Saxophone Outlet

Suppose you have a child who is just starting with the band at school and has decided to play the saxophone. As with most things kids want, he needs to have it NOW. What are you going to do? If you rent one it could end up costing you hundreds of dollars. If you buy a new saxophone, you might be able to get one for as little as $200.00 if it has been imported. The problem is you will probably end up paying for repairs to the instrument throughout the school year.

Even if you buy a horn, there’s no guarantee your child is going to keep playing it clear through graduation. Most children move onto other instruments after just a year or so. A good strategy is to buy a used saxophone. They hold their value well, so even if your child moves onto something else, you can resell the horn.

For students, the best saxophones are the Keilwert ST90, King, Selmer Bundy II, and the Yamaha YAS 23. These horns all have impressive sound quality. Plus, they can handle a lot of tumbles and falls. Children can tend to be clumsy at times, especially when some parts of their body grow faster than other parts. This can cause them to drop horns or bang horns into walls. You want to make sure the horn you get can take that kind of abuse and still look great when it’s played during a concert.

Some people love the look and feel of restored vintage horns. Just be prepared because about 90% of the time when you get a vintage horn you will need to do a complete overhaul. Restoring old horns can take anywhere from $600.00 and up. You should probably wait to get a vintage horn unless you want one for your own collection or you’re absolutely positive your child will keep playing the saxophone.

No matter what you decide for your used saxophone, you’ll want to make sure you ask all the right questions before you finalize the purchase. Make sure the sax plays all the notes. Find out when the person last had the sax in for servicing. Get an idea for the age of the pads. You want to make sure you can easily press the keys of the saxophone and that the pads cover the holes snugly so that air does not escape.

Have you ever had the horn repaired? Is there any visable corrosion? What does the inside of the horn look like? Bright brass or silver-good, black to green- not so good. Remember that ebay descriptions are vague and often over stated. What does Great condition mean? Often it means a great deal less to the seller than the buyer. The only way to be safe is to ask appropriate questions.