CE Winds Saxophones - Releasing a New Sound!

Free Saxophone, Trumpet, Clarinet, Flute, Guitar Appraisal from Christopher Elliott LLC

2011-10-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

Whether you are looking for an estimate to present to your insurance company, or looking to get a market value to sell your instrument, let Christopher Elliott LLC help you determine the value of your saxophone, trumpet, flute, trombone, clarinet, bugle, guitar, oboe, bassoon, or any musical instrument, by getting our FREE Instrument Appraisal!

Visit our website www.whatsmysaxworth.com and fill out our Free Instrument Evaluation / Appraisal form, and we will respond within 3 business days. This service is absolutely free for you, and we will provide you with the following information for your records:

Actual Item Value – This is the value that we would suggest as an insurance replacement value, based on the items current condition.

Actual Market Value – We use comparison values based on recent sales to come up with an actual market value for your instrument. This is the value that we feel your instrument would have in the market in its current condition.

If you are interested in selling your instrument, we will also provide you with our cash offer for your item. Christopher Elliott LLC has been actively buying and selling musical instruments for over 6 years and has been established as a leader in the industry. We provide fair and honest evaluations, and can pay you immediately for the instrument you are selling. We have customer service agents around the United States that can often pick up the instrument directly from you and deliver your payment so you don’t have to worry about shipping it to a company you may have never heard of! Once we know your location we can determine if we can have the instrument picked up.

Contact us today or visit our website at www.whatsmysaxworth.com and fill out our Instrument Evaluation / Appraisal Form.

We look forward to working with you!

Brian S

Christopher Elliott LLC

www.WhatsMySaxWorth.com

Florida

Why your kid will quit band, and others won’t.

2011-08-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

I’m a parent of three children, none of which are of the age to seriously begin playing an instrument (4, 3 and 1). In my household, there is a good chance that each of them will learn to play something (hopefully saxophone, piano, and/or guitar). If not, I’m OK with that, but if they do, I’m pretty positive they will not quit. Why is that? As a student I was able to learn from my parents example, which is why both my sister and I played (excelled at actually) our instruments all the way through high school, and for myself, into college.

I speak to parents on a regular basis, and my number one advice for them is always this: it doesn’t matter what ‘brand’ you buy your kids (although CE Winds has my favor and stamp of approval), just make sure that it plays right from the beginning, and does not hinder your child from being able to play everything they need to play. When visiting with some very talented high school saxophone players recently in Miami, during an event for the Gold Coast Jazz Society, we brought some CE Winds ProSeries saxophones; tenor, alto, and soprano, along with us to let some of the kids try them out. In example after example, the kids were able to pick up our instruments and do things they were never able to do before on their own instruments. Even though these young musicians were very talented, their equipment was keeping them back. One even commented on how frustrated he was with himself that he couldn’t play certain things, but then was so relieved that he could, knowing it was just that his sax was holding him back the entire time.

Regular maintenance is necessary, not optional

This leads us into the next important step; keep the instrument properly serviced, at least every six months, but no less than once per year. This is so vital, because, student instruments generally take a lot of abuse, every day, and although they should be built well to withstand day to day abuse, they still need to be serviced.

Reinvest into their gift

As your student progresses, so should their equipment; the mouthpiece, the reeds, and perhaps, the instrument. By changing things up you will really keep them interested longer. Don’t go crazy and buy the most expensive mouthpieces in the market, but do some research and let them try some different models out, and different reed combinations. This is the reason we offer a consultation on mouthpieces; it helps the parents, and students, pick the right mouthpiece for them to meet their needs. It makes so much sense to not lose your entire investment by not reinvesting into their talent. It needs to be fresh, and it needs to be exciting.

Support means more than anything

And finally, and this has nothing to do with their ability, just be there for them. When I talk with parents who are really into ‘being there’ for the kids, taking them to competitions, watching them play or practice, just encouraging them, it makes a HUGE difference on whether they keep playing, or quit.

There are cases where them playing is just a lost cause, but perhaps it’s because they have been trying the wrong instrument. Once good thing to ask BEFORE they start to learn to play is why they picked that instrument. Did they pick it, did the band director pick it for them, or did the ‘economy’ pick it? If they did not pick it themselves, then they will immediately lose some of the passion for playing. If the band director picked it for them, talk to the band director and ask them why they did not allow your child to play their instrument of choice. If the economy picked it (because of the cost of instruments) then call us (904.996.9312) or another expert in buying/selling musical instruments. There are always options and answers, and we can help you find answers.

Peace,

Brian S.

President, Christopher Elliott LLC

New Christopher Elliott LLC Division - Cash4Sax.com!

2011-08-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

CashForSax.com is a division of Christopher Elliott LLC located in Ft Myers, Florida, with contacts in several US cities that can assist us in making instrument purchases. We are an established leader in buying and restoring musical instruments for resale purposes, have excellent customer service and response time to answer all of your questions.

If you have a musical instrument (saxophone, flute, clarinet, trumpet, guitar, etc) sitting around collecting dust and have no plans on playing it again, or have a young student that is giving up their once 'dream', fill out our short form and we will respond to you with information on how we can purchase your instrument from you completely HASSLE FREE!

Not only do we purchase instruments, but we are a full service restoration shop for musical instruments, and we specialize in saxophone restoration and repair. Our services include tuning, pad replacement, complete overhauls, and we work with some of the finest instrument refinishers in the industry. If you are interested in having your instrument repaired or restored, please contact us and we will be glad to provide you with an estimate.

We also offer consignment services for all musical instruments; saxophones, flutes, guitars, etc, through www.christopherelliottinc.com, all at the lowest fees in the industry!

If you have any questions regarding our purchasing program, visit our FAQ page, or contact us by email. We are also available by phone Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm EST. Just call 904.996.9312.

The pursuit of the perfect mouthpiece

2011-02-24T11:10:00.000-08:00

Stop right there. It does not exist. What’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Insert any other catchy phrase that sums up the first few words.

I talk to people everyday looking for the right mouthpiece for them. I always say we (CE Winds) are a good starting point, because you can get expert (term used loosely) advice, and we have a few mouthpiece options that give you different variations in the sound you may be looking for. I think we have everything covered with the Gold Genesis and the Silver Shocka mouthpieces, even though we are coming out with a few new pieces later this year. The best CAN get better!!! J Just a joke, no, not really.

The first thing I ask people is ‘what do you play’. This usually gets an answer like ‘alto’, ‘tenor’, ‘Yamaha’…. Those are the right answers to a vague question, and important to know, but what I want to know is ‘what do you PLAY!” What style, what’s your sound, your influence? Sometimes it’s just one sound, but most of the time players are looking for variety in their sound, because a gigging musician needs to play a wide range of music to please the crowds.

Once you identify that, it’s generally easy to find a mouthpiece to work for you. The good thing is, especially with CE Winds mouthpieces, they come with a money back guarantee. Generally 7 days from the time you get the item, but if you need more time, we understand.

If you are not sure what you want, you just want to play easier, louder, softer, etc…., brick and mortar music stores will have some demo mouthpieces that you can try. It’s always good to try a few mouthpieces, but also try a few reeds with each mouthpiece. From that point you can narrow down your options to just a few, and then look at the costs to see what you can purchase.

I think over a lifetime of playing, you will go back and forth between pieces. Don’t fall for the idea though that the more a mouthpiece costs, the better it is. Don’t get me wrong, have you ever played a New York Meyer 4M alto mouthpiece? Or even a vintage Otto Link “Slant Sig” tenor mouthpiece? They are GREAT mouthpieces, but they also come with a hefty price tag. I feel that if that ‘expensive’ is the best mouthpiece for you and your trade, then you should buy one no matter the cost. Consider it an investment in yourself. Just don’t buy one because it’s ‘trendy’, or someone else says it’s the best for them.

If you ever have any questions on selecting the right mouthpiece, whether vintage or new, don’t hesitate to give us an email or call. We would be glad to help.

Brian
CE Winds

www.cewinds.com

904.996.9312

brians@cewinds.com

Eat Healthy... so you can play more.

2011-02-21T07:03:00.000-08:00

Eating healthy is something most people, musicians, take for granted. A professional musician is on the go all the time. Usually the food is provided at the events, or your practice schedule or rehearsals are for hours on end, and it's hard to just 'take a break' when you are in the groove. More importantly, high school students, college students, and young musicians, who are bombarded with low cost options like fast food and junk food, should seriously consider their diet at a young age, which will help them continue to pursue their dreams in the professional musician job market.

One of the main reasons to start eating healthy young is health insurance. It is EXPENSIVE. My wife and I at one point were paying over $1,200 per month for a family of 5. That was more than my mortgage and association fee COMBINED! Just to insure yourself at a young age would cost you $150-300 per month. As a professional musician just starting off your career, there is a good chance that buying health insurance will be one of the last things on your list, because you will need to pay your rent/mortgage, utilities, and food. IF you make healthy choices during meal time, you will greatly reduce your chances of even catching a common cold, let alone a more serious illness.

People often say to me ‘well, eating organic is more expensive than getting a value meal”… that could not be more untrue. Sure, the cost of eating organic or whole foods may cost you more in the grocery store, but the truth is, you will find you will actually buy less of it because your body is satisfied on a lower amount of food. The second reason, and this is a big one, whether you have or don’t have health insurance, it is going to cost you MUCH more in medical expenses treating you for ailments that are usually caused by GMO (genetically modified organisms) or GE (genetically engineered) foods.

Now I’m not vegan, not a 100% vegetarian, my wife calls me more of a ‘flexitarian’. I generally do not eat meat, but when I do I am particular about what I am eating. I know there are times when I am going to have to eat what was provided me, and that to me is OK, but for the most part, I want to make sure that I am treating myself in a way that helps my body run to its fullest potential. Have you ever gotten ‘bad gas’ in your car? Well, eating bad food is like putting bad gas in your body, and may cause it too… then who is going to want to share a stage with you then, or record in a small studio… hmmmm.

If you want to be the best professional musician you can be, or the best in any profession, eating healthy should be a top priority in your life.

Brian Seltz

President

Christopher Elliott LLC

If you are interested in learning more about the food you eat, here are a few great documentaries to watch:

Food Inc
The Gerson Miracle
The Future of Food
The Beautiful Truth
Food Matters
Supersize Me

CE Winds Feature Artist - Daniel G. Klimoski

2011-02-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Daniel G Klimoski
CE Winds Artist
Signed 2008

Bio:

Daniel G. Klimoski, from Hadley, MA., began his music lessons at the age of 7 on the piano, clarinet lessons at age 9, and saxophone at 11 years old. At age 13 he began his professional performing career by playing in local bands. After high school Dan moved to Boston and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Applied Music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ma., where he graduated Magna cum Laude and was given the Faculty Award. After teaching as a full time faculty member at Berklee, he went on tour with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra as Lead Alto Saxophonist/Clarinetist until 1980. After returning to the Boston area, Dan earned his Master's Degree in Jazz Studies at the New England Conservatory. He has studied with Joseph Allard, Joe Viola, Gerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Jimmy Giuffre, and Eddie Daniels. Throughout his career, Dan has shared the stage with Barry Altzschul, Jackie Byard, Richie Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Dick Johnson, David Hildinger, Maureen MacGovern, George Russell, Little Anthony and many other notable composers and performers.

Daniel returned to western Massachusetts in 1998, after performing for Disney's first cruise ship, the Magic on its inaugural voyage. In 2000-'01, Daniel produced his first original CD entitled Muzejazz. The tunes are carefully crafted and recorded with inspiring performances by live jazz quartet. In 2002, Dan played an onstage role in the West Springfield Theatre Project at Majestic's production of Blues in the Night. Other various performances include New Year's Eve at the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA. During the summer of 2003 Daniel, played flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe and English horn, for the world premiere of an original musical entitled "The Game" which may been seen in the Lincoln Center Archives where Sara Ramirez of Grey's Anatomy may be seen in one of the lead roles. More performance experience includes New Year's of 2004 with NRBQ at the Iron Horse, Northampton, MA., original performances with the Vermont Jazz Center Big Band, and as soloist for the Mystic Chorale in Boston, which are available on Mystic Chorale CD'S.

In March of 2009, after trying a CE Winds Pro Series Dark Vintage Alto, then soon after a Pro Series Dark Vintage Tenor, Dan replaced his Selmer Reference 54 Alto, Selmer Serie II Tenor and Yanigasawa SC-991, and in May of 2009 joined the CE Winds Family of Artists.

CE Winds Featured Artists are musicians who have the passion and fire to create something more than just a sound. Music is not just something that you hear, it is something real that is created from the heart of the person making it! Music is a release, captures memories, and is a motivator! Music is a gift, and we say EMBRACE IT! If you would like information on how to become a CE Winds Featured Artist, email artists@cewinds.com

CE Winds Feature Artist - Phil French

2011-02-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Phil French
CE Winds Artist
Signed 2008

Bio:

Phils lifelong passion for music started at the age of nine, where he began formal saxophone training in Maryland. He honed his skills while playing in church as a youth and continues to minister with his gift in both the Christian and Secular arenas.

Phil has had the experience of performing with many talented individuals including: the late Grover Washington, Jr., the late Stanley Turrentine, Pieces of a Dream, Marion Meadows, Norman Connors, Brian McKnight, Ollie Woodson of The Temptations, the Clark Sisters, The Winans, Fred Hammond, and Richard Smallwood. He also performed on albums with Ben Tankard, Alvin Nesbitt, and Amos Davis. For four years Phil was a band member and music director for the Grammy Award winner Yolanda Adams. While playing with Yolanda, he also had the opportunity to record on her album “More Than a Melody”. During the same time he was also a band member of the legendary Jean Carne. His experiences with Yolanda Adams and Jean Carne helped him to polish his stage presence.

His first album, “You've Been So Good”, is an expression of God's perfect will being performed in his life. The soothing tones on his second album, "Royal Love Songs", were inspired by a combination of life events.

Phils goal is to use the gift God gave him in music as a language to cross all barriers.

CE Winds Feature Artist - Joan Velez

2011-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Joan Velez
CE Winds Artist

Signed 2008

Bio:

Joan Velez is an artist with a passion for jazz and latin music, he has a unique, big, sensual, and very percussive signature sound, his music is a new refreshing Experience.

Born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Velez began playing drums at age 11 before migrating to Tenor Saxophone one year later. While a student at the prestigious La Escuela Libre de Música in Arecibo he started listening to artist like: Nelson Rangell, David Sanborn, Miles Davis, Ed Calle, Kirk Whalum, Grover Washington, Euge Groove, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Michael Brecker, and Paquito D’ Rivera which had the greatest impact on his playing. In 1996 enrolled at the Universidad de Interamericana de Puerto Rico with a major in jazz performance under the great teachers Ricardo Pons and Angel David Matos.

In 2000, Joan Velez received the Berklee College of Music “Outstanding Musicianship” Certificate. He has performed in jazz festivals and he has shared the stage witt jazz artists such as Mike Arroyo, Angel David Matos, Ricardo Pons, Nidya Caro, Raymond Rousseu, Jimmy Rivera, Travis Vega, Glen Monroig, Chris Zamora, Nick Schneider, Bruce Oscar, Rodney Reed Zawacki, Robin Watson, Ken Champion and others. He continues to perform regularly with his own band The Velez Brothers. Joan Velez has 2 solo records under his belt (”Everything I Love” & “Up Side Down”) becoming one of the raising stars in the smooth Jazz world.In 2005 he moved to Chicago for a warm reception from critics, music lovers and fellow artists, as he continues to push his style and sound. He continues to perform regularly with his Brother Cristian.

CE Winds Feature Artist - John Michalak

2011-02-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

John Michalak

Miami, FL - Signed 2008

Bio:

John signed as a CE Winds Featured Artist in July 2008, after CE Winds launched their new line of Pro Series saxophones. John visited us to demo the horns and for a recording session for our "Hear It Being Played" videos, where he quickly realized there was something very special about these instruments. "I though before playing them I would have a good backup horn for my Selmer Mark VI Alto and Tenor, but after playing these powerful horns, I knew they were meant to be no ones backup horn!"

Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, John moved to South Florida in 1989 and began developing his diverse musical abilities through many fantastic opportunities. He has performed and recorded with great artists from every musical genre, from Jazz to Rock, Latin to Reggae. John is often referred to as one of South Florida's most underrated sax players, and his extensive resume includes performances with multi-platinum selling artists such as Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Engelbert Humperdinck, KC and The Sunshine Band, David Lee Roth, and Raul DiBlasio.

John was most recently on tour with Gloria Estefan, which included a stop at the 2008 Latin Grammy Awards for a live performance, which was also broadcasted live on Univision.

Throughout South Florida, John regularly performs at the top local venues, such as Jazziz Club and Bistro, the VanDyke Jazz Club, Ohara's and others, as well as at the most prestigious Luxury hotels, such as The Breakers, The Ritz-Carlton, The Four Seasons, The Mandarin Oriental, and the Boca Raton Resort and Club.

Which saxophone should I buy for my child? Part 5

2011-02-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

So what about rental plans for my student saxophone, is this the best option?

Like anything else, there are some good ones and some bad ones. Like I mentioned in the very beginning, my parents got stuck in a bad one, like I know many other parents do. When I say a bad one, I am referring to the fact that in the end, the student is stuck with a saxophone that is maybe worth $300 - $500 and just spent that last three years paying a total four to fives times the actual value of the saxophone.

The key to finding a good rental program for your student saxophone is to look at the following factors:

- Rentals can be good if they allow you to do buy outs at a reasonable price. Look for rental programs where the end rental price is not even 15% more than what the student would pay for the saxophone when it is on sale.

- Also look for rental plans that are around 24 months or less. Most companies rent for three to four years, only racking up more and more interest.

- Find out if the company allows the students to buy out the saxophone at anytime, and if so, how much is the buy out compared the actual sale price. I know many rental programs will offer a buy out at a 30% discount, but this is 30% off the final payout, which is usually 4 to 5 times more than the actual value of the saxophone.

- See if, you can you return the saxophone at anytime without major restocking fees. Make sure to ask this, because I am sure that most of the major companies do charge this and in the end, you can wind up with a hefty bill after returning the saxophone.

- Check to see if general repairs are covered in the monthly fee? Your student will most likely need to have the saxophone serviced every now and then and this should be covered in the monthly
fee, if not, then you will be held responsible for these fees and instrument repair is not cheap.

- Is your child getting a brand new instrument? Most companies have been around for so long, they are stuck with out dated and over abused instruments that they then use to rent to your student. The crime here is that you are paying a premium price each month and getting an inferior student saxophone; but it is happening all over America even now as you read this, only because parents don't know any better.

- What is the company that is renting the student saxophone to your child doing to help support your child’s' band program? Many of the top rental companies look at you and your child as one thing, a money sign. They thrive off of your lack of knowledge about musical instruments and the student saxophone industry. I personally recommend that you find a company that has chosen to partner with the local school programs and give back in time, talent or finances. This could include companies that have a local school representative to assist the band with clinics and master classes, that give cash back rebates and free instruments directly back to the school, or provide discounts with related organizations within our network to help reduce the overall costs for the music program.

All of the information in this article has come from my personal experience as a saxophone player who began at age 11 and now almost 25 years later, is one of the owners and operators of a saxophone company in the United States that produces both a student and professional level saxophone. I encourage you to do your own research and find what you feel is the best saxophone for your child. We hope this article has been informative and will help you to make the wisest decision possible. Thank you and be blessed.

Mark Wigginton

President

CE Winds

Which saxophone should I buy for my child? Part 4

2011-01-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

What are my other options for a student saxophone for my child?

When talking strictly ‘country of origin’, Paris, Germany and Japan are not the only great options; Taiwanese saxophones can be great, more affordable options as well. Taiwan has recently become the ‘Lexus’ of the saxophone market. They aren't necessarily the BMW or Mercedes of the industry but they are producing some very high quality saxophones for both the student and professional level. They are burning the trail through the industry and I believe that within 10 years that they will be manufacturing saxophones for most of the major brands in the entire world. I can say this with confidence knowing that German and Japanese made saxophones, who are now considered to be some of the best in the world, not even 20 years ago, were wearing the same "cheap sax" label that Chinese made saxes have today. Taiwanese made saxophones have recently broken free from the "cheap sax" label within the last 10 years and are continuing to move closer and closer to taking a spot with what is called, the "Big Four" (Selmer, Yanagisawa, Yamaha and Keilwerth saxophones); and all but one have student saxophone models being manufactured in China.

Now the same is true with Taiwan as any country that manufactured saxophones, you can find some good ones or some bad ones, so there is always a risk. Here is some ‘insider’ information, if a company wants to have a saxophone made for them from a Taiwanese factory, they can spend anywhere from $300 to $2,000 for an alto saxophone with "made in Taiwan" stamped on it. Your risk can be minimized by some doing some good research and investigation.

What are the major differences between high quality Taiwanese and Chinese made saxophones?

From looking at them in pictures you may not be able to tell any difference at all. These differences can only really be noticed once the sax has been played, taken apart and examined. The major difference is going to be the alloys used to make the keys, and body of the saxophone. Most Taiwanese saxophones are going to have a higher grade alloy, which in the end will resonate better and have a fuller and clearer tone. Taiwanese manufacturers also give you more options in the alloys, such as titanium, silver, gold brass, German brass, etc.; which all have been known over the years to be better sounding. Another difference is going to be in the overall quality of the other core materials. A saxophone is not just brass, but there are other materials such as felt, cork, screws, pads, springs, adhesives, pearls, etc that make up the final saxophone product; and the quality of these materials has a direct affect on the initial playability of the saxophone as well as the longevity of the instrument after being played over and over again.

Even so, a company building a saxophone in China has the option to choose a very high grade material, as well as a lower grade material.

Here are some good points to look for in this area:

- Stainless steel or blue steel springs will last longer, even better, some offer gold plated springs.

- Saxophone pads are a big part as well and look for name brands like Selmer, Pisoni, or even Roo Pads. Everyone says they have Italian leather pads, but see if they can be specific with the actual brand being used.

- Felts vs. cork, some newer sax companies use an abundance of felt where cork has traditionally been used. Personally I prefer cork (or a synthetic cork) to be used whenever there is a key footing touching the body of the sax, or a key touching another key. There are some few exceptions for this, but overall for the longevity of the sax and the precision on the setup and adjustment, a cork, or cork like material, will do better in the end.

- Pearl key touches vs. Synthetic key touches. Personally, when playing it is really not very noticeable if the key touches (the pearls, or jewels placed on the points of the keys where the saxophone player places his fingers) are made of pearl or a synthetic or plastic material but overall, the consensus is that higher quality saxophones come with real mother of pearl for key touches. Now, Yamaha only uses real pearl for their very top end saxophone and even their very expensive intermediate models that sell for over $2,000 do not have real mother of pearl. I only tell you that because, Yamaha makes a great intermediate saxophone, but it does in fact come with plastic key touches.

- Adjustment screws and post screws are very tiny but important parts of a saxophone. Screws that are cheap and poorly made will not enable you to keep your saxophone in adjustment or repair over time. This is something to consider and can easily help you determine the quality of a saxophone.

The future of CE Winds in 2011 and beyond!

2011-01-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

The future of CE Winds in 2011 and beyond!

2010 was a great year at Christopher Elliott LLC & CE Winds, and the future looks even more promising for our young company. Last year we solidified our partnership and corporate sponsorship of More than Music, a non-profit started by the core members of Dave Lemieux and House of Soul, who’s primary mission is to share joy, demonstrate love, offer hope and build community using the power of music and song.

In January of 2011, MTM launched their nationwide school assembly tour in the Northeast U.S., called At the Table with Dr King, an interactive performance that gives students and their teachers an opportunity to take a journey through the American Civil Rights Movement using the power of music, media, and song. Using the lives and legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other prominent figures from the era as examples, the At the Table with Dr. King presentation invites students to start answering the call upon their own lives and to discover the responsibility they have to their communities.

CE Winds also moved into our new corporate offices in Ft Myers, Florida, which offers a product showroom where our guests can relax and play instruments at their leisure. The showroom also has a private recording room where customers can lay down tracks with numerous horns, and then hear the playback to help select which horn is right for them. Our ‘Grand Opening’ for the new CE Winds showroom is scheduled in the summer of 2011.

With the huge success of the Alpha Series Saxophones that we launched in 2008, we will now release the A2 Series (Alpha II) in February 2011, which offer several upgrades from the current Alpha (A1) model. The new A2's feature a higher grade alloy, real abalone pearl key touches, upgraded Pisoni leather resonator pads, standard A2 saxophone neck, and an additional CE Winds “Power Tone” neck, which is a secondary neck that really increases the “power” and “tone” of the saxophone!

We have also upgraded the accessories on the A2 to include handmade deluxe cases, neck bag, soft leather neck strap, leather ligature, mouthpiece, and end cap. As well, the A2's are finished off here in the U.S. with a professional adjustment process that has been expanded to a 32 point Quality Assurance process.

2010 was the year we released the Alpha flute into the market, and have found huge success with professional players and students alike, who have all discovered that a great sounding, and well built flute, does not have to cost over $1,000.00. The Alpha Series Flutes sell for under $500, and offer the same features as higher grade flutes; including solid silver lip plates, offset G, and split E mechanisms. We’ve even added Gold Plated rollers just to give it a little more class!

This year in 2011, we will officially release the Alpha Series Trumpet line, which will include a Lacquer Model (Alpha) as well as an A2 model with several specialty finishes to choose from. The Alpha Series Trumpets are hand crafted with a high grade instrument alloy to give the trumpets a full, yet focused, tone. They offer a very standard medium-large bore size, and also feature a large bell for better projection. Monel valves and chrome plated pistons complete the inner workings, and real mother of pearl key touches gives the instrument the right feel under your fingertips.

2010 also saw HUGE growth for the CE Winds Rent to Own Payment Plan! In this tough economy we know most people need some help, and our Payment Plan was there to relieve parents and college students from the pressure of having to buy an instrument they could not afford!
We believe we are working to make great strides as a company to change the way people purchase musical instruments, and the one thing we will never lose touch or change is the way we work with our customers. As we continue to grow this year and beyond, we will continue to put your needs at the top of our lists, and provide the best instruments we can at the lowest prices possible.

We know we have earned our solid reputation for service, quality, and prices because our customers' appreciation and the continual positive and encouraging feedback we receive; and it is a great joy for us to being able to satisfy the needs of our customers. We say, Thank you to all of our customers, for choosing us over and over again to meet your instrument needs.
Blessings and prosperity to you from CE Winds & Christopher Elliott LLC!

Brian Seltz
President
Christopher Elliott LLC

Which saxophone should I buy for my child? Part 3

2010-09-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

So, what about other major brands like Conn-Selmer, Buffet, Keilwerth, aren't they better than buying some ‘Chinese’ saxophone?

If you do any research or talk to any well advised music store owner you will most likely run into many who tell you to be aware of the saxophones made in china, they are cheap and fall apart, they don't play in tune, etc, etc. Well, here's a little known industry secret, all of the major brands mentioned above have their student saxophones manufactured in China and have been for years. I know, I know, it can't be true but it surely is, and now they even have "made in china" on them. So, what about all the warnings about Chinese saxophones being cheap or poorly made? Well, here is a question, if I were from somewhere overseas and I traveled to America and stopped off at some small burger shop in some outskirts part of Utah; and after eating a burger, realized that it was horrible, would it be an intelligent statement to say that all the burgers in America are just as horrible? Of course not! That's just as ignorant as saying that all blondes are ditzy, or that all brunettes like to have fun.

So where did this come from? Well, there are some bad saxophones being made in China, just as there are bad burgers being sold all across America. The good news is that the Chinese have begun to do with the saxophone what they do in every industry the venture into; some Chinese factories have been able to make a high quality saxophone for the price that is fractions of what a typical student saxophone sells for! Now you can only imagine how the general retailers across the nation felt about this when parents could jump online and buy a lesser known student saxophone for hundreds less than the thousands of dollars they are demanding for the major brands in their stores!

Now, does this mean that all saxophones from China are high quality now?

No, there are still those that are selling very low quality student saxophones at very low prices and I would warn you to be aware of these companies. I am not going to list their names because for the most part, they change their names every so often and reinvent themselves under a new name. They rarely have any real internet presence other than the ebayer's selling them and have outrageous warranty promises of 5 to 10 years, just to get you to bite the hook.

So what should I look for in a Chinese made saxophone company?

Here are some major areas that can help you determine if the student saxophone is worth purchasing:

- The company you choose should have a solid reputation and track record for their product & their customer service. In today's internet ruled world, this will give you a great opportunity to find reviews and testimonies from previous owners as to the build quality and sustainability of the overall saxophone. I do make mention on this that any good saxophone company is continually improving as time goes by, so be open to the good and the bad reviews. As well, I don't think you can find any saxophone company that does not have any negative reviews, but go with the overall consensus of the product quality and the customer service of the company.

- You should be able to call and speak to someone from the actual company of that makes or distributes the saxophone. Ask them as many questions as you can, and make sure they are willing to stand behind the instrument 100%.

- There should be a written return policy for a full refund if you are not 100% satisfied. Your money is yours and don't throw it away to some company that will not stand 100% behind their student saxophone.

- The sax should come with some sort of setup or adjustment work already done to it. For the most part, almost every saxophone made today is made overseas somewhere, and is then shipped to America. During shipping, it is very easy for the saxophone to get banged around and knocked out of adjustment, as well; many factories do a minimal setup just to make sure the sax plays, but so much can be done to ensure that your student will get a very free blowing and easy playing saxophone. Any good saxophone company will have technicians on this end that do a post production setup and adjustment to ensure that the saxophone arrives to the customer in the most optimum working order. Ask the company if they do any post production setup or regulation work and if they do, then ask them to be specific. Remember, this is your money and you want to invest in the best possible saxophone for your student; do not be hustled or talked into a student saxophone that you are not 100% sure about.

- The saxophone should have some samples online of the saxophone being played, preferable videos because audio files do not disclose the saxophone being played and you can't be sure that the saxophone is actually the one being advertised. If the sax is being sold on ebay.com, the manufacturer or label name should have company website or internet presence. If so, check to see that the website is valid; meaning that it has correct and up to date contact information, articles, pictures, samples, reviews etc.. or is it just some website thrown together and posted online to try and fool you into thinking that there is a real company that you can contact and be confident will stand behind the product.

- Check online in forums like saxontheweb.net which is filled with some of the best information about student and professional saxophones from today and over the past 100 years. Is this company you are looking at, listed in their Saxophone Makes and Models section of the forum? If so, then you can be assured that it would not be listed if there was not a real company behind that product. You can also search the forum for reviews and ask questions.

- Check youtube to see if anyone is playing this name brand student saxophone and posting videos. If so, you can hear many different people playing these saxes and get an overall idea of the sound they can produce.

- The sax should come with all the things your student needs to play the saxophone; mouthpiece, ligature, neck strap & cork grease. Some companies give other care packages as well with the purchase and this is a good idea to help keep the saxophone in good working order. These items include a pad saver, cleaning cloth, and neck swab.

- The sax should come in a good case that will protect your student saxophone for years to come.

Which student saxophone is best for my child? Part II

2010-08-26T12:19:00.001-07:00

Using the Internet to help purchase a saxophone

So, what other options did my parents have? Well, at the time they did not have too many options; mainly for one reason... there was no internet back then. Now with the influx of the information highway, concerned parents can not only research and find the best options available for student saxophones but they can also find the best prices (which in several instances, this ‘information’ can be a setback and lead to even more confusion!!). So what are the best options? I believe there are many options with many different variables and I will try to cover as many of these scenarios so that you can get a better picture of the student saxophone market and the choice that will best benefit you and your child.

Must I purchase a Yamaha student saxophone for my child?

Despite what your child’s’ band director or instructor might tell you, you do not HAVE to purchase a Yamaha. The first thing to know is that there are many other options for a student saxophones other than the Yamaha 23 model or whatever recent model name they are using nowadays; which I think they are calling the Yamaha 275 (YAS 275 for alto saxophone, and YTS 275 for tenor saxophone).

Is the Yamaha student saxophone a good student sax?

These are good saxophones, but buying a new one is very expensive, and buying a used one can be very risky, and cost you more in the long run.

Will the Yamaha name help in the event that I need to resell the sax?

Yes and No. I say that because, the Yamaha name will help it to sell but if you paid full price or anywhere near it, you will be fortunate if you get 25% of what it sells for brand new. For example, Yamaha student alto saxophones sell on average for about $400 on ebay, and they sell for $1,700 - $1,800 brand new. That’s an easy one to figure out.

So in the long run, is it worth it to buy a brand new Yamaha student alto saxophone for my child?

If your student pursues music for their entire middle school and high school education, then the investment makes more sense. If you are not sure they will pursue music for that period of time, it is probably not the greatest investment. Buying something just as high quality at a fraction of the cost is the best option.

Link to full article: Saxophone Buying Guide

Which student saxophone is best for my child? Part 1

2010-08-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

Article: Which student saxophone is best for my child?
by Mark Wigginton, President - CE Winds

This is a very great question, one that I hear so often. Also one that you may get many different answers to from numerous sources, which generally can lead to frustration for anyone seeking the answer. Being someone who began playing saxophone as a young student at age 11, I fully know about the long and vigorous journey a student goes on from first starting out, to playing in high school; onto the college level; and finally into the professional arena.

The Journey of a Student Saxophone Player

As a young student saxophone player, I was not given the best tools to succeed with. In fact, I was given a student saxophone that was purchased by my grandmother from a local music store for $300; and because of the condition, in my opinion, this saxophone was way over priced. My first saxophone was the dreaded, beat up, Selmer Bundy II student alto saxophone. It was very worn and used when I got it and to this day, I do not think it was ever in 100% working order, which kept me from playing all the notes that the sax was designed to play.

So how did I make it through all those years as a student saxophone player with such an inferior instrument? Honestly, I don’t know. Well, officially I only played that student saxophone for 4 ½ years, and for what I was asked to do during that time, it did what I needed it to do. You see, as a student saxophone player, there was not too much demand on me, as long as I learned my scales and parts for the band, my individual tone and experience level was not as noticed until I entered the high school level of playing; which introduced me to solo performances for both classical and jazz. Here is where the quality of the sax could no longer be hidden and actually became a hindrance to my ability to advance as a young student saxophone player.

When I entered 10th grade, my parents purchased a brand new Armstrong student tenor saxophone for me. I think the sale price on it was around $1,200, but by the time it was paid off, I think it cost my parents around $2,400; which is no where near what that student saxophone was worth. The initial $1,200 was a big stretch for a student saxophone, especially at that time, for that model. I know you may read that and say, “$1,200 seems cheap for a student saxophone, I see Yamaha student tenor saxophones selling for over $2,200,” and you are right; but if you have a true grasp on the saxophone market and you understand what it is that you are buying, you will clearly see that there are so many other options available to you as a parent buying a saxophone for your child, and that the most expensive option is not always the best option.

Link to full article: Saxophone Buying Guide

Musical Instrument Purchases and the Current United States Economy

2010-08-05T11:44:00.001-07:00

There is no denying it – the US economy is struggling, school budgets are being cut, and music programs are being cut out completely in several areas. One of the reasons is lack of ability – not that parents or students aren’t interested – because we are ALL born with the gift to want to create music, but they are finding it hard to sign their children up for school band because they may feel they can’t afford to purchase an instrument that will give their child every advantage when it comes to learning how to play.

CE Winds really wants to make a difference!

First, we commit to building the highest quality instruments we can build and sell them at a price that anyone can afford.

Second, we commit to give you options on how to pay for your instrument, such as our Student Payment Plan, as well as the option to exchange your instrument for something else or return it if your child loses interest.

Third, we commit to your child’s school. For every dollar you spend, CE Winds will issue a credit to that school, credits that they can use to purchase more CE Winds instruments, uniforms, and music, whatever they need, through our School Rewards Program.

Last but not least, we commit to the future of music. For EVERY CE Winds instrument sold, a percentage of that sale will go to More than Music, a non profit committed to providing instruments to students worldwide that just cannot afford to purchase an instrument, scholarships to students who deserve to go to college but can’t afford to, and hope for those who just do not have much to hope for.

Everyone here at CE Winds knows that there are many options when buying musical instruments for yourself or your children, but the best options are not always the most expensive ones.

CE Winds – Releasing a New Sound!!!

www.cewinds.com

www.christopherelliottinc.com

CE Winds Student and Intermediate Flutes Released!

2010-08-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

CE Winds is entering the flute market with two models of student / intermediate flutes;

1) CE Winds Alpha Series C Foot Flute
2) CE Winds Alpha Series B Foot Flute

You can choose from the following options:

Open Hole or Closed Hole
Silver Plated Lip Plate or Solid Silver Lip Plate
Split E or Standard E

Any questions please visit www.cewinds.com, email info@christopherelliottinc.com us or call 904.996.9312.

Other 2010 Releases will be the CE Winds Alpha Series Clarinets and Trumpets! We will let you know when they are available for purchase!

www.cewinds.com
www.christopherelliottinc.com

A Message from CE Winds

2010-01-27T10:59:00.001-08:00

2009 was an exciting year for us! Thanks to our valued customers who trusted in our products, service and reliability, our CE Winds brand has been accepted by teachers, technicians, and professionals, and is being played by students, weekend players, and professional musicians worldwide!

During the 2009 year, we brought our products around the country to various trade shows and associations to show them first hand the awesome products we have, and the response to that has been overwhelming! We are excited about the growth we experienced during 2008 & 2009, and have been working hard, getting ourselves prepared for the 2010 year, and beyond!

There will be some exciting changes made this year, which will really help CE Winds instruments products reach more customers globally! We will be launching a New CE Winds website soon (www.cewinds.com), complete with a buying experience that is revolutionary for this industry! We are creating new printed media showcasing all of our product launches from the last year, as well as information on new products and services we will be releasing in 2010, including online instructional videos and DVD's, hard rubber mouthpieces, and more.

Stay with us through 2010. We told you that you would be a lifelong friend of CE Winds once you owned one of our instruments! Now we will show you why!

Sincerely,

The CE Winds Family
"Releasing a New Sound!"

Saxophone Rent To Own Payment Plan

2009-09-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

Starting in July of 2009, CE Winds started offering to middle school, high school, and college students, the option to make rent to own payments on our Alpha Series Alto and Tenor saxophones.

It has been a great success so far, and we want to keep promoting the offer for as long as we can! If you havn't had the chance to check it out, alto and tenor saxophones only cost you $30 per month with a small deposit.

Remember, this isn't a saxophone rental program, this is a rent to own payment plan for saxophones.

Also, these aren't used or pre-owned instruments, beat up Yamaha YAS or YTS 23's, or Conn 24's, these are brand new CE Winds Alpha Series Tenor and Alto saxophones, the same ones that people in the US and around the world have been giving very favorable reviews to.

Check it out if you havn't yet... click here: CE Winds Saxophone Payment Plan

God bless!

Don't forget to STUDY YOUR SCALES!!

2009-09-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

I used to bring my sax home every day from school.... I had like a two mile walk from the bus stop and had to carry my Yamaha YAS 23 with me, because my parents did not want me to leave it at school. Back then (I started playing in 1989) $1300 was A LOT of money to pay for a student sax, or a saxophone PERIOD, and my parents wanted to make sure there investment was safe.

Anyway, I would be forced to lug this thing home (glad I didn't play tenor), knowing I should practice, I never would. I neglected my scale study, and found that later on that was a HUGE mistake.

Bottom line is, SCALES ARE IMPORTANT! Learn them, ALL, memorize them ALL, and know them by heart!

I mean, if you are going to carry your sax home anyway, you might as well use it.

Trust me.

Music Life Lessons - For Students

2009-08-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

I remember being in school, in our music programs, but I honestly don't remember being 'taught' too much. I mean I had good teachers in band, but unless I just wasn't paying attention - which I highly doubt - teachers just didn't have time to really educate theory of music, they just pretty much told us to 'read this' or 'do this'.

Thats fine for a student who was just in band because their parents wanted them to play an instrument, but it did no good to the student who really wanted to be a musician for their careeer choice. That is where I think school music education lacked.

As much as I can over the next few blogs I am going to visit some VERY IMPORTANT areas students need to pay attention in, or even self study, if you want to pursue a career in music. I found out myself the hard way that natural talent could only get you so far, but eventually you need a 'solid education & routine' in order to make it.

Time Flys!

2009-08-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Man, has it really been since March when I posted our last blog? So much has happened since then.... where do I start.

First off, we got LOADS of new stuff in stock, from Alpha Series Black Nickel alto, tenor and soprano saxophone, Red Brass Copper altos and sopranos, even archaize bronze and clear lacquer baritone saxophones.

We started a rent to own program for Alpha Series Clear Lacquer Saxophones, Alto and Tenor. It has been working out pretty well for us so far, people have been pretty excited to pay for a CE Winds sax over a two year period - gives it even better value for them!

Texas Bandmasters show in July went AWESOME! People loved our stuff in person, techs, pros, teachers, students, all were coming and playing our horns, examining them, and most comments were the same... "you sell them for how much???" We never get sick of hearing that.

Well folks, I promise to our followers I will not take so long to post another blog..... I PROMISE! I have lots of updates, very little time, but I'll make it work.

Blessings to you all from CE Winds Florida!!!

Depreciating Assets

2009-03-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

Depreciating Assets

I get a ton of emails from (mostly) parents looking to sell the instrument their student played for 1 or 2 years. Mostly saxophones, but flutes, trumpets and clarinets are always in the mix.

Most of the time, when I give the parent (or seller) the value of the instrument, there is a reaction of total shock! “No way, I paid $_________) for this sax!” Well, I do believe them, but what most don’t realize is that student saxes, for the most part, depreciate at a rapid rate. Yamaha makes one of the best student alto saxophones you can buy, and for $1200-1400, they are great instruments. However, as soon as you use the sax for 3 months (sometimes even less) it’s lost over half of its value. You would not to, at that point, be able to sell it for more than $600 at best, unless you found the right buyer at the right time.

Is that to say, don’t buy an expensive new student saxophone? Not at all. What it IS saying is that you as the consumer should be aware that if you DO buy one, it will go down in value. The best way to get the money back is to encourage your young prodigy to play the sax for more than a few years, or to look for a more affordable, high quality brand such as the CE Winds Alpha line for students/intermediate players, or even consider buying a gently used instrument from eBay or craigslist.org.

The BIG 4 ….. are they really worth it? Yamaha, Selmer, Yanagisawa, & Keilwerth

2009-03-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

The big four….. are they really worth it? Yamaha, Selmer, Yanagisawa, & Keilwerth.

For the most part, the answer is yes. It’s hard to argue the history and craftsmanship, and the dedication to ingenuity, that’s really what makes them the best saxophone makers in the world today. They reinvest into the technology that has really changed the saxophone industry as we know it. To play the best saxophones though comes at a high price. Companies such as these will not allow you to deal direct, so you are purchasing through a chain of buyers, all of whom are taking a little piece for profit. It is business, and generally this is how business works. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just buy direct from the companies and cut out all the middlemen?

The existence of companies like these four has really opened the doors for companies like CE Winds, Phil Barone, Cannonball, P. Mauriat, & Antigua Winds to be able to provide a competitive instrument at a much more affordable price.

We (CE Winds) work directly with our customers and dealers so that we can eliminate the middle buyers, allowing for a high quality instrument that will stand next to and compete with any saxophone in the market today, at a price that most buyers can afford."

Should you get the big four? Well, if you have the money lying around, maybe. Should you check out some other options as well, like CE Winds? The answer to that is Yes, Yes, Yes.

It's about time....

2009-02-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. It's 2009 and we still don't (didn't) have a blog. Well.... now we do. So please stop making fun of us for it, and please subscribe to it. :-) Thank you.

We will try to make as many updates as we can, and add as much useful information (and I'll admit some not so useful), and it will generally be saxophone related, but we will also share about all other musical instruments and just about whats happening in our industry.

If you have anything you want added, just give us a shout. Email me at brians@christophherelliottinc.com.