The Best Saxophones on Reverb
The most popular saxophones on Reverb, updated daily.
A moody presence that can go from sultry to stark in a single breath, saxophones are immediately recognizable with an irreplaceable sound. It's not hard to pick them out wherever you look: the jazz of Charlie Parker, the searing rock of Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen, the creative frontiers of Colin Stetson's work with Arcade Fire and Bon Iver.
Whether you're a beginner, someone with experience looking to upgrade, or a seasoned pro looking for a new workhorse, keeping an eye on the best-selling saxophones is never a bad idea. From the accessibility of the Selmer Bundy II Alto to the polished looks and tone of the Yamaha YTS-62III Professional Tenor, the most in-demand saxophones can be found here.
This page updates in real time with current data, so what you’re seeing is up-to-the-minute rankings. Click on each entry for more info and check out the bottom of the page for more details on buying a saxophone.
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Selmer Bundy II Alto Saxophone
Starting at €268.63The Selmer Bundy II Alto Saxophone is generally considered an excellent beginner or student-level alto saxophone. - 2
Yamaha YAS-200ADII Alto Saxophone
Starting at €1,256.92The YAS-200AD is the predecessor of Yamaha's YAS-23 student model. The second generation features an improved neck receiver.
Features: Yellow brass neck/body/bell, Yamaha 4C mouthpiece, leather pads with wool felt, plastic tone boosters, nickel-plated keys, Front F auxiliary keys - 4
Yamaha YAS-52 Alto Saxophone
Starting at €2,600.99The YAS-52 is the discontinued predecessor to Yamaha's current YAS-475. The YAS-52 was intended as an intermediate, transitory model for advanced beginners.
Features: Yellow brass neck/body/bell, Yamaha 4C mouthpiece, leather pads with wool felt, plastic tone boosters, nickel-plated keys, Front F auxiliary keys - 5
Yamaha YTS-62 Tenor Saxophone
Starting at €1,850Based on the specifications of the company's original flagship 62 series, the YTS-62 is Yamaha's most popular professional series tenor saxophone.
Years of production: ca. 1990-2000
Features: Annealed yellow brass neck/body/bell, hand-engraved bell, Yamaha G1 mouthpiece, leather pads with wool felt, plastic tone boosters, tilting-style low Bb spatula keys, polyester key buttons, Front F and High F# auxiliary keys - 6
Yamaha YAS-62III Professional Alto Saxophone
Starting at €2,025.81Conceived as a professional instrument available at an affordable price point, the YAS-62 is based on Yamaha's well-known 61 line. The saxophone implements professional elements such as tilting low Bb spatula keys, refined key shape, and annealed brass for denser material and clearer tone.
The third generation features a slimmer neck designed to more easily attain consistent tone.
Years of production:1979-present
Features: Yellow brass neck/body/bell, hand-engraved bell, Yamaha AS4C mouthpiece, leather pads with wool felt, polyester tone buttons, Front F auxiliary keys - 8
Yamaha YTS-62II Tenor Saxophone
Starting at €2,335.05Based on the specifications of the company's original flagship 62 series, the YTS-62 is Yamaha's most popular professional series tenor saxophone.
The second generation featured a redesigned neck and octave key, silicon-treated leather pads, and blue steel needle strings.
Years of production: ca. 1990-2000
Features: Annealed yellow brass neck/body/bell, hand-engraved bell, Yamaha G1H mouthpiece, plastic tone boosters, tilting-style low Bb spatula keys, polyester key buttons, Front F and High F# auxiliary keys - 10
Yamaha YTS-480 Intermediate Tenor Saxophone
Starting at €2,138.93The YTS-480 is designed as an intermediate model for beginners/students to transition into a higher-quality model. The saxophone features a neck based on the specifications of Yamaha's professional YTS-62 series.
Features: Yellow brass neck/body/bell, annealed neck, hand-engraved bell, Yamaha 4C mouthpiece, leather pads with wool felt, plastic tone boosters, nickel-plated keys, polyester key buttons, Front F and High F# auxiliary keys - 13
Yamaha YAS-82Z Custom Z Alto Saxophone
Starting at €2,785.49Based on the scale of the original Yamaha 62 models, the Custom Z series combines high-quality construction and materials with modern production with the aim of recreating classic saxophones.
Years of production: 2003-present
Features: Custom G1 neck, annealed French brass bell/neck/body, mother of pearl keys, Yamaha 4CM, leather/wool felt pads, plastic tone boosters, engraved bell, - 16
Yamaha YAS-82ZII Custom Z Alto Saxophone
Starting at €4,221.78Based on the scale of the original Yamaha 62 models, the Custom Z series combines high-quality construction and materials with modern production with the aim of recreating classic saxophones.
The second generation features an adjustable Front F key, metal resonators, V1 neck and one-piece bell.
Years of production: 2013-present
Features: Custom G1 neck, annealed French brass bell/neck/body, mother of pearl keys, Yamaha 4CM, leather/wool felt pads, plastic tone boosters, engraved bell,
What to Consider When Buying a Saxophone
Student/Intermediate/Professional
As you might have guessed, these three distinctions mark out general divisions in material, build quality, and ultimately, price. Each has its advantages: for example, in addition to being the most affordable, Student models are also good options heavy use in that wear and tear won't set you back thousands like it would with a Professional model.
Generally speaking, Student models do the trick, Professional models offer markedly improved tone with extra flourishes like engravings, and Intermediate hit that sweet spot of pro tone and feel without as much flash.
Alto/Tenor/Baritone
This is going from small to large with specific applications according to genre and even a player's stature. Alto saxes are the most popular for their smaller size and multitude of classical pieces at the ready. Tenors are popular among jazz players for its blend of articulation and more robust tone, and the Baritone is a whale of an instrument with the lowest tones and biggest body.