I got rid of my alto sax 5 years ago, haven’t touched one since. Now I’d like to buy a used one. I can afford to put work into it over time, but I can’t afford more than a couple hundred right now. I don’t care what it looks like, I just want one that functions. I’d prefer a horn that wasn’t made in China using substandard materials, but if my price-point eliminates everything else then I’ll take it. I’ve only owned one sax in my life, which was purchased brand-new by my parents when I was 12. It was a piece of crap, but it worked for me up through my 2nd year of college (at which point I quit playing altogether, because it was holding me back and I couldn’t afford an intermediate or professional horn). I could wait for my tax return and buy a new one outright, but in the meantime I’d like to know what to look for in a used instrument. I don’t know whether to start at music stores or pawn shops or online. Although I remember all the fingerings and most of the theory, my chops are down to zero by now. So I don’t have faith that I could put one through its paces in a test-play.
I think the best thing to do is seek advice from a sax player. Do you have any friends or acquaintances who play? I have helped quite a few people find guitars who are in your situation or were looking for something for their children.
I don’t, not since moving to a completely new area 3ish months ago. My roommate plays bass guitar and cello, though. He’s not in a band, but he could be (he’s good enough). Maybe I could find a saxophonist-of-a-friend that way.
Great idea! Thanks.
Yes, I agree, you should probably find someone who plays the sax at least relatively well to try out any saxophone you’d be interested in buying.
Are there any music stores near you?
And perhaps this goes without saying, but don’t just buy one online or otherwise buy one without trying it out first.
Good luck.