Hello I have been thinking about trying to saxophone is there any good inexpensive beginner ones that I could buy
Wesdami09
Get a used Yamaha YAS23 for about 400-450 in good condition.
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If you are looking for new saxophones stay away from the cheap ones on Ebay and Amazon. The beginning saxes I recommend to students and customers are the student Chateau $965, and the Wilmington $1335 (currently out of stock) that are available from Music Medic.
I have made a hobby of buying mislabeled and un/underappreciated horns on eBay for the past 15 years. Mostly American, but a good number of French. 40's to 70's. Anything from PanAmerican, to Malerne horns stenciled as something else, to Naked Ladys.I fix these horns up nicely, then sell them to kids looking for a first horn or in many cases, a step-up horn to replace the Asian nonsense they have been playing for the first 5 years.
I look for good quality, excellent intonation, and really good brass. I get most of them in kids' hands for $350 to $600 for nicer horns or good tenors.
I'm telling you this to let you know that there are hundreds of great first horns out there waiting for you on eBay that may even give you a lifetime of good use. I love the catch-and-release, but I love seeing a deserving kid (or beginner) with good horn even more.
I look for good quality, excellent intonation, and really good brass. I get most of them in kids' hands for $350 to $600 for nicer horns or good tenors.
I'm telling you this to let you know that there are hundreds of great first horns out there waiting for you on eBay that may even give you a lifetime of good use. I love the catch-and-release, but I love seeing a deserving kid (or beginner) with good horn even more.
Two of my kids tried out the saxophone for a couple of years. Both times, I found a used Yamaha YAS-23 alto for 400-450. They played for a couple of years then decided to quit. I sold both easily for the same 400-450 I bought them for. Did not lose any money at all. I think it is the way to go.
I'm guessin we're talking altos here...
Having personally started on a Yamaha 23 (both alto and tenor), I would definitely recommend picking one up used. However, check the mechanical condition, as these are older horns that may have been used a lot. Better if you can go try it out. Don't spend any more than $800 on these.
If you'd like a brand new horn, the reviews of the Jean Paul AS-400 alto are best in class. Only $600, good ergos, sounds nice, will last you a while. The tenor model (TS-400) also has very good reviews.
Also, a good beginner mouthpiece is the Yamaha 4C, with a Rovner ligature (for both alto and tenor). If you haven't played saxophone much before, this is a great piece to start on (also very cheap at 25 ish dollars).
Something nobody has mentioned yet: Go to a local music store. They have a lot more experience and knowledge. You can even get saxophone rental packages for around $30 a month, so you can see if you want to commit the $500 ~ $750 on you own horn.
Hope all this was of help.
Having personally started on a Yamaha 23 (both alto and tenor), I would definitely recommend picking one up used. However, check the mechanical condition, as these are older horns that may have been used a lot. Better if you can go try it out. Don't spend any more than $800 on these.
If you'd like a brand new horn, the reviews of the Jean Paul AS-400 alto are best in class. Only $600, good ergos, sounds nice, will last you a while. The tenor model (TS-400) also has very good reviews.
Also, a good beginner mouthpiece is the Yamaha 4C, with a Rovner ligature (for both alto and tenor). If you haven't played saxophone much before, this is a great piece to start on (also very cheap at 25 ish dollars).
Something nobody has mentioned yet: Go to a local music store. They have a lot more experience and knowledge. You can even get saxophone rental packages for around $30 a month, so you can see if you want to commit the $500 ~ $750 on you own horn.
Hope all this was of help.
I will say THIS about the Jean-Pauls: I would take a used model of any of the modern ones above to buying a new one of these.
HOWEVER...for folks who just feel buying new is what they wanna do (and there are some valid reasons including warranty and ease of purchase)....the Jean-Paul is NOT a piece of crap (which one might expect them to be given their price point).
I have had a chance to service two....I was hoping to HATE them, assuming they were just another in a line of cheapo chinese horns which were claiming the sky. It means little to me that players went out and bought them and even reviewed them favorably...because players are not techs, and it's the tech review which counts.
So...they ARE actually better-built than I expected. That is what I will say about them positively. I was pleasantly surprised in their build quality. Absent were a number of the usual budget chinese fare problems...key play, badly fitted/sized springs, bad screw pivots, very soft keys. Ergos and action were OK. Blowing response was pretty free. Intonation was OK.
Both had had significant playing use for a good year with no servicing, neither were leaking dramatically...suggesting they hold their regulation OK.
The pads weren't great, but not horrible. I mean they sealed fine, they just seemed low-shelf. The strap eyelets are weak...on both there was significant wear although the horns were only a year or so old.
Their tone is nothing to write home about, I think a Yama student or Jupe student has a significantly better tone.
BUT it wasn't 'a bad sax'. The only other offering of reputed quality in so cheap a price is probably something from Kessler, and the latter is a tad more expensive.
It has been pointed out to me that one online retailer has brand-new Buffet 100's for under $800...which is crazy ...since a year ago the cheapest price for one was $1200...and having serviced and refurbed a dozen now over the past 3 years, they are really a $1600 alto as far as quality goes.
So...if one has $800, then get the Buffet.... not the JP...but if one only wants to spend $550-ish and they insist on new....it's not a dumb purchase.
HOWEVER...for folks who just feel buying new is what they wanna do (and there are some valid reasons including warranty and ease of purchase)....the Jean-Paul is NOT a piece of crap (which one might expect them to be given their price point).
I have had a chance to service two....I was hoping to HATE them, assuming they were just another in a line of cheapo chinese horns which were claiming the sky. It means little to me that players went out and bought them and even reviewed them favorably...because players are not techs, and it's the tech review which counts.
So...they ARE actually better-built than I expected. That is what I will say about them positively. I was pleasantly surprised in their build quality. Absent were a number of the usual budget chinese fare problems...key play, badly fitted/sized springs, bad screw pivots, very soft keys. Ergos and action were OK. Blowing response was pretty free. Intonation was OK.
Both had had significant playing use for a good year with no servicing, neither were leaking dramatically...suggesting they hold their regulation OK.
The pads weren't great, but not horrible. I mean they sealed fine, they just seemed low-shelf. The strap eyelets are weak...on both there was significant wear although the horns were only a year or so old.
Their tone is nothing to write home about, I think a Yama student or Jupe student has a significantly better tone.
BUT it wasn't 'a bad sax'. The only other offering of reputed quality in so cheap a price is probably something from Kessler, and the latter is a tad more expensive.
It has been pointed out to me that one online retailer has brand-new Buffet 100's for under $800...which is crazy ...since a year ago the cheapest price for one was $1200...and having serviced and refurbed a dozen now over the past 3 years, they are really a $1600 alto as far as quality goes.
So...if one has $800, then get the Buffet.... not the JP...but if one only wants to spend $550-ish and they insist on new....it's not a dumb purchase.
Since I appear to be in the minority recommending a new good quality saxophone over a $450 used Yamaha 23 or Vito equivalent, (which are great student saxes by the way), my advice is based upon the following comparisons:
new Chateau $965.00
They both play well and are in tune but the older instrument is going to need at least $450 work in the next 10 years, and still look cosmetically like a saxophone with lots of wear and a beat up case. For some, there is a certain pride in owning a pristine instrument that no one else has played. That, in my experience has some value too.
new Chateau $965.00
- new pads
- tight keywork
- no previous dent work
- perfect cosmetics
- Selmer features
- high F#
- used and/or worn pads
- wear in keywork if not recently overhauled
- typically small dents and dings in the body and bell
- lacquer wear, and scratches
- few features found on professional models
- no high F#
They both play well and are in tune but the older instrument is going to need at least $450 work in the next 10 years, and still look cosmetically like a saxophone with lots of wear and a beat up case. For some, there is a certain pride in owning a pristine instrument that no one else has played. That, in my experience has some value too.
As a new player myself (adult beginner) with a year in I bought a Yamaha to start. I bought it at a local shop and paid up to do it. Because I had no idea what a saxaphone should feel, or sound like. I wanted the insurance of getting something that was "right" from the beginning. I feel this is the best way from a local store or a trusted online vendor, not Ebay. I have played several other instruments in my life and continue to do so, but I had zero knowledge of how a saxaphone worked or felt. You need a benchmark before you go looking for perfect.
Just scanned through this, but didn’t see the ‘better sax’ brand mentioned.
Steve Neff is ultimately correct, you won’t lose on the Yamaha, but As an alternate, I finally had a chance to play a ‘better sax’ alto last week and found it to be a great horn. I’ve seen a few used ones going for +\~ 500
Steve Neff is ultimately correct, you won’t lose on the Yamaha, but As an alternate, I finally had a chance to play a ‘better sax’ alto last week and found it to be a great horn. I’ve seen a few used ones going for +\~ 500
(FWIW....responses here made by techs of the Better Sax are spotty...again, trust a tech review more than a player review because a player will not recognize things like precision of construction....which are pretty important attributes in determining the quality of a horn.
Most folks roll the dice on a cheapo...when they receive it, if t looks pretty, plays up and down, intones not badly, and the keywork is decently navigable...they declare it a 'good horn'.
There are so many more things on a checklist of what makes a respectable quality sax, tho.
...perhaps there will come the day when a B.S. crosses my workbench....and it may either make me cringe or give it a bit of grudging respect as I did the JP's...but for the moment, again, feedback from techs on these is mixed).
Most folks roll the dice on a cheapo...when they receive it, if t looks pretty, plays up and down, intones not badly, and the keywork is decently navigable...they declare it a 'good horn'.
There are so many more things on a checklist of what makes a respectable quality sax, tho.
...perhaps there will come the day when a B.S. crosses my workbench....and it may either make me cringe or give it a bit of grudging respect as I did the JP's...but for the moment, again, feedback from techs on these is mixed).
I DO agree....stay away from eBay or other online auction venues if you are buying your first sax. The likelihood of it needing significant work (even IF the description states it is in good playing shape) is high.
Craigslist or another local online venue a bit less risky if you can bring a player along to playtest it, because you have the very instrument right there in your hands to experience.
If online, make sure seller has a guarantee/return policy.
Craigslist or another local online venue a bit less risky if you can bring a player along to playtest it, because you have the very instrument right there in your hands to experience.
If online, make sure seller has a guarantee/return policy.
A person could check out Kessler.
www.saxontheweb.net
www.saxontheweb.net
Kessler Custom Tenor in Anituqe Finish + Pics!
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www.saxontheweb.net
Kessler "Custom" Tenor Thoughts (I bought one)
Thought I'd share some feedback on the "Custom" tenor that I purchased two weeks ago from Dave Kessler. I live in Vegas so I was able to talk with, and be helped by the man himself. I totally agree with previous posts regarding Dave and his staff's professionalism and customer service. It's...
www.saxontheweb.net
I played one of these yesterday and it was pretty darn good for $549. A lot better than the King Zephyr that was my first sax.
Eastern music original brass unlacquered tenor saxophone Mark VI type w/case | eBay
High grade professional Tenor Saxophone,with flat side Bb, C and high F keys. Classic style smaller curved Eb & Low C key shape prefered as Mark VI. Front F key to be pearl shape. Right hand side F# key to be round.
www.ebay.com
When I "thought" I would like to learn to play a sax I rented for at least the first month and took lessons during that time. After deciding for certain, I found a good YAS23 on Craigslist and bought it for, as well as I remember, $300.00. That was 7 years ago and I still have it and occasionally play it, but have since gone to a tenor. I'm saving the YAS23 for one of the great-grands when she gets old enough to play it. I'm with all the others who think it is a good sax to learn with, and even to play afterward.
Best of luck.
Steve
Best of luck.
Steve
When I restarted learning sax after 28 years, I bought a cheap chinese alto (Lade ammoon recommended by better sax) that I played for about 3 months.
Upgraded to a used YAS-25 and sold the Lade for a loss of £15 on ebay. If you keep an eye out on ebay/amazon they do good deals but for only a day then price goes up.
Upgraded to a used YAS-25 and sold the Lade for a loss of £15 on ebay. If you keep an eye out on ebay/amazon they do good deals but for only a day then price goes up.
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