Used Saxophones

Used saxophones are generally good value for money but a few things need to be taken into consideration when thinking of purchasing one. If you find yourself in the market for a new sax you may also want to consider a second hand saxophone.

If you are looking for a used sax then my personal opinion is that you should only stick to named brands. Why? Well if you consider that an unknown brand is more often than not chinese. Now there's nothing wrong with some of these saxes but think about it. They are cheap to buy new. Is someone who bought a cheap chinese sax going to take much care of it? Do you think they will get it serviced? Probably not.

A named brand will, most likely have been well looked after by the owner with regular cleaning and servicing.

Value Saxophones

There are many used saxophones for sale out there. Whether it be a used alto saxophone, a used tenor saxophone, a soprano or contrabass, bargins can be had.

Prices vary on the make of saxophone, the model, decoration, metal it is made of and the sound it makes.

If you are new to the world of saxophones do your research. There's little point paying out £1k+ for a sax only to loose interest a few weeks later.

A good make of tenor or alto can be had for as little as £400. That may seem expensive but bear in mind a well loved sax will last a lifetime.

You will also find that resale value will be high despite the fact that you bought it used.

Common Used Saxophones

If you are new you might want to look for a Yamaha YAS275 alto or a YTS275 tenor, Generally savings of around £200 can be made by buying used.

Questions, questions questions

Always ask questions when buying. How long have you had it? With the major brands you can check the serial number which will tell you the year of make.

When was it last serviced? Don't take their word for it. They should have a receipt as proof.

Why are you selling? If they've raved on about how good a sax it is they had better have a darn good reason for selling.

Any dings, dents or scratches? Especially on the neck. The neck helps to shape the sound so it need to be dent free.

Check for normal wear and tear. A fifteen year old sax isn't going to be pristine. It may need repadding and will probably be carrying a few scratches.

Has it been re-lacquered? This can affect the sound. An old sax should not have new body work as new.

Play it. If you don't know how to then find someone who can.

Good used saxes are plentiful. Take your time, shop around and you could easily find yourself a gem.

Final Thought

Other saxophone Information