Buying a Used Saxophone: Things to Consider When Buying a Used Saxophone

In buying a used saxophone, the purchaser must take into account a number of considerations which emphasize the value of the price or amount paid as well as the purpose for which the saxophone is purchased.  

There are generally four types of saxophones available. The soprano saxophone, which has the highest pitch among the other saxophones, is considered as the least “user friendly” and is the most difficult to play.  Therefore, beginners are recommended to shun away from purchasing a soprano saxophone for practice.  The alto saxophone is recommended as the best practice saxophone for beginners and is most commonly used in school bands.  The third, the tenor saxophone is perfect for jazz tunes as well as some rock music.    The baritone saxophone is the biggest and is very heavy that people who use the instruments will have to put some harness to support the instrument while they play.  

A person who is buying a used saxophone must first determine the purpose for which the instrument is to be purchased.  If he intends to practice and play the instrument as a beginner, then the alto saxophone would be the choice for him.  It is therefore important to remember that it should not be the case that just because the used saxophone is sold at a very affordable rate one may already rush in buying the instrument.  He may have the saxophone at the best price but it will not do him any good if he cannot maximize the use of the instrument because it does not best serve his purpose.  Simply put, it is not a good choice for a beginner to purchase a soprano saxophone even if the price is reasonably low.  Thus, discriminating according to the types of saxophone and in accordance with the use and purpose for buying the instrument is always a good start in buying a used saxophone.  

Second would be the price.  Although used saxophones are expected to be cheaper than new ones, an extremely cheap saxophone may hint at the instrument’s poor and unflattering quality – though not necessarily.  Nevertheless, used saxophones may also be sold at a price only slightly lower than the price for other brand new saxophones.  This may be due to several factors: the saxophone’s high quality, brand, make and model.  Thus even at that price, the used saxophone may still be worth buying.  This implies that buying a used saxophone also entails a consideration of the brand, make and model of the instrument.  

Most importantly, in buying a used saxophone, one must never hesitate to ask questions about the saxophone.  It is advisable to ask as many questions as one can pertain to the “history” of the saxophone such as: how was it used in the past?  How often was it used?  Had it even been repaired?  When was the last time it had been repaired?  How long has it been since it was first purchased?  Questions like these will help a person decide whether or not he is amenable to buying a used saxophone.  One may also inquire why the saxophone is being sold.

Finally, it is wise to play the saxophone first to test first-hand the sound, the tone, and the quality of the instrument before entering into the deal of buying the saxophone.  In case one is a beginner and does not yet know how to play the instrument, bringing someone who knows how to play the instrument along would be practical and reasonable.