******
- Verified Buyer
I played alto saxophone in school. Middle school, high school, and some on my own after school. I loved it.But, as many people end up finding out...life happens, and when life happens, sometimes you have to take away some things that you aren't really doing to try to make a living. So, when I was 22 years old, I sold my alto saxophone after not having really played it in about two years. It was one of those situations where the moment I shipped it away, I kind of regretted it...but again, life happens, and I soon kind of forgot about how much I loved playing.Fast forward to earlier this year. I'm at work, and I work with the public. I'm standing there when a familiar voice says: "Burtch!!! What exactly are you doing?"It was my high school marching and jazz band teacher. I had seen him off and on over the last 12 years, but only in passing around town, really. This was one of the first chances we had gotten to talk. And talk we did. Before he had to go, he asked me if I was still playing, and I told him that I was no longer playing, but that over the last couple of years I had wanted more and more to get back at it. He told me that I should, that music is good for the soul, and that I was too good of a player to have given it up.That afternoon I went home and started looking around on Amazon. I found that there were quite a few beginner style saxophones for what I felt were ridiculously low prices. I found the Lazarro 360 and liked the reviews, so I took a chance on it. I ordered it in orange, because that just seemed cool.When I got it, which was very quickly as is usually the case with Amazon, I cracked it open and inspected the contents. Beginner quality mouthpiece, reeds, and neck strap were all present, along with a very small song book. I then pulled the saxophone out, and was pretty impressed. The keys all functioned very well, the fit and finish of everything seemed easily on par with the more middling saxophones of the mid 1990s, and the case was superb. It's a very nice case, and for that matter, the saxophone was packaged very well...inside not only the carrying case, but also covered in a dust cover inside the case.I put the saxophone together while getting the reed ready. To my surprise, once I had it all together I was instantly able to play again. After all these years, it came flowing back to me and I found myself playing songs that I remembered by heart in no time. The sound was every bit as good as the beginner saxophones that I had (which cost hundreds more) back in 1995. The look was excellent. The keys moved quickly and silently.I found quickly that even reading music was coming back to me faster than I had anticipated. Before long I was playing songs out of a new book I had purchased and planning on getting a different mouthpiece and reeds.I will mention that I have since noticed that a few of the pieces of cork used for key silencing have come loose. I was able to stick them back on, but I wanted to note that I had experienced this. I don't think it's anything that a dab of glue wouldn't solve permanently, and I personally used to have them fall off all the time in marching band, and never worried about it then. I figure I won't be worrying too much about it now.I also found the included neck strap to be of minimum comfort. I have replaced that, but to be honest, I think that is to be expected. I'm guessing the only reason a strap is even included is so that Lazarro can sell this as a completely "Ready to Play" instrument. If you purchase one, I'm guessing you'll be looking to upgrade the neck strap fairly quickly as well.In the end, though, the three things that seem the most important to me are:The soundThe lookThe caseIn those three aspects, this Lazarro is an absolute home run. If you're a seasoned veteran looking to get back into the music game, this is highly recommended. If you're the parent of an aspiring musician, don't hesitate, this will serve your student well. If you're a person who plays on a budget, you'd be hard pressed to find something better for the money.Overall, I'm extremely impressed. I love it, and the fact that it's got me playing again is just too great to put into words.
