schiller american heritage elite iv horn

/

I have a decent sample size (4) for the Schiller American Heritage Elite IV Horn. My school owns two, and I've had two students play them (one in nickel, all the others are lacquer) during the past five years. There are now some newer models which I have not tried playing, but the Model IV is still available.

First, the pros:

  • inexpensive (around $700 when I got the two for the school)
  • finish looks consistently nice
  • adjustable fourth valve for different sized hands
  • plays reasonably in tune
  • valves and slides operate smoothly
  • tone is solid
  • came in a nice case with pockets on the outside

And then the cons:

  • metal used on valve paddles is soft
  • only reasonably in tune? my students have fewer issues with it than I do

In their years of use, I've had the following issues with these horns: broken string (easily replaced), bent paddle (I bent it back), and a couple joints came unsoldered (I'm not sure if the student was involved in that or not). I would be very hesitant to have a younger student or a less dextrous and responsible student playing on these because of the paddles, but the students I've had on the horns have not had any major issues with bending things (it's been my fault when I want to push the valves like I'm playing trumpet). I'm hopeful that the newer models have corrected this, especially since they run a few hundred dollars more.

Here is how it sounds.


instrument review: Schiller 4-valve (rotary) tuba

/

There were lots of surprises during my first few years of teaching. The year that our new school building opened, I discovered that there were not one, but two, tuba players who were coming to SCPA, and they both happened to be in the same grade. This posed a problem since I hadn't put any thought into getting tubas for the school without anyone to play them. I had already spent my budget on other needed items (a bari sax, bass clarinet, and an oboe), so I did two things:

  1. Beg for more money
  2. Find the cheapest tubas

#2 is what got me started on looking very seriously at Chinese imports. Postings at TubeNet and David Werden's forum convinced me that there some things worth looking at, and so I picked out two models: a smaller, 3-valve piston tuba, and a larger, 4-valve rotary tuba. The cost? Just under $3k, delivered. You can't even get one Yamaha tuba for that amount new!

Those first tubas have seen five years of daily use, and they have held up great. The rotary valve tuba is fine mechanically, plays in tune, and just went in for its first ultrasonic cleaning this spring--no major issues. Students lost a couple stop nuts by the rotor paddles and they were replaced no problem. My only complaint is that the case has not held up as well—but it is clear from the tubas I've purchased since then that suggestions to the company about case design have been taken into account, and I think the newer cases are holding up much better.

What else do you want to know? Leave a note in the comments or send me an email.

instrument review: Anthem A-2000 alto sax

/

Updated 10/21 – This seems to be a popular page--see some added info at the bottom, and comment or email me if you have additional questions.

Every year I've been to the Eau Claire Jazz Festival with my school jazz band, I hope to win an instrument from their raffle. It has been disappointing in the past that my students haven't always tried to complete and turn in their clinic cards to have a shot at doing so, so I was pleased this past April when everyone actually did what I told them to. There was no drawing at the evening performance, however, so I was surprised when a few weeks later I heard from a rep from the festival that said we had won a new alto sax!

What is Anthem? From what I can gather, the company appears similar to Accent instruments. The horns stamped with their label are only available through certain stores throughout the US. Instruments are made overseas (in Anthem's case, in China), and are purported to have a high degree of quality control. In the case of this Alto, it was provided as a prize by Schmitt Music. You can find Anthem's web presence here.

On to the saxophone itself. First off, it reminds me to some degree of the Cannonball student alto in its weight. It's heavier than the used Yamaha and Vito models commonly found in student hands. It's clearly labeled "Made in China" by the serial number (something other newer brands seem hesitant to mark) and has the brand and model stenciled on the bell. The case is not fancy but seems sturdy and definitely adequate. The body of the sax is secure, and there's a designated place for the neck and mouthpiece as well as a compartment for miscellaneous items.

The saxophone I have been playing with students for the past six years was a Buescher, and I can safely say the Anthem feels better and plays better than the Buescher. The key action is nice, I didn't notice any issues with pads sealing, and I was satisfied with the tone--not as bright as I fear with a student saxophone.

As you'll hear, it plays reasonably well in tune. Again, for a student model, I think it is acceptable (the notes I expect to be sharp or flat are). Since I've only had the horn for a couple months, I can't speak to its long-term prospects. I'll update here if I have any issues.

Updates 10/21

I've been playing the Anthem saxophone several times a week with students in lessons. Nothing has broken or gone wrong so far, and I find that as I've grown used to it, I like it more. I still have no out of the ordinary issues with pitch, and no problems with response (other than my own lack of aptitude on the saxophone). If anything, I like the tone better than at first. One thing I do despise: the design of the case includes a nylon strap connection the upper and lower sections so that it opens to a 90° angle and no further. Even if the floor is flat, the case often closes on its own because the strap is just a bit too short. Oh well.

An aspiring young saxophonist...

An aspiring young saxophonist...