what is the best saxophone to buy for a beginner?
The alto saxophone is by far far the most pop choice when it comes to learning saxophone – especially for younger players who might observe the tenor too heavy.
In this guide, nosotros'll take you through 10 of the all-time options for choosing your first beginner alto sax.
The alto saxophone is much lighter and less of a stretch for the fingers than the tenor and baritone sax and, whilst the smaller soprano saxophone might seem highly-seasoned at offset glance, it'south actually famously enervating in terms of embouchure, tuning and sound.
But choosing a first alto sax every bit a beginner can be a daunting task.
Compared to the world of college end horns, the student saxophone marketplace is flooded with a multitude of makes and models vying for attention. And while it'due south off-white to say that, in full general, you get what y'all pay for, there are some saxophones that offer much improve value for coin than others.
Then, roofing a range of brands and budgets, nosotros've put together a round-up of the 10 best sax options for beginner alto players, followed by a detailed review of each 1.
(Had your centre set on learning tenor? You can detect our circular up of the best entry-level tenor saxophone options here)
| Image | Product | Features | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| #one Recommended  | YAMAHA YAS-280 | Possibly the almost-recommended beginner saxophone of all fourth dimension. | Check Cost on Amazon |
| Best value  | Jean Paul USA Every bit-400GP | A not bad mid-priced beginner sax with optional silvery-plating | Bank check Price on AmazonJeanPaulUSA.com |
| Budget Selection  | Mendini By Cecilio Eb Alto | The complete beginner prepare up: saxophone + all accessories at a peachy price. | Cheque Price on Amazon |
Yamaha YAS-280
Yamaha is a huge international corporation, with motorbikes, audio equipment and sporting goods all forming part of its staple, in add-on to the Japanese make'due south acclaimed range of musical instruments.
The YAS-280 (or 'Yamaha Alto Saxophone 280' to give it it'southward total name!) is seen as something of a gold standard when it comes to educatee alto saxophone models.
With first-class build quality and durability, information technology'southward actually at the top of its grade.
The key-piece of work on this lightweight instrument is ergonomically designed, making information technology peculiarly good for younger players.
It is one of the more expensive options out there though, coming in at more than than double the price of some of the marketplace's more upkeep saxophone brands.
That said, the YAS-280 is renowned for property its value well, so when the time comes to move up to an intermediate or professional alto saxophone, yous should be able to sell information technology on for a reasonable price or get a adept rate on a part exchange deal.
These instruments generally come with a high quality Yamaha 4c alto sax mouthpiece and a strong but lightweight instance with backpack straps too.
| Image | Product | Features | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| | YAMAHA YAS-280 Saxophone | An excellent quality beginner instrument which can take yous much farther than just the early stages of learning. | Cheque Price on Amazon |
Jean Paul Usa Every bit-400SP
For those looking to stand out, the Jean Paul Every bit-400SP is a gorgeous sliver-plated alto sax which is great for beginner and intermediate music students.
In terms of price indicate, it sits in the mid-range of beginner saxes.
As you'd expect from this, it provides more than your entry level budget option: the silver-plating helps create a warm resonant tone, the keywork is fluid (pregnant less resistance for a new player) and the intonation is well-rounded.
All this tin help the first-time player make quicker progress.
When considering the fact that this is a leading international saxophone brand which backs their instruments with a generous parts and labour warranty, the Jean Paul As-400 could exist a worthwhile investment for the serious beginner.
| Paradigm | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jazzfuel Choice!  | Jean Paul Usa AS-400SP (silver) | Our favourite beginner alto sax for its mix of style, quality and affordability. | Check Price on AmazonJeanPaulUSA.com |
Kaizer k Series
The Kaizer 1000 Series is one of the cheaper alto saxophones on the market, but the manufacturer claims that the quality and durability of it is enough to come across the player through until an upgrade to a professional person horn is required – eliminating the need for the advancing student to consider buying an intermediate horn.
That's a rather bold claim, only this saxophone has received positive reviews as a durable, low maintenance alto, with premium leatherette pads and steel springs. It'southward available in standard golden lacquer, or with a distinctive nickel silver cease.
Kaizer, an American company, explains how it is able to offering such affordable products on its website:
"We seek out original manufacturers that produce quality instruments for popular brands, we put our private characterization on those same instruments, stripping away distributors, center-men, dealers, sales people, gimmick and non-sense, leaving you with acme quality and incredible value."
| Epitome | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Kaizer Nickel Argent 1000 Serial | Has received positive reviews as a durable, low maintenance alto, with premium leatherette pads and steel springs. Information technology'due south bachelor in standard gold lacquer, or with a distinctive nickel silvery finish. | Check Price on Amazon |
Jupiter JAS710GN
Chinese company Jupiter has been a stalwart of the student saxophone world for many years, and numerous beginner students have gone into music shops on the hunt for a Jupiter saxophone, following a recommendation from their instructor.
In fact, its parent visitor KHS has been making educational products since information technology was founded in Taiwan in 1930.
The highly playable JAS710GN is best described as a beginner alto sax with advanced features.
Offering a rich audio quality, information technology's lacquered contumely body is accompanied by quality nickel-plated keys, offering great durability and it'due south been designed with condolement in mind. This is, of course, specially of import for young students.
Equally with the YAS-280, is a loftier quality beginner horn which can run into y'all well through to intermediate level without a problem.
Elkhart 100 Serial
The Elkhart 100 Series is something of a music education classic, having been purchased in majority by countless schools and music services over the years.
And, as one of the most cheap products on this list – frequently retailed around half the price of a Yamaha YAS-280 – it's certainly worth considering for those on a budget.
Elkhart is a proper noun with some pedigree in the saxophone world.
The company was originally based in Elkhart, Indiana, but now focuses on the educatee marketplace with Taiwanese-manufactured instruments.
Still, this budget saxophone arguably performs well in comparing to models that are considerably more expensive.
The keys on many lower-end saxophones are soldered directly onto the torso, simply the 100 Serial has rib-mounted keys.
This item, which is intended to give more solid build quality and durability, is more normally seen on college-stop instruments.
Cafe 100 Series
Buffet Crampon is best known equally one of the top manufacturers of loftier quality clarinets.
Simply the French company really began making saxophones every bit early on as 1866, but 20 years after Adolphe Sax invented the musical instrument.
The Buffet 100 Series is made in China, allowing it to be sold relatively cheaply, despite the fact that it is designed in France by one of Europe's most renowned woodwind makers.
This entry-level alto sax is noted for its consequent intonation across the entire annals and a warm, centred tone.
Conn-Selmer DAS180 Avant
French company Selmer Paris primarily manufactures loftier end professional instruments, and is peradventure the world's nearly famous saxophone brand.
Conn-Selmer, meanwhile, is a modernistic American company that focuses on student and intermediate level saxophones – although information technology does distribute Selmer Paris saxophones in the U.s..
So, while you shouldn't expect the quality and prestige of a Selmer Paris instrument from Conn-Selmer, the American visitor is gaining quite a reputation for producing very well-made saxophones at the upper end of the entry-level market.
The DAS180 saxophone is one of the more expensive products on this list, but it is fabricated from loftier quality yellow brass, a material that is more commonly associated with professional instruments.
It as well comes with a professional person standard Rosseau ebonite mouthpiece, which is a cut above the mouthpieces that go far with near student horns.
Trevor James Classic Two
Released in 2012, the Classic II is an update on Trevor James' 'The Horn' Classic, which had been an incredibly pop student saxophone since the early 1990s.
The British company designs and finishes all of its saxophones at its headquarters in Lenham, Kent, although its student models are built at a factory in Taiwan.
Winner of three U.k. Music Manufacture Clan Awards, the Classic Two is notable for its easy, complimentary-blowing response.
Pricewise, this occupies the middle space between the cheaper budget brands and the more expensive Yamaha YAS-280.
It comes in a classic gold lacquer terminate and has an adjustable thumb rest for additional comfort.
Sonata Student Alto Saxophone
This Sonata alto model occupies a similar corner of the market place to the Elkhart 100 Series, as a no-nonsense, inexpensive starter saxophone that is popular within the music education earth.
Information technology'south unlikely to remain useful to the advancing thespian for equally long as, say, the Yamaha YAS-280, only it does mean significantly less initial outlay.
Information technology is free-blowing, with an like shooting fish in a barrel and responsive tone, making it ideal for beginners making their first sounds on the saxophone.
Information technology as well comes with an impressive array of saxophone accessories, including a pad saver, a neck strap, cork grease and a cleaning fabric!
Mendini by Cecilio (alto)
Cecilio is an American instrument visitor that was founded in 2004.
Its saxophones (which nosotros reviewed in detail here) are congenital overseas before being play-tested and distributed from its headquarters in Los Angeles.
This remarkably affordable production is congenital with a focus on comfort, with an easy-to-grip blueprint. It has a ribbed build and stainless steel tone boosters. The low B flat spatula keys have been designed in a tilted way for ease of playing.
The Mendini by Cecilio is bachelor in a range of funky colours, which might entreatment to younger learners, including purple, red and green, besides equally a more than standard gold finish.
It arrives with an accessory pack, including a chromatic tuner, which is a nice impact for the complete beginner saxophonist.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| | Mendini By Cecilio Eb Alto Sax | Congenital overseas before existence play-tested and distributed from the headquarters in Los Angeles. A remarkably affordable product with a focus on comfort and ease-of-apply. | Check Toll on Amazon |
Thanks for checking out this guide to the best beginner alto saxophones and we hope information technology'south provided you with some useful insight into what options are out there.
If you're all the same deciding on which type of saxophone you want to become started with, accept a expect at our guide to tenor sax likewise, here equally well as guides to bottom common soprano saxophones.
You lot can observe all our other guides and articles on this instrument on our saxophone homepage, including the all-time albums of alto sax legends such as Charlie Parker , Art Pepper and Cannonball Adderley.
And remember, buying a practiced instrument is but one role of the journeying: in one case you become started, don't forget to cheque out the options when information technology comes to saxophone mouthpieces, ligatures and even reeds, for helping you get the audio y'all're looking for!
Source: https://jazzfuel.com/best-alto-saxophone/
0 Response to "what is the best saxophone to buy for a beginner?"
Post a Comment