"Iain Churches" wrote in message
...

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

I gather the thing with the 'Arbiter London' alto (order enough of them
and you could have any name you wanted on them) was as much about the way
the thing played as the sound it made - which wasn't half bad for an
instrument that cost virtually nowt. It certainly looked quite well
constructed with nothing loose that shouldn't have been!


They are indeed amazing value for money - getting towards
the "disposable saxophone" grade, play a couple of gigs on it,
and then give it away:-)

Somehow I doubt their durability. But now the Chinese are
starting to offer quality options like French pads and Italian
springs. It's only a matter of time before they push on quality,
not price, just as the Japanese and Taiwanese have done.

My pal has a Chinese alto, and a matching straight soprano,
both with his initials hand engraved on the bell. They have
gold keys on a silver body - pretty flash. They cost Euro 175
each !

I have a Taiwanese made soprano. I chose a cheapish one to
see if I could play it, just as Moira did with her first alto.
This soprano is a stop gap to the Yanagisawa which would
be my instrument of choice, but at ten times the price.

As the result of Chinese pressure, one of Europe's finest
makers, Keilwerth who have been going since the mid
20s, have ceased manufacture.

That's sad:-(




It is - very, but I suspect Keilworth have been badged Chinese manufacture
for quite some time now. Could be wrong.