Recommend me a saxaphone

[Skyedriver]

Thinking of getting a saxaphone to learn on, an alto i believe is best. I know of Selmer & B & H but guess they will be too expensive. Can anyone recommend a good cheap make as a first.
Thanks

[Skyedriver]

Anyone any comments on an SMS Academy, there are two for sale near me.

[atlex]

Would start by spelling it Saxophone

[otolith]

Wife says three brands she would recommend are Yamaha, Trevor James and Jupiter, but suggests looking at major retailers like Holmes Music, Normans and Bonners and seeing what student instruments they have. Avoid shops selling their own brand instruments. Avoid cheap Chinese brands.

[otolith]

SMS Academy gets a blank 'wtf' stare, by the way.

[Skyedriver]

atlex said:

Would start by spelling it Saxophone

oops and me normally the spelling pedant

[Skyedriver]

otolith said:

Wife says three brands she would recommend are Yamaha, Trevor James and Jupiter, but suggests looking at major retailers like Holmes Music, Normans and Bonners and seeing what student instruments they have. Avoid shops selling their own brand instruments. Avoid cheap Chinese brands.

Thanks

[timbob]

SMS Academy also gets a "Who?" from me. As a sax-geek, if I've not heard of it, I'd advise to steer clear.

In terms of an alto saxophone for not too much money, I would look at:

- Trevor James (The Horn Classic is their entry alto I think)

- Jupiter (a new one - they got good a few years ago)

- A 2nd hand Yamaha (they are great, but their entry YAS25 is seven or eight hundred odd quid new)

In general, avoid anything Chinese. They *do* make some OK saxes now, but you need to know what you're looking for. Taiwanese is FINE - they make some good pro level saxes now. Anything Japanese (Yamaha or Yanagisawa) is also good, but will be too expensive.

Stick to the above three makes, and you should be fine. Beware ebay. In fact, I'd go so far as to say "don't buy your first sax on ebay". I've had SO MANY students find "something cheaper on the internet" that it's not funny! They're invariably rubbish, and play awfully.

[JRM]

Alto is a sensible place to start, I learnt on a Yamaha YAS-32, not sure if they still sell the same model, but it has lasted donkey's years and is still a lovely instrument.