Hi Folks I was wondering if you could give me any advice on which sax to buy.

I am a complete beginner. I am not sure which Sax would be right for me.

I would like to learn to play some light rock or blues music. I dont really intend to play classical music .
The price for the two different models is not much different. I have been told that for a beginner, Alto sax is a bit easier.
Would really appreciate any advice.
Cheers

ALTO: Easier to handle for young players. Lighter. A slightly brighter sound than tenor. Stands out more in a band. Gets better parts in bands (generally). Fuller upper and altissimo registers, but very low notes suffer on most beginner saxes. More comfortable key mechanism (generally). Key of Eb (same as alto and Eb sopranino clarinets.) More expensive.

TENOR: Clumsy for young players. Darker tone. Blends with a band. Upper register sounds weak and fragile (until you get a lot of chops), lower notes are full and responsive. Key of Bb (Same as Bb and bass clarinets and trumpet). More expensive.

Remember, alto is not strictly for young students or vertically challenged people. Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, and Paul Desmond were all pro alto players. I`ve been playing alto for several years and I`m 6`2"!

If you`re going to start playing the sax, tenor or alto, and have the cash for it, i suggest that you get yourself a good reputable saxophone, used or new. Do not get anything that is over $2000 dollars, because there is no need for someone who is just starting to have an expensive pro instrument. Oftentimes pro saxes are hard to control and reject beginners. You can always sell your student one later and get a pro instrument that you really like. It should be comfortable on your fingers and on yourself in general.
Hope this helps,
Bleeding Gums Murphy

Oh yeah, and don`t listen to any suggestions that will no doubt ensue telling you to splurge on a mark vi or a balanced action because it "will all be worth it in the long run", but it won`t. You`ll find yourself out four thousand bucks with an instrument that you will not be able to do anything with until you get really good.
some models to try:
Selmer USA
Yamaha YAS-23
Bundy II
Keilwerth ST-90

Contrary to popular belief, it is helpful and "worth it" to buy a pro mouthpiece and ligature and reeds when you start out. The difference is immense. Since you`ll be playing jazz, Try Bobby Dukoff, Jody Jazz, Meyer, Otto Link, and Phil Barone mouthpieces in any styles you can get your hands on. The open tipped mouthpieces (greater than size 6) are generally more suited for jazz playing and have more projection and "oomph", as i say. Definitely get a Consoli Ramplig Dark ligature. It is the ultimate ligature for almost every style of playing IMHO. DO NOT USE RICO REEDS, they are inconsistent and sound horrible. Rico Royal reeds provide a much better sound for the price. Start on about size 2 or 2 1/2. As you get more advanced in your playing, experiment with harder reed sizes and try out different types like Vandoren and Alexander D.C.

So in short, what i am saying is "Not all saxes and sax equipment are created equal"

Happy sax playing,
Bleeding Gums Murphy

p.s. get a sax teacher

Whoa, that post was long.

i would have to say alto. although i prefer tenor a lot more, alto, in my opinion, is a better beginning sax. that guy up there posted some pretty good reasons. try the yamaha yas-23 with a selmer c* s80 mouthpiece and some vandoren classic reeds (strength 2.5 is good). its a pretty good beginner setup. dont buy a pro instrument.

BGM and JimBob thanks very much for your replies. I appreciate your time.

You both mentioned the YAS 23.

I actually live in Japan . I couldnt see that model in the Japanese brochure. Many people have recommended a YAS 62.
Perhaps the model numbers are different.

It is a bit more expensive than a student model but I have found a place that has a new one under 2000 doll us.

Most people seem to suggest the alto so that will probably be the way I go.

I would be looking to learn just some popular songs so BGM suggests that the alto may be better for this purpose.

Thanks again for your replies and info about reeds etc.I really appreciate it.
Guy

I guess I`m an odd ball, I started on tenor and today tenor is still my main, (I use alto for contemporary classical stuff). I do have to say, alto is eaiser to play, many people refer to the tenor as the beast. I have to completely agree with Bleeding gums about not buying top of the line, get yourself a student model to learn on, you will not regret it. I have been playing for a long time and a mark VI is difficult for me to play on.
You suggested that you want to play some rock and blues, to me tenor would be the way to go for that style of music, tenor has a much darker tone. That is only my opinion though.
I agree with Bleeding Gums again about mouthpiece, but I will add something to it. I found in my playing that you get about the same sound if you combine the mouthpice sizing and reed strength. My example: is that I play with a closed mouthpiece facing "Otto Link 5*", but I play with a 3 1/2 to 4 reed "stronger reed", many other saxophonists that use a more open mouthpiece, use a softer reeds.

Hope this helps

I don`t want to give any advice, because I think everyone else has already given some great advice. I`d like to thank everyone for chipping in and helping this new saxophonist. Special thanks to BleedingGumsMurphy who wrote some excellent replies with lots of valuable advice.

Keep up the excellent advice-giving, guys!

If you see a 62 for less than 2k, GO FOR IT. You`ll never have to buy another horn again, even if you turn pro. Stay away from Selmer S80 c* mouthpieces as they have quite close tips and are meant strictly for classical music. I have found Vandoren classics to work pretty well for jazz, but the Rico Royals I mentioned have the same quality and more consistency with a much smaller price tag.
1 box vandoren: 18.99 USD
1 box Rico Royal: 13.89 USD
1 box alexander d.c.(only 5 reeds): 11.99 USD

p.s. I use size 3 1/2 alexander d.c. reeds with a phil barone new york 8 or a jodyjazz classic 8 mouthpiece with a consoli ramplig dark ligature on a selmer usa student alto. (I`m saving up for an SML or a Black Nickel Couf).

Good Luck,
Bleeding Gums Murphy

i personally think alto is better. it is lighter and easier to handle. once u get good at it, u can try to play tenor if u want. go one step at a time and see which, u enjoy more, but i say, try alto first.

Thanks so much everyone for your advice it is great.
I think I will have a go at Alto.

I hope I can stick at it this time. I tried trumpet a few times but could never get any good at it.
Maybe everyone has fond memories of when they first started playing. To become accomplished at an instrument is a wonderful thing so I hope someday I can to.
Cheers
Guy

definately tenor, it is more of a manly instrument, better sound, better overtones, more metal mouthpieces,more pros play tenor....................

start with a 1 and 1/2 reed then go up. I use regular rico reeds they are ok but want to use a vandoren.

I think that alto would be a little easier for a begginer. See I started out on alto and i`m still with it.But it also depends on what kind of sound you like, whether it`s the higher register or the lower one. I picked alto because that is kind of the same register that i sing in. Alto also kind of sticks out during jazz bands and stuff because they are higher so you get to hear more of them. While tenor on the other hand sounds really deep and you don`t hear them much because they blend in with the trombones or other low instruments( unless there is a solo part). I hope you make the right choice!

as a sax player i have to offer some advice for you. if you want to play blues and all that jazz, go with a tenor with a jazz mouthpiece. but if you totally have no exp. then go with an alto with a jazz mouthpiece. i would also recomend a 3 strenghth reed. good luck!