Musicians -- Saxophone help needed

[KiminChicago]

My son has been taking saxophone lessons for almost 6 months now and he really loves it. We're currently renting an instrument but since it looks like he'll be playing it for a while, I'd like to buy one for him. I know that they're one of the more expensive instruments, so I was poking around on ebay to see if I could find a more reasonably priced one. We did that with his clarinet and found a LeBlanc Noblet 45 for under $600. I'd ask his saxophone teacher, but she's currently on her way to Vietnam to bring home the little boy that she and her husband are adopting. Also, since she primarily plays clarinet herself, she isn't as familiar with saxophones.

Can anyone give me a list of decent makes/models of alto saxophones that would be good intermediate instruments?

TIA!

 

[Tink888]

My son has been taking saxophone lessons for almost 6 months now and he really loves it. We're currently renting an instrument but since it looks like he'll be playing it for a while, I'd like to buy one for him. I know that they're one of the more expensive instruments, so I was poking around on ebay to see if I could find a more reasonably priced one. We did that with his clarinet and found a LeBlanc Noblet 45 for under $600. I'd ask his saxophone teacher, but she's currently on her way to Vietnam to bring home the little boy that she and her husband are adopting. Also, since she primarily plays clarinet herself, she isn't as familiar with saxophones.

Can anyone give me a list of decent makes/models of alto saxophones that would be good intermediate instruments?

TIA!

We bought my son a Yamaha - can't remember the model and yes, they are expensive. It was mid-range in price but very good quality.

 

[Allison]

My son just had his saxophone that had been paid off for several years disappear at a band competition. I don't know what we are going to do about that one.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Do a google search for community orchestra's (band groups) in your area. See if you can get names of the sax players, or see if you can pass on your request for a used instrument to the manager of the group.

Most of us in community orchestras have such a love for music (we are not in it for the money) that we'd be delighted to sell our student instruments at a very reasonable price knowing they'd go to good use.

 

[KiminChicago]

Allison -- I feel your pain! My son actually managed to sit on his clarinet over the summer and snapped the lower joint. I was afraid we were going to have to try and find another one on ebay (and the first was such a great buy I knew we'd never get that lucky twice!). Fortunately we were able to get it repaired for a reasonable amount -- although I did get a couple of lectures at the music store about buying a wooden clarinet for such a young student (he's in 6th grade and if you could hear him play, you'd know why he needed a better instrument).

 

[Tink888]

My son just had his saxophone that had been paid off for several years disappear at a band competition. I don't know what we are going to do about that one.

That's awful. I worry about something like that happening all the time.

If you carry homeowner's insurance, it might be covered under your policy. Can't hurt to check.

 

[Allison]

That's awful. I worry about something like that happening all the time.

If you carry homeowner's insurance, it might be covered under your policy. Can't hurt to check.

Thanks for reminding me we need to do that.

The music store said a new one will be about $1800.

 

[jimmiej]

25-year band director & saxophonist here. Buy him one of these:

Yamaha YAS-475 Intermediate Eb Alto Saxophone

This is a great step-up student instrument.

 

[KiminChicago]

Thanks for all the responses! Now I have an idea what I'm looking for. It's really kind of strange, my DH and I never played an instrument but DS just seems to pick it up so quickly. His music teacher says she has him playing things on the clarinet that she normally doesn't start her students on until high school. And it's so much fun to have him play "Moonlight Serenade" on the saxophone while DH and I slow dance. I guess singing him to sleep when he was an infant is finally paying off big time!

 

[Allison]

Thanks for all the responses! Now I have an idea what I'm looking for. It's really kind of strange, my DH and I never played an instrument but DS just seems to pick it up so quickly. His music teacher says she has him playing things on the clarinet that she normally doesn't start her students on until high school. And it's so much fun to have him play "Moonlight Serenade" on the saxophone while DH and I slow dance. I guess singing him to sleep when he was an infant is finally paying off big time!

That's so neat.

My son really enjoy the saxophone. He hopes to play in a college marching band.

 

[monkey68]

I've played sax since I was around 12. I have a Yamaha, not sure of the model, I'm pretty sure it's an intermediate model. Even now, it's 10 years old, and still sounds great. Produces a pretty decent sound, and I never needed any major repairs on it, maybe a spring popped loose a couple times, but that's a repair that my band teachers were able to take care of. Also, if he's using one of those cheap plastic mouthpieces, I would look into upgrading the mouthpiece. Makes a world of difference.

 

[jimmiej]

Also, if he's using one of those cheap plastic mouthpieces, I would look into upgrading the mouthpiece. Makes a world of difference.

Agreed. If you can afford it, get him a Selmer C* (C-star) mouthpiece with a Rovner ligature.

 

[golfgal]

My son just had his saxophone that had been paid off for several years disappear at a band competition. I don't know what we are going to do about that one.

You might have some coverage on your homeowners insurance but you will have to pay your deductible. Everyone with a kid playing an instrument should have it scheduled out on their policy-minimal extra charge, probably $15/year. Then it is covered at 100% with no deductible.

We have 2 sax players, they both have the Yamaha's. They run about $1800 each. Look online at Craigslist, in your local paper, etc. Place a "wanted" ad if you need too but you should be able to buy a used one fairly reasonably if you want.

I agree that you should upgrade the mouthpiece and ligature--that makes a HUGE difference in the sound and they aren't all that expensive.

 

[Galahad]

25-year band director & saxophonist here. Buy him one of these:

Yamaha YAS-475 Intermediate Eb Alto Saxophone

This is a great step-up student instrument.

I agree with jimmiej. IMO, the "best" Saxophones are Selmer, but by far the best student and "step-up" horns are Yamaha! I play clarinet and sax and other woodwinds professionally (my "second" job) and I own a couple of Yamahas that I play a lot.

 

[GeorgeG]

It's been years since I played saxophone (alto, tenor, and even a C melody), but I play bass in a lot of bands and the most popular saxes are Selmer and Yamaha. I also play trumpet and have a Bach and a Yamaha. Yamaha makes a pretty good instrument.

 

[mamamary]

My son plays the saxophone. One thing his teacher said was to never buy a used one.

 

[Galahad]

My son plays the saxophone. One thing his teacher said was to never buy a used one.

Not sure I'd agree with this. I guess you should never buy a used one and expect not to have to have it adjusted, overhauled, etc. So you factor that in. You probably should not expect to just pick up the used one and play it without some other attention to it. So if the new horn is $2000 and the used horn is $1000 and the repair guy will overhaul it for $400 you are still ahead of the game. Also I guess you should never but a used horn that is a low-end horn to begin with.

 

[jimmiej]

I agree with jimmiej. IMO, the "best" Saxophones are Selmer, but by far the best student and "step-up" horns are Yamaha! I play clarinet and sax and other woodwinds professionally (my "second" job) and I own a couple of Yamahas that I play a lot.

I've been playing my Selmer Mark VII since 1977. It looks old but plays beautifully. I use a local repairman to keep it in good shape.

 

[Galahad]

I've been playing my Selmer Mark VII since 1977. It looks old but plays beautifully. I use a local repairman to keep it in good shape.

That's about how old my Mark VII is. I have a Buffet Alto (Dyna-action ) that's 60 years old but plays great. Looks horrible but plays great!