Saxophones - Directory w/ AI Reviews

Alto, tenor, soprano, and baritone saxophones

The saxophone is a single-reed woodwind instrument made of brass, known for its powerful, expressive, and versatile voice. It comes in several sizes, with alto, tenor, soprano, and baritone being the most common. The saxophone is a cornerstone of jazz, also featuring prominently in classical, pop, rock, funk, and marching band music.

History

Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in the early 1840s in Belgium, patenting it in 1846. The instrument was adopted by French military bands but truly found its voice in early 20th-century jazz, where players like Sidney Bechet and Coleman Hawkins established it as a solo instrument. Charlie Parker's bebop innovations in the 1940s and John Coltrane's explorations in the 1960s cemented the saxophone as the quintessential jazz instrument.

Characteristics

The saxophone uses a single reed attached to a mouthpiece, with a conical brass body and a system of keys operated by both hands. Its wide dynamic range and continuous pitch-bending capability give it an unusually vocal, human-like quality. The four main sizes each cover different ranges: soprano (high), alto (medium-high), tenor (medium-low), and baritone (low).

Notable Players

Charlie Parker's alto saxophone playing redefined jazz and influenced virtually every saxophonist who followed. John Coltrane pushed the tenor saxophone to its expressive limits with albums like "A Love Supreme" and "Giant Steps." Sonny Rollins, still revered in his 90s, is considered one of the greatest improvisers in jazz history.

Buying Guide

The alto saxophone is the best starting size for most beginners due to its manageable size, weight, and embouchure requirements. Yamaha (YAS-280, YAS-480) and Selmer are the most trusted brands for student and intermediate instruments. Invest in a quality mouthpiece, as it has a greater impact on tone than the saxophone body; the Yamaha 4C and Vandoren Optimum are popular choices.

Fun Facts

The saxophone is classified as a woodwind instrument despite being made entirely of brass, because it uses a reed to produce sound. Adolphe Sax survived multiple near-death accidents in childhood, including falling from a three-story height and accidentally drinking sulfuric acid.

Yamaha YBS-62II Professional Baritone Saxophone 1 4.9 New Yamaha YBS-62II Professional Baritone Saxophone Yamaha $9,299 Professional Japan 1 review Professional baritone saxophone with a rich, powerful low end and ergonomic keywork, delivering commanding projection and agility across the full range with a low A extension. Yanagisawa AWO10 Professional Alto Saxophone 2 4.9 New Yanagisawa AWO10 Professional Alto Saxophone Yanagisawa $5,199 Professional Japan 1 review Handcrafted Tokyo-made professional alto with a one-piece hand-hammered bell, delivering warm, centered tone with exceptional intonation and meticulous build quality. Keilwerth SX90R Shadow Alto Saxophone 3 4.8 New Keilwerth SX90R Shadow Alto Saxophone Keilwerth $5,499 Professional Germany 1 review A German-handcrafted professional alto with black nickel finish and rolled tone holes, producing a distinctively powerful, colorful sound with exceptional depth and vocal expressiveness. Selmer Paris Reference 54 Professional Alto Saxophone 4 4.8 New Selmer Paris Reference 54 Professional Alto Saxophone Selmer $7,499 Professional France 1 review Professional alto saxophone paying homage to the legendary Mark VI era with vintage-flavored warmth, hand engraving, and the honey gold lacquer of the 1954 originals. Selmer Paris Series III Professional Alto Saxophone 5 4.8 New Selmer Paris Series III Professional Alto Saxophone Selmer Paris $8,499 Professional France 1 review Handcrafted French professional alto saxophone representing over a century of Selmer Paris tradition, with meticulously hand-fitted keys and improved Series III intonation. Yamaha YAS-280 Standard Eb Alto Saxophone 6 4.8 New Yamaha YAS-280 Standard Eb Alto Saxophone Yamaha $1,679 Beginner Japan 1 review Gold-standard student alto saxophone with precise keywork and consistent intonation, widely regarded as the finest beginner alto for school band programs. Yamaha YAS-62III Professional Eb Alto Saxophone 7 4.8 New Yamaha YAS-62III Professional Eb Alto Saxophone Yamaha $3,299 Professional Japan 1 review Professional alto saxophone with a hand-engraved bell and redesigned bore, delivering warm, versatile tone trusted by jazz, classical, and commercial musicians worldwide. Yamaha YTS-62III Professional Bb Tenor Saxophone 8 4.8 New Yamaha YTS-62III Professional Bb Tenor Saxophone Yamaha $4,299 Professional Japan 1 review Acclaimed professional tenor saxophone with a V1 neck and hand-engraved finish, delivering precise intonation and versatile tone trusted across jazz, classical, and commercial settings. P. Mauriat PMXA-67R Professional Alto Saxophone 9 4.7 New P. Mauriat PMXA-67R Professional Alto Saxophone P. Mauriat $3,499 Professional Taiwan 1 review A professional alto with 76% copper brass and rolled tone holes producing vintage-inspired dark, warm tone, rapidly building a devoted following as a value alternative to European competitors. Vandoren V16 Series Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece 10 4.7 New Vandoren V16 Series Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Vandoren $165 Intermediate France 1 review Popular jazz and contemporary alto mouthpiece with larger chamber producing dark, full tone with controlled brightness from the step baffle design. Yamaha YSS-475II Intermediate Soprano Saxophone 11 4.7 New Yamaha YSS-475II Intermediate Soprano Saxophone Yamaha $3,499 Intermediate Japan 1 review Intermediate soprano saxophone with straight and curved neck options, making the challenging soprano voice accessible with accurate intonation and comfortable keywork. Yamaha YTS-480 Intermediate Bb Tenor Saxophone 12 4.7 New Yamaha YTS-480 Intermediate Bb Tenor Saxophone Yamaha $2,399 Intermediate Japan 1 review Step-up tenor saxophone with professional design elements and improved ergonomics, suited for committed students advancing beyond beginner instruments in concert band and early jazz. Jupiter JAS1100SG Intermediate Alto Saxophone 13 4.6 New Jupiter JAS1100SG Intermediate Alto Saxophone Jupiter $2,699 Intermediate Taiwan 1 review An intermediate alto saxophone with silver-plated body and gold keys delivering a brighter, more focused sound with increased harmonic complexity, featuring ribbed construction and professional-level keywork. Cannonball Big Bell Stone Series Professional Alto Saxophone 14 4.5 New Cannonball Big Bell Stone Series Professional Alto Saxophone Cannonball $4,299 Professional Taiwan 2 reviews The Cannonball Big Bell Stone Series is a professional alto saxophone with an oversized bell and semi-precious stone inlay, producing a noticeably darker, rounder tone with enhanced low-end resonance that jazz players find commanding. Jean Paul USA AS-400 Intermediate Alto Saxophone 15 4.4 New Jean Paul USA AS-400 Intermediate Alto Saxophone Jean Paul USA $549 Intermediate China 1 review An intermediate alto saxophone delivering reliable performance at a price that undercuts traditional brands, with yellow brass body, comfortable key layout, and included contoured case ideal for advancing students. 16 4.4 New Selmer SAS280R La Voix II Intermediate Alto Saxophone Selmer $2,299 Intermediate Taiwan 1 review Intermediate alto saxophone with Selmer engineering heritage delivering warm, focused tone and professional-style neck design at a step-up price. 17 3.8 New Conn-Selmer Prelude AS711 Student Alto Saxophone Conn-Selmer $1,099 Beginner Taiwan 2 reviews The Conn-Selmer Prelude AS711 is a student alto saxophone with comfortable key ergonomics for smaller hands and a bright, projecting tone, providing young players a dependable first instrument under the trusted Conn-Selmer name.