I mean that in a good way)
Call me up Marvel, I'm available ;)
As a former repair guy, these things sound fine but are an absolute nightmare to do any kind of work on beyond replacing pads.
I'd love a video on a Mendini clarinet! I have a really cheap Bb clarinet from them (bright blue) and I play it when I volunteer for elementary school band camp. It plays surprisingly well, and I'd love to see what you think of that brand's clarinets!
Whoa I just saw you have a "cheapest clarinet" video--my dreams have come true!! to echo what others say, please never stop making videos, your content is amazing!!
new suggestion: BASS CLAR!
hope to some day!
LOL blind test I picked the Mendini so interesting!!!! Love it
They're so similar!
Actually performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2 weeks with one of these saxophones. If you know what you're doing, these horns work fairly well. They don't last as long as pricier horns, buuuuut they are gonna play well enough that, in the right hands, they can be used for collegiate level performance. Only hoping I won't still be on this sax next year.
That's awesome, good luck!
As a baritone tuba player, I have A feeling Amazon ones might be good
I hope to get one eventually!
The Waves are from the pads not sealing completely
It could be a cause, but it can also be the reed or embouchure not being correct for the note trying to be played. I still need to continue working on the quality of my lower notes on sax.
Much respect to your work my brother
I'm a student who plays clarinet and I would recommend a glory or glorey I don't know the exact spelling but it's a little pricier at I think about 120 but mine came with 10 reeds gloves corck grease and those cleaner things a pull cloth and a little screwdriver and a stand all in one and I've had it for a year and a half may be two years it's amazing for what I know and you can have a payment plan for like 10 a month
Maybe I'll get to try one some day :)
Alto Sax is my next instrument. I've been playing clarinet since 2017. I am extremely stupid at math so I don't even know how long ago that was.
My clarinet (Yamaha) came with 1 number 3 reed. I got some 1.5s. I'm still not great on a 3 reed. I do't like Rico reeds at all! I got some 2s and 2.5s Vandorens and they work best for me.
The minute I see the slightest hint of a crack in one of my clarinet reeds it goes right in the bin. This is a rule. I split my lip on one. I gave myself a challenge. Pass grade 5 music theory and then get an alto sax, preferably in Iron Man red.
Trouble is I'm allergic to nickel.
I haven't played sax in years and I can clearly hear the difference. The amazon sax has a pinging to it. Where as the Jupiter is much more smooth with consistency. It could be an issue with the cheap reed though
I dont really know much about instruments and can't read music. My band experience and career lasted for like less than a day as a freshman in high school. I'm 53 now and a retired Marine. Although I love listening to music. As for the differences between those two saxophones I couldn't really hear any.
I got this saxophone (regular brass color) for Christmas, even thought I told my mom I didn’t want a saxophone, but she kept asking me questions about it 😭 I would’ve rather wanted a clarinet tho (I got a Jean Paul clarinet on my birthday 5 months later, this year, so that’s a win)
and now the saxophone is rotting in storage bc I quit playing it, it was too hard 🙏
Wow, most would probably think alto would be easier to learn than clarinet. Hopefully you're rocking that Jean Paul! :)