Buying Used Saxophones

Saxophones, like all other woodwind instruments, are best brought brand new. The general rule for woodwind is that people buy them new and the general rule for stringed instruments is that you buy them second hand as the older the instrument is, the better its tone, in many cases.

There are many reasons you might be looking at buying a used saxophone, maybe as a standby instrument to use if your primary instrument fails on you. Some people may want to buy a used saxophone so that they can play on it to see if you like playing it before buying a better standard one.

What is your budget?

Before looking at buying a used saxophone you must decide on a budget.  A lower limit is not essential but you must have an upper limit to make sure you don’t go over the amount of money you want to spend. You should also tell the person or shop you are buying the saxophone from how much you want to spend, then they can tell you what to expect from your money and then they can show you a range of clarinets in the price range that you can afford.

Get advice from a professional

When buying a used saxophone it is best to get advice from someone who knows what they are talking about. It is all very well to buy a saxophone from the internet or a site like eBay. With eBay a picture of a saxophone can look very good but remember pictures can be doctored to look good and to show the product in a better light than they really are. Also, with musical instruments, it is best to play them before you buy them. You won’t know if the saxophone is right for you or not unless you play it.

What is your standard?

Another point to consider when buying a used saxophone is what standard of playing you are. If you are playing at a Grade 7 standard then there is little point in buying a clarinet that will take you to Grade 3 standard because the tone production won’t be right for your standard. Similarly, there is little point in buying a Grade 8 standard clarinet if you are just starting out because it would be a waste of money.

Where to buy a used saxophone…

It might be tempting to buy a used saxophone over the internet without playing it first but it is not advisable. It is best to buy a used saxophone from a reputable woodwind shop or a woodwind or saxophone dealer.