Are Glory saxophones good teaching instruments?
Do they work well as first instruments for children and young sax student beginners?
What if I already play the sax and just need a quick replacement or second instrument, should I buy a Glory saxophone?
For the answers to all these questions, as well as others regarding the quality, durability and sound of Glory made saxophones just continue reading my review!
What Do We Know About The Glory Saxophone Brand?
The Glory saxophone brand does not seem to exist as a registered company, but rather seems to be a part of Amazons FBA program (Fulfillment by Amazon). The company designs and then outsources the products to be produced in China, inspects them by a trained technician and then ships them back to Amazon’s warehouses who after ship them onward to costumers as well as provide post-purchase customer support.
Who Should Consider Buying Glory Saxophones?
Glory saxophones work good as gifts, beginner instruments or teaching instruments for schools due to their insanely cheap price, average quality and ability to play straight out of the box, at least in most cases. If you already have years of experience playing the sax, getting a Glory sax as a backup instrument, quick replacement or just a novelty might be a good and cheap solution for you as well. Minor alterations are recommended depending on the player, and due to the relatively unknown brand, you will have a hard time repairing it in a shop. But considering it costs as much as repairs for a professional sax, you can just order a new one and have parts to spare for future maintenance if needed.
How Are These Saxophones Made?
Each glory sax made by hand somewhere China, in factories that began specializing in such products in the recent decade. While commonplace today, this might make some skeptical, but Amazon does provide full customer support and replacements in case of faulty instruments for costumers on behalf of the company. This means they all come with an Amazon guarantee and if you get one with a manufacturer defect shipped to you it should be pretty simple to have it replaced free of charge by Amazon. In that case, just let Amazon know and send it back and a new one will be shipped to you immediately.
Are Glory Saxes Quality Made Considering They Are So Cheap?
Each glory saxophone comes built impressively well most of the time, which is well supported by a huge amount of positive customer reviews on Youtube, Amazon and music forums. The pads on the instruments come wedged closed during shipping to keep them protected and they cover the holes really well. The mechanism is a bit non-standard, with some of the keys placed slightly to the side compared to most saxes, and some models have extra keys for high notes common with newer models. However, after playing for a bit, most people get used to the setup and do not mind it. The build itself is heavy, the finish and detailing very nice, especially on the more expensive versions. All have nicely added key height adjustment screws for easier tuning and a metal thumb rest. Most models come in a variety of 12 unique and vivid color schemes.
What Else Do You Get When Purchasing A Glory Saxophone?
With each Glory saxophone, you buy will come shipped in its hard carry case. The case is light and features handle on both the side and top with matching plastic legs underneath for a secure footing. Backpack straps are included. The instrument and kit inside are nice and tightly packed inside the case slots, surrounded by protective foam. There Are About 10 Extra 2.5” Glory branded reeds included with every sax, a mouthpiece cover as well as a screwdriver and pincers. Their Alto models come with mouthpiece cushions. There is a cleaning kit that contains a cleaning brush with rod and plug, cork grease, gloves, and a short manual. Most people suggest replacing the shoulder strap for a neoprene one due to the weight of the sax.
Best Glory Saxophone Models Available For Purchase
Glory Professional Alto Eb Sax Saxophone
A Sax With Surprising Reviews.
This is the most popular and inexpensive Glory Eb Alto Saxophone available for sale. Because of its one of the cheapest available online, it has attracted much attention from reviews, and has often surprised them and received many praises for its build quality and sound, but no budget product is without flaws.
Just Open The Case And Play
The Glory Eb alto sax is advertised as ready to play from the box and even comes with a Glory reed inside the mouthpiece. The keys are slightly nonstandard but work well and the holes seal tightly with an exception here and there. The “Professional” Glory Eb Alto lives up to its name and sounds good across the whole range of tones with a high F# note, albeit the provided mouthpiece is meant for practice and cannot produce very loud tones. It also struggles with the lower D# and C# notes, and many experienced players recommend replacing the mouthpiece with a 4C one from more established brands to get a louder and more consistent range of high and especially low tones. All in all, it has been described by some as 90% as good as a professional saxophone for a quarter of the price.
Both Classy And Quirky
When it comes to looks the Glory Eb Alto saxophone reviews give it a shining grade, literally, since it’s available in a classic gold finish. The almost identical E flat mode comes in a silver lacquer finish, a classic black, or a unique blue or purple lacquer finish. Be careful with the last 2 as some buyers report the colored paints might wear and tear with use, so if you want to be safe stick with the classic options.
- low price and good as a learning or secondary instrument
- sounds good over a whole octave range
- carry case is of great quality for the price
- reeds are a bit thick for beginners
- mouthpiece sometimes does not fit neck well
- paint on blue and purple models can wear off
Glory E Flat Alto Saxophone
More Money, More Shine.
The “PR series Glory E flat alto sax” by Glory features a more expensive variation of their basic Eb/E model. Its difference in price is justified with a high-grade antique finish that has engraved flower designs across the whole saxophone and on both the outside and inside of the bell. It weighs just under a pound more than the standard models which is likely due to it featuring higher quality metals in its construction. The finish and design look great and will not erode over time. Glory has made an E flat sax that is flat out stunning, so if you want more saxophone glory in your life it’s worth the money.
Crazy High Potential With The Right Adjustments.
The sound itself is basically the same as the base Eb and E flat Alto sax models, with good sound overall octaves and as well as the same issues with the low notes being hard to play with the standard mouthpiece. My recommendation for experienced players is to buy this E flat model as a backup, tertiary model or a piece you can bring to those gigs where looking good is more important than amazing sound. In that case, I suggest you replace the mouthpiece and ligature with ones from established brands, whichever you prefer.
A multi-purpose, multi-venue solution
Glory e flat alto saxophone reviews suggest that if you do it the series PR sax should sound as good as any average professional saxophone in a club or informal settings and can be a low-risk investment if you often play in shady venues where you’re scared your instrument might get damaged or stolen. Dedicated professionals and amateur players often have their own hand-picked mouthpieces, but if you don’t my advice is a 4C mouthpiece from Yamaha or a similar.
You’re Mostly Paying For Quality Essentials.
The glory professional e flat alto sax saxophone comes in 4 beautiful finishes including gold, silver and brass. The carry case is a bit more compact but just as sturdy as the one for the basic model, with the same maintenance kit and 10 extra 2.5” Glory brand wooden reeds that aren’t great but good enough for practice and casual use. You definitely want a neoprene replacement shoulder strap if you plan on playing often, but all that together shouldn’t cost you more than a quarter of the initial price. It’s still a great bargain.
- great secondary or backup instrument
- beautiful finish to show off in clubs and similar
- sturdy carry case
- mouthpiece is inadequate for professional play
- repairs are hard to come by
- shoulder strap is uncomfortable due to the weight
Glory B Flat Tenor Sax Saxophone
Even More Beautiful Design Options.
The last model available from Glory is the B flat glory tenor sax, and it’s interesting for multiple reasons. The B Flat Gold is the base model with gold lacquer and costs almost 50% more than the Glory alto saxophones. It also weighs almost 50% more, around 15 pounds. That’s because you’re paying for the gold, the golden lacquer that covers this instrument and makes it blindingly shiny. You can pay a bit more to have the keys made from pure Nickel and buy the second version of the B Flat Sax. And then there’s the third option.
Extra Shine For An Extra Dime
The Black and gold B flat Glory tenor saxophone is their most expensive model. The reason again is, you guessed it- Gold. It’s all over the mechanism; the pad resonators, and all over the sax bell in a beautiful flower and flourish design. The previously mentioned Glory E flat might b(E) flat out stunning, but with this, you’ll B(e) flat out gorgeous on stage. You might not get the joke but with this saxophone, you’ll get plenty of attention.
But Does It Sound As Good As It Looks?
These Glory B flat sax models when reviewed are all functionally the same and the price difference accounts for the quality of the materials used and the beauty of the finish. The sax itself has a nice and high F# note, with a “big sound” that can play well over any ensemble. The rest of the kit is the same as the other models, including the spare 10 2.5” reeds and cleaning kit. It’s just as advisable for experienced players to replace the mouthpiece and neck strap as with the previously mentioned alto as well. The design might be quite a bit heavier than the rest but it’s pretty compact and thus easily handled by adults and with enough practice even by children.
- gorgeous design with prestigious material options
- big sound suitable for ensembles
- affordable with the diverse kit included
- mouthpiece isn’t amazing and holds the sound back
- shoulder strap isn’t comfortable due to the weight
Conclusion: Which Glory Saxophone Is Best For Beginners?
I highly recommend you get the basic Glory Eb alto sax as seen in reviews if you’re buying a sax as a gift, getting one for your child or need to equip your classroom for new saxophone students. It’s recommended you have a professional check your glory Eb alto sax and adjust each model in so it’s in tune, and if it breaks or wears down it’s simple to just buy a new one instead of paying for repairs.
If you want to check out the other offer of Alto saxophones, read my post about different alto sax models. But, if you are looking for a small saxophone, read my post about pocket sax models. If you aren’t sure which one suits you best, read my post about best saxophones in general!