Maui Xaphoon Xaphoon Pocket Sax

I bought this piece of plastic on thomann, a little intrigued and interested in the idea of ​​having a reed instrument pocket.
Since it is the other plot, because it is easy to lug around! This instrument does not fear nothing so it has little qualms about leaving out or trainer.
The sound of xaphoon is amazing for its size, somewhere between that of the clarinet and saxophone in addition to sweet (unlike a lot of torches nasal sound).
The grip is surprising at first because some fingering folklos and especially his rather unstable. But in a few weeks we get to play some songs already!
Only drawback, after nearly a year of use, I admit I still find it hard to play fair! Instability requires constant work pressure and the mouth ... not always easy! To have a beautiful sound it's best to be patient!
But by controlling it well, it's a perfect instrument, just a little limited by its range (1.5 to 2 octaves).

For how long have you been using it?

I use this instrument for 1 week only, but I have experience on the saxophone.

Did you try many other models before getting this one?

I have not tested models in bamboo, it seems that the sound is close but we "better" maintain its instrument (mold). There is also the model in Bb and G, so I have not tested, it appears that the G has good bass but the fingering is more removed (unsurprisingly)

What thing do you like most/least about it?

That's why I bought a nice sound between the clarinet and soprano sax, and the instrument is portable I play the tenor at the base and I can not take it wherever I want. The xaphoon is the instrument that brings on vacation to play without wearing 15 kg of gear at 2500 €. The biggest worry however is fingered twisted to the sharps and flats. The instrument is chromatic "on paper", beyond 2 or # 2 flats in the key it is getting very hard, and certain combinations are impossible. The other defect is that you have to work the accuracy of the notes, roughly in proportion to the saxophone xaphoon is false, there are some notes that are too high or too low so it must correct all the time with the mouth .

What is your opinion about the value for the price?

Well, for 90 € you play an instrument, on the other hand it seems difficult to make music professionally with xaphoon, but this is not the goal.

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?

Yes, i like to play in the office, on vacation, too bad a little piece of plastic that sends sound like this is very good

I use a translucent red plastic Xaphoon C for a short month.

I bought it because I dreamed of learning how to blow into a hip without investing directly in a sax or clarinet (but that may come) ... for giving me the impression of playing in a style somewhat Jazzy.

And I'm not disappointed! I who had never blown into a hip instrument, and many thanks to the explanations of the manufacturer, and tips found on the Internet (there are free courses offered by a Canadian xaphoon.aceboard.fr really well and others not video poorly on Youtube), I could start to enjoy myself in two weeks with some standard ("It takes little to be happy," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," "Oh When The Saints" .. .) and after it is an instrument that is played by ear!

The instrument is super simple to play, but it sounds not always fair (or even often true) and must be corrected with the lips, but it comes pretty quickly, which also gives the effects and sounds really interesting

The feature I like most?
The SON-(huge for a plastic instrument as basic, it's beautiful sounds)
-The simplicity and robustness (one plastic body but of good quality which is very solid, a ring and a hip and a cap very useful)
-The price ... bought used at 42 euros, and it helps to have a little sax to walk safely across

The feature I like least?
-Access to the sharps and flats semitone difficult and not always very nice to hear, which can make exercise difficult when we play with others.

Oh another note, do not be fooled by its size: this small instrument sends big sound ... and it will not solve problems with your neighbor below who did not already love your solos at two o'clock in the morning!

I do it again without hesitation that choice ... just the time to find opportunity at an affordable price!