Are Selmer Saxophones alright for a Jazz Band?
If the Yamaha did well for you, maybe just get a better Yamaha. Japanese people are incredible craftsmen, and the instrument repairman at LSU says that Yamahas are quite easy to work on due to their construction. Many things can be adjusted on a Yamaha that may have to be replaced on a different horn. Now that may not factor in to what you want in terms of sound. Remember this: Ornette Coleman played a plastic Grafton alto saxophone. Charlie Parker played whatever saxophone was available because many times his own sax was in a pawn shop. I think dark and brightness have so much to do with your mouthpiece and reed. After that the ligature can affect tone as well. Maybe even the pads affect tone also, but take everything off of a yamaha and a selmer and you have a brass conical instrument. The famous album called Jazz at Massey Hall featuring Charlie Parker, Dizzy, Max Roach, Mingus, and Bud Powell is a live recording in Toronto, and Parker is playing a plastic Grafton saxophone. Listen
