The Complete Guide to Buying a Saxophone for Beginning Parents and Students
Feeling lucky? Think twice before rolling the dice on a cheap online saxophone purchase.
It’s easier than ever to find a saxophone online at a low price. Google “buy new alto sax” and you might be tempted by listings like a “Ammoon Eb Alto Saxophone Brass Lacquered Gold E Flat Sax” from Walmart for $216.85 or Ali Express’s “Muslady Antique Finish Bb Tenor Saxophone” for $182.41.
It’s so easy - just a few clicks and pretty soon you’ll have a shiny new saxophone on your doorstep*. After it arrives, you may even discover that it plays great out of the box!
Let me stop you right there. While these search-engine-optimized options are cheap and easy, they are also definitely not worth it - unless all you want is a DIY saxophone lamp. However, you want an instrument that can be played for more than a few months, one of these cheap saxophones is not going to cut it.
Here’s why you should avoid cheap saxophone brands
Don’t make the mistakes of these Amazon reviewers.
Substandard materials. The cheap metals used in the brass parts bend and break easily. Screws come loose. Keypads come unglued. Many saxophone repair technicians refuse to work on these instruments - Jon Ball of Elite Woodwind Services explained to me that the metal will not hold a repair. Additionally, cheaper, nonstandard parts means that it can actually be impossible to repair. One Amazon reviewer wrote: “I bought this for my daughter for a beginner saxophone...I took it to a Music shop and they cannot service the saxophone because all of the parts are not standard...the rails and bars have fallen off as the screws backed out and came out.” Yikes.
Poor quality control. Driven to provide the lowest possible price, manufacturing standards are low. That means that instruments can arrive with serious problems that require repair. From another Amazon review: “Item was broken when my son took it out of the box. Very disappointed because this was a Christmas gift that he really wanted. Our hearts were broken.”
Unstable businesses. It seems like with every passing year, there’s a new contender in the arena of bad saxophone brands. And if you looked at the marketplace 5 years ago, you’d see a completely different set of brands. These companies come and go pretty quickly. In addition to their poor quality, the short life of these brands means that their resale value is next to nothing.
Disinterested retail channels. When you buy from places like Walmart, you may give up benefits of established music retailers. Because dedicated music stores are focused on a customer base of musicians, they are more committed to providing quality products, better shopping experiences and customer service, expertise to help guide you through your purchase decision, and policies like instrument trial periods to ensure you are satisfied and confident in your purchase.
The cheap saxophone of the Star Wars universe.
How to spot a saxophone deal that’s too good to be true
Now that you understand why you want to avoid these search-engine-bait models, here are some telltale signs to look out for.
I mean, who doesn’t want a metallic pink (fuschia?) saxophone?
Flashy features like bright-color or “antique” finishes. These are the guy-in-a-van-offering-you-candy of the saxophone world. It’s not going to be as fun as it looks. Don’t fall for it.
Product names and descriptions with non-industry language. This Walmart product is a perfect example: “Eb Alto Saxophone Brass Lacquered Gold E Flat Sax 82Z Key Type Woodwind Instrument with Cleaning Brush Cloth Gloves Strap Padded Case.” I’m not sure what 82Z key type means and I already know that the saxophone is a woodwind instrument. The fact that the listing has multiple spellings / versions of the same terms means it is optimized for search, not customers.
Gloves included in the case. I really don’t know why this is, but I’ve seen a lot of poor quality saxophones come with gloves and I’ve never seen it from a major quality brand.
Very low price. Anything under $1000 for a new saxophone is suspicious and generally a sign of a poor quality product.
Luckily, you can still find a great saxophone that’s within your budget. So here’s what you need to know to find an instrument that will serve you well.
Yamaha’s YAS-26: a thing of beauty.
1. Stick with a trusted brand.
Yamaha, Jupiter, and Conn-Selmer all make solid student model saxophones. These brands have been around for decades and have strong track records of quality. They are built for ease of playing, durability, and repairability. Top saxophone brands also have strong resale value. Invest in one, and you’ll get several years of use, plus you can recoup a significant portion of the cost when you no longer need it. It’s better than buying a $200 saxophone that falls apart in a few months and then is only useful for that DIY lamp.
2. Buy from a music store if possible.
As mentioned, music retailers offer customer-oriented products, policies, and support you won’t find from big box or online retailers like Amazon. They can also help you make sure you have all the accessories you need to get started playing such as reeds, a mouthpiece, and cleaning supplies. Music stores often have financing and rental programs that can help you manage the cost of a quality instrument.
3. Try before you buy.
When possible, try out an instrument before buying, and if you can, have a professional try as well. Look for any defects or adjustment issues caused during manufacturing, shipping, or storage. Having an impartial professional try the instrument will give you peace of mind in this area. If there are any issues, the store should provide a different instrument or cover adjustment/repair costs.
4. Get a professional’s help.
Talk to your band director, private instructor, and/or repair technician. They can help recommend brands and may have ideas about where to find a good instrument. They can also advise you on renting or buying based on your needs.
Should I rent a saxophone?
Renting can be a great option for students who may want to try out the saxophone for a few months or a yearlong class, but aren’t ready for a long-term commitment. Maintenance costs should be included with rentals, and some are even rent-to-own, meaning your payments can be counted towards an eventual purchase.
Should I buy a used saxophone?
Used saxophones can also be a good option for beginners, especially if you’re looking to save money and don’t mind putting a little more effort into your purchase. It’s not uncommon to find a saxophone that was played for a few months and then sat in a closet in relatively new condition in close-to-new condition.
Here are some tips for finding a good-quality used saxophone:
Ask around for leads. Band directors, private teachers, and repair technicians may know of students who are looking to sell their beginner saxophones. A personal connection can also help give you confidence in your purchase.
Check local music stores - especially non-chains - who may carry used instruments. Buying from a store can provide assurance and accountability that the instrument is in good playing condition.
Next, check an online marketplace. Craigslist, eBay, and others get new listings every day.
Again, stick with the name brands. Yamaha has an especially long history of making high-quality beginner model saxophones that are still widely-available.
Try before you buy, and get a professional to try too. They’ll help you identify any potential repair issues that may need to be addressed should you decide to purchase, as well as whether the amount and severity of repair issues would be prohibitively expensive. Buying a saxophone that needs to have a complete overhaul of replaceable parts in order to be playable could cost you an additional $500-600.
Consider potential repair costs down the road. Think about it like buying a used car. Even if a used saxophone plays relatively well when you buy it, it’s still had more mileage on it. That means things like pads and corks have more wear and tear than on a new saxophone and may need to be replaced sooner.
I promise if you follow these guidelines, you’ll be much happier in the long run with your saxophone purchase decision than if you had chosen that first Google result that caught your eye. If you need help with your purchase, feel free to contact me.
*Here are some items you can buy online for about the same price as a cheap saxophone: