Alto Sax, which would you recommend?

[songofthewolf]

Hi! I've just recently gotten hooked on the sax and I was looking to buy my own.
I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good horn for me. I know yamaha yas23 are good student horns, but would it be a good investment to go for an older selmer as100, or a yamaha yas52 if I get a good deal? And which of these is better do you think, the selmer or the yamaha? Thanks so much for your help!

[Dave Dolson]

Songofthewolf: As to which brand is better, you will never receive a true answer to that one. They ALL are good and some are better than others . . . it all depends on the particular horn tested, the player's ability to make that horn sing, and other personal factors - and a lot of variables.

I don't know how old (mature may be a better descriptor) you are and how dedicated you are, but I believe a beginner will do much better on the best instrument one can buy. The YAS23 is an amazingly good beginning saxophone, but if it were me, I'd go for one of the pro models of the so-called top four brands (Yana, Yamaha, JK, and Selmer), for reasons too numerous to define here. Good luck. DAVE

[songofthewolf]

Dave, thanks so much. I am a college student and have finally been given the opportunity of pursuing my dream of playing the sax.
I think what you say is probably very good advice, but I was wondering for my price range it looks like I may be able to get a yamaha yas 52 (maybe a 62 if I search around) or a selmer as100 (or possibly 110). Between these, which would you recommend if any. Thanks so very much!

[Gandalfe]

What's your price range? You might be surprised what you can get used in the $1100 to 1500 range.

[songofthewolf]

I was thinking about making my limit at $1200. What do you think I should go with in that range?

[saxophone_volume1]

go vintage

you can get a great horn with a huge sound if you search around for a limited dollar

i got a vintage horn last year cause my cashflow wasn't flowing and havn't looked back, just check it out anyway even if you don't intend on it

[Dave Dolson]

Songofthewolf: Again, you may find a YAS52 that will blow away another YAS62 or A100, or whatever. Then again, one student Selmer may play better than one 52 . . . it is all in how the particular horn is set up. You just have to play them yourself (or have an experienced player go with you for the testing). Even then, after you make your purchase, chances are that later (the next day, the next year?) you'll run across something else that plays even better. That's why so many of us have several horns in our closets.

Saxophone_Volume 1 has a point. A good vintage saxophone may play circles around anything new (that has been the case I've found with several examples, and I play vintage for serious work), but a novice just starting on saxophone may not be best served with a vintage saxophone. There could be some issues that would be difficult for a novice.

True, most vintage horns I've tried were better than most if not all of the newest horns on display wherever I went to test horns. It all comes down to you - and your choice, not what we recommend. Good luck!! DAVE

[songofthewolf]

Wow. Thanks so much for all your help!

I've heard that the yamaha yas61 is a good old horn. What do you guys think of them? What would be a fair price to pay for one in good condition?

Thanks again!