The saxophone: review of the best soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones

The best soprano saxophones:

1. Thomann Antique Soprano
2. Yamaha YSS-475 II
3. Hamaril Saxophone Set 1 Soprano

The best alto saxophones:

1. Startone SAS-75 Alto Saxophone
2. Thomann MK IV Handmade Alto Sax
3. Yamaha YAS-280 Set

The best tenor saxophones:

1. Thomann MK IV Handmade Tenor Sax
2. Keilwerth SX 90R Tenor Saxophone Black

The best baritone saxophone :

1. Thomann BariPRO S Baritone Sax

The best soprano saxophones

The soprano saxophone is an instrument that demands agility and dynamism. To make the best choice, it's vital to consider the mechanics of the keys, because they must be easy to press and give an instant sound response. That is precisely what we have taken into account in choosing the best soprano saxophone options in this review.

At Culturasonora we love the manufacturer Thomann for their good value for money. All of their instruments have been designed to meet the needs of a beginner musician on a budget, but with professional aspirations. The Thomann Antique soprano saxophone doesn't disappoint.

Materials:

The Thomann Antique Soprano Saxophone is an instrument made entirely of brass, a material that is widely used in brass instruments (obviously). Brass has a very distinctive characteristic that, for many, goes unnoticed but that greatly influences the final sound result: we are referring to the “antique” finish.

If we look closely at this saxophone, we can notice that it has mottling throughout its length and has a copper hue, indicating that the proportions of copper in the brass are higher than they usually are. This feature enhances the material's resistance to corrosion, but also improves its acoustic characteristics.

In addition, the extra copper content excludes the application of a layer of gold lacquer, which is very common in wind instruments, but which limits their sound properties in several aspects. Likewise, being mainly copper, its response to friction in the keys is much lower and this improves the performance of the mechanics.

The Thomann Antique Soprano makes it clear that aesthetic appearance is not the only purpose, and that the material used can have many other beneficial purposes.

Design:

The Thomann Antique soprano saxophone has been designed in B flat tuning, but being a soprano, its tessitura ranges from B flat 3 to F sharp 5. However, the designers thought of everything and incorporated the key to obtain the G sharp five, so that the player has all the technical resources possible in an instrument of this type.

Similarly, Thomann's designers have incorporated a rocker with a very stable response and an adjustable thumb rest. This is important so that you can maintain the balance of your instrument and not impair your playing.

Something we really like is that it offers the option of incorporating a straight or curved tudel, depending on your preference. In addition, the finish is really cool as it has an aged look reminiscent of an heirloom.

Sound:

We have already mentioned brass, a material that contributes to improve the sound, as it contains a higher percentage of copper. This feature gives a warmth and body to the sound that few cheap or low-end saxophones have.

This material also helps make the key travel faster and that is why the attack is wonderful, with great sustain and reverb. Due to the great response of the keys, the fast movements have good musicality and it's great for playing jazz ensembles, but it's also wonderful for bendings and glissandos.

Conclusion:

This is an instrument for beginners with an excellent construction and the best price-performance ratio. If we must define it in one word, we would say “complete”. The Thomann Antique soprano saxophone is ideal for beginner and intermediate players who want a saxophone that is inexpensive, but has everything to meet their needs. Interested? Find the best prices at Thomann.

The Yamaha company has been consistent when it comes to quality and high prices in brass instruments. This time they present, for the student series, a soprano saxophone that is aesthetically beautiful, with excellent mechanics and a price worthy of Yamaha. But we can also learn a valuable lesson from this example: more expensive is not always better.

Materials:

The Yamaha saxophone for beginners is made of brass and by its copper color we can say that this alloy of copper and zinc has the usual percentages (Cu at 70% and Zn at 30% approximately).

The main difference between the Yamaha YSS-475 II and the Thomann Antique Soprano is that the latter has an alloy with better mechanical characteristics as it's more resistant to fracture and bending. It also has a better acoustic response due to the higher percentage of copper, but despite this, the price of the Yamaha saxophone is three times higher, which makes no sense.

Design:

The Yamaha YSS-475 II saxophone is completely straight, with a straight bell, while the Thomann allows the user to change the bell from straight to curved, and this variant influences the final sound result. Similarly, this saxophone has a key for F sharp but no key for G sharp, while the Thomann saxophone has both.

In terms of aesthetics, this soprano saxophone has a gold lacquer finish. Lacquers have a negative influence on the sound, this is not something that can be easily-percieved as a beginner, but a gifted intermediate and a professional can feel the difference.

Finally, Yamaha has incorporated a very useful plastic resonator pad , as well as a case with straps that simulate a backpack style. It also incorporates the saxophone mouthpiece and strap to keep the instrument stable throughout the day when you are in your studio or concert sessions.

Sound:

We can say that it has a good sound as it's stable, doesn't distort uncomfortably, and is full-bodied, sweet and warm. When the scales are played, one can perceive that it's agile in the movement of the notes, and the groupings are distinguishable, audible.

However, when compared to the Thomann Antique Soprano, the Yamaha lacks reverb, it lacks that aspect that we all like when we feel the sound filling the room. This is important, because the sound feels a bit short, sometimes even dull. This can be fixed with a good technique, although for the high price it should not be necessary.

Conclusion:

Here we have a clear example of the weight that the prestige of a brand has on the final price of the product. However, we are sure that many will prefer the sound of the Yamaha name to that of Thomann, so we recommend it for skeptics who believe in a manufacturer's good name. If you're interested, check out the best price at Thomann.

The Hamaril company has a special dedication to the creation of instruments for beginners and offers some really good sets. Their Set 1 Soprano is an example of this: it has everything a beginner needs and the price of the saxophone is unbeatable.

Materials:

The Hamaril saxophone is made entirely of high quality brass with very good mechanical characteristics, such as its hardness of over 4 on the Mohs scale. In addition, it's highly resistant to oxidation, doesn't wear out or dent easily.

Design:

Being a soprano saxophone, its shape is expected to be straight, but this is not the case here. This model has a traditional curved shape, which is no coincidence, but the reason for the substantial improvement in sound over other straight-shaped models that are much more expensive.

It has a clear lacquer finish on the body and keys, something we at culturasonora don't like very much because it negatively affects the sound. But on this occasion it's really imperceptible, as it has a lot of power. A nice detail is the engraving on the body of this Hamari saxophone that adds a lot of aesthetic beauty and beginners will appreciate it.

Regarding the keys, it incorporates the key for the F sharp, but not the key for the G sharp, so the student will have to develop a very good technique to reach this musical note. The tudel is curved and has an excellent distribution for the air column.

The manufacturers have incorporated a resonatorpad in this set, made of metal. It also comes with a stand, a music stand and an excellent saxophone tuning metronome. The latter works wonderfully and you can adjust it to tune at various frequencies, as well as adjust the speed to practice triplets, sixes, groupets and many beats that you will need to master. It also includes a shock-resistant case with two backpack straps so you can carry it comfortably.

Sound:

The Hamaril Saxophone Set 1 Soprano has power. With a stable yet loud sound, volume will never be a problem. It's enveloping, with a great sustain and reverb so that your performances are of great sound quality. The clusters are a delight, as is the snoring technique, which is wonderfully audible.

Thanks to its mechanics, you will find in this instrument a good response for fast movements. When you play a scale you can appreciate that each musical note is fully heard. We can say that it's a complete saxophone, both for the quality of its construction and aesthetics and for its good sound that will not disappoint any beginner.

Conclusion:

This is a good option for beginners looking for a complete set, of good quality and at a fair price . The Hamaril Saxophone Set 1 Soprano is an excellent choice for all beginners and also for intermediate and professional players looking for an instrument for sharing evenings and rehearsal sessions. To see the best Thomann prices, click here.

Our recommendation:

We are inclined towards the Thomann Antique Soprano, because it has the best sound within the instruments of its range at a very competitive price. But if you want to buy a saxophone set with a tuner and good stands, then the Hamaril is for you.

And as we have seen with the Yamaha model, which is more expensive yet just as, if not less, versatile than other instruments three times cheaper, don't always let brands captivate you with their popular names.

The best alto saxophones

The alto saxophone is one of the most popular saxophones nowadays, mostly sought after by Latin and Caribbean music performers: salsa, bachata, merengue and other related genres. However, it also has a place within flamenco.

We have selected the best alto saxophones on the market and reviewed them so that you can discover all their aspects and make the best decision when buying one.

Startone is a brand of the Thomann company and produces affordable, high quality instruments such as trombones, flutes and bassoons. In the SAS-75 you will find all the performance and excellent features that an entry-level and intermediate saxophone can offer. Interested? Read on to find out all the details.

Materials:

The Startone alto saxophone is an instrument made entirely of brass. This is a material that is widely used in low-end brass and woodwind instruments because it's inexpensive and makes them accessible to students.

As we have seen, brass has a high resistance to breakage of over 760 kg of pressure per cubic centimeter. But it's also very resistant to oxidation, so this instrument will not suffer age-related wear and tear.

Design:

This is an alto saxophone, so its tuning is in E flat. Its tessitura ranges from B flat three to F sharp five, just an octave below the soprano. It also incorporates a key to obtain the high F sharp five so that the interpreter has all the technical resources possible in an instrument of this type.

The designers added several aesthetic details that enrich the Startone SAS-75. We are referring to the keys with white buttons and the engraving on the front of the body which is really beautiful. In short, this is a saxophone designed not only to have a sturdy construction, but also a high quality aesthetic appearance.

Sound:

The sound in this instrument has surprised us because it's wonderful, it has a great quality and this can be felt from the first musical note. The volume is impressive but not strident, and you can feel an enveloping sustain that embraces everything around you. The material, together with its curved shape, helps the keys to move quickly, which is why the attack is fantastic, with great sustain and reverb.

The keys have a quick response that aids the sound of fast movements, which have great musicality. It's great for playing fast jazz notes, but it's also wonderful for bendings and glissandos, and the growl feels great.

Conclusion:

The Startone SAS-75 Alto Saxophone is a pleasant surprise for every saxophone apprentice. It has an excellent, full-bodied sound and has one of the best price/performance ratios on the market. We recommend it for beginner students and intermediate players who want an inexpensive and basic but high quality saxophone. If you want to see the best Thomann prices, follow the link.

Now we have an alto saxophone manufactured by Thomann, which has everything to be the best in its price range. It's wonderful, we love it for its many features, and because they have taken everything a musician needs into account for its construction. But what is it all about? Let's find out :

Materials:

The Thomann MK IV Handmade has a body made of 92% copper 8% zinc. It's important to emphasize that it's not more resistant to fracture and stress than brass, but it's resistant enough so that you can pass the instrument down to the next generations. The wrenches are made of brass, a good decision since they are the ones that require the most resistance, because the greatest tension is exerted on them. Overall, it's a very solid model.

Design:

In terms of design, this Thomman saxophone is handmade, so the process is meticulous at every stage. It incorporates the key to play the high F sharp. Both the body and the keys have a matte lacquer finish, an element that we don't like very much in culturasonora because it affects the acoustic capabilities, but it seems to have no effect in this instrument.

The key buttons have mother-of-pearl inlays that add a beauty everyone can appreciate. It also has engravings along the entire body and on the inner edge of the bell. It's a beautiful instrument in its entirety. In addition, it includes a metal resonator pad, a cotton pouch and a hard case with backpack straps, so you can carry it safely anywhere.

Sound:

We love the sound of the Thomann MK IV Handmade. It gives the impression of being a vintage saxophone, as it produces a sound that compares to the high-end instruments reminiscent of the 50s and 60s. The volume is balanced, and doesn't demand much from the performer's technique. It's the same with the sustain, as it floods the room and, together with the reverb, seems to have been manufactured with the intention of pampering the listener's sense of hearing.

The fast movements are a delight. Also the grupettos, rubatos and legatos, but what you will enjoy the most is the growl because it's great. All in all, this is an alto saxophone that has everything to be one of the best in this price range and level.

Conclusion:

The Thomann MK IV Handmade has features that at times border on the higher ranges and we recommend it for all levels. If you are a beginner and have a good budget, then consider this option. But if you are an intermediate saxophonist, this is the instrument you are looking for. Both its sound and its construction are a true delight for the senses. Check out the best prices at Thomann.

The Yamaha company has developed many wind instruments for all ranges and the truth is that most of their student models are not to our liking. But this changes in the mid and advanced ranges, and the Yamaha YAS-280 Set is no exception. This is a different, dynamic saxophone that has a more attractive and captivating sound than other more expensive ones.

Materials:

This Yamaha alto saxophone is an instrument made entirely of brass, an inexpensive material that makes the instruments more affordable. We have already detailed that brass has a high resistance to fracture, enough to make your instrument last for many decades. It's also highly resistant to oxidation and moisture.

Design:

The Yamaha YAS-280 Set has been designed with an E-flat tuning, which is the conventional tuning for an alto saxophone. This model is adapted to the needs of beginners because it incorporates a new socket tube with a curved tudel.

Similarly, improved tilting allows the low B and C sharp to be more pronounced and powerful. It also features a key for the high F sharp, an adjustable thumb rest for greater comfort and an inner ring in the bell.

But this is not all. This is a special set for students that includes an excellent saxophone stand that is adjustable to various sizes and also has a sheet music stand, as well as a wonderful alto saxophone tuner. It also comes with a set of eight reeds in different sizes so that you have spares and varieties to try until you find your ideal sound. And you can't miss the much-needed hard case to protect your investment.

Sound:

The sound is what impressed us the most, and we wonder why Yamaha won't apply the same recipe in all its other options. It's compact, with good volume and the sustain is what we should always look for in a wind instrument. We love the quick notes that are as audible as in a high-end model.

The growl acquires a body that no other model in this price range has. You can also try the slap tongue technique thanks to the various rods included.

Conclusion:

We loved this Yamaha alto saxophone because it's ideal for a student looking for quality on a budget. We recommend it not only for students, but also for intermediate levels who want to buy a complete set of great quality, with a great sound and for a really good price. Find the best Thomann prices.

Our recommendation:

These are three excellent alto saxophones that you can go for with your eyes closed, because they are all good. If you want to buy an alto saxophone set, the Yamaha is the ideal one, but if you want one with a more affordable price, the Startone is the one. Now, if what you want is a mid-range one that borders on the highest ranges but with a cost three times lower, you should choose the Thomann, you will not be disappointed.

The best tenor saxophones

The tenor saxophone is the most popular among all types of saxophones and this is due to its versatility, since with them you can reach notes that seem impossible. Of course, to do this you must develop an excellent technique.

We will now present the best tenor saxophones on the market, the ones with the best quality/price ratio.

Thomann is taking things more and more seriously, and this is a tenor saxophone that we at culturasonora have loved for each of its features. This is a mid-range instrument, but it has everything to be high-end. Let's take a look:

Materials:

The MK IV Handmade Tenor Sax has a body made of 92% copper and 8% zinc. As we have mentioned, it's not as resistant as brass but it's still a very durable material. The keys are made of brass because they are the ones that suffer the most wear and tear due to the stress that is exerted on them.

Design:

This saxophone has been completely handmade following a handcrafted design, so the process has been of the highest quality at all stages. It incorporates the key to play the high F sharp.

The body and keys have a matte lacquer finish, an element that, as we have said, reduces the instrument's sound properties. In this case however, it doesn't seem to have an effect. The company has included a metal resonator pad, a cotton cloth cover and a hard case with straps so you can carry it like a backpack.

The key buttons are inlaid with completely original abalone to enhance their aesthetic beauty and also feature a series of engravings across the body and on the inner edge of the bell.

Sound:

The sound of the MK IV Handmade Tenor Sax also has that vintage Thomann alto saxophone charm. The volume is balanced, not very demanding on the performer's technique. The sustain is powerful and, together with the reverb, delights the auditory sense of those who manage to listen to its notes. The fast movements are excellent, as well as the groupings, rubatos, legatos and growl.

Conclusion:

What else to say about this saxophone? We love it, it's great and we recommend it for all levels. Yes, its price may be higher than other options for students, but if you can afford it, do not think twice and buy it because you will not find another with these features at this price. Intrigued? Find the best Thomann prices.

This time we leave child's play aside and venture out with a Keilwerth saxophone, none other than the SX 90R. This is one of the great brands because they have the two most valuable elements today: technology and tradition. With this combination, Keilwerth has made us fall in love. Let's see why.

Materials:

The body of this saxophone is made of brass. But it's not just any brass, because it has 80% copper and 20% zinc, which enhances the resistance and acoustic properties. Now, it has a nickel-plated finish, which means greater durability and greater sound qualities. Nickel has a resistance over five times that of brass.

The screws are stainless steel, which is great. Keilwerth has stepped out of the traditional to create a completely new but handmade instrument.

Design:

The Keilwerth SX 90R follows a traditional design. The keys are clear lacquered but are hand polished and have mother of pearl key inlays with no metal rim.

The diameter of the bell is 155 mm, slightly larger than usual. It also has sound hole rings to improve resonance, an adjustable rest to improve thumb position and all palm keys are adjustable. It has an additional F-sharp key with a screw to adjust as desired. But in addition, it has a sustained G pad with cup lifting mechanism and various black leather pads with metal resonators.

This is a great tenor saxophone, the best on our list and perhaps, on the market.

Sound:

The sound is fantastic in every way. The bass notes have a phenomenal balance and the transition from mid to high frequencies is almost imperceptible. The sustain is enveloping and captivating and the reverb covers everything in its path. The fast notes are completely audible and distinguishable, and the same is true for the gruppettos . Techniques are easy to execute and will not be a problem.

Conclusion:

The Keilwerth SX 90R Tenor Saxophon is the best in our top tenor saxophones because it has a traditional design with a wonderful touch of modernism, the materials used for its manufacture are atypical but work together to give life to an instrument that has an impressive sound. We recommend it for anyone looking for a high-end saxophone that is impressive. Interested? Check out the best prices at Thomann.

Our Recommendation:

Without hesitation, we recommend the Keilwerth SX 90R because it's one of the best tenor saxophones you will find, although unfortunately it will not suit everyone's finances. If you have a budget in between, you can buy the Thomann MK IV Handmade Tenor Sax, which is fantastically made and provides a really good, almost high-end sound.

The best baritone saxophone

The baritone saxophone is the most expensive saxophone on the market, but this is due to its large size. Nevertheless, its wonderful sound and versatility are a delight for every wind instrument lover. If you love the saxophone, you must love the baritone.

Thomann offers what is perhaps the best student baritone saxophone on the market, because its value for money is by far the best we can find. For this reason we have chosen it as the only representative of its kind and we have prepared this review so that you can make the best decision.

Materials:

The body and keys of the Thomann BariPRO S are made of brass, the most common material for this type of instrument, which is the reason for its relatively-affordable price. Well, although expensive, this model is quite accessible compared to other baritone saxophones.

Design:

Its design corresponds to what Thomann has called “BariPRO series” because it has all the resources that a high-end baritone saxophone can carry. We are referring to the high and low F-sharp keys. The designers have incorporated Italian pads for maximum sensitivity in each of the keys.

In terms of aesthetics, in addition to the beautiful silver finish and hand carvings, the manufacturer has incorporated mother-of-pearl inlays on the key buttons that look great.

Sound:

The sound is what it should be: deep, full and with a precision in the bass that is mind-blowing. Thanks to the key of the grave, its depth is maximum, which is what everyone expects from a high-end model.

All in all, the full sonic spectrum of this instrument is what a professional musician expects to find in a high-end instrument, but here's one for students that has it all.

Conclusion:

This is the only baritone saxophone we have reviewed because its value for money is unbeatable. Of course, there are many baritone saxophones that are better, but you won't believe their prices, and the sound difference between the Thomann and the others is not that big.

We recommend it for beginners and intermediates who want a complete instrument, but also for professionals who want an instrument made for war, and who wouldn't risk more than ten thousand euros in investment only to be disappointed. Find the best Thomann prices on this link.

Remember to visit our website, there you will find objective and in-depth reviews of the best wind instruments on the market, such as trumpets, clarinets and more.

Saxophone Technical Characteristics