Not every beginner saxophone is worth your time – especially if you’re shopping for your kid to use in school band.
Having worked in music education, retail, and repair for over a decade, I’ve had hands-on experience with countless saxophones and brands.
We’ve put together the ultimate list of the best beginner alto saxophones from the world’s most reputable manufacturers. If it’s not on this list, you should probably ignore it.
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The Best Premium Beginner Alto Saxophones
These student saxophones come from the world’s leading manufacturers. You can usually find them for anywhere between $1000 and $2500. While the prices are a little higher, the sound quality and durability are generally better than most other saxes. Realistically ou could get one of these saxes and never worry about upgrading horns again.
Yamaha YAS-26 Student Alto Saxophone
Yamaha instruments are widely considered the gold standard for beginner saxophones. Their quality borders on being an intermediate/professional horn, and they’re known for their legendary durability. The YAS-26 is Yamaha's most current student sax. If you take care of it, it’ll last you a lifetime.
Yamaha YAS-280 Student Alto Saxophone
The YAS-280 is the international version of the Yamaha student sax. Everything about it is the same as the YAS-26, except the 280 also includes a high F# key and an all-gold lacquer finish. If you live outside the USA, then the YAS-280 offers the best value of any student saxophone.
Eastman EAS251 Student Alto Saxophone
The EAS251 is one of the most compelling student saxophones on the market today. With a rugged build quality, ergonomic key layout, and beautiful tone, you’ll have a great playing experience with this horn. The current generation also comes with Eastman’s Protégé mouthpiece and a Légère Signature reed, so you easily produce good tone right out of the box.
Selmer SAS201 Student Alto Saxophone
Jupiter JAS700 Student Alto Saxophone
The Best Budget-Friendly Beginner Alto Saxophones
Buying a so-called “budget-friendly” sax can be risky. Some cheap saxes from Amazon play well out of the box and have thousands of great reviews. But those horns tend to have long-term issues that repair techs won’t bother to fix.
The saxes we’ve chosen for this list come from reputable brands and pass our quality benchmarks. For $1000 or less, you can trust these horns to play well without constant trips to the repair shop.
BetterSax Student Alto Saxophone
Jean Paul USA AS-400 Student Alto Saxophone
We normally poo poo on cheap Amazon saxes. But if you buy any sax from Amazon, get the Jean Paul AS-400. For one, Jean Paul exists as a real brand outside of Amazon - they even have a website (which can't be said for most other cheap online instruments). And even though they're Chinese-made saxes, the JP team does final adjustments in their Florida workshop. As a result, they have fewer quality control issues than other instruments in their class. It has a solid sound, solid build, and they use standard parts for easy repairs.
Prelude AS711 Student Alto Saxophone
Prelude is one of the many brands under the Conn-Selmer umbrella. While it doesn’t have the same rich sound as other Selmer saxophones, it’s still a solid pick if you're on a budget. It produces a good tone, it’s easy to play, and has everything you’d expect from a beginner sax. They're being phased out for newer models. So if you're interested, grab one now while you can!
Victory Triumph Series Student Alto Saxophone
Victory Musical Instruments is an up-and-coming brand that's gaining some traction thanks to their partnership with Sweetwater. The Triumph series sax is a great little horn that sounds and feels good to play. It's an ultra-reliable saxophone that's sure to please many players.
The Best Beginner Alto Saxophones You Can’t Find Online
You won’t find these saxophones for sale online. Some products are sold exclusively in-store through authorized brick-and-mortar dealers. So this gives you a compelling reason to support your local music store. Plus, you’ll know where to go when you have repair and warranty issues.
Yamaha YAS-200ADII Student Alto Saxophone
This sax is part of the Yamaha Advantage series of student instruments. This is 100% the same horn as the YAS-26 (older models were copies of the YAS-23). You can expect the same sound quality and durability as any other Yamaha sax. The only major difference is it comes in a blue hardshell case, which is more durable than the standard case.
Learn more: Yamaha YAS-26 vs YAS-200ADII (Differences Explained)
Cannonball AA-L Alcazar Student Alto Saxophone
Cannonball is best known for their professional-level saxophones. But, you’ll find their student saxes are also exceptional. The Alcazar has some pro-level features, like a ribbed body and high F# key. It also comes in a premium wood case with faux-gator skin exterior. It produces a rich, warm sound on par with other premium saxophones.
Cannonball A90-L Falcon Student Alto Saxophone
Falcon saxes are a more budget-friendly option compared Cannonball’s Alcazar saxes. Its post-to-body construction gives it a lighter weight and feel. Plus, the keys are more ergonomic to smaller hands. It’s a bit more free-blowing than its older brother, which makes it an ideal beginner saxophone.
Accent AS712L Student Alto Saxophone
Accent is a private label shared by a small network of music stores across the country. Music stores position these saxes as less expensive alternatives to the big name brands, and they play exceptionally well.
The Best Used Beginner Alto Saxophones
Gone, but not forgotten. While these saxophones are discontinued, you can still find them all over the used marketplace. If you want to save a little money and don’t mind older-looking horns, then these are a great option. Just be sure to budget an extra $100–$200 for a new mouthpiece and extra repairs.
This instrument is the reason why Yamaha student saxes are considered the gold standard. The YAS-23 not only sounds fantastic, but they've held up incredibly well over the decades. Some of these saxes are over 40 years old and still play as well as they did back then. If you don’t mind a used horn, this is arguably the best value out of any student sax. Period.
Wanna know a dirty little secret? These are the exact same saxophones as the Yamaha YAS-23. Back in the day, Yamaha made student saxophones for other brands, including Leblanc and Vito. If you find an old Vito sax, know you’re getting a Japanese-made Yamaha horn.
Not to be confused with the modern Selmer SAS411, which is a completely different sax. If you want something newer, the AS400 was only recently discontinued. In fact, you still might be able to find relatively new ones floating around. It’s virtually the same as the current Selmer SAS301. With a ribbed body and rose brass neck, this sax is incredibly sturdy and produces a warm, full-bodied tone.
Way back in the day, Bundy horns were the go-to instruments for students. These old saxes don't have the best intonation, but they’re freaking tanks that have stood the test of time. All-in-all, this is an incredibly solid instrument.
Beginner Saxophone Brands to Avoid
But buying a sax online isn’t like buying a toaster online.
There are some brands that absolutely aren’t worth your time. New ones pop up all the time, so it’s impossible to list them all. But these are the major ones I recommend avoiding:
- Mendini by Cecilio
- Eastar
- Etude
- Glory
- Any brand on Amazon that doesn’t have its own website
Sure, they might have thousands of positive reviews.
But most of those reviews are by these people:
- Adults who review the instruments out of the box, but don’t take long-term use into consideration.
- Pro players who can make any saxophone sound good, regardless of build quality.
- Online marketers looking to make a quick buck from affiliate commissions.
If you’re an adult buying the instrument for yourself, then sure. Get one of those instruments if money is the only factor.
But if you’re buying for your child to use in school band, put that money toward one of the other saxophones on this list.
Where to Buy a Beginner Saxophone
I usually recommend going to your local music store first. But if you prefer the convenience of online shopping, here’s where to look:
- Sweetwater: This is the online music store I trust the most. They have legendary customer service, and you’ll get a dedicated sales rep that can help you every step of the way.
- Woodwind & Brasswind: One of the oldest and most established online stores for band instruments and accessories.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Beginner Saxophone
Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your kid, or someone else, you need to consider some things when buying a student saxophone.
How Much Does a Beginner Alto Saxophone Cost?
Most beginner alto saxophones range between $500 and $2500. You could potentially find used ones for under $500.
You could also consider renting an instrument from your local music store before deciding on a purchase.
Beginner Saxophone Features
There’s very little variation between student saxophones. There are really only three things you’ll find different between most of these instruments:
- High F# Key: This key is helpful for playing advanced repertoire. That said, it’s not really necessary for beginners. Some saxes don’t even have this key, so pay attention!
- Finishes: Most beginner saxes have a standard gold-colored finish. Some of them have nickel-plated keys for added durability. A handful of these also come in silver-plated or other finishes.
- Ribbed Body vs Post-to-body Keys: Some saxes have the key posts soldered directly to the body. Others have them soldered onto a “rib” first, then attached to the body. Ribs help give the sax a warmer sound, but make it slightly more resistant. Post-body saxes are a bit more free-blowing and easier to play.
Ultimately, these differences mean very little to a brand new beginner. Assuming it works well and you have a good mouthpiece, you should have no trouble playing any of these saxophones.
New vs. Used
New saxes offer obvious advantages over used ones:
- They’re in excellent playing condition
- They’ll have fewer repair issues
- They offer peace of mind with a manufacturer’s warranty
- They’re more sanitary than used saxes
If those things matter to you, then a new sax is well worth the price.
On the other hand, used saxes can save you significant money.
You can find some of the premium saxes listed above for around $500 used. Depending on who you are, this is a way better deal than a $500 sax on Amazon.
That said, buying a used sax is a gamble. It may come with repair issues. And in a post-COVID world, you’ll have to consider sanitation.
If you decide to buy a used sax, set aside an extra $100–$200 in case it needs repairs or cleaning.
Renting vs. Buying
Many local music stores offer some sort of rental program for student saxes. This makes getting a high-quality instrument more accessible to many families
Renting can provide other benefits:
- Music stores can offer repair services for your rental
- You can build up trade credit to either purchase the instrument you’re renting, or another instrument from that dealer
- You can return the instrument if you’re done renting, and you’re not stuck with an instrument you have to sell
But in the long-term, renting can be more expensive than buying. Music stores sometimes tack on interest and fees to the rental agreement. So be sure to check before signing any contracts.
In the short term, simply buying an instrument can be more economical. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of each.
Be Careful With Cheap Amazon Saxes
Like I mentioned above, you might browse Amazon and find a $200 sax with tons of positive reviews.
You’ll also find other blogs and websites shilling these saxophones for some quick affiliate money.
As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.”
Here are some things to consider before buying a cheap Amazon sax:
- If you’re a parent shopping for your kid, know that your child’s band director absolutely doesn’t want these instruments in their classroom.
- These saxes might play well out of the box. But most of them have maintenance issues after a few months of playing.
- Because they have constant issues, most repair shops won’t bother to fix them.
- Even if you get it repaired, there’s a strong chance it’ll have issues again. This negates any good the repair did in the first place and you’ll genuinely have wasted your money.
In the end, that cheap sax you thought you were saving money on becomes an expensive headache. Anything you spend on repairs would be better spent on a higher quality instrument.
If you insist on saving money, buy a used saxophone from this list. That, or rent an instrument for a lower monthly fee.
Saxes With “Fun” Colors
One of the ways these brands attract customers is with fun, bright colors.
If you’re an adult buying for yourself and you know what you’re doing, great. Have fun with the blue saxophone.
But if you’re a parent and want to see your kid succeed in music, don’t buy the brightly-colored saxophone. Here’s why:
- The sax will likely have repair issues (like we already discussed). This will actively discourage your kid and hold them back.
- Middle school is hard enough for a pre-teen, and you don’t need to add to their embarrassment by getting them a blue or red saxophone. Your kid might be the only one playing the stupid-looking instrument, while everyone else has a shiny gold or silver saxophone. Never mind the embarrassment they’ll feel when their instrument stops working.
Invest just a little more in your child. They’ll thank you for it later.
When In Doubt, Choose Yamaha
There’s a very vocal part of the sax community that’ll just recommend Yamaha student saxes over everything else. And for good reason.
While the other brands on this list are generally good, Yamaha saxes have proven themselves to be the best long-term value:
- They sound incredible, which encourages beginners while also satisfying the needs of advanced players.
- With Yamaha’s legendary durability, the sax will last practically forever without any major issues. You won’t have to take to the repair shop very often.
- Band directors and private sax teachers generally prefer their students on Yamaha saxes over most other brands.
- Yamaha saxes hold their resale value better than most other saxes. You’ll get more for selling it than
Yamaha instruments are widely considered the gold standard for beginner saxophones. Their quality borders on being an intermediate/professional horn, and they’re known for their legendary durability. The YAS-26 is Yamaha's most current student sax. If you take care of it, it’ll last you a lifetime.
The YAS-280 is the international version of the Yamaha student sax. Everything about it is the same as the YAS-26, except the 280 also includes a high F# key and an all-gold lacquer finish. If you live outside the USA, then the YAS-280 offers the best value of any student saxophone.
This sax is part of the Yamaha Advantage series of student instruments. This is 100% the same horn as the YAS-26 (older models were copies of the YAS-23). You can expect the same sound quality and durability as any other Yamaha sax. The only major difference is it comes in a blue hardshell case, which is more durable than the standard case.
This instrument is the reason why Yamaha student saxes are considered the gold standard. The YAS-23 not only sounds fantastic, but they've held up incredibly well over the decades. Some of these saxes are over 40 years old and still play as well as they did back then. If you don’t mind a used horn, this is arguably the best value out of any student sax. Period.
Learn More About Beginner Alto Saxophones
Still exploring beginner saxophones? We have a few resources that might interest you:
- Yamaha YAS-26 vs. YAS-200ADII (Differences Explained) — Learn about the standard and Advantage student saxophones from Yamaha.
- Cannonball Student Saxophones: Alcazar vs. Falcon — Learn about the similarities and differences between Cannonball’s two student saxes.
