Jiayouy White Mini Portable Saxophone with Carrying Bag Perfect for Musicians and Beginners …

I became interested in such products as part of my search for compact musical instruments. I don't have much experience with reed instruments, but I've been practicing a bit with a Venova soprano, so I had some idea of what to expect. There are many similar listings on amazon, but I didn't notice significant build differences and I preferred this particular listing because it offered more color options than others.I received the instrument in a sealed plastic bag, inside its velvet-like pouch, which also contained:- 2 reeds - one synthetic and one bamboo - it's not specified anywhere but from their size, they look like alto sax reeds.- a typical metal ligature with 2 screws- a cap to protect the reed when attached with the ligature (the cap wouldn't stay on the instrument otherwise)- a fingering chartThis was better than I expected because the listing doesn't provide a full list of contents and I had only expected 1 reed to be included.I first tried the synthetic reed, which is made of some black plastic. It is similar to other plastic reeds made in China that I ordered but had to return because they just didn't work. Unfortunately, this reed is pretty bad too. While trying it out, I started thinking about returning the entire package. I had a bit more success with it when I pushed it a bit inside instead of keeping it level with the edge of the instrument - this way I could at least produce some sounds, but even this took effort and was not very satisfying.I then switched to the bamboo reed and this one worked considerably better. I could now play the lowest notes with little effort and in a much more consistent manner. Surprisingly, it took even less effort than the Venova, with which I still struggle to play the lowest notes consistently. This short experience changed my mind about returning this item.With the right reed (and the instrument did come with the bamboo reed already installed), this is a playable instrument. Of course, it won't sound like a saxophone, but it's interesting and can provide good practice. If you've never used a reed instrument, be warned that it's not easy, but this product can give you an inexpensive taste.[UPDATE] Unfortunately, I need to drop my initial evaluation of this product. The bamboo reed worked better than the synthetic one, but after getting over the excitement that I could play the lowest note relatively easily, I started noticing more issues. - The included fingering chart is actually for a different instrument that is missing a hole for the left hand. - The ligature is badly shaped for the shape of the mouthpiece and gets twisted when you tighten it, which also tends to make it hard to position the reed properly, because the twisting tends to make that slide to one side. - The transition from C to D is very bad. It's as if all air suddenly escapes through the C hole and there is a sudden drop in sound intensity. - The reed failed me today after less than 1hour total use. It got split on one side. I replaced it with another reed without improving the sound output.In the meantime, I also received a Xaphoon that made the shortcomings of this instrument even more obvious. The holes of this instrument are a replica of the Xaphoon holes - same placement and distance, but that is the only similarity between these instruments.After all this experience, I decided to return this item. It's not worth the effort even at this low price. I recommend a Xaphoon instead. It's just as compact and has much better sound. It is more expensive, but it actually works.

I have the much more expensive Maui, was hoping this might be a good copy of that product at a much reduced price so that is could easily be used in a school situation.If you stand both instruments on their bell, you will notice the holes are lines up identical on each, as measured from the bell. However, there are some very very unfortunate differences. On the mouthpiece side, it looks like this manufacturer took a longer very slim mouthpiece, and glued it onto the end. When they did this, it completely messed up the tuning. For example, if you play high C, you get an approximation of the high C, however, as you work your way down the octave, things get further and further out of whack. By the time you get to low C, that note is actually an Eb. So being 1.5 notes out of tune within one Octave pretty well makes it useless.So, if we overlook the tuning, let's compare tone quality and easy of play. With the reed that came with this, I found it almost impossible to play. Using that same reed on the Maui Xaphoon was playable, but muted, so it is a poor reed in any case. I searched through my reeds, trying everything from $1 cane reed to the $37 dollar synthetics. The reed I found that was "most" workable was the 1.5 Fibrocell which cost about the same as this instrument. Tone quality is still atrocious on the low end, and I mean bad bad. As you go a little higher, it get's a little better. The instrument walls are much thinner, so perhaps that along with the mouthpiece make for a ridiculous sounding instrument. With very precise breath control, and moving the mouth out towards then end of the mouthpiece, it is possible to maintain a tone, nasty as it is. However, playing anything useful is near impossible. If there is one thing that this instrument is better at than the Maui, is that is takes less air, and is super loud, unfortunately, that is not near enough.I wish I could tell you this instrument is great, but in fact, this was a disgraceful attempt to copy the original. I am still hoping for someone to be able to provide a cost effective alternative to the Maui Xaphoon, but this is not it.

I have found items with not many good reviews before and they ended up being good.Not this one.Not a sound except for air. Not one squeak either. Just air sound through the product as I tried different fingering and embouchures.I play flute and recorder, so I know how to place fingers, breathe and so forth.No matter how I adjusted the reed, all I could get was the sound of air blowing through the instrument.It comes in a black velvet pouch.The mouth piece is not removable in case any one would like to know that, but I do not recommend this item.

I bought this product for my fiance for xmas because he's learning to play the saxophone. We bought it "brand new" and when I took it out of the box, it was scuffed from end to end. Next was painfully figuring out it makes one or two sounds and then plays the same sound for everything else. The reeds we were sent with the instrument were both damaged which lead us to believe that it was used but we don't know for sure unless I missed it in the description. Just go buy a sax from your local music store. They need your money more than these people anyway it seems.

The mouthpiece and reed are not playable.

Completely worthless. I am a woodwind musician. I thought this would be a fun distraction. It only screeches. No modulation of pitch using fingering.

Not worth purchasing. Very cheaply made

Actually sounds pretty good, my son loves it!