Beginner Saxes Inexperienced mum buying 2nd saxophone for beginner- which would you buy?

[CraftiNess]

I am an inexperienced mum buying my young daughter a first alto sax and have 2 options on marketplace to decide between. I am in Sydney Australia and prices in Aus $. For comparison a new Yas26 is currently on sale for $1700(rrp$2100)

Option 1- $700
AS 100 Yamaha Sax built in Japan. Apparently is still currently playable but will need a service and pad replacements. Telling me it is a superior instrument as built in Japan and better than buying a model built in Indonesia. Have said work could cost up to $400 but would have a really good instrument in the end.

Option 2-$900
Yas26 Yamaha. School band owned the instrument on rental and now selling. Saying it’s 2024 model and just been serviced (no service record but still has 2 years warranty with original shop of purchase which is a reputable place). Is made in Indonesia.

Option 3-$600
Yas 275 no idea on age but serviced last year. Apparently owner just found mould on pads but cleaned with eucalyptus oil. Says they work fine but might need pad replacement so has dropped price from $1000 to $600


Which would you buy? I do have an older daughter who plays clarinet and has tinkered with saxophones in the past who could ‘test’ the sound but I don’t want to buy an instrument that is not worth buying to repair. Any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[Wai Lung]

I'll say option 2, as long as it had been comprehensively serviced. Yamaha has a great reputation of having great consistent building quality. My recent overhaul with my tenor has proven to me having a full service could make a world of difference. It is also good to check with the original dealer about warranty servicing. All places and shops in different geographical region would be different. A reputable tech could have a waiting list for comprehensive servicing if the need arises as it could take considerable time. Good luck with your daughter's musical journey!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Telling me it is a superior instrument as built in Japan and better than buying a model built in Indonesia

I’d be wary of someone telling you this.

 

[jonf]

Why does it matter whether something is made in Indonesia? It's the quality of the instrument that counts and Yamaha's made in the factory in Indonesia have been good (I have had a couple).

A pad replacement is an expensive job, as it involves a lot of labour. I wouldn't touch an instrument that has "mould on pads but cleaned with eucalyptus oil". What that means is there are now mouldy pads which have also been contaminated with oil. Of the three options, the one which sounds the best, and the lowest cost overall, is #2

 

[Saxlicker]

I'm not going to make a firm suggestion which of these is the best buy because you really need them in your hands for that. Also I can't guess at Aus $ prices. But like @Wai Lung, of the 3 I have more hope for option 2.

Covering a few bases that help you go in the right direction.
- First of all as a brand, Yamaha is extremely well respected for quality throughout their whole range bottom to top. So in case it was by chance that all 3 are Yamaha, you have a good start with those being in your options.
- What trust can you build in the seller? If these are random for sale ad's which one gives you the most confidence they are knowledgeable and are sure about the saxophones condition? I don't feel a huge amount of knowledge from any option you have listed but if you can check with the store mentioned in option 2, if the warranty is truly still valid and what the warranty will cover it gives you a little comfort. Did they do the service? is the warranty dependant on the service being done? Could you perhaps negotiate taking this sax to the store and getting a health check on it? you could ask if there have been any repairs to the neck and body. Sometimes these are repaired to a high standard and it can be hard to see.
- Dings, dents and scratches and lacquer. Forgetting resale value, scratches have no effect except whether you are prepared to accept how the instrument looks. Dents have more consequence where their presence may have pulled some rods, posts and keys out of alignment. Trauma to the bell and the neck would generally be considered undesirable. Dings (tiny dents) lay somewhere in-between the consequence of scratches and dents and I think the worst places for them would be on the neck or tone holes. Lacquer condition along with the D.D.S's usually gives you a feel for how well the instrument has been cared for.
- As a school rental option 2 raises questions on how it's been treated but if the body and neck are free from D.D.S's and the lacquer is good there shouldn't be too much to worry about.
- Option 1 I'd avoid the hassle and uncertainty and $400 service is a guess by the sounds of it
- Option 3, mould and eucalyptus oil pad recovery doesn't sound great to me. It could be the horn was put away with wet pads and not touched for a long time and in otherwise pristine condition but again you need to be able to tell that with it in your hands and suck up the cost of replacing some pads along the way.

Finally losing a bit of cork or felt is easily done and even heavy handedness can be a factor in a leaky saxophone. Inexperienced players selling a sax may not even know there is something missing or that it leaks. I'd budget for a minor service (negotiate in price) where a shop can take what ever you buy and do some work. This is a world away from the sax in option 1 though. Typically signs of early wear and tear end up with one or two upper stack pads being changed along with a bit of a clean, oil and adjust to the regulation of the keys.

 

[CraftiNess]

Thank you all for your thoughtful and consider advice. It’s is greatly appreciated. Looks like I will be going with option 2. It will be a Christmas present so I’ll post in the new year how it was recieved. Given she has asked relentlessly since age 3 to learn the sax I imagine she will be over joyed. You never know, you may have a fellow enthusiast join this group in a few years.

 

[CliveMA]

I live in Brisbane, Australia. $1700 new for YAS-26 is sales offer at many outlets.

Gumtree does have 2 x YAS-280 listed at $800 & $900, both ~5 years old. Cherrybrook & Mosman.

I, too, suggest Option 2, subject to store confirmation of service & warranty & playability condition.

I hope your daughter loves your gift!

 

[DavidUK]

2.
But take it to a recommended tech for a check over before wrapping it.

 

[atwl77]

The YAS-26 was my first saxophone, and I think it's a great instrument, new or used.

 

[DavidUK]

I think the 26 is equivalent to 25 in the UK?
Had a few 25s. Prefer them to 275 and as good as the current 280 when in good playing condition.
Older is often good with saxophones.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I've never heard of a Yamaha as100.

 

[DavidUK]

See: Saxophones - Yamaha AS-100

 

[Colin the Bear]

Looks like option 2 is a winner.
Ex rental horns have been through the hands of novices and can be pristine or battered. Check for dents, lacquer chips etc.

 

[SaxBoss]

I've never heard of a Yamaha as100.

Australian model number for YAS-23. Yamaha had to change the model number to stop other markets buying cheap 23's at a reduced cost because of our low exchange rate.