Largo Australia "Pro Model" Sax Review

Pro saxophone on a budget.
Welcome to the Sax Review channel.
I'm out to answer the question "can you get the big name quality and sound for the no name prices"?
One fairly new instrument company "Largo Australia" based in Melbourne aims to do just that. This company is Australian owned but the instruments are made to specification in China. They are checked and serviced in Australia prior to selling.
Largo Australia are most known for their student saxophones sold to schools however they now offer professional level saxophones that:
• are fully adjustable
• have quality leather pads with metal resonators
• play in tune with good harmonics and very even throughout. Easy and in tune Altissimo
• have strong key work with blue steel springs and great ergonomics
• comes with a protective, quality case with handy features like back pack straps, front pouch and will take a good knock without folding in on your pride and joy.

This is the Largo LASS 601FGR Antique Lacquer alto. This particular sax is modeled on the Selmer Reference 54 and comes in a similar antique style brushed finish.
Unlike the Selmer however it has a price tag of $1280rrp and comes with the same 12months warranty. If that's not enough they also offer "free" shipping anywhere in Australia. Yes FREE! it is posted fast and is very well packed.

If you are a school or a church the price is even better at $1099 with 2 years warranty and a free service.

What's In the Box?
1. Sax Cleaner/cork grease/neck strap
2. Selmer mouthpiece with Rovner Ligature and a reed
3. White "dry sock" for the saxophone

Conclusion
• Fit and finish are good for a Chinese made horn but aren't quite as nice as the big brands and the hand done engraving isn't as elaborate nor is the lacquer quite as well finished. But there's not that much in it.
• The price and postage are very hard to beat
• It is solid and should last well.
• The tone is warm and full and not too bright with some decent projection
• Plays in tune and breaths well.
• Nice ergonomics, feels better than most modern horns.
• The finger points look a bit plastic like instead of mother of pearl but you can't see these when you're playing. .
• One of the best bang for buck Sax's on the market.

So $1280? You can't match a big brand sax with a $1280 Chinese made sax can you?
Well I'm not going tell you it's as good as a big brand sax because it's not.... quite. But at 6 times the price? well you decide if they are 6 times better.

I believe it's not what you play so much as how you play it.
Mouthpiece and embouchure make the most noticeable difference in your sound. it's all about getting a setup that's right for the individual. When trying a sax try different mouthpieces with it as a mouthpiece that is great for one sax won't sound right on another.

Overall it's tough to fault for this sort of money. Play one if you get the chance. Definitely worth a look.

Artist/Reviewer: Mr Shaston King -- BA Contemporary Music, Grad. Dip. Education, Semi Professional player.
Setup: Largo LASS 601FGR Antique Alto Saxophone with a Berg Larson 80/0 mouthpiece and Largo #3 reed.
Recording equipment: 1x Shure SM58 mic into a MOTU 896mk3 D.A.W into PC.
Sax recorded with no effects or EQ apart from "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Straight To The Heart" that has reverb only.

Songs: "Infant Eyes" -- Wayne Shorter (Aebersold Playalong), "Ain't no Sunshine" -- Bill Withers (The Groove Embassy band), "Maceo... ish" -- Shaston King, "Straight to the Heart" -- Marcus Miller/David Sanborn (Aebersold Playalong)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Saxophone
• Sax Reviews
• review
• Largo Australia
• Largo Saxophone
• sax
• budget
• alto sax
• Shaston King
• Wayne Shorter - Infant Eyes

[gcrav]

Doesn't really float my boat, but then neither does the Ref 54.

[SaxReview]

@gcrav It's all personal taste saxophones so thanks for your comment. What do you prefer? how much is RRP?

[gcrav]

@SaxReview I'm a fan of vintage American horns with a big, ball-swinging sound. Among modern horns, the closest one I've gotten my hands on is a Keilwerth SX-90R.

[SaxReview]

@gcrav Me too, love Martin's, King's and Beuscher's. I have all Vintage sax's except for this Largo. I haven't done any swing style examples in this video. It's difficult to say if you'd like the Largo if it was setup and played for that style of music. It's hard to compare these horns. The Largo is more comfortable, better in tune, better harmonics than the US vintage sax's and is much cheaper than the SX90r. But really, it's all about the sound, feel and nostalgia that really counts isn't it?

[jasaxophonist]

Sound is not all that makes a good SAx - are the pads, springs and screws durable?

is it comfertable to perform on. What about the high altissimo notes ,do they come with ease.? Charlie Parker could take up the worst studient sax and mke it sound good. So i am not impressed. please do a live demonstration. no studio recording!!

[SaxReview]

@jasaxophonist Sounds like you didn't click the little down arrow to expand the whole write up. Altissimo is comparable to the big names and it's in tune. Very comfortable to play - has offset key work as i said it's based on the reference series Selmer. This is hardly a studio recording. The sax is recorded in my basement with a Shure SM58 Vocal mic as mentioned. No EQ, No FX except for reverb is added to the sax on the two tracks mentioned. Thanks for watching

[gcrav]

@SaxReview Yep. Players with a Selmer-based sound concept are lucky these days with all of these good, reasonably priced Asian horns on the market.

[lancelotburt]

Soulful! Thanks for not doing a live, kitchen acoustics, recording! Close miking really shows what the horn sounds like. Not the room.

[SaxReview]

The sax actually sounds even better than this but the video has lost some quality after uploading. When compared to the original audio it sounds considerably compressed and has definitely lost some warmth and clarity. But you get the idea of just how impressive this sax is.

[sirslarti]

Very nice sound. You make that sax talk. Thanks for the upload and the review. Amazing that a $1200 sax sounds that good..