Chime School

When purchasing a used saxophone, the buyer should take into account a number of considerations which emphasize the value of the price or amount paid in addition to the purpose for which the saxophone is purchased. 

There are generally four types of saxophones available. The soprano saxophone, which has a higher pictch than the other saxophones, is typically most user “unfriendly and is the most difficult to play.  Therefore, beginners are suggested 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 often 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 most massive and is very heavy, so thos who carry the instruments will have to put on some harness to support the instrument while it is being played. 

A saxophonist who is considering a used saxophone should first determine the purpose for which the instrument is to be bought.  If he intends to practice and play the instrument as a beginner, then the alto saxophone might be the best choice.  It is therefore a must to remember that it should not be the case that just because the used saxophone is bought at a very affordable rate one may already rush in and purchase the instrument.  He may have the saxophone at the best price, but it will not be worth the time and investment 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 buy a soprano saxophone even if the price is a steal.  Thus, being picky about the types of saxophone and in accordance with the use and reason for purchasing the instrument is always a good start in buying a used saxophone. 

Second of course is the cost.  Even though used saxophones are expected to be less expensive than new ones, an extremely cheap saxophone might suggest the instrument’s poor and/or unflattering quality – though not necessarily.  Nevertheless, used saxophones might also be priced 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.

Lastly, it is best to play the saxophone first to personally test 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 along who knows the things to look and listen for in a quality instrument would be a good idea.

Comments are closed.