Best Tenor Saxophones Under $800 2025

Affordable tenor saxophones under $800 - great value without compromising quality

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

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

Startone STS-75 Tenor Sax Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.8/5 (5 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Startone STS-75 Tenor Sax Set

by Startone

Jazz Soul Blues

Key Feature:

• Iconic jazz and blues sound

✓ PROS

• Classic saxophone literature
• Iconic jazz and blues sound

✗ CONS

• Transport case is bulky
• Larger and heavier than alto

Startone STS-75 Tenor Sax Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Startone STS-75 Tenor Sax*Tenor Saxophone*With high F# keyWith...

⭐ 4.8/5 (5 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 517829

$648

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Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor Saxophone - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (12 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor Saxophone

by Thomann

Soul Jazz R&B

Key Feature:

• Iconic jazz and blues sound

✓ PROS

• Perfect for solo work
• Deep, rich tenor voice

✗ CONS

• Larger and heavier than alto
• Neck strap essential for comfort

Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor SaxophoneTenor SaxophoneHigh F# keyFront F keyBodyneckand mechanical parts made from...

⭐ 5.0/5 (12 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 475547

$604

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Thomann TTS-180 Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.7/5 (7 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

6/10

Thomann TTS-180 Tenor Sax

by Thomann

Blues Big Band Rock

Key Feature:

• Deep, rich tenor voice

✓ PROS

• Iconic jazz and blues sound
• Perfect for solo work

✗ CONS

• More expensive than alto models
• Requires more air support

Thomann TTS-180 Tenor SaxophoneTenor SaxophoneHigh F# keyFront F keyBodyneck and mechanism made of brassSeparate...

⭐ 4.7/5 (7 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 413651

$548

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Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor Sax Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (31 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

6/10

Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor Sax Set

by Thomann

R&B Big Band Soul

Key Feature:

• Iconic jazz and blues sound

✓ PROS

• Iconic jazz and blues sound
• Classic saxophone literature

✗ CONS

• More expensive than alto models
• Neck strap essential for comfort

Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor Sax Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor Sax*Tenor Saxophone*High...

⭐ 5.0/5 (31 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 521452

$791

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Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor Sax Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.7/5 (26 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

6/10

Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor Sax Set

by Thomann

Jazz Soul Rock

Key Feature:

• Classic saxophone literature

✓ PROS

• Iconic jazz and blues sound
• Perfect for solo work

✗ CONS

• Neck strap essential for comfort
• Requires more air support

Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor Sax Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor Saxophone*Tenor...

⭐ 4.7/5 (26 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 521449

$758

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Thomann TTS-180 Tenor Sax Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (18 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

6/10

Thomann TTS-180 Tenor Sax Set

by Thomann

Blues Rock Jazz

Key Feature:

• Classic saxophone literature

✓ PROS

• Perfect for solo work
• Classic saxophone literature

✗ CONS

• Larger and heavier than alto
• Neck strap essential for comfort

Thomann TTS-180 Tenor Sax Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Thomann TTS-180 Tenor Sax*Tenor Saxophone*High F# keyFront F...

⭐ 4.9/5 (18 reviews)

Sound:

10/10

Build:

10/10

Value:

6/10

Art. 521450

$692

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Thomann Antique Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.8/5 (10 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Thomann Antique Tenor Sax

by Thomann

Big Band Rock R&B

Key Feature:

• Deep, rich tenor voice

✓ PROS

• Perfect for solo work
• Deep, rich tenor voice

✗ CONS

• More expensive than alto models
• Requires more air support

Thomann Antique Tenor SaxophoneTenor SaxophoneSpecial seriesHigh F# keyTilterAdjustable thumb restBrass body and...

⭐ 4.8/5 (10 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 113389

$611

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Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor Sax - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (35 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor Sax

by Thomann

Soul Jazz Rock

Key Feature:

• Deep, rich tenor voice

✓ PROS

• Deep, rich tenor voice
• Great projection and presence

✗ CONS

• Requires more air support
• Transport case is bulky

Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor SaxophoneTenor SaxophoneHigh F# keyFront F keyBodyneckand mechanical parts made from...

⭐ 4.5/5 (35 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 475546

$637

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.

Best Tenor Saxophones Under $800 2025

Startone STS-75 Tenor Sax Set

Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor Saxophone

Thomann TTS-180 Tenor Sax

Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor Sax Set

Thomann TTS-180 Black Tenor Sax Set

Thomann TTS-180 Tenor Sax Set

Thomann Antique Tenor Sax

Thomann TTS-180 Vintage Tenor Sax

How to Choose the Best Tenor Saxophones

Budget Planning

Quality Check

Key Features

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for when buying tenor saxophones?

How much should I spend on tenor saxophones?

Are expensive tenor saxophones worth the investment?

What are the best brands for tenor saxophones?

Should I buy tenor saxophones online or in-store?

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