Thomann TSI-350 Sopranino Saxophone

As a professional saxophonist of with over forty years playing experience I couldn't resist purchasing this sopranino just to see what it was like. I currently play on a Buffet Prestige Copper-body Alto, Selmer Balanced Action Tenor, Yanagisawa Sop and Bari and have owned Selmer MK6s,Conns, Yamahas etc. over the years. I have only ever played on Selmer Sopraninos and found them to have 'wild' intonation and not to speak well in the highest register.
What a revelation this little Thomann instrument was. Straight from the case, and with the mouthpiece and reed provided, it sang from top to bottom. It was easy to control the intonation and to produce a rich and full tone. The key action is smooth and fast..... what more can I say except what a bargain this is.
Down points, well only that the finish, although well plated and looking great with the red-brass body, is a little rough in places on the side keys but I play the thing and don't just look at it so.....
Warning! Just because this instrument is small doesn't mean that it's good for children to learn on. Sopraninos are very difficult to play in tune and to produce a good sound on. A highly developed embouchure is required and a good ear. Without these things you might wish you'd bought your child a violin, it would be less painful to the ear!

Having played mostly soprano for a couple of years I was tempted by the cuteness of this little Eb instrument as a Bb Soprillo was well out of my budget. It was so easy to play straight out of the case on the supplied mouthpiece and reed. With a Vandoren Classic 2 reed it improved again. I found low notes very easy to get and the tuning surprisingly good throughout the range. It was going to be a novelty instrument for me, but the way it actually plays means it will get some serious use too. The finish, as stated in the other reviews, is not perfect but this does in no way detract from the playability. Quite frankly it is such a fun instrument to play and so nimble on the fingerings I'm hooked!

I'm so glad I decided to risk it, thanks Thomann another very satisfied customer!

I unwrapped this tonight 5 minutes before I played for an dance practice for 2 hours, mostly solo and on the new instrument, so these are immediate thoughts and I was astonished at how well it plays.
I have played a Yanagisawa Soprano for 30 yrs [and tenor] so am comfortable playing the top end and I was really pleased with the ease of forming the notes, the intonation [I played a couple of sets with a clarinet and whilst I will get better, it was very close] and generally the build quality. The case is also very good quality.
With the supplied mouthpiece I am sure I can make it quite mellow [I used a Vandoren Classic Blue 2 reed but I will get some harder as I feel I will blow these out quickly].
The plating doesn't look like it will last that long and there are some blemishes on the finish but unless you look really closely, for the price, who cares!
Important [like the other review I read before buying] - this isn't a beginners instrument.
Customer service niggle - my credit for my last review ran out before I bought this - I didn't know there was a date on them. But never mind - if you fancy playing at the top end of the saxophone there is no reason not to buy this instrument.......

The interweb will find you reviews of various Sopranino saxes and the problems with them. Using those I checked my new purchase very carefully. Looking very closely you can see slight machine marks, and the cork pads that the various keys rest on so they don't mar the body are not 100% aligned and beautiful but they most certainly do the job. The keys and how they are mounted are solid, none of the looseness you can find in reviews on the interweb.

The thing is tiny so it really does take more love and care than we have paid for to get an instrument without small imperfections.

Intonation is good, no need to buy a new mouthpiece just to get the thing to intonate. I was pleased by that, the 'quality' mouthpieces are damned expensive!

Sound? Happy so far and it really is a fun thing to play. Overblowing and bending notes is serious fun, the downside to that is some practice on long steady notes will be needed! But you knew that about a Sopranino anyway didn't you?

Very happy with my choice and I just hope the 'bug' doesn't bite to the extent I have to pay 10 times more for a Yanigasawa or Selmer...