Thursday, August 26, 2010

Which student saxophone is best for my child? Part II

Using the Internet to help purchase a saxophone

So, what other options did my parents have? Well, at the time they did not have too many options; mainly for one reason... there was no internet back then. Now with the influx of the information highway, concerned parents can not only research and find the best options available for student saxophones but they can also find the best prices (which in several instances, this ‘information’ can be a setback and lead to even more confusion!!). So what are the best options? I believe there are many options with many different variables and I will try to cover as many of these scenarios so that you can get a better picture of the student saxophone market and the choice that will best benefit you and your child.

Must I purchase a Yamaha student saxophone for my child?


Despite what your child’s’ band director or instructor might tell you, you do not HAVE to purchase a Yamaha. The first thing to know is that there are many other options for a student saxophones other than the Yamaha 23 model or whatever recent model name they are using nowadays; which I think they are calling the Yamaha 275 (YAS 275 for alto saxophone, and YTS 275 for tenor saxophone).

Is the Yamaha student saxophone a good student sax?

These are good saxophones, but buying a new one is very expensive, and buying a used one can be very risky, and cost you more in the long run.

Will the Yamaha name help in the event that I need to resell the sax?

Yes and No. I say that because, the Yamaha name will help it to sell but if you paid full price or anywhere near it, you will be fortunate if you get 25% of what it sells for brand new. For example, Yamaha student alto saxophones sell on average for about $400 on ebay, and they sell for $1,700 - $1,800 brand new. That’s an easy one to figure out.

So in the long run, is it worth it to buy a brand new Yamaha student alto saxophone for my child?

If your student pursues music for their entire middle school and high school education, then the investment makes more sense. If you are not sure they will pursue music for that period of time, it is probably not the greatest investment. Buying something just as high quality at a fraction of the cost is the best option.

Link to full article: Saxophone Buying Guide

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