Endorsements

I wanted to give you my first impressions after trying the Nobel tenor saxophone.

I think it is a PHENOMENAL accomplishment !

Right out of the case, I was immediately impressed at the smoothness of the mechanism and how easily every note, right down to low B-flat, speaks. I then tried it against a tuner and found all the three Bs spot on, with no need for conscious adjustment. The whole scale is very even - almost as good as my Buffet R13 clarinet! The palm keys have incredible projection. Other than antique interest or investment value, I now wonder if there is any reason to hold on to my 1947 Conn Ladyface.

I asked my friend to drop off the Selmer Super Action 80 tenor he will be leaving with me during his trip. After an hour of alternating between the Selmer and Nobel, I could see almost no difference. Intonation and ergonomics are virtually identical. The only differences I note are that the Nobel is a bit lighter and the notes speak more easily (though I do not know if this is due to the design of the horns or simply the condition of the pads on the Selmer). If anything, the palm keys on the Nobel project even better than the Selmer's. The only difference in ergonomics I can see is that the relative heights of the palm keys are different on the two horns, but everyone has their personal taste about that, and it can obviously be adjusted with risers.

So, congratulations to the Nobel team! I look forward to playing on this horn for many years!

All the best,

Rick Goldman
freelance musician
Montreal, Canada

November 15th, 2006

We sold the first of our Nobel instruments at the OMEA convention - one of the student flutes. Many people also tried the clarinets and were quite impressed with them.

I had Joseph Orlowski from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in a few weeks ago. He tried the Nobel student clarinet and was quite impressed with it. He remarked that it was a good enough instrument that if he had any outdoor jobs to play, he'd purchase one just for that. I'll keep you posted if he does!

Merlin Williams
Gary Armstrong Woodwinds Ltd.
Toronto, ON

"The Nobel bassoon is a hardly believable bargain since it has a beautiful tone and a smooth mechanism at an unbeatable price. I would take it right away for a concert if I needed another bassoon and I would strongly recommend it to any serious player."

Mathieu Lussier is one of the most active bassoonists in North America.

"The Nobel Bassoon is a fine instrument for the most serious bassoon student. At its price, it is the best value of any bassoon available."

Abraham Weiss has been Principal Bassoonist with the Rochester Philharmonic since 1970.

"I had the chance to briefly audition the new Nobel bassoon recently and was very impressed with aspects of the instrument. The intonation is excellent, the sound is open and full throughout the range, and the technical capabilities are impressive. The quality of the Nobel in relation to its consumer cost is extraordinary."

William Ludwig is the Carruth Professor of Bassoon at Louisiana State University, Principal Bassoonist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and bassoonist with the Timm Wind Quintet.

''I have played on the Nobel trombone (model 16106) and I immediately felt comfortable on this instrument. The overall sound quality and pitch are very appealing to me. I am happy to recommend the Nobel trombone for many reasons but also because it is so affordable!"

Richard Gagnon
Jazz trombonist– Band leader – Composer – Arranger

''At last, a welcome alternative to the usual brands...! As a high school band director and trumpet player, I urge all teachers to try Nobel instruments and to seriously compare them to other well-known brands. You will be amazed at their performance level, equal if not better than brands that cost much more. I am comfortable recommending Nobel instruments because they have been successfully tested in my band program and by myself."

Pierre Gamache, band director
St-Jean-Baptiste High School Longueuil, Qc.

"Beautiful dark sound, lots of power, great intonation and comfortable key-work … these are the characteristics of the Nobel bassoon. Just an amazing instrument at an amazing price!"

Mr. Ivanov holds a Master of Music Degree for the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University. Currently he teaches at The College of Saint Rose, Colgate University and Hartwick College Summer Music Festival and performs in Bulgaria, Italy, France Brazil, Mexico and the USA.

Krassimir Ivanov
Principal BassoonistCatskill Symphony Orchestra,

"I was frankly amazed at the quality of some of the low brass instruments I tried from the new Nobel line. The bass trombone is real winner; a fully professional instrument with a fantastic response, excellent tuning and evenness of sound throughout the registers, a free-blowing trigger register, and an enviable solidity of tone quality. I could see myself using a horn like this to move easily between the classical and jazz work that I do. The four-valve euphonium was also an eye-opener. The tone was broad and warm, yet focussed and clear, and just as the bass trombone was, very even throughout the various registers. The important low range, where the instrument would bridge the area just above the tuba register, was full and responsive, while the upper register was smooth and singing. No problems with agility either, and the valve design enabled a seamless slur. Tuning was excellent and even, and I noticed no "wolf tones" in any register. On both instruments the valves and slides seem to be of the highest quality, promising a long and repair-free life. I also appreciated the solidity of the braces and the general overall feel of a well-put-together instrument. Both of these horns are of top professional quality, yet would present no obstacle to the advanced student.

The model 16310 tuba I tried was an easy-blowing, light-weight tuba, perfect for an adolescent tuba student who might not be fully developed enough to support and fill the larger four-valve 16315. However, any serious high school program would want to have at least one 16315 on hand for the senior tuba player in the school to play. It has a huge, solid sound that would inspire the player and fill out the bottom of a concert band admirably. Both tubas exhibit the same high-quality workmanship and smooth, short-throw valves as the bass trombone and euphonium I tried."

Christopher Smith
Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra, Opus Lib Brass Quintet, Altsys Jazz Orchestra, Streetnix, Montreal Jazz Big Band. Director of the Vanier College Concert Band