Per definition's comments, I play on a older YAS-23 and absolutely love it. When I came into it, I liked it so much I sold my Selmer Series III. So don't get too sucked into the marketing of "student" vs. "intermediate" vs. "professional" horns as a beginner. Reliability is most important at this point in your journey.

The Trevor James saxophones are great horns. Not something you see much of here in the US, but they are quite popular in Europe and in the UK from what I have been told. I've seen a few of them. I would think that either one should serve you just fine. Jim

My points will only reiterate what others have said. Keilwerth ST vs 275 vs Trevor James: Since the Trevor James is something I've heard of, yet never tried nor heard many reviews about, I couldn't recommend it. Dealing with unknown or untrustworthy brands is quite risky and not worth the potential purchase savings, in my view. yet if you can get it's recommendation from a competent and unbiased pro, technician or instructor, you should consider it. I've never really liked any Keilwerth I've tried, yet I do recommend trying them based on their reputation, but the ST isn't really a Keilwerth, it's a Jupiter. Allthough I really do like the Jupiter Artist line, I think the ST is a different animal which has an uninspiring tone and cumbersome ergonomics to me. Never played the 275, but Yamaha has yet to really dissapoint me. I have a Yas-23, and have tried out a number of other Yamaha horns and I'm confident with giving a blanket recommendation of Yamaha saxes as a whole. In addition, Yamaha resale is high, reliability and playability are good, and they're just very good saxophones. For beginner's mouthpiece: I agree with definition in that you shouldn't necessarily require a metal mouthpiece just for it's own sake. A cutting, projecting jazz sound does not require a metal mouthpiece. Metal pieces can be much more expensive and not as comfortable to play for some. I would recommend trying a Selmer Soloist in D or E for tenor. I've also heard that Ralph Morgan makes some great jazz pieces as well. When you try the mouthpieces yourself, make no excuses for them. If there is anything you don't like about one, move on to another before purchasing.

I would agree with you, but I have seen a couple Trevor James horns and I happen to know that they are a good quality horn. I'm not sure where they are made, but they are NOT a cheap Chinese made instrument. They are a quality made instrument, but not something you often see here in the US. I believe they are made in England.

Got the Yamaha horn after all! The shop only had Yamaha 5C and Selmer tenor mouthpieces but not the facings you people suggested, so I ordered an Otto Link 6 ebonite mouthpiece. The mouthpiece that came with the horn was a Yamaha 4C. I also got a box of 5 Vandoren traditional reeds (1.5). So my first impressions of trying out a saxphone? FANTASTIC! I thought getting my first tone would be much harder than it was last night. I simply did whah the book said, blew and I got a B! Off course I have no control of my tone whatso ever, but I did get a crude B note and got sweaty palms instantly! After a while I managed to go up and down a C major, tonguing each note and after I did that, I played a christmas tune! The problems I had were with the 8ve key and the right hand D,E,F,F# notes (I was fine with the G,A,B,C notes), I simply can't get the 2nd octave when holding down the 8ve key...but I was rushing through things simply because I was too excited, will try again today. I'll start going through the book at a normal pace as well and start working on controling my tone, instead of trying to play C major in time. This is just great! Thanks for the advice!

Welcome to the Pleasuredome!

Nectarios: I started over three years ago, at the age of 51, with no musical background whatsoever, and the sax has enriched my life beyond measure. I play alto and tenor and consider myself just entering the intermediate phase, thanks to a good teacher and steady practice. My only regret: Not having started earlier. Find a teacher you have a rapport with, practice at least an hour a day, and you'll be amazed at your progress. Good luck and good playing.

A small side note: As a life long asthmatic, after about 6 months of playing the alto my asthmatic episodes decreased by at least 80 percent. I think the kind of breathing necessary to play the instrument stengthened the smooth bronchial muscles and made them less sensitive to hystemic reactions. Later on, the tenor finished the job! My doctor wasn't surprised.

I'm a life-long asthmatic, too. But even when under attack, my air-outflow is as good as a normal person's. My doctors attribute it to playing an instrument. The first time I was tested on the meter, the doctor said "trombone player?" Close. Just a couple feet closer to the conductor. The quick inhale and long controlled exhale when you play is the exact opposite of how "mere mortals" breathe under relaxed conditions.

Thanks for kind wishes! I've been playing drums for about 7 years, but stopped as soon as I moved to the UK to do an audio tech course. 5 years later I have my own recording studio but wanted to learn a jazz lead instrument that will also suit the funky breakbeat I produce so I can actually record my self playing a "real" instrument (I have lots of synths, samplers and drum machines). I have been playing a bit of keys, bass and have some experience with the guitar, but always been in love with the sax. Although, when I first looked at one, the mechanical parts of it made it look like such a complex instrument to learn, so I've been putting off for quite a while. But I love jazz so much and the sound of the sax in parcticular, that I simply could not do other wise. I didn't pick the saxophone really...the sax picked me. I know it will take years before I become good enough to record my own sax parts in my tunes, but I'm 27 years old and very patient. I'm just very happy I finally started learning how to play the sax, instead of simply dreaming about playing it. I've been in such a great mood since yesterday when I walked out the shop with my first horn! Even better when I produced my first squeaks :)