Saxophones Recommendations for a professional alto sax

[Alex]

Hi everyone!

I begin my career in music.

Let me ask you something - what does the beginning of a musical career usually look like? Is this joining an orchestra or a jazz quartet?

 

[livwest26]

Well, at L2000 a vast range of "professional" alto saxophones is available to you, if you don't require modern. But so many people have been buffaloed into believing that the keys have to be in EXACTLY THAT PLACE or the thing's unplayable; or that "all those old horns play out of tune", that I hesitate to even recommend old horns.. For that money, you can get:

A darn nice Conn 6M
A VERY nice Buescher True Tone, last generation with front F
A pretty good Super 20, though maybe not pretty
A darn nice Martin Committee III
A VERY nice Martin Handcraft Committee 1 or 2 (but it'll almost certainly have been refinished, because of Martin lacquer)
Any number of Vito/Leblanc/Beaugnier made horns, in great condition
Older Buffets
SML
Older Keilwerth, especially branded "H Couf"
An ugly but great playing Buescher 400 of the early best generation

And so on.

Thank you! It’s great to hear about makes that I’ve not heard of! Are there any in particular that you’d recommend looking into more?

 

[livwest26]

Hi @livwest26 ,you last chimed in on on January 16th, 2026. Your introduction thread. OK so you’re 19 years old..

You never really stated your musical experiences. What brands or models you’ve been playing. What genre of music you wish to have a career in ?
To Answers these questions you’ve asked. (I / we) need more information to help you out.
Gobs of money isn’t always the correct answer

Hello! Yes

I hadn’t got to grips with the forum, and so have only just seen that lots of people responded to my initial message!

I’m grade 8 oboist, looking at higher education pieces, with experience playing in orchestras and wind bands/quintets. And ungraded on the saxophone, currently studying grade 7 and above music, specifically in the realm of jazz, funk and pop music. I would like to progress on my understanding and ability around improvisation.

My current saxophone was a gift from my parents, off of Amazon, as they were unsure about whether I’d get along with playing the instrument so did not want to invest too much. It’s a decent play, but now that I’m paving a professional career, I’d like something which will withstand many years of playing and help me produce a clear, lovely sax sound.

Of course know about investing in the correct mouthpiece and reeds to aid this, which I also intend on doing when buying a new sax! (Any advice on these too, is highly welcome)
☺️

 

[jazzdoh]

Of course know about investing in the correct mouthpiece and reeds to aid this, which I also intend on doing when buying a new sax! (Any advice on these too, is highly welcome)

Some great answers above regarding horns, mouthpieces and reeds are a minefield and you will be best as you already know to try as many as you can, as ones we might like might not suit you, good luck with your musical journey.

 

[Pete Thomas]

if you come across a contemporary Borgani or Rampone...

I’m not so found of Borganis myself, but a Rampones can be great, especially the R1 model.