Armstrong 3040 Tenor Sax

Joe-K

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Sep 7, 2004, 7:45:22 PM9/7/04

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I've seen a couple used Armstrong saxophones for sale recently in
local music shops like this one listed below. This one is listed as a
3040, but I don't know what that means.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3745760858&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

Most of the shops are asking $500-$700 for the Armstrong Tenors so I
was wondering if they are decent horns for that price.

The owner will be a 8th grader who's been pleased with his Yamaha Alto
for 3 years and wants to try a Tenor.

Is the Armstrong a good beginner/intermediate horn? or should I get
another Yamaha YTS-23?

Thanks

Stephen Howard

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Sep 8, 2004, 5:08:58 AM9/8/04

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I'd avoid the Armstrong. They're not bad horns as such, just the
design is rather dated and they tend not to feel that great under the
hands.
I suspect that the Armstrong will disappoint in time in comparison to
the Yamaha alto.

The 23 tenor is a sound choice.

Regards,

--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

Joe-K

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Sep 13, 2004, 10:20:01 AM9/13/04

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Stephen,

Thanks for the advice.

Since my previous message, I had gone back to the shop to look at the
preowned YTS-23 that they had in stock. Unfortunately, it was gone,
and the shop owner again tried talking me into the Armstrong 3040
Tenor.

His claim, is that for the money, it is a good deal, and the
instrument can be taken to a shop and have a tech give it the once
over.

Still thinking.....

P. Tung

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Sep 26, 2004, 3:16:19 PM9/26/04

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"Stephen Howard" <sees...@email.uk> wrote in message
news:ctitj09ingincc6hc...@4ax.com...

> On 7 Sep 2004 16:45:22 -0700, rv_camp...@yahoo.com (Joe-K) wrote:
>
>>I've seen a couple used Armstrong saxophones for sale recently in
>>local music shops like this one listed below. This one is listed as a
>>3040, but I don't know what that means.
>>
>>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3745760858&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT
>>
>>Most of the shops are asking $500-$700 for the Armstrong Tenors so I
>>was wondering if they are decent horns for that price.
>>
>>The owner will be a 8th grader who's been pleased with his Yamaha Alto
>>for 3 years and wants to try a Tenor.
>>
>>Is the Armstrong a good beginner/intermediate horn? or should I get
>>another Yamaha YTS-23?
>>
> I'd avoid the Armstrong. They're not bad horns as such, just the
> design is rather dated and they tend not to feel that great under the
> hands.

Interested to hear why you think that is, Stephen.

I wonder if they just are not set up that well, usually.

The horn in the auction the original poster linked appears to be one of the
Armstrongs made on Keilwerth tooling.

Stephen Howard

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Sep 26, 2004, 6:32:49 PM9/26/04

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On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 14:16:19 -0500, "P. Tung"
<checksite...@justsaxes.removethiszapzespam.com> wrote:

>
>"Stephen Howard" <sees...@email.uk> wrote in message
>news:ctitj09ingincc6hc...@4ax.com...
>> On 7 Sep 2004 16:45:22 -0700, rv_camp...@yahoo.com (Joe-K) wrote:
>>
>>>I've seen a couple used Armstrong saxophones for sale recently in
>>>local music shops like this one listed below. This one is listed as a
>>>3040, but I don't know what that means.
>>>
>>>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3745760858&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT
>>>
>>>Most of the shops are asking $500-$700 for the Armstrong Tenors so I
>>>was wondering if they are decent horns for that price.
>>>
>>>The owner will be a 8th grader who's been pleased with his Yamaha Alto
>>>for 3 years and wants to try a Tenor.
>>>
>>>Is the Armstrong a good beginner/intermediate horn? or should I get
>>>another Yamaha YTS-23?
>>>
>> I'd avoid the Armstrong. They're not bad horns as such, just the
>> design is rather dated and they tend not to feel that great under the
>> hands.
>
>Interested to hear why you think that is, Stephen.
>
>I wonder if they just are not set up that well, usually.
>
>The horn in the auction the original poster linked appears to be one of the
>Armstrongs made on Keilwerth tooling.
>

I'm glad you asked me to clarify - because I was just about to bang on
about the cruddy action etc, when I realised I was thinking about the
Bundy!

I withdraw my remarks about the Armstrong on the grounds that I can't
recall the last time I saw one!

Regards,

--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk

P. Tung

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Sep 27, 2004, 3:14:08 PM9/27/04

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lol

DAMN!

I have not had much exp with the Armstrongs such as mentioned, & was hoping
you had some straight dope to offer.

I like Keilwerth hardware for some of the mods I like to do on Conns, so
have always been curious to find out more about the Armstrongs made with,
looks like to me, the Keilwerth "Tone King Special" tooling (or whatever it
was they called the last generation of pre-SX-90s).

Stephen Howard" <sees...@email.uk> wrote in message

news:ubael0hfq57hlf80b...@4ax.com...

MrWitworth

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Sep 27, 2004, 9:52:27 PM9/27/04

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There was also an Armstrong 3050 tenor with silver plated (not nickel) keys. It
played very nicely but was 'big' feeling in my hands. I was nicely made though
and the Keilwerth influence was apparent.

I was happy to sell it however.

RC