When you are first starting out learning to play the saxophone, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is how much money to spend on your instrument. There are a lot of factors to consider when making this decision, including the type of saxophone, the quality of the instrument, and whether or not you plan to buy a new or used saxophone.
Ideally, to get a good-quality beginner saxophone you should spend around $1000-$2000. You’ll get reliable student models at this price range that will last you for many years. If you are on a tight budget, there are some cheaper options available between $300-$500. But keep in mind that the quality will likely be lower as well, and you’ll have to upgrade to a better model at some point.
In this post, we will give you some tips on how to find the best beginner saxophone for your needs. We’ll also provide a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for different types of saxophones so that you can get the best value for your money. So whether you’re just starting out or you’re ready to take your playing to the next level, read on for some helpful advice!
3 Best Saxophones To Buy For Beginners
Buying a new beginner saxophone can be a stressful task for many. There are so many brands, models, and sizes to choose from. Not to mention, the quality and price can vary greatly between instruments. So where do you start?
Here are our recommendations for beginner saxophones at different price points.
| Model | Type | Features | Price |
| Aisiweier AS-802 | Alto | Cheapest beginner saxophone that’s good for complete newbies | $155 |
| Yamaha YAS-23 Yamaha YTS-23 | YAS-23 (Alto) YTS-23 (Tenor) | Most recommended saxophone for beginners. Durable and has amazing sound quality | $600-$700 |
| Selmer Aristocrat AS600 Selmer Aristocrat TS600 | AS600 (Alto) TS600 (Tenor) | High-end intermediate student model of high quality with fluid keywork and beautiful tone. | $1000-$2000 |
Let’s take a look at these in detail.
- Under $300
Our choice: Aisiweier AS-802
Most professional saxophone players would advise you not to buy any saxophone under $300, and for good reason. There are a number of cheap, low-quality, defective saxophones being sold on websites such as eBay and Craigslist that sound terrible and break within a few days of playing.
However, the Aisiweier AS-802 is a notable exception to this category. At just $155, this saxophone offers great quality and sound for the price. It’s a well-made instrument with good intonation, and it’s perfect for beginner players. Although it’s not a sax that you’ll want for the long term, you can still learn all the basics on this model for the first two or three months. (Source)
The only downside to this saxophone is that it doesn’t come with any warranty or replacement card. But overall, we think this is a great, affordable option, especially if you’re not sure whether you’ll stick with playing the saxophone for the long term.
You can watch a detailed review for this saxophone below:
Key Takeaways:
- The Aisiweier AS-802 is the world’s cheapest saxophone at just $155.
- It’s currently available for purchase on AliExpress.
- The saxophone comes with a case, polishing cloth, gloves, and 2.5 size reeds.
- Although some of the key heights have slight variations in alignment, overall the saxophone is decently-built with a comfortable, ergonomic design.
- Purchasing a Yamaha 4C or Meyer Jazz mouthpiece to replace the stock mouthpiece can provide a fuller sound and a better playing experience.
- Between $500-$1000
Our choice: Yamaha YAS-23/Yamaha YTS-23
The Yamaha YAS-23 and Yamaha YTS-23 are two of the most popular beginner saxophones on the market. Most players tend to start their saxophone journey on one of these two since they are high-quality, durable, and have the brand value that comes with Yamaha.
The YAS-23 is an alto-type saxophone, whereas the YTS-23 is a tenor-type sax. If you’re a complete beginner, we would advise you to go with the alto model, as they are smaller and easier to play. However, the tenor model is better for players who want versatility and would like to explore different genres and styles of saxophone music.
Priced around $600-$700, these models fall within the normal range for a decent student saxophone and they will last you for a couple of years at the least. We highly recommend these for your first saxophone.
- Between $1000-$2000
Our choice: Selmer Aristocrat AS600/TS600
Selmer saxophones are renowned for their quality and craftsmanship, and the Aristocrat AS600/TS600 models are no exception. Although these student saxophones cost around $1700-$2000 and are on the higher-end of the price spectrum, they offer a huge step up from the Yamaha models mentioned above.
With unparalleled sound quality and tone rivaling even that of professional saxophones, we find the Aristocrat models to be a true pleasure to learn on. As a beginner, you’ll find yourself at ease with the fluid, comfortable keywork, and this in turn will make your learning process much easier.
So, if you have a bit more money to spend on your instrument, go ahead and invest in a Selmer Aristocrat.
What Factors Decide the Price of a Beginner Saxophone?
The price of a beginner saxophone is decided by a couple of factors. It’s important to keep these factors in mind so that you can get the best value for your money.
- Type of saxophone: There are four main types of saxophones, each with its unique style, sound, and price point – alto, tenor, baritone, and soprano. As a beginner, you should look into alto and tenor saxophone models. These are cheaper, and easier to learn and play than the other types.
- Brand: Some brands are more popular and well-known than others and hence cost more. Yamaha, Selmer, and Jean Paul USA are all reputable brands with quality instruments. Although you can get cheaper saxophones from lesser-known brands, we recommend sticking to these bigger brands for your first purchase.
- Material Used: The material used for making the saxophone also contributes to the price. Brass is the most common material used in saxophones, and it’s a good, durable metal that produces a clear, bright sound. However, some high-end models use gold or silver plating on their keys, which drives up the price.
- Condition (New or Used): You can find both new and used beginner saxophones on the market. We always recommend going for a new one, if you can. But if you’re on a tight budget, you can definitely go for a used model as well. Just make sure to have it checked by a professional before making your purchase.
- Accessories: Saxophones come with a variety of different accessories, some essential and others not so much. The essential accessories that come with most saxophones are a case, mouthpiece, ligature, and reed. Other popular add-ons include straps, key covers, and cleaning kits. If your beginner saxophone comes with accessories included, it will cost more than a standalone saxophone.
- After-sale service: The quality of after-sale service is an important factor to consider, especially if you’re buying a used saxophone. Make sure to buy from a reputable dealer who offers a good warranty/return policy, in case you need to return or exchange the instrument. You don’t want to spend more on saxophone repair and maintenance than you did for the saxophone itself!
(Source)
Where Can I Buy Beginner Saxophones?
You might be wondering where you can purchase your new beginner saxophone from. As with most things, there are two main options when it comes to purchasing your saxophone – visiting a store in person or ordering a saxophone online. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.
Buying Saxophones From A Music Store
This is our preferred method of purchasing a new saxophone or any other musical instrument for that matter. You have the opportunity to try out different models and makes, and get expert advice from the staff at the store. You can also see and touch the instrument before you buy it, which is important if you’re not sure what you’re looking for.
However, this option isn’t available to everyone. Not all cities or towns have a music store, and even if they do, the store might not carry the type or brand of saxophone you’re looking for. In addition, buying from a store usually costs more than buying online.
If you are planning to buy your beginner saxophone from a store, we recommend avoiding big box stores like Walmart and Target. These stores typically don’t have a very good selection of saxophones, and the staff is usually not trained to give proper advice on saxophones. Try looking for a specialty music store instead.
Buying Saxophones Online
The main benefit of buying your saxophone online is the wide selection of instruments available. You can find beginner saxophones from all different brands, materials, and price points on the internet. And if you’re not sure what type of saxophone you want, or if you’re looking for a good deal, the internet is definitely the place to look.
However, buying online has its downsides as well. You can’t try out the saxophone before you buy it, which might be a problem if you’re not sure what type of saxophone you want. In addition, returning or exchanging an instrument can be a hassle, and you might have to pay for return shipping.
When buying online, we recommend sticking to well-known, reputable websites like Amazon, eBay, or AliExpress. These sites have a wide selection of saxophones and they offer good customer protection in case you need to return or exchange your instrument.
Difference Between Beginner Saxophones and Professional Saxophones
Beginner saxophones and professional saxophones have a lot of differences that set them completely apart. But what are these differences? Can a first-timer try and learn the saxophone on a professional model? Is a professional sax harder to play than a beginner sax?
Take a look at the table below to see exactly how a beginner saxophone differs from a pro model.
| Beginner Saxophones | Professional Saxophones | |
| Price | $500-$2000 | $4000 and above |
| Quality | Usually factory-made using yellow brass, with nickel plating for the keys. | Handcrafted using premium quality brass, and often gold or silver plated. |
| Place of Origin | Most beginner saxophones are mass-produced in Taiwan or China. | Individually designed and manufactured in France, Japan, and USA. |
| Body Design | Little to no engravings, and are less ergonomic. | Will often have beautiful, hand-carved engravings on the bell, and are designed for the highest level of comfort. |
| Neck Design | Smaller bore made with thin metal. | Larger bore made with denser metal for more resonance. |
| Keys | Key touches are made with imitation mother of pearls. | Original mother of pearl is used for key touches. |
| Pads | Made of low-quality leather | Made with the highest quality leather and includes blue steel springs for more responsiveness |
| Tonal Quality | Decent, but less refined and nuanced than pro saxophones. | Rich, complex sound that is well-rounded across all registers, especially the extremes. |
As you can see, professional saxophones are far better than beginner models in every way. They’re made of better materials, they have more features, and they produce a richer sound. However, this comes at a price – professional saxophones cost several thousand dollars, while most beginner saxophones are usually under $1000.
So, can you as a beginner start on a professional sax? Of course, you can! However, they will put quite a dent in your bank account and are bought only by the most passionate of players. If you’re not sure whether you’ll be pursuing the saxophone for a long time, we would advise you to stick with a beginner or intermediate saxophone itself.
Irrespective of which saxophone you buy, at the end of the day your skill and dedication will determine how good you sound. Many famous players such as Charlie Parker and John Coltrane sound just as great on a beginner Yamaha YAS-23 saxophone as they do on an expensive Selmer Reference 54!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let’s take a look at some of the most common questions you might have regarding beginner saxophones.
Q.1. Is tenor or alto sax better for beginners?
A. They’re both great choices for beginners. However, the alto sax is easier than the tenor, since it’s smaller and requires less air to play. Children are often taught on an alto sax when they first start out. Tenor is better for older players who want to experiment with a wide range of sounds.
Q.2. Which brands have the best beginner saxophones?
A. There are 4 main brands that create the best quality saxophones – Selmer Paris, Yamaha, Yanagisawa, and Keilwerth. They’re often referred to as the ‘Big Four’. They all have great student-line saxophones, although Yamaha leads the beginner saxophone market.
Q.3. Which is the most expensive saxophone in the world?
A. The most expensive saxophone in the world is a Grafton alto saxophone owned by the late Charlie Parker, one of the pioneers of jazz music. The sax was sold for a whopping $144,500! Although the saxophone itself is quite ordinary, it was its legacy and history that made it so valuable.
Final Thoughts
Learning any new skill for the first time can be a daunting task. But don’t let that discourage you from picking up the saxophone! It’s a fantastic instrument that can bring joy to both the player and the listener. And with our guide, we hope you now know exactly how much you should spend on a beginner saxophone and what all you should watch out for. Happy shopping!