Winston Custom Pro 2000 soprano saxophone
Origin: USA ( Boston, from parts sourced globally )
Guide price : ?
Age of review model : 18 months
Date reviewed : 03/02

Description : An intermediate level soprano saxophone, straight body, two detachable crooks.

The very first thing I check on cheaper soprano saxes is the crook - specifically to see if it suffers from the flaw that allows the crook octave key to open so far as to bend the spring beyond recovery ( see here for more details ).
I'm pleased to say that it didn't - but only by virtue of having double kinks in the spring, which made the action a little less responsive.

The overall build quality is quite good, though I'm a little doubtful as to how well the pillars will hold up in use as the baseplates were a tad on the small side.
Extensive use has been made of key saddles ( U shaped key seats ) - common practice for sopranos and cheaper saxes, but the fit of them to the body was less than impressive ( the review model was in for a parted saddle job ). I'd have liked to have seen a little less gap around the base of the saddles and a bit more solder. The same was true of some of the pillars, there were gaps in the solder on the baseplates.

The keywork is good, and with none of the excessive play often found on cheaper saxes - a nice touch are the the adjusters on the left hand stack, though these were very loose and needed threadlock to hold them in regulation. There was a little play on the bell key lower pillars despite the key barrels sitting flush against the cheek of the pillar. This is a manufacturing defect, but an easily corrected one.

The tone holes are nice and level, though quite roughly finished with a distinct burr on the edge. Although this is by no means a critical fault it does tend to increase pad wear and enhance the risk of sticky pads - a particular problem on sopranos.

The keys are nicely laid out on the horn, though I felt the low C/Eb cluster was perhaps a little too far round to the back and would made for a more comfortable feel if they were more to the top of the instrument - and I have quite long fingers!
I found it something of a reach to hit the middle to lower portion of the C key - but it wouldn't be something that a player wouldn't get used to in time.

The tuning was quite good throughout the instrument, with perhaps hint of instability around the low C - again, nothing that couldn't be made allowances for bearing in mind the priced point of the instrument.

Tonewise it produced a crisp, clear sound with both a Link 5* and a Selmer C* - though I noticed a distinct 'crazing' on the top C. Much of this may be due to those burrs on the tone holes - so it might be a feature on individual instruments. Worth checking a few examples to see!
I felt the focus of the tone was inclined to be a little wild, but then sopranos are noted for that - once again I feel this is something the player would be able to iron out with practice.

An even lacquer job and a stout, well-appointed case finishes the package off nicely.

To sum up, a respectable intermediate soprano that can easily hold its own with the others in the same category - but which lacks the tonal finesse and grace of the big league horns from Japan and France...and the price!