I`m a bass clarinet player looking to buy a saxophone because they don`t let clarinet player join jazz band at my high school. I was shopping around ebay and then it hit me, ha... i dont know the first thing about saxophones. sooooo, I need some advice as to what brand and models of alto or tenor sax are worth buying. I need to know about smaller brands to! Also, i would like some advice as to what type of saxophone to play. I play bass clarinet so big instruments aren`t an issue but i don`t really wan`t to play bari. I need help fast!!!

Ok, i need to know a few things first.

What is your price range?
have you ever played jazz before?
how much would you practice?
How is your theory? scales etc...?

You would also HAVE to buy a good mouthpiece if you are planning to play in a high school jazz band.

Thanks.

I played a little jazz with my clarinet. I would probably practice 15-30 minutes a day. My theory is ok but in my middle school they didnt teach many scales and i have just begun to work on the more advanced scales. As for price range i really don`t want to spend too much because i`m really only going to use it for jazz band but i may be able to find a good deal on ebay. I bought a professional model oboe for less than 300.00.

well since u play bass clarinet i would reccomend the tenor sax. it has much the same feeling as bass clarinet except your embouchure is just a bit looser. for the tenor since ur just starting with jazz sax and it won`t take u long to mater fingerings i would reccomend a meyer 5m for tenor they will run u about $70-$80. go with lavoz medium reeds. eventually when ur rdy u can move up to metal mouthpieces and harder reeds to get that super fat tenor sound. like a clarinet on steroids.

James, that was going to be my suggestion exactly. though i would personally get a 6m with med lavoz.


You will not get a decent sax for near 300....if you are willing to go to about 900.00 you can get something really nice, heck i could even sell you my back up proffessional sax.

what about brands, are there any i should avoid or look for? Pearl, Selmer, Conn, Selmer Bundy, King etc.! Thanks

Yanagisawa and Selmer, Monique is also solid.

i have a hawk and it works great in jazz band!

UMM if you play bass clarinet, go to bari. Bass clarinet is one of the most important secondary instruments for a bari player to kno, so you got that going

yeh, but personally i think that bari saxes sound like lawn mowers

lmao lawn mowers u giving them to much credit. bari saxes sound like rusty old chainsaws. the only way to stop them sounding like a train is coming through your house is to give em a C* and a freaking strength 5 vandoren(wooden bricks as far as i`m concerned.)