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Best Alto Saxophones Under $500 2025

Affordable alto saxophones under $500 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: October 22, 2025 • Next update: October 29, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $500 Under $800 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Jazz For Blues For Pop For Classical For Rock For Smooth Jazz
BRANDS: Thomann Yamaha Selmer Rampone & Cazzani Forestone Yanagisawa Keilwerth
Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax Set II - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax Set II

by Thomann
Blues Classical Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both lead and harmony
✓ PROS
  • • Most popular and versatile saxophone
  • • Excellent for both lead and harmony
✗ CONS
  • • Learning curve for proper embouchure
  • • Reed replacement costs add up

Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax Set II*Bundle offer comprising*, Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax*Alto Saxophone*Body and key system...

⭐ 4.9/5 (53 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 519499
$450
Buy at Thomann View Details
Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax Set II - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax Set II

by Startone
Pop Classical Jazz
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners and professionals
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of available music
  • • Excellent for both lead and harmony
✗ CONS
  • • Requires regular maintenance
  • • Can be loud for apartment practice

Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax Set II*Bundle offer comprising*, Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax*Alto Saxophone*Tuning: EbWith high...

⭐ 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 518650
$472
Buy at Thomann View Details
Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax

by Thomann
Rock Classical Jazz
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both lead and harmony
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of available music
  • • Most popular and versatile saxophone
✗ CONS
  • • Reed replacement costs add up
  • • Quality instruments are expensive

Thomann TAS-180 Alto SaxAlto SaxophoneBody and key system made of brassNarrow scaleHigh F# keyFront F keyAdjustable...

⭐ 4.4/5 (32 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 413650
$362
Buy at Thomann View Details
Thomann TAS-180 Vintage Alto Saxophone - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Thomann TAS-180 Vintage Alto Saxophone

by Thomann
Blues Smooth Jazz Classical
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of available music
✓ PROS
  • • Great for beginners and professionals
  • • Wide variety of available music
✗ CONS
  • • Can be loud for apartment practice
  • • Quality instruments are expensive

Thomann TAS-180 Vintage Alto SaxophoneAlto SaxophoneHigh F# keyFront F keyBodyS-bow and key system made of...

⭐ 4.9/5 (54 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 475545
$438
Buy at Thomann View Details
Thomann TAS-180 Black Alto Saxophone - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Thomann TAS-180 Black Alto Saxophone

by Thomann
Rock Smooth Jazz Jazz
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both lead and harmony
✓ PROS
  • • Most popular and versatile saxophone
  • • Perfect pitch range for most music
✗ CONS
  • • Quality instruments are expensive
  • • Learning curve for proper embouchure

Thomann TAS-180 Black Alto SaxophoneAlto SaxophoneHigh F# keyFront F-keyBodyS-bowand screws made from brassSeparate...

⭐ 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 475544
$438
Buy at Thomann View Details
Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax Set

by Startone
Smooth Jazz Blues Pop
Key Feature:
• Most popular and versatile saxophone
✓ PROS
  • • Perfect pitch range for most music
  • • Wide variety of available music
✗ CONS
  • • Quality instruments are expensive
  • • Reed replacement costs add up

Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax*Alto Saxophone*Tuning: EbWith high F#...

⭐ 4.6/5 (13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 509155
$428
Buy at Thomann View Details
Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax Set

by Thomann
Blues Smooth Jazz Jazz
Key Feature:
• Excellent for both lead and harmony
✓ PROS
  • • Perfect pitch range for most music
  • • Great for beginners and professionals
✗ CONS
  • • Learning curve for proper embouchure
  • • Quality instruments are expensive

Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Thomann TAS-180 Alto Sax*Alto Saxophone*Body and key system made...

⭐ 5.0/5 (45 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 517426
$439
Buy at Thomann View Details
Thomann Little Bee Kids Saxophone - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Thomann Little Bee Kids Saxophone

by Thomann
Jazz Rock Pop
Key Feature:
• Perfect pitch range for most music
✓ PROS
  • • Wide variety of available music
  • • Most popular and versatile saxophone
✗ CONS
  • • Quality instruments are expensive
  • • Reed replacement costs add up

Thomann Little Bee Kids SaxophoneEb Alto Saxophone with Child-Friendly Key SystemNeck shape taken from the tenor...

⭐ 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 504558
$406
Buy at Thomann View Details
Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Startone SAS-75 Alto Sax

by Startone
Pop Jazz Smooth Jazz
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of available music
✓ PROS
  • • Great for beginners and professionals
  • • Excellent for both lead and harmony
✗ CONS
  • • Learning curve for proper embouchure
  • • Can be loud for apartment practice

Startone SAS-75 Alto SaxophoneAlto SaxophoneTuning: EbWith high F# keyWith rocker armAdjustable thumb restBody and...

⭐ 4.6/5 (22 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 188679
$328
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Alto Saxophones

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced alto saxophones typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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