Gitane DG255 guitar
There seems to be a glut of Macafferri replica guitars around at the moment and some are better than others. Saga’s ‘Gitane’ series are very much of the “better” grouping, in fact , in my humble opinion – they’re the best! The range includes the original ‘D’ “grand bouche” and the later Selmer “petit bouche” models, plus a faithful copy of the unusual maple neck model and a signature Jorgensen. With select spruce tops set on either rosewood or maple laminate back and sides, with ebony or maple fingerboards and ebony bridge and body binding, these instruments look a million dollars. But the most remarkable thing is, they sound identical to the original, courtesy of the laminate bowed back (as per the original instruments) and the internal strutting.

Vic Firth AJ3 Sticks and brushes
The AJ3 sticks are specifically aimed at the jazz player. With a standard reach, they have a narrow shank and a long taper, giving them exceptional balance and excellent response. Needless to say, each pair comes pitched paired and weight matched. Try them instead of 7’s, and be amazed at the lightness of touch that can be achieved. The Jazz brushes too are designed for the discerning player. The wires will maintain any set position, and come in an extra heavy gauge for maximum sound projection. They also have a full 6-inch spread and are fitted with oversize triangular pulls for cymbal work. With textured, high impact handles, they provide excellent grip and will undoubtedly withstand the rigours of the road.

Rucksack Gig-Bags
Dubbed the musician’s briefcase, these unique cases are a cross between a rucksack and a hardshell case. Looking not unlike a small submarine, the Gig-Bag sports a fully zippered main compartment with EVA foam moulding (laminated layers with a styrofoam core), which benefits from being lightweight while at the same time offering excellent protection. To the front face, there is an accessory pocket with a couple of internal pocketed pouches that will hold anything from mouthpieces, to reeds, to straps. To the back of the bag, there is another large pocket that is ideal for storing music, name and address contact sleeve, a carrying handle and an adjustable rucksack harness with vulcanised non-slip shoulder grip pads and red reflectors. One problem – the zips aren’t waterproof!  

Alto Antigua  4518 Saxophone.
The Antigua range of Saxophones has proved very popular with the enthusiastic amateur and student – and going by this Alto horn, it’s easy to see why. With a fully ribbed annealed brass body and a detachable bell, for just under £500, this is a lot of horn for your money. And the high end specs don’t stop there. The clear laquered keys are power forged and include a high F sharp, while the low Bb spatula keys are of the tilting variety for that extra smooth action and ease of playing. Added to this, there are independent palm keys and double skin pads. The horn blows well, but in truth you will need to replace the generic 4C mouthpiece with a more suitable piece to get the most out of this instrument and to appreciate the rich, rounded tone that the Antigua can produce. And it all comes in a solid, lockable, pre-formed case with top and side handles.

Saxophone Leather Ligature.
If you are looking for something more from your sound palette, then there are clearly many different ways in which this can be achieved. Needless to say, one of the options is to try various ligatures, to effect different blowing characteristics and different tonal qualities. Those looking for a warmer tonal range should take a look at this genuine, handcrafted leather ligature from Vandoren. It’s a very free blowing unit, and comes with metal, hard leather and soft leather plates, and it can make a real difference to your sound. Understandably, the metal plate is more responsive than the two leather pieces, but our personal preference was for the hard leather plate that most closely matched the leather of the ligature and gave a more compact and focused sound.

David Gallant