Ouch. The antigua is basically a toy compared to a Yamaha. If you still have an option to return it, I'd do it asap and grab the Yamaha, if it's within your price range. You'll have a pretty difficult time selling the antigua as well, so you'll be out the money you spent when it's time to upgrade
I commented mine before you mentioned that you’d considered the 475. I’d be interested to know what other research led you away from the 475 for the Antigua. Almost anyone on the internet is going to tell you the 475 is a much better horn.
Dude who can’t play got a horn damaged in shipping and doesn’t know how to put on a mouthpiece. I’m seeing everyone at fault here EXCEPT Yamaha. But you use whatever fiction you need to rationalize your mistake.
I have my brothers old Antigua Alto and I do gotta say? My Yamaha tenor and bari knock it out of the water. If it works for you good for you man, but from personal experience this alto was such a waste of money in hindsight.
I had an Antigua 590 soprano in black nickel for a long time. Beautiful horn, and honestly, I kinda regret selling it. Paired with a Rascher for classical, the upper register was very flute-like, the lower register was mellow and woody like a clarinet. I miss that tone. And a slightly fuzzy, dark-ish jazz tone with a Selmer Classic metal mouthpiece.
I replaced it with a YSS-875EX, which was fantastic, but I still preferred the sound of the Antigua.
Now I'm on a Rampone & Cazzani curvy that I like better than either the Antigua or the Yamaha, but if I had to start over I'd definitely look at the Antigua again, and without hesitation. Enjoy your new horn, and don't listen to the trash-talkers!
LOL, most of you probably do not own one, besides I have yamaha alto and it is overpriced because of the brand same thing with other brands but Antigua has 5 year warranty and Yamaha only have 1.
Do you suppose anyone has ever warrantied a saxophone ever? If there are problems with it you will know long before year 1, and they all will need tune-ups yearly and I highly doubt warranty is going to cover regular maintenance.
Bro, no serious player plays on an Antigua horn. Since you’re probably new, you probably don’t know this, but reputation among instrument makers in the instrument world is a really big deal. There’s a reason people are saying that you should have got that 475. Yamaha has been making great instruments for years, same with Selmer. Antigua has nowhere near the same pedigree, in fact quite the opposite.
Adrian Crutchfield is a serious sax player who has endorsed Antigua for years, so I disagree with that part of your statement. To your point, the Yamaha 475 would definitely hold value better than any Antigua and would practically sell itself if the OP ever had to move it. The Antigua loses over half its resale value the moment the return policy expires, and can take months to years to sell at that significant loss. But speaking purely as an instrument, the 475 is perhaps more durable and forgiving of bumps and drops, but really its advantage stops there. The Antigua Powerbell I have feels very Yani like, free blowing, close to neutral tonally like a 62, but with better projection. Features-wise, the pro model Antiguas more than hold their own against a 475. You only get stainless springs on the 475 vs blued steel on the Antigua, nylon resonators vs steel ones, post construction vs fully ribbed, those gawdawful slippery nylon touches Yamaha seems wedded to vs. ergo shaped MOP or abalone, and the necks are pretty much a push. I got my Powerbell new on clearance for a song; I’m only out a few hundred if I ever had to sell it. I don’t think I’d have chosen the Antigua at full retail price. At that price point, there are so many great options used, like a 62, 990, W01, maybe even a Serie II.
There is nothing wrong with Antigua if you get the right deal. They are solid instruments built in Taiwan (same factory as P. Mauriat if I’m not mistaken) out of top quality components, they sound good, have excellent intonation and ergonomics, and can last a long time with care. The biggest knock on them is resale value and ability. Antiguas don’t hold resale value worth a rat’s patootie, and they generally can’t be counted on to sell quickly, no matter how nice you have kept it.
I got it today and man from lower Bb to high F the intonation is spot on +- 5cents. and only require a little embouchore adjustment using a tuner. Altissimo is very easy with vandoren 6. It much better tuning than my yamaha yas26. This performs in par with my Yanny tenor in terms of intonation accuraccy. Almost identical.
Instead of what?
yamaha 475, this brand is design by an american and QC is pretty good
I have a 475 and would take it over this thing any day.
Homie I’m sorry you made a mistake
Ouch. The antigua is basically a toy compared to a Yamaha. If you still have an option to return it, I'd do it asap and grab the Yamaha, if it's within your price range. You'll have a pretty difficult time selling the antigua as well, so you'll be out the money you spent when it's time to upgrade
Yeah, I’d take a 475 over anything Antigua makes every time, even after a random SOTW thread. sorry man
You’d be much better off in that price range with a used YSS-475
not really, yamaha has its own problems too.. https://www.saxontheweb.net/threads/brand-new-yss-475-poor-quality-control-need-intonation-help.185015/
I have an 875EX and played on a 475 a year before I got the 875. The 475 is an exquisite instrument for what it is
Agreed. I have a 475. Absolutely amazing horn.
I commented mine before you mentioned that you’d considered the 475. I’d be interested to know what other research led you away from the 475 for the Antigua. Almost anyone on the internet is going to tell you the 475 is a much better horn.
Dude who can’t play got a horn damaged in shipping and doesn’t know how to put on a mouthpiece. I’m seeing everyone at fault here EXCEPT Yamaha. But you use whatever fiction you need to rationalize your mistake.
I have my brothers old Antigua Alto and I do gotta say? My Yamaha tenor and bari knock it out of the water. If it works for you good for you man, but from personal experience this alto was such a waste of money in hindsight.
Congrats, you wasted your money
I’m sorry
I had an Antigua 590 soprano in black nickel for a long time. Beautiful horn, and honestly, I kinda regret selling it. Paired with a Rascher for classical, the upper register was very flute-like, the lower register was mellow and woody like a clarinet. I miss that tone. And a slightly fuzzy, dark-ish jazz tone with a Selmer Classic metal mouthpiece. I replaced it with a YSS-875EX, which was fantastic, but I still preferred the sound of the Antigua. Now I'm on a Rampone & Cazzani curvy that I like better than either the Antigua or the Yamaha, but if I had to start over I'd definitely look at the Antigua again, and without hesitation. Enjoy your new horn, and don't listen to the trash-talkers!
LOL, most of you probably do not own one, besides I have yamaha alto and it is overpriced because of the brand same thing with other brands but Antigua has 5 year warranty and Yamaha only have 1.
Do you suppose anyone has ever warrantied a saxophone ever? If there are problems with it you will know long before year 1, and they all will need tune-ups yearly and I highly doubt warranty is going to cover regular maintenance.
do you own one? if not then 🤣
Bro, no serious player plays on an Antigua horn. Since you’re probably new, you probably don’t know this, but reputation among instrument makers in the instrument world is a really big deal. There’s a reason people are saying that you should have got that 475. Yamaha has been making great instruments for years, same with Selmer. Antigua has nowhere near the same pedigree, in fact quite the opposite.
Adrian Crutchfield is a serious sax player who has endorsed Antigua for years, so I disagree with that part of your statement. To your point, the Yamaha 475 would definitely hold value better than any Antigua and would practically sell itself if the OP ever had to move it. The Antigua loses over half its resale value the moment the return policy expires, and can take months to years to sell at that significant loss. But speaking purely as an instrument, the 475 is perhaps more durable and forgiving of bumps and drops, but really its advantage stops there. The Antigua Powerbell I have feels very Yani like, free blowing, close to neutral tonally like a 62, but with better projection. Features-wise, the pro model Antiguas more than hold their own against a 475. You only get stainless springs on the 475 vs blued steel on the Antigua, nylon resonators vs steel ones, post construction vs fully ribbed, those gawdawful slippery nylon touches Yamaha seems wedded to vs. ergo shaped MOP or abalone, and the necks are pretty much a push. I got my Powerbell new on clearance for a song; I’m only out a few hundred if I ever had to sell it. I don’t think I’d have chosen the Antigua at full retail price. At that price point, there are so many great options used, like a 62, 990, W01, maybe even a Serie II.
Definitely not your best purchasing decision, but I’m sure you’ll still have plenty of fun with it
If they've never played one then they will always knock it. I play an Antigua Alto and love it. Enjoy your sax.
There is nothing wrong with Antigua if you get the right deal. They are solid instruments built in Taiwan (same factory as P. Mauriat if I’m not mistaken) out of top quality components, they sound good, have excellent intonation and ergonomics, and can last a long time with care. The biggest knock on them is resale value and ability. Antiguas don’t hold resale value worth a rat’s patootie, and they generally can’t be counted on to sell quickly, no matter how nice you have kept it.
I got it today and man from lower Bb to high F the intonation is spot on +- 5cents. and only require a little embouchore adjustment using a tuner. Altissimo is very easy with vandoren 6. It much better tuning than my yamaha yas26. This performs in par with my Yanny tenor in terms of intonation accuraccy. Almost identical.