With so many different options out there, it can be a daunting task trying to choose which model to purchase for your first instrument as a beginner. Our expert staff have looked through the range of instruments on offer, and selected our top four starter saxophones in order to help you make your decision. Have a look at our choices below, or click here to view our entire range of saxophones, including popular brands such as Yamaha, Trevor James, Leblanc and Yanagisawa.
Don't forget also to check out our saxophone accessories, including reeds, cases & bags, instrument stands, and a wide selection of cleaning and maintenance products to keep your instrument in full working order. Finally, once you have made your choice, you will need some music to play! Visit our sheet music department in order to browse and purchase from our catalogue of over 11,000 saxophone titles, including solo & ensemble repertoire, studies, scales & sight-reading, and tuition books.
Our Top Five Starter Saxophones
Yamaha is an established and reliable brand, and their instruments have been popular with teachers and students for many years. The Yamaha YAS-280 saxophone has been designed with students in mind, and is a high-quality instrument, robustly manufactured, with a strong mechanism and good key action. It is more free-blowing than most other student models, which makes learning more effortless. The Yamaha YAS-280 is one of the best student saxophones around and is well worth the price. A great investment for beginner musicians.
Debuting in 2019 and inspired by the original award-winning TJ 'Horn' sax design from the late 1980s and early 1990s, this saxophone has been thoughtfully engineered for enhanced ergonomics.
This saxophone is crafted from premium materials, adhering to Trevor James' unwavering commitment to quality design and manufacturing and is an ideal choice for students. The original 'Horn' became popular for its ease of sound production, excellent build quality and affordable price tag and the new model is no different, staying faithful to the design objectives, demonstrating that, with dedicated research and design, quality is affordable.
The Trevor James Alphasax Outfit (Gold Laquer) is a unique saxophone designed for the younger and smaller player - winner of the 2014 UK Music Industry Association award for Best Woodwind & Brass Instrument.
The Alphasax is based around the original body tube of the TJ alto saxophone with completely redesigned mechanism and tone hole positioning for the smaller individual who would previously have been told to wait until they got bigger before they could learn to play the sax. Problematic keys with long finger stretch have been removed or redesigned for extra comfort and the weight has been reduced by an amazing 33%!
If you are looking for a saxophone that is great for students but will carry you through to higher grades, then the Leblanc LAS511 is well worth considering. Available at a great price point, it is designed under the Leblanc name and manufactured by the world renowned Conn-Selmer company. Several upgrades have gone into the development of this new saxophone to ensure a build and tone quality of the highest standards which will ensure that the saxophonist can continue confidently in their music journey.
This Jupiter alto saxophone has consistently been one of the recommended models by many teachers and local education authorities for years and is the most popular sax in the Jupiter range. This saxophone has twice been awarded 'Best Student Woodwind Instrument' by the Music Industries Association.
All the elements of the Jupiter JAS500Q alto saxophone have been made to ensure the best start to playing. This model features a significantly improved right-hand mechanism: the C/Eb rocker is now easily accessible. The spring system ensures smoother action of all keys on this sturdy instrument and the body and keys are crafted from brass in a quality gold lacquered finish for durability. It also has a slightly lighter body, ideal for the beginner saxophonist.
This saxophone comes with a lightweight 2-tone grey backpack style case with florescent piping - great for visibility!
