Let`s say I wanted to try to learn to play the sax. What would be a good instrument (tenor) and brand to begin with?

well first of all i would suggest that you start out playing the alto saxophone(in my opinion its the easiest to start off playing and cheapest usually) selmer makes pretty good beginner horns the Bundy II series cause just a plain selmer is a very expensive horn yamaha makes good sax`s also but they will run you about $1200. you can find usually find someone toteach you how to play pretty easily and don`t forget practice, practice, practice

I agree 100% except that i`d start with a low budget sax. Any will
do. Later on, after a year or 2 you can switch to a better one. You
won`t need that perfect sound anyway during your first year(s), and
it`s a nice suprise to hear yourself playing on a good sax afterwards