Music

How Much Does a Saxophone Cost

Cost of Saxophone

Although a saxophone is made out of brass, it is part of the woodwind family of instruments. Similar to a clarinet, a saxophone is typically played with a single-reed mouthpiece to create beautiful sounds typically heard in jazz and various types of classical music. This instrument is constructed out of a tube of thin brass which is sometimes gold, silver, or nickel plated, and has intervals of 20 to 23 holes which flow down the tube. Depending on the size and location of the hole that is being covered up, different notes will play, thus making music!

Factors of Cost

Like most anything else, there are plenty of brands and models to choose from which make pricing very competitive. There are beginner models for a saxophonist just learning how to play and there are also advanced models for the professional musician who may be playing in an orchestra or jazz band. The very wide range that a saxophone could cost you is between $300 up to as much as $8,500. Of course the more expensive ones are for professionals and are much higher quality and produced by reputable manufacturers.

Besides just the skill level of the saxophone, there are also other types of saxophones such as Tenor, Alto, Soprano and Baritone instruments to choose between. Most Tenor saxophones will range between $1,100 and $3,200 while an Alto saxophone has a much broader range of $250 up to $5,000. Sopranos are just about as expensive costing between $600 and $5,000 but Baritone’s are the most expensive starting around $2,600 and going up to as high as around $7,000. Of course all of these prices are just averages and the chance you can find one cheaper or more expensive are possible but these are the typical prices you will find a saxophone for depending on your needs.

What’s included

Besides the instrument itself, not much extra is included with a saxophone such as a carrying case or lessons. One small thing you can expect to come with the saxophone is an ordinary mouthpiece. Higher end models might include a neck strap, additional reeds, and a cleaning cloth but don’t get your hopes up.

Dependent on where you purchase your instrument from and the manufacturer, there is also a chance that it will come with a limited warranty. This warranty could be only 30 or could last your entire lifetime, it just depends on the company.

Additional Costs

Although you should receive one mouthpiece with your saxophone, the quality is most likely not very good so you will want to invest in a higher quality mouthpiece. Reeds will also be needed to play your instrument and that is an extra cost that will follow you throughout the entire span of your music career. They are not too expensive but the cost will add up after time.

You may wish that skill comes along with purchasing a saxophone but unfortunately that is not the case in most instances. A method book along with lessons will be a substantial extra cost, possibly adding up to thousands over the years.