An alto saxophone is considered especially good for beginners if it offers a high level of sound dynamics and if it rests comfortably in your hands. The Thomann TAS-180 fulfils these criteria and is currently one of the most affordable Eb saxophones on the market. This saxophone makes a convincing case thanks to its balanced intonation in all registers as well as an extremely good response and a warm, centred sound. The body and valves are made of clear-lacquered brass, and the scope of delivery includes a lightweight case with backpack straps, a mouthpiece, a carrying strap, and a cork grease stick.
Thanks to its stable intonation in all registers and good response, the TAS-180 is excellent as a beginner's instrument. Worthy of mention is the saxophone’s adjustable thumb rest, which can be easily adapted to every hand shape, thus allowing comfortable playing with the right hand. The metal resonators placed on leather pads support the saxophones' clear and centred sound. An easily removable bell allows quick maintenance and repair in case of dents or other damage. What's more, you can achieve your desired sonic ideals with a mouthpiece that is suitable for the respective style of music. The required tuning (440 to 443Hz) is achieved depending on the position of the mouthpiece on the S-bow.
A saxophone for beginners should be designed in such a way that it can be played dynamically and with good intonation in all registers. The intonation possibilities shouldn’t be too extensive, but they should not be too limited either. The TAS-180, which was specially designed for beginners and those switching from a different instrument, fulfils all of these characteristics and is therefore suitable for a successful start. Whether you are a beginner or coming to the Eb alto saxophone from another instrument, the TAS-180 will be an excellent choice thanks to its price-performance ratio. This alto sax is also a great choice as an affordable backup instrument for woodwind players.
Thomann-brand instruments, which are exclusively built by renowned manufacturers, now constitute a large part of Thomann’s product range alongside numerous big-name brands. With unbeatable price-performance ratios, Thomann wind instruments are the obvious first choice for students and beginners – and others too. The technical features and uncompromising sound quality they offer are usually reserved for much more expensive instruments found in the professional market segment.
Until fairly recently, it was still hard to find a beginner’s alto sax that was both good AND affordable – but those days are thankfully over, as Thomann now offers a good solution with the TAS-180. Thanks to their pleasant playing feel and sound characteristics as well as their affordable price, Thomann saxophones have become increasingly popular in recent years. With the TAS-180, you get a solid starter model that you can use in many musical fields. This alto saxophone is suitable for learning the instrument and can also be used as a second instrument during bad weather at open-air events.
The Eb alto saxophone is part of the saxophone family, the other main members of which are the soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone. The term "alto" stands for the vocal range. The Eb alto saxophone is a transposing instrument, which means that a C played on this saxophone corresponds to an Eb on the piano or the guitar. The C played on an Eb alto saxophone therefore always sounds a major sixth lower. This is why notes for instruments in C tuning are not compatible with Eb alto saxophones (separate notation is available, however).