Buying a used sax
 

I'm in the market for a cheap, used saxophone. I was told that buying used isn't such a good idea for a sax. Does anyone have any experience buying a sax (or similar wind instrument) off either craig's list or ebay?

no first hand experience but check to make sure there are no cracks or dents in the actual horn. even small dings will negatively affect your sound.

also, even if you're buying used, buy a new mouthpiece. that way you can just slap it on and try it. otherwise you might as well make out with the seller before blowing on their horn.

I play the flute, and I made the mistake once of buying one second hand off ebay. When I got it, there were dents-galore in the body of the instrument, as well as scratches that were well beyond repair. Things that you can buy online are not tangible like they are in a store, so you can't touch them or try them out before you buy the item.

I would advise you to be cautious and do some research before buying the sax. Also, think about what you are going to be using the instrument for (performance? home practice? school?) and how long you plan on playing the sax.

I've been playing the flute for nearly 14 years, and the general rule about any woodwind instrument is that if you buy the instrument NEW, and use it for school or performance, it should provide you with quality sound for about 12-15 years with annual maintenance.

With that in mind, make sure the listers on ebay or craigslist mention how old the instrument is, when it was manufactured, how often they played it, etc, or be sure that you can ask them these questions.

DO NOT BUY INSTRUMENTS ON EBAY!!! Especially ones where visual flaws can also affect the sound quality. I personally would never buy even an electric guitar off of ebay (an instrument the aesthetic condition of which usually doesn't affect the sound quality). It's just an easy way to get scammed into buying something that you don't really want.

Craigslist however, is a good place to find instruments because you can meet the person selling them and test them out before you commit to buying anything. Be wary though, you may want to have someone who knows a bit about saxaphones look over it as some things aren't noticeable to the untrained eye.


....and as Mr Dave said....please buy your own mouthpiece.