This isn't quite a fair comparison - Nigel could play a paper tube and make it sound great. The question is what do the saxes sound like in the hands of a regular player?
Ha! Actually those paper tubes are hard to keep in tune Ken! To be honest I think it's often harder to hear / feel the difference between an intermediate and a high level pro sax in the hands of a less experienced player.
The wonderful thing about these "budget" saxes is that it let's those of us on a fixed income to learn to play and to take lessons. I recently bought a Better Sax alto for $900. With price difference between it and a Yamaha student sax, I could afford to join Saxschoolonline. In a year or so, I might decide to learn tenor sax.
I love yamaha saxes. Each horn has a fantastic sound. I rate a good sound different than most people do . I rate a sound according to how long would I enjoy listening to the sound. I could listen to these horns for hours and still want to hear more. Sometimes when I hear saxes one song and I've had enough and the sound of them is not bad but the color of the tone doesn't keep my interest. All that being said I believe the yamaha has a deeper core while the jean paul 860 has a warmer sound. Breathe control of soft to loud seemed a little more controlled on the jean paul. This might be a result of the difference in resistance on that horn. Thanks for the comparison. Great job! Patrick
The Jean Paul was darker and had a more center tone. The Yamaha was a little brighter, with a little more edge and resonance. The Jean Paul is an excellent value at it’s price point.
I bought my daughter a Jean Paul beginner horn 3 yrs ago, and it plays quite well. Has really held up well in high school band. I’m considering upgrading her to the pro horn.
I just purchased the Jean Paul Professional AS860- 10th Anniversary Edition Silver finish, Alto. I love this instrument. Even the JP mouthpiece that comes with is very good.
My son just got the Jean Paul 10 year Anniversary Edition for Christmas, and LOVES it! He says he feels the difference between it and his starter beginner sax. Overall, the price point was fit for my budget and it leveled up his playing.
The big question is how the horn performs 5, 10, 20 years later? Will adjustments hold? Will pads keep sealing? Will it be worth investing another $1000 when it is time for maintenance, or is it a “disposable“ horn?
That’s a valid question though they have both had a lot of playing over the past couple months and have held up well. A good repairer can sort most issues inexpensively anyway. And of course, you have spent a lot less on this sax at the start. If this is the limit of your budget I thinks it’s a good choice.
@@McGillMusicSaxSchool And to be fair, I've also seen sax repair folks on social media showing examples of less-than-supreme workmanship on certain very expensive modern horns...
I have got the cheaper Jean Paul AS400 alto, and it has come out of adjustment (amongst other issues) after less than year, it needs repair to be playable again. I'm back to using my 35 year old Yamaha YAS-62 (mid 1980's) which has never come out of adjustment. The intonation is very good on the AS400 though. I assume this 'pro' version to be better made with better quality control.
i started on their tenor before buying a yts 62 and i still have it its a great horn for the money but it came with some quality issues , however they where excellent at sorting the issues so i cant fault them. the new pro models sound amazing well worth it so i will likely order the alto very soon.
Thans Nigel for this video, I am not looking for an other sax but was just curious. What I discovered in this video that you are a very great sax player. I'll think I'll add you to my favorite saxophonists now.
Nice video Nigel. The comparisons are very logical and well executed technically. For me I preferred the Yamaha soprano's slightly fuller, warmer sound. The JP sounded a bit more wooden to me, but not particularly bad, and certainly not $3500 worse. The altos were a little closer and I think I actually preferred the JP, which sounded a touch brighter to my ears. Thanks for the comparison. I think videos like these help sharpen our skills as listeners.
Nigel, as always, your playing is outstanding regardless of the instruments you choose to play. As well as you played the Jean Paul alto saxophone, you played the Yamaha noticeably better. The Jean Paul alto saxophone looks and sounds like a great purchase, however, the Yamaha outshined it. Thanks for the video!
Agree, one could have a paper towel tube, brass or composite carbon instrument. In reality it’s the geometry of the instrument, technique of the player, mouthpiece, and reed makes all the difference. Beautiful playing regardless. Students must be thrilled.
Both very similar. But, maybe I'm trying too hard to hear a difference, the Yamaha alto to me has a stronger/richer midrange resonance within each note. Otherwise, they sound identical. To me. Thanks for the demo.
Didn't expect the difference to be so minute between the sopranos! Amazing tone at an even more amazing price for the Jean Paul! I've been looking to get a soprano within a certain budget and this definitely is on that list! :) Thanks for making this comparison video Nigel!
Thanks Nigel. I find it very interesting that you did this review today! I happen to be visiting a relative in the neighborhood of the Jean-Paul headquarters in Miami! This encourages me to go and try out their horns. I'm not shopping for an alto or soprano as I am happy with the ones I have, but I am considering getting a tenor. We'll see.
Oh cool. Yes the Jean Paul guys are based down there. They are nice people too. The tenor looks interesting too Rob. I'll have to test it soon. Thanks for watching.
Thank you very much Nigel. As usual your playing is outstanding. Get a student on there to demonstrate, I think it will be more realistic. I personally could not tell the difference between the saxes and the John Paul is fantastic.
Actually liked the Jean Paul alto more, but thought the Yamaha soprano sounded better. But both of them sound very good (at least in your hands). The warmer tone of the JP alto is noticeable, it’s not a huge difference but it’s there.
Color me surprised! Would you test the tenor for us, as well, Nigel? While I'd love to get a YTS-62 for my teen, it's out of range (even used horns are) at present.
The Chinese horns are been sold for a high price, considering the production costs. Paying half price of a Yamaha...OK... but a professional Japanese Yamaha is worth double the price of a still unknown Chinese horn, at least. The sound of the JP saxex are pretty good. Like it a lot.
Doesn't seem as if they have a distributor in Europe. The US website had them for sale but warned me there would be around $600 in taxes to add on. Admittedly, still a great price compared to a 5k horn!
You can definitely tell the difference between the two better quality tone on the Yamaha the cheaper is chopie and not mellow personal for myself selmer mark 6 is the best
@@McGillMusicSaxSchool It was interesting to hear them side by side. Despite what I said, though, the Jean Paul is a fantastic instrument for that price!
Nigel, on the website they advertised a “black pearl” for the keys, this turned out to be plastic in most other videos ( this is for the anniversary edition ). It’s now advertised as blue sandstone. What kind of feeling would those key touches have? Is that the same as the “plastic” I’ve heard advertised?
Well…..they’re plastic. Nothing fancy but they do the job. At the end of the day the key touches all kind of work the same (except for really cheap ones). These feel ok. It’s just down to how you think it looks.
The problem with all of these comparisons, and they are all over the CZcams musical instrument channels, is that sound comparisons don’t tell us a whole lot. Most horns sound different from brand to brand, if not horn to horn. Ergonomics and key layout are easy to copy these days, but with what materials? All of these videos are careful to include the phrase “for the price.” Which is a way of saying it’s good for a lower quality horn. If you have ever spent time with a good tech they will tell you that a good, expensive, saxophone will have better quality parts and mechanisms. Cheaper instruments tend to wear out and fall out of adjustment more often due to inferior parts and workmanship. Not all, but many. So, a real test would be checking in after someone plays that horn regularly for a year.
It's always a balance between price and quality, but not everyone can afford a super expensive sax, or even a used lot model pro sax. Just like Wally, I've not found any wear issues with the Jean Paul saxes I have either and they have been played a lot. Hope the review was helpful.
I have the cheaper Jean Paul AS400 and it has come out of adjustment after less than a year (need repair to be playable again), and there are other issues with the quality control and design that it has. I could not return it because I'm an international buyer. However, others have had different experiences. Now I'm back to playing my trusty and reliable 35 year old Yamaha YAS-62. Consistent quality control cost more.
OK, what about future servicing and resale value? Wouldn't it be fairer to compare the JPs with second hand saxes worth roughly the same? What happens when you want to trade up? A second hand Selmer, Yanagisawa or Yamaha will hold its value and you won't lose out whereas a new JP, Eastman, or Antigua will be really hard to sell on for a reasonable price.
That’s true - a used pro horn from a major brand will generally be better value and I often recommend considering that option. But if you want new and have a smaller budget the Jean Paul are a good idea.
I thought I might have heard some clangs as you handled the JP Alto. What’s the build quality like. Not asking about the looks but the quality. Are the pads, rods, corks, keys solid.
Los dos Jean Paul los encontre mas oscuros, centrados y con muy buen cuerpo y proyección. Me impresiono su afinación también. El precio para mi igual sigue siendo alto y me llegan dos preguntas. Cuánto tiempo durara el calibrado en buen estado? Y como andaría con un Yamaha 475 usado que tiene un precio similar. Gracias por el video y toda la información
Has no one noticed that the Jean Paul alto performance was not the same instrument as the one he is talking about (10th anniversary has black pearls yet the one he performed on has the normal color pearls). Strange... Very strange indeed...
Truly truly love your content Nigel! 🎼✨ Music has the incredible ability to bridge gaps and inspire dreams. At Futures in Tune, we're making dreams come true by offering free music education to children. Join us in spreading the harmony and supporting a cause that truly makes a difference in young lives. 🌈🎻 #FuturesInTune #HarmonyThroughMusic #MakeADifference
I guess, Nigel, if you were blowing on a tin whistle, you would sound as smooth and beautiful... now, the difference is minimal, for me the Jean Paul sounds slightly warmer and that's a question of taste. Very interesting though. 🎶
This isn't quite a fair comparison - Nigel could play a paper tube and make it sound great. The question is what do the saxes sound like in the hands of a regular player?
Ha! Actually those paper tubes are hard to keep in tune Ken! To be honest I think it's often harder to hear / feel the difference between an intermediate and a high level pro sax in the hands of a less experienced player.
The wonderful thing about these "budget" saxes is that it let's those of us on a fixed income to learn to play and to take lessons. I recently bought a Better Sax alto for $900. With price difference between it and a Yamaha student sax, I could afford to join Saxschoolonline. In a year or so, I might decide to learn tenor sax.
Great point and wonderful to have you learning with us!!!
I love yamaha saxes. Each horn has a fantastic sound. I rate a good sound different than most people do . I rate a sound according to how long would I enjoy listening to the sound. I could listen to these horns for hours and still want to hear more. Sometimes when I hear saxes one song and I've had enough and the sound of them is not bad but the color of the tone doesn't keep my interest. All that being said I believe the yamaha has a deeper core while the jean paul 860 has a warmer sound. Breathe control of soft to loud seemed a little more controlled on the jean paul. This might be a result of the difference in resistance on that horn. Thanks for the comparison. Great job! Patrick
Thanks!
The Jean Paul was darker and had a more center tone. The Yamaha was a little brighter, with a little more edge and resonance. The Jean Paul is an excellent value at it’s price point.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I bought my daughter a Jean Paul beginner horn 3 yrs ago, and it plays quite well. Has really held up well in high school band. I’m considering upgrading her to the pro horn.
Cool!
Nigel really I like better the timber of the Jean Paul is warmer than the Yamaha
Ok that's interesting to hear.
I just purchased the Jean Paul Professional AS860- 10th Anniversary Edition Silver finish, Alto. I love this instrument. Even the JP mouthpiece that comes with is very good.
Awesome. Enjoy your new sax and come see us if you need help playing (14 day trial is a great way to try out the lessons).
My son just got the Jean Paul 10 year Anniversary Edition for Christmas, and LOVES it! He says he feels the difference between it and his starter beginner sax. Overall, the price point was fit for my budget and it leveled up his playing.
Awesome. I’m glad he is enjoying his new sax!
The big question is how the horn performs 5, 10, 20 years later? Will adjustments hold? Will pads keep sealing? Will it be worth investing another $1000 when it is time for maintenance, or is it a “disposable“ horn?
That’s a valid question though they have both had a lot of playing over the past couple months and have held up well. A good repairer can sort most issues inexpensively anyway. And of course, you have spent a lot less on this sax at the start. If this is the limit of your budget I thinks it’s a good choice.
@@McGillMusicSaxSchool And to be fair, I've also seen sax repair folks on social media showing examples of less-than-supreme workmanship on certain very expensive modern horns...
I have got the cheaper Jean Paul AS400 alto, and it has come out of adjustment (amongst other issues) after less than year, it needs repair to be playable again. I'm back to using my 35 year old Yamaha YAS-62 (mid 1980's) which has never come out of adjustment. The intonation is very good on the AS400 though. I assume this 'pro' version to be better made with better quality control.
i started on their tenor before buying a yts 62 and i still have it its a great horn for the money but it came with some quality issues , however they where excellent at sorting the issues so i cant fault them. the new pro models sound amazing well worth it so i will likely order the alto very soon.
Awesome! Glad they did a good job of sorting the issues.
Thans Nigel for this video, I am not looking for an other sax but was just curious. What I discovered in this video that you are a very great sax player. I'll think I'll add you to my favorite saxophonists now.
Thanks very much!
Nice video Nigel. The comparisons are very logical and well executed technically. For me I preferred the Yamaha soprano's slightly fuller, warmer sound. The JP sounded a bit more wooden to me, but not particularly bad, and certainly not $3500 worse. The altos were a little closer and I think I actually preferred the JP, which sounded a touch brighter to my ears. Thanks for the comparison. I think videos like these help sharpen our skills as listeners.
Cheers
Nigel, as always, your playing is outstanding regardless of the instruments you choose to play. As well as you played the Jean Paul alto saxophone, you played the Yamaha noticeably better. The Jean Paul alto saxophone looks and sounds like a great purchase, however, the Yamaha outshined it. Thanks for the video!
Glad you enjoyed the comparison - it's always tricky because I've played my Yamaha alto for so many years I'll always feel more comfortable on it.
Agree, one could have a paper towel tube, brass or composite carbon instrument. In reality it’s the geometry of the instrument, technique of the player, mouthpiece, and reed makes all the difference. Beautiful playing regardless. Students must be thrilled.
Thanks. Though I do think the material the sax is made from does make a difference.
Both very similar. But, maybe I'm trying too hard to hear a difference, the Yamaha alto to me has a stronger/richer midrange resonance within each note. Otherwise, they sound identical. To me. Thanks for the demo.
Cheers. Thanks for letting me know Vince.
Didn't expect the difference to be so minute between the sopranos! Amazing tone at an even more amazing price for the Jean Paul! I've been looking to get a soprano within a certain budget and this definitely is on that list! :) Thanks for making this comparison video Nigel!
You're welcome!
Thanks Nigel. I find it very interesting that you did this review today! I happen to be visiting a relative in the neighborhood of the Jean-Paul headquarters in Miami! This encourages me to go and try out their horns. I'm not shopping for an alto or soprano as I am happy with the ones I have, but I am considering getting a tenor. We'll see.
Oh cool. Yes the Jean Paul guys are based down there. They are nice people too. The tenor looks interesting too Rob. I'll have to test it soon. Thanks for watching.
The old Yamaha is great. I don't understand why they are not being produced now.
The Jean Paul to me sounded richer and warmer it sounded really really warm and jazzy
Cool. Glad you liked it.
The YAS-62 MK1 has more tonal color but the Sopranos were very close for a budget Sop I’d be happy with the JP.
Cool.
Thank you very much Nigel. As usual your playing is outstanding. Get a student on there to demonstrate, I think it will be more realistic. I personally could not tell the difference between the saxes and the John Paul is fantastic.
Thanks Zabelle. Though sometimes the differences with a less experienced sax player may be harder to spot.
@@McGillMusicSaxSchool oh really, I did not know that, I thought it was the opposite.
Actually liked the Jean Paul alto more, but thought the Yamaha soprano sounded better. But both of them sound very good (at least in your hands). The warmer tone of the JP alto is noticeable, it’s not a huge difference but it’s there.
Interesting. Thanks for letting me know. Glad you liked the alto.
Color me surprised!
Would you test the tenor for us, as well, Nigel? While I'd love to get a YTS-62 for my teen, it's out of range (even used horns are) at present.
That's a great idea Orla - I'll put a tenor test on my list.
The Chinese horns are been sold for a high price, considering the production costs. Paying half price of a Yamaha...OK... but a professional Japanese Yamaha is worth double the price of a still unknown Chinese horn, at least. The sound of the JP saxex are pretty good. Like it a lot.
Great video Nigel! 😁👌Would still love a comparison between the Jean Paul AS 400 and their pro 860 to hear the differences there? 🤔
Doesn't seem as if they have a distributor in Europe. The US website had them for sale but warned me there would be around $600 in taxes to add on. Admittedly, still a great price compared to a 5k horn!
I think you will have to buy direct from them online at the moment. Their student models are on Amazon though.
You can definitely tell the difference between the two better quality tone on the Yamaha the cheaper is chopie and not mellow personal for myself selmer mark 6 is the best
I also hear the difference and much prefer the Yamaha. Tone is balanced and sings. Most noticeable as you play louder.
Thanks, that is interesting.
Well, it is a Mark 6. They are one of the most coveted saxes for a reason.
The tonality difference on the sopranos was very clear... well, at least the Yamaha was very clear, while the Jean Paul kind of sounded stuffy.
Ok cool. Interesting to hear them side by side right?
@@McGillMusicSaxSchool It was interesting to hear them side by side. Despite what I said, though, the Jean Paul is a fantastic instrument for that price!
Jean Paul is warmer a tad bit. definitely worth the low price, I will consider getting one.
Cool!
Nigel, on the website they advertised a “black pearl” for the keys, this turned out to be plastic in most other videos ( this is for the anniversary edition ). It’s now advertised as blue sandstone. What kind of feeling would those key touches have? Is that the same as the “plastic” I’ve heard advertised?
Well…..they’re plastic. Nothing fancy but they do the job. At the end of the day the key touches all kind of work the same (except for really cheap ones). These feel ok. It’s just down to how you think it looks.
The problem with all of these comparisons, and they are all over the CZcams musical instrument channels, is that sound comparisons don’t tell us a whole lot. Most horns sound different from brand to brand, if not horn to horn. Ergonomics and key layout are easy to copy these days, but with what materials? All of these videos are careful to include the phrase “for the price.” Which is a way of saying it’s good for a lower quality horn. If you have ever spent time with a good tech they will tell you that a good, expensive, saxophone will have better quality parts and mechanisms. Cheaper instruments tend to wear out and fall out of adjustment more often due to inferior parts and workmanship. Not all, but many. So, a real test would be checking in after someone plays that horn regularly for a year.
Dr. Wally Wallace (Saxophone Academy) did a review of the alto after playing it for a year and said it held up well.
My daughters beginner JP has held up to 3 years of middle and high school use. 2 years marching.
It's always a balance between price and quality, but not everyone can afford a super expensive sax, or even a used lot model pro sax. Just like Wally, I've not found any wear issues with the Jean Paul saxes I have either and they have been played a lot. Hope the review was helpful.
I have the cheaper Jean Paul AS400 and it has come out of adjustment after less than a year (need repair to be playable again), and there are other issues with the quality control and design that it has. I could not return it because I'm an international buyer. However, others have had different experiences. Now I'm back to playing my trusty and reliable 35 year old Yamaha YAS-62. Consistent quality control cost more.
OK, what about future servicing and resale value? Wouldn't it be fairer to compare the JPs with second hand saxes worth roughly the same? What happens when you want to trade up? A second hand Selmer, Yanagisawa or Yamaha will hold its value and you won't lose out whereas a new JP, Eastman, or Antigua will be really hard to sell on for a reasonable price.
That’s true - a used pro horn from a major brand will generally be better value and I often recommend considering that option. But if you want new and have a smaller budget the Jean Paul are a good idea.
I thought I might have heard some clangs as you handled the JP Alto. What’s the build quality like. Not asking about the looks but the quality. Are the pads, rods, corks, keys solid.
All feels really good to me. I genuinely like playing it.
Jean Paul has a $2000 tenor pro model. Can you comment on that one?
I’ll be doing a test on one of those soon.
Did you try their pro tenor yet? curious to know if you think it plays well considering the price?
Not yet but it's on my list!
Yeah, to be fair I can't hear 1500 difference, I guess it's down to how they feel,
Los dos Jean Paul los encontre mas oscuros, centrados y con muy buen cuerpo y proyección. Me impresiono su afinación también.
El precio para mi igual sigue siendo alto y me llegan dos preguntas. Cuánto tiempo durara el calibrado en buen estado? Y como andaría con un Yamaha 475 usado que tiene un precio similar.
Gracias por el video y toda la información
Has no one noticed that the Jean Paul alto performance was not the same instrument as the one he is talking about (10th anniversary has black pearls yet the one he performed on has the normal color pearls). Strange... Very strange indeed...
Hmm, the key touches turned white on the AS-860 in the playing videos and the octave key looks like the YAS-62, was there a scuff in the video?
Truly truly love your content Nigel! 🎼✨ Music has the incredible ability to bridge gaps and inspire dreams. At Futures in Tune, we're making dreams come true by offering free music education to children. Join us in spreading the harmony and supporting a cause that truly makes a difference in young lives. 🌈🎻 #FuturesInTune #HarmonyThroughMusic #MakeADifference
Thanks so much!
I can't find the SS-860 in UK stores😒
I think you can order direct from their website: jeanpaulusa.com/pages/saxophones
The Yamaha is defintely the better sounding sax. The JP sounds a bit muffled.
Interesting
The Yamaha soprano sounded slightly better
Wish they'd ditch those dark key touches already.
What were they thinking of?
I agree!
I guess, Nigel, if you were blowing on a tin whistle, you would sound as smooth and beautiful... now, the difference is minimal, for me the Jean Paul sounds slightly warmer and that's a question of taste. Very interesting though. 🎶
Thanks for watching.
J.P 9:33. _. YAM 10:35
Doesn't matter if it's cheaper then a pro yamaha horn, the Jean pauls are made in china = big nono for me.
Well most saxes are made there or Taiwan these days.
@@McGillMusicSaxSchoolTaiwan yes.. China a big no