Item # 585568 | Customer Ratings: 
(
5 Based on 1
reviews)
Now Viewing:
| GC Shopping Cart | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
The Allora Vienna Series Curved soprano saxophone produces a very warm and even sound. Ideal for concert band, this intermediate instrument has a single neck, and comes in a silver-plated matte finish. The bow and bell have decorative floral engraving. Comes with soft carrying bag.
Every Allora saxophone is subjected to an exclusive play test and shop check to ensure you of a great playing horn.
SUMMARY: My experience with the Allora Vienna curved soprano saxophone over the past four weeks has been very positive, and I would recommend it based on the goals I had in mind. I also have had consistently positive experiences with ordering through Guitar Center and want to provide that feedback. BACKGROUND: I write very few product reviews, but am writing this one because when I was researching what to buy I found so little about this particular saxophone on the web. I chose it based on a combination of price and (described) quality as compared with other makes/models I researched, including consideration of vintage saxophones. I did not handle or test the saxophone before I bought it, and I could find nowhere in my city to try or rent a curved soprano saxophone, but Guitar Center's 30-day return policy (with minor return fees for cleaning as clearly explained) provided a way for me to test the instrument for a month and return it if I chose not to keep it. The Guitar Center associate who helped me place the order had no experience with saxophones but spent time with me to make sure my order was correct and asked clarification questions to make sure he understood what I wanted. REVIEW: Based on my experience and progress having taught myself to play the tenor saxophone, I wanted to try a soprano saxophone. Both are Bb instruments, but the difference in sound and tone can be significant. I wanted to avoid what I think of as a nasal, plaintive tone I have heard from straight soprano saxophones. The curved soprano saxophones,I had read, could have a fuller sound closer to what I was going for. I play a professional grade tenor saxophone, so wanted to find a good quality soprano that will last many years and stay in tune without a need to upgrade. Prices for soprano saxophones cover a wide range, so I decided to try to find a reasonable quality instrument for $1000 or less. This saxophone comes with a nice quality bag and basic plastic mouthpiece and neck strap. It also comes with a basic cleaning kit and cork grease. I ordered reeds with the saxophone, sold separately. My impression of the quality of the saxophone is that it is as advertised -- an intermediate model for players with experience, and of higher quality than a "student" model. The key action is very smooth. It's appearance is attractive, and it has a suprising heft for its size (which I like). The approach to playing a soprano saxophone is different from that for a tenor, and much practice will be needed, but I'm pleased enough with my progress over a relatively short time to continue. With practice, over the course of the last month I've learned how to control embouchre, air flow, and position of the saxophone to get a pleasing, even sound through all of the lower octave and most of the upper (still working on the highest notes). I've found that positioning the mouthpiece as far as possible over the cork (almost no cork is showing) allows me to play in tune most consistently vs other positions. Control is best with the reed as close to the tip of the mouthpiece as possible. Fingering on this saxophone is quite a bit closer together than on the tenor, but as a tall adult I've found no difficulty with the closer keys and in some cases have been pleased to discover that I can play faster, smoother note transitions and runs on this saxophone than on the tenor. The key for the very lowest note, though, which is reached by the left-hand little finger, will require more practice to be able to reach smoothly on this saxophone. Overall, I'm pleased with this purchase and feel that I got a good value for the price. I plan to keep and enjoy this instrument for many years.
| To: | GuitarCenter.com PO Box 4769 Westlake Village, CA 91359 USA 866-498-7882 |
|||||
| Order#: | (if applicable) * Denotes Required Field | |||||
| *First Name: | ||||||
| *Last Name: | ||||||
| *Email: | ||||||
| Phone: | ||||||
| *Subject: | ||||||
| *Message: | ||||||
| Click to add file attachment | ||||||
| | ||||||
| | ||||||
