Tenor Saxophone Showdown

[@Will-xo1xg]

He really should play the tune in the same key so the listener gets an accurate comparison.

[@lukasalihein]

Yeah, plus that's what everyone said after the last video on alto where he did the same thing...

[@georgelee7135]

precisely.

[@bluscorpion]

I think he got more excited on his favorites.

[@MikeSmith-go8wk]

Why don't you open your own saxophone shop and do a comparison yourself

[@keithcampbell6806]

That is a rude reply telling someone to open their own shop etc. A wise person would welcome constructive criticism. Playing the song in the same key on each instrument would without doubt be the best way to compare the insts.

[@CarlyWaarly]

Rapone and Cazzani does it for us, the others also ran too similar and we are happy to have purchased a Yamaha 480 without unnecessary spending.

[@gillespoittevin7498]

I am a french man.When I heard your video I discovered the brand Forestone. I orded it , now I keep it and I sell my Selmer. Thank you

[@kharlrivera]

i love how the P mauriat 66 RUL sounds! killer horn!!

[@rosy15825]

Kharl Rivera agree the deeps ones sound better.

[@prasetyainterlinks308]

its also my favourite, so rich and fat sounding

[@MarcusCarltonMay]

I tried the Eastman and P. Mauriat (cognac lacquer) last week. Eastman was nice, but P. Mauriat won easily for sound, ergonomics, and responsiveness. Eastman’s rolled tone holes are soldered on while the other is one piece if brass. It makes a difference.

[@samfarabee2963]

my alto is the 52nd street but i love the sound so many people have gotten out of the P . Mauriat i haven't played them enough to get an educated opinion on them.

[@bluscorpion]

Agreed!!!! It sounded like s pro recording.

[@marks.6656]

The Signature Custom sounded the most complex, richest and most lovely to my ears. The Mauriat had a HUGE bottom end, but lacked the sparkle of the Trevor James. Well done!

[@lawrencefairbairn5339]

It must have taken him a week to get that tune out of his head after that lot.

[@trumpetplayerdude9838]

Lawrence Fairbairn which key ?

[@andrewnguyen4382]

Ngl great tune tho

[@TWO20]

Like he would want to

[@Jazzgasm79]

That Conn-Selmer and that Keilwerth are especially excellent in this vid.

[@williamgati569]

I actually would have liked to hear them all in the same key: it seemed to me that you favored certain keys over others which affected the sound and tone. Compensating for that is difficult but I believe the Eastman was in C and some of the others were in high pitch range: nevertheless, this is not a perfect comparison. To make this perfect, I would have added a Conn 10M, King Super 20, Beuscher Big B, an early Selmer MK VI, and a Selmer SBA. Of all the saxes you did play, I liked the Selmer MK VI, Conn-Selmer PTS 380V, Forestone, Rampone & Cazzini, Eastman, Keilwerth, Selmer Ref 54, and P. Mauriat in order of best to worst. I would have played a chromatic scale from low Bb up to high F: both fast and slow. I would have played Giant Steps and How High the moon in the original keys: most importantly, I would have played with a metal Link too.

[@Danylo.Dyzhak]

Yani was the best in my opinion. Also liked P.Mauriat, Keilw and RAW. GREAT JOB!!!

[@MrWagtenor]

That Ref 54 was ready and willing to go wherever you took it, but alas the player really held back on it. But the Eastman was showcased a bit better.

[@Jazzmarcel]

they all were dam good but, I have to say the p. Mauriat 66 was exceptional!........i have a mk6 and a 66r and I bounce back and forth between the two!

[@jc32handler]

I really like the dark tone of the P. Mauriat 66R, I really enjoyed that comparison.

[@patg3424]

The Yanagisawa and P Mauriot and reference 54 sounded awesome.

[@jacobshort170]

I love the immense amount of fun he had with the Eastman lol

[@KrisVComm]

I like the sound of the Yanagisawa, Rampone and not gonna lie, the Signature Custom also sounds pretty good. Some of the others sound like there is a sock in the bell

[@Mixi664]

I’d love to see a more in depth review of the Cannonball series!

[@grammarnazi7428]

ahhh the soothing sax sounds fuel my soul

[@2ndEndingVintage]

This was an INCREDIBLY useful vid which shows that different horns in fact possess different tonality. It's built-in to their designs. As stated by half the commenters, it would have been more helpful to have heard the tune in a single key across the board, and making sure that you hit all the registers similarly on every horn. Nevertheless, a useful reference for the sax community. Thanks.

[@Craig2760]

Bottom line is, a lot of damn fine horns are being built today. Find one that feels right and has a sound you personally like. One that you have a desire to play. A horn you are willing to pay the price. I am a huge Selmer guy. I’d get a Selmer logo tattoo, if i were in to tattoos. I needed a new alto, my Cigar Cutter needs a rebuild after 80 years. I bought a P. Mauriat 76. She calls to me to be played, feels good in my hands and does what I ask her to do without hesitation.

[@marklang7486]

"She calls to me to be played, feels good in my hands and does what I ask her to do without hesitation.." Sigh.. If only I could find a woman like that.

[@wessoncolt1844]

I just started playing Tenor after playing Alto for so many years. I can honestly say that in the time I have played I have already developed an ear for differences between tenor. My personal favorite is the Mark VI which is why I’m getting one very soon. Eastman was very close to that Mark VI sound. They are perfect saxophones in my opinion for Jazz. However like most teachers will say, it all depends on the player. Pick the horn you are going to love every time you pick it up!

[@clara_johnston]

My personal favorite is the last one :)

[@filippofalcone5167]

Rampone and conn

[@AllYourBaseRBelong2Us]

At a cursory listen, it seems to me the Mark VI, the Yanagisawa and the Eastman are probably the most balanced in tone of the lot. I find myself gravitating more towards the extremes, though, liking horns that projected a bright clarity or smoldering darkness better. But that's just me. I think at both ends the takes I enjoyed the most were the Selmer USA and maybe the Yamaha.

[@wilzy30]

I really liked the Conn-Selmer. I don't play the saxophone yet, but would like to. I am currently getting back into the Flute.

[@kilitankeilts]

I did too. It had a similar sound to my old sax. May look into getting one. Sure miss playing.

[@aboutalfie1729]

Goodness me of that selection I think the Keilwerth MKX Conn Selmer PTS- 380v Signature Custom Raw XS Eastman 52nd Street

[@Stefano-sc3wb]

RAMPONE & CAZZANI for me is the best

[@stevenkelly5030]

Thanks for the comparison. You did a great job with the constant key changes, but it made it more difficult to get a sense of the difference in horns.

[@JazzGuitar1956]

I think Mike has done a great job of giving a flavour of these gorgeous instruments. I'm not sure he needed to play in the same key for each one as I doubt if anyone is going to make a buying decision just from a youtube video. Surely you would want to get down to a shortlist and they go and play them, which the guys at sax.co.uk let you do. In fact they would probably let you play all the horns in this video if you wanted to. I think it shows from the comments that we all like different things, there wasn't a clear 'winner' in the comparisons and as long as you love whatever you choose, your going to be happy. My shortlist would probably be the Andy Sheppard, the Sig Raw and if I didn't want to eat for a couple of months the Ref 54. but I heard a busker in the subway blow me into the dirt on a corroded Yamaha YTS23 and if it would make me play like he did, I'd buy it off him.

[@richarduku]

Great comments. You spoke my mind. I don't think Mike needed to play in the same key for each. The video gave me a good enough indication of how each sounds. Playing them would be a natural second step if necessary. I particularly liked the rich deep tones of the Mauriat, Con Selmer, Canonball and Sig Custom.

[@Ted_DiSanti]

Ugh they all sound great

[@PhinAI]

My preferences were the Selmer Reference, Mark VI, Forestone, and Signature Custom Raw XS.

[@carlwilson4375]

They are all great sounding horns. You could not go wrong with any of these horns. Pick your price point and buy that horn. That being said I would buy the Cannonball Vintage Reborn. If price was no concern, I would have the Selmer Reference 54.

[@miksyezpatelik]

For me it’s between the Yamaha and ( believe it or not), the Conn Selmer ..... they both projected really well

[@johnpauldejesus109]

I just happened to stop by and check out how a tenor saxophone would sound like, and I was practicing the Joe Pass' version of 'There Will Never Be Another You' in my guitar and what a coincidence that you're playing the same music selection.

[@jjnapper77]

Nice work! Time stamps next to the saxophone names would be helpful for those that want to hear a specific saxophone. And while I am very impressed by the 12 keys of There Will Never Be Another You, some of the keys put the tenor into a very different range for fair sound comparisons. That being said, I do love the video. Thank you.

[@jjnapper77]

You can kind of ignore the time stamp comment, went through some of the comments and saw that someone did it for you ;)

[@motoguitard3344]

I agree on the key thing that has been beaten up in the comments, but probably true. I liked all of them but was surprised most by the Conn. Maybe not my favorite but was pleasantly surprised. It's always interesting to me what I like when other people play doesn't always align with what I like when I play.

[@johnnyloungejazz5477]

Mauriat 66R have a great tone

[@jaxziel]

Love the gig but actually verified my opinion it’s more rewarding for the artist than the listener I play sax and keys but a few had a little stand out tone but all in all they just sound like a beautiful saxophone played but an expert

[@sopran0sax]

The Yani - great for me to hear them because I have a Yani and I definitely made the right choice. Must work out which model this one is because mine is an older model.

[@marcvandeneynden]

Very nice video showing REAL tonal differences between these horns (Yamaha vs Rampone). I was quite disappointed by the Ref54 ... My favorites are the Yanagisawa and the Eastman.

[@geokaks1]

After watching this I'll argue that a LOT depends on the Player! Leaves me wondering why I should spend so much for a 'big name' brand!!!

[@1stTimeVenture]

dont....i wanted a good mid lvl sax...but i did not have the 3000 to drop on one...so i started shopping, looking reading...found one that sounds as good as some 6000 dollars...cost me 780 after tax. the john paul tenor sax on amazon. it is heavy, never played a sax in my life, but the weight alone i am like WOW...i held a trumpet for 9 years. and always wanted to play sax, here i am 14 years later now 3 day of playing...and this thing is well well well well made....no flex in bars, no loose bits, SOUND IS AWESOME...soft or loud...it sounds better than most 4000 dollar yamaha brands...i can get brighter, or softer tones out of it..but that is probably cause my mouth pos is not awesome...yet...but at least i can read music, and know what a note should sound like...so that gives me the advantage of just learning the instrument.

[@nathanpierce2846]

I liked the Cannonball mostly because I play a Cannonball Big Bell tenor sax

[@ronhendon6381]

Nathan Pierce love My Cannonball Raven Big Bell Tenor. It made me switch from my SA80 I’d played 30 years

[@Jazzznbluezzz1]

I am pleasantly surprised by the Conn-Selmer. It seems to have the fullest low end of them all. Love that darker tone. I dig the Cannonball and the Eastman too.

[@gipstetz6720]

Great idea. Very interesting. Thanks for uploading. Thought the Yamaha and Yanagisawa sounded a bit bland. The 54 a bit soft. The rest...pretty cool. All personal. Kinda liked the P, Cannonball and S380. Thanks again for posting.

[@Akiss]

Cool idea but flawed execution. Should play the same key, and a composition that hits the various timbres. Ref 54 for example didn't hit a single palm key, whereas I heard altissimo in others. Too drastic of a change to make a meaningful comparison. Things to hit would be the entire range including low B/Bb, up to the palm key notes, altissimo, loud, middle, and subtone soft.

[@derekakien7379]

Same key! Play a bit in higher register and a bit in lower register. Tbh if someone gave me any I would grab it with both hands. Useful demo though.

[@enriquellama1572]

the last one, beautiful homogeneous sound, well balance in all registers, many tone colors...I wonder what the price is

[@JoseAlvarado-jf3jz]

Enrique Llama should be under $4000

[@rosy15825]

Enrique Llama an arm and leg, why can't that say in dollar American I'm so mad.

[@jaxziel]

I’m not tone deaf but every sax sounded the same the difference is more for the player in how it responds and articulates in my opinion it’s the player not the horn

[@Gabrielm624]

Thoughts everyone? Imo the mark VI and Yani were the best

[@pimeye]

Great vid. My top 3, in no particular order, MkVI, Cannonball, Eastman.

[@thejoehillexperience]

Great showdown! However if you are gonna put a Keilwerth in the mix, then you definitely should include the SX90R which is the more reputable series in their pro lineup.

[@Jazzmarcel]

The ultimate test is hearing these same horns played in a bandstand setting!......

[@smythe555]

None of them won me over, but the VI had the most tonal clarity, which is usually the case when comparing them to new horns.

[@benstewart6840]

I liked the Signature custom raw, just had that bigger sound to me and warmth.

[@deuberry9784]

I have added the Selmer Paris reference 54 to my wish list but it’s hard for me to compare SPr54 and Yamaha 82Z because the song was played in a different key.

[@Samcatiscool]

Eastman

[@normanski5074]

Well, there were a few that surprised me there. Not overly impressed with the signature ones. Would have loved to hear how Hanson's saxophones (Yorkshire) would have compared.

[@benjaminfalcone2074]

Btw, my favourite are the con selmer pts-380 and the rampone and cazzani two voices

[@ghawk78]

I would bet that most people bounce back and forth between the Mk VI and the other horns in order to make a comparison. From the little bit that I've been able to listen to, I think that the Eastman is probably the closest to the sound of the VI. The Mauriat, Conn-Selmer, Andy Sheppard and Cannonball sounded nice to me, too. Although I think that all of them sounded fine, the Keilwerth and Rampone were my least favorite on this particular comparison, but I know that both of them are fine instruments. If the tune was played in the same key on all horns it'd probably be easier to make a comparison, but I understand marketing! Very nice job.

[@brandoncastro689]

Nothing compares to the Selmer Paris Mark VI

[@rogersalles200]

which one? I had several and sold them all, Yanis smoke the VIs

[@Hubit01]

I prefer the Eastman 52nd Street. Warm but pinchy sound. The horn of Bob Mintzer.

[@brabus3295]

Loved the Yamaha

[@thomasjoris2181]

Great idea. Well done

[@stevenkelly5030]

I agree with others that it should have been played in the same key. Hard enough to detect subtle difference without the distraction of key changes.

[@kaimercado6631]

I love the Andy Sheppard

[@zacheryhanson214]

Mark VI is my favorite.

[@samfarabee2963]

Love how he lets loose when he plays the 52nd street ... but it'd be a better comparison if he played all the saxes in the same key. Even if you don't have perfect pitch a saxophonist can tell you what note you're playing by the characteristics of the note. (if you know you know)

[@LEARNHOMEOPATHY]

Like the Yanagisawa me, and the Signature Custom RAW and Selmer reference

[@mjlowijck8411]

Keikwerth and then Selmer Mark6 special mention : Forestone

[@kevindeibert3369]

Naturally as you change key in an ascending manor it will sound brighter so each successive horn generally sounded “brighter” so this is tricky

[@stangetz534]

Mark VI has a steely quality to the tone where as newer horns have a plasticky tone. To my ears at least. Seems like the player liked the yamaha z and eastman the best.

[@mikesaxclar]

Eastman is by far the fullest tone.

[@jc32handler]

Great comparison, enjoyed that.

[@RoseCadenza]

I love the Andy Sheppard Autograph 4:09, Forestone 4:50, and the Cannonball Vintage Reborn 5:33. They have a very classic sound that I really like.

[@kevindeibert3369]

You sound good on all of them and the differences are fairly subtle..some a little brighter some slightly darker. Throwing in some vintage Conn, Buescher , Martin and Kings would have been even more interesting.

[@2drsdan]

He obviously preferred the Eastman. Price tags would be a nice addition.

[@saxworldwide]

Mike owns a Reference 54 however you're right, he's a big fan of the Eastman. Price tags would initially be handy but they change quite frequently so they'd soon become incorrect! All the best

[@David3Wise]

Yes, he definitely connected so much better with the Eastman, a lot more engagement overall. The rest were pretty much of a muchness - they all sound good 😊

[@patrickc4940]

Tenor FTW!!!!

[@halfabee]

GDR Tenor sax- I wanted a tenor sax was generally looking got into work early checked ebay there was a Tenor Sax made in the GDR for sale purchased it instantly for £150. Sounds great took it to Sax.co.uk and compared it to a Selmer could not tell the difference fingers were may be spread a little more, Bargain.

[@jkdurden]

Thanks for this!

[@stapeling]

Every key has it's own ring to it, so comparison is hard - for me, that is. I miss the Cannonball Big Bell in the line-up (as others miss other horns, I'm sure). I like your sound, Mike, and envy you for your job. But to answer the question, the Conn, the Rampone and the Mauriat have that bit of darkness.

[@jasonhutchins7008]

Would’ve been such a great video, but why different keys?!!!

[@AnandajiMusic]

I’ll be in the pro tenor market god willing this coming year

[@johnnyloungejazz5477]

The Mark 6 just has a certain vibe . Hard to beat a Great Mark 6

[@josecervando786]

Feliz jueves para mí principiante que sax tenor,me recomiendas, gracias.

[@b.bondwilliams6847]

The Rampone and Yanagisawa.

[@aramdani__]

I love P.mauriat sound

[@brianbillings6815]

Funny but I really liked the Forestone, which you no longer sell! Second was the 52nd St. Didn't think the "rolled tone holes would make that much difference but I appear to be attracted to the sound of those that have those.

[@juanserrano417]

Good evening , my name is Juan M. from Puerto Rico , I congratulate you on the music channel. This is to ask you where the sax shop is located and another thing , how much does a Rampone & Cazzini " two voices " tenor sax cost ? Thanks .

[@RichardWong]

Andy Sheppard

[@kingofsludge7262]

I can’t help but wonder if you’ll let me try every tenor in the shop when I come... I need a dark sound that still cuts

[@ronhendon6381]

Cannonball IMO

[@jasonknight1085]

You know when you do these, I'd LOVE to see an el-cheapo beginner or even better park trash e-bay fare -- just for the shits and giggles... Like a Cecilio, Mendini, Aamoon, or whatever the same factory in china happens to be calling themselves THIS month. Side note, which ligature is that? Looks an awful lot like the Rovner "Eddie Daniels II" that I have.

[@hayawatta]

The conn-selmer one ain't bad!

[@gk1841]

Hi thanks for sharing these great instruments, could you please add the price to them, thanks!

[@alienvolt7741]

I wanted to play saxophone so bad when I entered jr high but I couldn't so I ended up on trumpet then after moving I stopped playing trumpet and a friend let me try his Alto sax and it felt so easy but I also found out my vague trumpet playing skill was gone

[@claragary]

Japanese and Taiwanese saxes have a more modern and brighter sound. To me, all other horns sound about the same. Bad thing about demo is that tune was played in different keys. One wants to appreciate low, mid, high and altíssimo. But thanks for your effort!

[@TommyOnSax]

Nice!

[@lmj9517]

leicester Square! 🎷

[@j.maxsering3728]

and they are all out of my price range

[@thesmellycatjazz]

Now do this again without changing keys

[@ajkirkcaldie]

Same key for all would have been better

[@pimeye]

Would be interesting to know the relative weights of these horns as the new Far Eastern ones are SO heavy compared to the vintage horns.