Vibrato A1S Polycarbonate ABS Alto Saxophone Series 2

When I first bought this for my fiancee she loved it. And every music teacher or marching band student wanted to play with it and check it out. IT IS SOOOO LIGHT! the musical quality is decent. The manufacturing quality is not.PROS:-lightweight-much easier pad repair/replacement.-waterproofCONS:FRAGILE/POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP-When it arrived, already one piece was loose/broken. I'm not a sax player so I didn't notice any loose parts until she inspected it upon getting it as a gift. Luckily she is into woodwind repair and was able to fix it herself after the manufacturer wasn't particularly helpful.-A few months later the thumb rest broke off. she claims its not the instruments fault because she hadn't been using the neck strap. But come on, this instrument weighs something less than 2 pounds and costs $650. There is no excuse for pieces to break off so easily. Yes, it can be glued back on easily. But it shows the quality of craftsmanship.If you've been considering using these as an alternative for your marching band...it has its applications and the waterproof is nice. but expect to spend just as often replacing broken parts. This product won't really become ideal until the price drops another hundred or two. break the into the $500 mark and this could become a major player.

I have the A1s ABS, just like on the picture.Didn't order from Amazon.Sounds like a sax, just a little harsher, and more plasticky. Meaning, less bright or high frequencies, more high mid and mid frequencies, and less lows.Great for accoustic band play or orchestra. But this sax is less loud than most metal saxes I own (does not have resonators in the valves).I presume the silicone caps absorb some of the volume (about 20%).It's very lightweight, could be played without strap (thumb would get as tired as neck does with a strapped metal sax).Though you see romantic images of sax players in the ocean, this sax has metal springs and screws/bolts that could corrode, so no salty ocean water playing.Sounds great amplified in a band.The plastic mouthpiece is playable, but can be improved upon.I suggest your mouthpiece of choice.I also not suggest using a plastic reed on this when playing by yourself, as plastic reed on a plastic sax sounds too much of the high mid frequencies adding up on each other. It may actually sound better in some band play situations, but doesn't sound good by itself.Higher regions sound a bit flat, a quarter of a note, so you'd have to squeeze the reed hard, to get the tone right in the upper register.One star off for this.Great for beginners, and intermediates.I don't see pros using this live or in a studio, but it might be a great backup sax to own, or as travel instrument, or for the small gigs.Quality wise, $300-500 is a great price for this instrument!

I've had one for several years. I'm mainly a tenor guy, but I think this is a great sounding sax, plus being super light. Yes, it does feel a little different than a standard brass sax, but it just takes the normal "getting used to" time and mp/reed time and practice. I have no problems with it's intonation/pitch and it's also a much easier blowing sax than most. It's true that some parts are/may be delicate, but just be careful.

Background: I'm a professional saxophonist for the U.S. Army Band.This horn might be suitable for a first time musician. Other than that, it's nothing more than a novelty item. Take a look at all the colors available and you will understand where their marketing focus is at. It doesn't play in tune well enough for ensemble use and doesn't sound enough like a saxophone for solo use. The other reviewer is right about craftsmanship. My thumb rest also fell off in the first week. I bought mine at the Nakwon music store in Jongno, Korea for a little over $400. If you are looking for something easy to travel and practice with, I would recommend this horn. Other than that, get yourself a cheap horn from the pawn shop and have it overhauled. You will get more for your money than this instrument.