AudioFu

Best Tenor Saxophones Under $5,000 2026

Affordable tenor saxophones under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026

PRICE RANGES: 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 Rock For Soul For R&B For Big Band
BRANDS: Thomann Yamaha Selmer Yanagisawa Schagerl
Yanagisawa T-WO1 Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Yanagisawa T-WO1 Tenor Sax

by Yanagisawa
Blues Jazz Rock
Key Feature:
• Iconic jazz and blues sound
✓ PROS
  • • Great projection and presence
  • • Deep, rich tenor voice
✗ CONS
  • • Larger and heavier than alto
  • • More expensive than alto models

Yanagisawa T-WO1 Tenor SaxophoneTenor SaxophoneProfessional modelBrass body and keysHigh F# keyC#/Bb leverHand...

⭐ 4.4/5 (22 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 365452
$4,168
Buy at Thomann View Details
Schagerl Tenor Sax 66FV-EC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Schagerl Tenor Sax 66FV-EC

by Schagerl
Rock Soul Blues
Key Feature:
• Perfect for solo work
✓ PROS
  • • Classic saxophone literature
  • • Iconic jazz and blues sound
✗ CONS
  • • Transport case is bulky
  • • Larger and heavier than alto

Schagerl Tenor Sax 66FV-ECTenor SaxophoneEuropean CustomizedProfessional SeriesBrass bodyVintage unvarnishedSpecial...

⭐ 4.5/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 530011
$4,641
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha YTS-62 02 Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Yamaha YTS-62 02 Tenor Sax

by Yamaha
Jazz R&B Rock
Key Feature:
• Deep, rich tenor voice
✓ PROS
  • • Deep, rich tenor voice
  • • Great projection and presence
✗ CONS
  • • Neck strap essential for comfort
  • • Larger and heavier than alto

Yamaha YTS-62 02 Tenor SaxTenor SaxophoneNew modelHigh F# keyNew '62 S-bowImproved low B/C# connectionNew...

⭐ 4.5/5 (16 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 315796
$3,848
Buy at Thomann View Details
Thomann Custom Line TSBBG - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Thomann Custom Line TSBBG

by Thomann
Blues R&B Jazz
Key Feature:
• Iconic jazz and blues sound
✓ PROS
  • • Perfect for solo work
  • • Classic saxophone literature
✗ CONS
  • • Neck strap essential for comfort
  • • Larger and heavier than alto

Thomann Custom Line TSBBGTenor SaxophoneBlack nickel-plated bodyGold lacquered mechanicsStandard scaleHigh f# keyFrench...

⭐ 4.9/5 (56 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 165434
$2,408
Buy at Thomann View Details
Forestone GX Cognac Lacquered Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Forestone GX Cognac Lacquered Tenor Sax

by Forestone
Big Band Soul Jazz
Key Feature:
• Perfect for solo work
✓ PROS
  • • Deep, rich tenor voice
  • • Classic saxophone literature
✗ CONS
  • • Requires more air support
  • • More expensive than alto models

Forestone GX Cognac Lacquered Tenor SaxBb Tenor SaxophoneMaterial: BrassFlanged tone holesHand-engraved bellPisoni...

⭐ 4.8/5 (18 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 570962
$3,838
Buy at Thomann View Details
Rampone & Cazzani Performance Line Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Rampone & Cazzani Performance Line Tenor Sax

by Rampone & Cazzani
Soul Rock Big Band
Key Feature:
• Classic saxophone literature
✓ PROS
  • • Great projection and presence
  • • Classic saxophone literature
✗ CONS
  • • Requires more air support
  • • Transport case is bulky

Rampone & Cazzani Performance Line Tenor SaxTenor SaxophonePerformance lineNew scaleSmaller bore than the Rampone...

⭐ 4.6/5 (37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 511163
$3,508
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha YTS-480S Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Yamaha YTS-480S Tenor Sax

by Yamaha
Soul R&B Jazz
Key Feature:
• Deep, rich tenor voice
✓ PROS
  • • Deep, rich tenor voice
  • • Great projection and presence
✗ CONS
  • • Neck strap essential for comfort
  • • Larger and heavier than alto

Yamaha YTS-480STenor SaxophoneNew modelSuccessor of the YTS-475New neck mountImproved H/ C# connectionSeparate key...

⭐ 4.7/5 (12 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 279392
$3,188
Buy at Thomann View Details
Thomann Custom Line TSBGG - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Thomann Custom Line TSBGG

by Thomann
Rock Soul Jazz
Key Feature:
• Deep, rich tenor voice
✓ PROS
  • • Great projection and presence
  • • Iconic jazz and blues sound
✗ CONS
  • • Larger and heavier than alto
  • • Requires more air support

Thomann Custom Line TSBGGTenor SaxophoneGold lacquered bodyGold lacquered mechanismNormal scaleHigh f# keyFrench...

⭐ 5.0/5 (11 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 165438
$2,034
Buy at Thomann View Details
Schagerl Superior Tenor Sax T-1L - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Schagerl Superior Tenor Sax T-1L

by Schagerl
Rock Jazz Soul
Key Feature:
• Deep, rich tenor voice
✓ PROS
  • • Deep, rich tenor voice
  • • Perfect for solo work
✗ CONS
  • • Transport case is bulky
  • • Neck strap essential for comfort

Schagerl Superior Tenor Sax. T-1LTenor saxophoneWith high F# fkeyBrassGold lacqueredElaborate engravingEasy...

⭐ 4.9/5 (45 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 473638
$2,496
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha YTS-62A 02 Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Yamaha YTS-62A 02 Tenor Sax

by Yamaha
Soul Blues Jazz
Key Feature:
• Classic saxophone literature
✓ PROS
  • • Iconic jazz and blues sound
  • • Perfect for solo work
✗ CONS
  • • Transport case is bulky
  • • Larger and heavier than alto

Yamaha YTS-62A 02 Tenor SaxTenor SaxophoneBrass body with amber lacquer finish62 S-bow2-piecehand-engraved...

⭐ 4.8/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 590651
$4,388
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha YTS-62S 02 Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Yamaha YTS-62S 02 Tenor Sax

by Yamaha
R&B Big Band Blues
Key Feature:
• Deep, rich tenor voice
✓ PROS
  • • Perfect for solo work
  • • Iconic jazz and blues sound
✗ CONS
  • • Neck strap essential for comfort
  • • Larger and heavier than alto

Yamaha YTS-62S 02 Tenor SaxTenor SaxophoneNew modelHigh F# keyNew '62 S-bowImproved deep B/C# connectionNew...

⭐ 4.5/5 (38 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 321091
$4,288
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha YTS-280S Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Yamaha YTS-280S Tenor Sax

by Yamaha
Blues R&B Big Band
Key Feature:
• Classic saxophone literature
✓ PROS
  • • Deep, rich tenor voice
  • • Great projection and presence
✗ CONS
  • • Larger and heavier than alto
  • • Transport case is bulky

Yamaha YTS-280STenor SaxophoneSchool modelNew model with improved neck attachment and improved low B/C#...

⭐ 4.8/5 (47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 279386
$2,198
Buy at Thomann View Details
Thomann Custom Line TSBBS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Thomann Custom Line TSBBS

by Thomann
Big Band Soul Jazz
Key Feature:
• Perfect for solo work
✓ PROS
  • • Perfect for solo work
  • • Classic saxophone literature
✗ CONS
  • • More expensive than alto models
  • • Neck strap essential for comfort

Thomann Custom Line TSBBSTenor SaxophoneBlack nickel-plated bodySilver-plated key systemStandard scaleHigh F# keyPads...

⭐ 4.9/5 (5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 165432
$2,364
Buy at Thomann View Details
Schagerl SuperiorPro Tenor Sax T-2L - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Schagerl SuperiorPro Tenor Sax T-2L

by Schagerl
Rock Blues R&B
Key Feature:
• Perfect for solo work
✓ PROS
  • • Perfect for solo work
  • • Classic saxophone literature
✗ CONS
  • • Neck strap essential for comfort
  • • Larger and heavier than alto

Schagerl SuperiorPro Tenor Sax T-2L, Tenor Saxophone, With high F# key, Captivates with improved playability and sturdy...

⭐ 5.0/5 (17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 473640
$3,156
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yanagisawa T-WO2 Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Yanagisawa T-WO2 Tenor Sax

by Yanagisawa
Rock Soul R&B
Key Feature:
• Great projection and presence
✓ PROS
  • • Iconic jazz and blues sound
  • • Perfect for solo work
✗ CONS
  • • Neck strap essential for comfort
  • • Larger and heavier than alto

Yanagisawa T-WO2 Tenor SaxTenor SaxophoneProfessional modelBronze bodyBrass keysHigh F# keyC#/Bb leverAdjustable thumb...

⭐ 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 365453
$4,948
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Tenor 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 tenor 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.

Related Best Lists

POPULAR

Best Diatonic Harmonicas

POPULAR

Best Bb Trumpets

TOP

Best Tenor Trombones with F-Attachment

RELATED

Best Chromatic Harmonicas

TOP

Best Open Hole Flutes

RELATED

Best Alto Saxophones

We use cookies to improve your experience. Learn more