OK, have to purchase a used saxomophone

[Oger]

My ten year old boy wants to learn to play the saxophone, we signed him up at school, he starts his music class next wed, I found several used student sax's in the Bargain news ;

ALTO SAXES,
450, all in good condition, ready for school, $350. (860) 767-7946 (4x). Essex

ALTO SAXOPHONE,
Vito, w/hard case, used 1 school season, $800 OBO. (203) 237-3193. Meriden

ALTO SAXOPHONE,
Vito 7133, new condition, $750. (203) 288-0988 or (203) 804-4142 cell (4X) . Hamden

ALTO SAXOPHONE,
Jean Baptiste, practically brand new, 2 neck straps & reeds, $500 OBO. (203) 393-2692. Bethany

ALTO SAXOPHONES,
Bundy alto repadded, $375; Vintage Conn, very good cond, best offer; others available. (203) 261-5624. Turmbull

BUNDY II ALTO SAX,
good condition, ready for school, $350. (860) 767-7946 (4X). Essex

MISC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS,
silver flute, Gemeinhardt, w/case, $125; clarinet, Henkin, USA, ebony, $100; saxophone, tenor, Vito, hard case, exc cond, $550; trombone, $150. (203) 259-0259. Fairfield

PLAYER PIANO,
old upright Gibbs w/auto saxophone feature, cabinet and inner workings need to be refurbished, great restoration project, first come first served, $25. (203) 281-4915 (2x) . Hamden/New Have

SAXOPHONE,
Vito, alto, recently seviced, repaded, w/case, $240. (203) 888-2577 . Seymour

SAXOPHONE,
Soprano Borgani, repadded, $300 OBO. (203) 261-5624. Trumbull/Easton

SAXOPHONE,
by Bundy, w/case, plays well, $150. (860) 445-4008 . Groton


Now I do not want to spend a bundle of cash until I know he is going to stick with it, any sax players out there that will help me pick a decent sax to learn on ?

Please

 

[Oger]

No sax players here ?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Oger
No sax players here ?

I played from 6th to 12th grade, but I haven't touched it since. Sorry.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

The school doesn't have any?

- M4H

 

[Oger]

Fausto, you cannot help me choose ?

I just need to pick one out and buy it, I have no idea what to look for

The school doesn't have any?

Negative, either rent one ($65 per month) or buy one.

 

[Rufio]

what is a saxomophone? A sax for gay guys?

 

[Heisenberg]

I'm not a sax player, but I used to play trumpet. I would recommend checking with a local music store for used instruments and recommendations. I can't be much help on brands other than to say I saw a lot of people with Bundy saxes.

 

[Oger]

Thanks Heisenberg, you will be compensated

(Heisenberg compensator)

what is a saxomophone? A sax for gay guys?

He, real funny


"Homer's voice"

Saxomophone, saxomophone

 

[ZoNtO]

Ditto to the trumpet. I would honestly just get the cheapest, "playable" one you can find because you don't know if he's going to want to stick with it. I played for 3 years and then decided it wasn't for me anymore, so now it's in the basement just sitting there. Make sure he proves his commitment to the practice before you plunk down the cash for a nicer instrument.

Hope that helped

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Oger
Negative, either rent one ($65 per month) or buy one.

That alternately sucks and blows. Even at my relatively ghetto-grade school, it was a free loan with the terms of "you break it, you bought it" signed with your parents.

- M4H

 

[Ogg]

I wanted to play sax too but they were too expensive so my mom came home with an old beat up trumpet.....worked out well though.


Bundy is the standard usa entry level cheap brand........

of course he'll need an alto not a soprano

 

[Pliablemoose]

Send his musit teacher an email.

Basic rule of thumb is to buy something (anything) cheap initially, and move up if he stays in band.

I currently have a flutist & bassonist in the house, have to chaperone band kids tomorrow night to an away game

Another thing to keep in mind is that's it's nice to have an instrument specifically for marching band & one for concert use. The cheap/used one for marching band, I've seen some spectacular training crashes this year

Instruments hold their value well.

 

[Oger]

That alternately sucks and blows. Even at my relatively ghetto-grade school, it was a free loan with the terms of "you break it, you bought it" signed with your parents.

I live in a ritzy area where the parents have to supply the children, not the schools

Thanks for all the great advice guys

 

[virtueixi]

I played in 6th grade, unfortunatly I have no idea about the different brands. However, I do have an interesting story:

I knew that they were one of the more expensive instruments (mine was $700 I remeber my teacher saying). My school rented them from a company and it was made fairly clear that we would be responsible for them. I signed it out for the weekend and when I got back to school monday morning after having breakfast with my friends, I decided to return mines so that I wouldn't have to lug it around all day. I walked up to the music room (attic of the school) and two flights of stairs later, my case opens! The damn thing falls a flight of HARD steps. I gasped and was scared sh!tless. It was dented in a few spots and the big thing that opens a hole was broken, but nothing fell off. My family wasn't exactly loaded at the time, so I felt really bad for my parents who would have to cough up sooo much money.

I put in in the case and go up and show my teacher. He didn't seem pissed at all, he was one of those mild mannered-quiet guys. He says that he'll try and see what he can do about it. Everyday for the rest of the school year I was worried he would give me a bill to give to my parents, but it never happened! I dodged a huge bullet right there!

 

[gooch]

I played in elementary and HS. Start him out on an Alto sax (not too big, not too small). Get a playable instrument. With the amount of moving parts on a sax, it is very susceptible to damage, so there is no need to get a higher end unit until your son really picks up steam on the instrument. I still have my Alto sax from 4th grade, and I have only had to repad the D# pad. It has had it's fair share of use, but it is still servicable.

My daughter just started band as well. She started out on the flute (because her friends were playing the flute) but it never took hold. She has now transfered to Trumpet and is enjoying it much more. I think it has to do with the number of 'keys' she has to worry about, and thinks that the Trumpet is easier because of it (HA!). So keep in mind that your boy may want to change instruments...

Good luck!

 

[CaptnKirk]

Have you contacted Bill Clinton ?
He's a Sax Fiend.

Seriously - size the instrument to the person, and minimize your cost.
You can usually terade in/trade up if they like it and stay with it.

The Sax used to be the main 'Bride' instrument of most 'rock' songs on the 50's,
should find one in a pawn shop that needs a good home, clean the mouthpiece & get a new reed.

 

[Ameesh]

I played saxophone for roughly 10 years, i started off with a bundy saxophone, yamahas are fine as well.

I wouldn't spend too much money on the first one, if he sticks with it and plays for several years he can then upgrade later.

i would suggest alto saxophone or maybe tenor but alto will give him the most versatility but tenors have the advantage of having a lot more arrangements for jazz..

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: ZoNtO
Ditto to the trumpet. I would honestly just get the cheapest, "playable" one you can find because you don't know if he's going to want to stick with it. I played for 3 years and then decided it wasn't for me anymore, so now it's in the basement just sitting there. Make sure he proves his commitment to the practice before you plunk down the cash for a nicer instrument.

Hope that helped

Sell yours to Oger. I see no negatives here!

 

[Spamela]

the standard advice is to get one that he can play well on
(you can always sell it if he loses interest).

i'd avoid Bundy, but maybe ask his teacher what he'd recommend.

 

[mitaiwan82]

I had a Bundy II as my beginning alto sax in 6th grade, then moved up to a Yamaha intermediate sax in 8th grade and use that throughout high school. You can usually find some decent instruments at pawn shops at good prices, but YMMV. The Bundy II was a beginner sax, but not something you'd want to keep playing on if you get serious. Make sure all the pads look like they're in good condition (not dried out or sticking when you press down on them).

 

[Dracos]

My son just started trumpet lessons the noise level in the home will never be the same again.

Only option we had was rent from the local music store at 30.00 a month....or buy one....

 

[Weeeman]

I've got a pretty nice alto sax, I never was really any good so I didnt play much.. just sitting in its case .. its a salmar/selmar something of that sort.. Its pretty nice, thats about all I can say...

Anyone think a sax would sell in FS/FT :laugh:

 

[gooch]

Selmer is a nice brand. I always wanted to get a Selmer Super Action 80 series II when I was playing in my HS jazz band.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Dracos
My son just started trumpet lessons the noise level in the home will never be the same again.

Only option we had was rent from the local music store at 30.00 a month....or buy one....

Try bassoon & flute playing different things @ the same time