Thomann TBB-150 Bass Saxophone

I ordered the Thomann bass saxophone about three months ago, and it reached me here in the USA about a week later. The outer shipping carton suffered a little bit in transit, but the instrument inside was packed well enough that it emerged undamaged and in good adjustment. I was able to take it out of the box and play it over its full range right away.

The build quality of the body and keywork are good, and the finish is clean and even. The instrument can be supported by the supplied peg, which attaches securely to the front of the bell. The included neckstrap would probably send you straight to the chiropractor, but using a shoulder harness, I found the horn surprisingly easy to play without the peg.

The case provides reasonable storage space for accessories, along with Velcro retaining straps to secure the horn. It also has shoulder straps for carrying on your back... good luck with that! Fortunately, it also has good wheels. I wish it had traditional latches, but the zipper is good quality and closes the case securely.

I've given only four stars for sound, primarily because of the weak response of fourth-line D. This is not unique to Thomann -- it's a well-known problem in short-wrap basses of this style. Fortunately, it's easy to help the D along by opening the high D or high Eb palm key, and the palm keys are well-placed and easy to reach. I can't comment on the stock mouthpiece because my bass arrived without one, but I've been reasonably happy with the Vandoren V5 mouthpiece I ordered along with the horn.

In summary, this instrument has been easy and satisfying to play, and the price is nothing short of amazing. I recommend it highly.

Craftsmanship: Superb; Tone Quality: excellent, especially the rich low end; Intonation: up and down (in both stacks) it plays in tune with itself. I paired the horn with a Selmer SA-80 bass sax mouthpiece 7* and also a Vandoren V15. I like both mouthpieces very much and they both work great with the TBB-150. This is a lot of saxophone for a very reasonable price. Form, fit, and function is fantastic. Musician for over 60 years (10 years as a professional-touring big band musician).

For this horn’s price to quality ratio, it’s a no brainer. I’ve had the horn for a little under 2 years, and it still plays amazingly without any service needed. The lacquer has started to wear in a few spots, particularly on the palm keys, however cosmetics aside this horn still plays brand new. The mouthpiece supplied with the horn plays like a vintage bass mouthpiece; and in my experience is easier to play with than a Vandorren V5, which I’ve also tried. Yet to try a Henri Selmer Paris C* with the Bass, but the stock mouthpiece plus a strength 3 Legere synthetic reed seems to be the best way for a consistent sound and output. It’s difficult to sound the palm keys notes with this set up, but the lowest notes play like a breeze. You can use a Hercules bari sax stand for this horn’s price, but you have to stretch out the spot where the bell rests for it to be a comfortable fit. I recommend investing in a SAXRAX or K&M Bass sax stand.