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Tips for buying a saxophone Source: Dr Sax
Everybody
seems to have some advice, not all of it is qualified
or based in fact. There is lots of good information
floating around the Internet, such as The Saxophone
Buyer's Guide by Jason DuMars, so I am not going
to rehash the advice of others. Just a few more
things to consider from my experience and possibly
a new perspective: |
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BUDGET |
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Set
a budget. Try to buy at the upper end quality wise of your
budget range rather than the lower end of the
next level of saxophones. You may be able to purchase
a tired or beat pro horn for around the same price
as a new student model, but repairs to saxes are
not cheep so beware when buying a second hand
sax. ask if you can take it in to be looked at
by a repairer and get an evaluation or quote before
you decide. |
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BRANDS |
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Choose
a name brand. For beginner student
models, I tend to recommend second-hand
Yamaha horns as being the most reliable lowest
entry level cost saxophone. Very few beginning
players of any age stay with their first horn
forever. Buying a name brand gives you a far better
chance of a reasonable re-sale price when the
time comes that you want to upgrade. |
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CONDITION |
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Be
guided by physical appearance. Lots of dents, worn lacquer, a ratty case, all
indicate neglect or even abuse that can result
in repair bills which turn your bargain into a
disaster. |
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TEST
IT |
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Preferably
get a teacher or experienced player to test play
the horn you are considering. If
this is not possible, visually check the pads.
Dark dry pads are probably not sealing well and
will require replacement very soon. |
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MOUTHPIECE |
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Check
the condition of the mouthpiece. Look for chips and cracks or "home modifications".
Once again get an experienced player to assess
the suitability of the mouthpiece for the player.
A good standard beginners mouthpiece can be purchased
from around $50. |
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