Top 12 Best Saxophone Brands

Whether you're looking to buy your first saxophone or simply upgrade your existing one, we've rounded up 12 of the best saxophone brands from around the world.

Choosing a saxophone is hard work.

It can be a great investment, and there are countless styles and models to choose from.

As with most products currently on the market - from cars, bags, computers - saxophone brands vary widely in configuration, price point, and target audience.

There are well-known companies that have been around for decades and newer ones that are just getting started.

World-renowned brands and family-run companies. Manufacturers of high-end handcrafted musical instruments and those that are serving lower budgets, with saxophones for beginners.

No matter your skill set and how much you want to spend (with a reason), there's always a great saxophone for you.

In this article, we'll introduce you to the top 12 saxophone brands in the world and take a look at their history and reputation, as well as some of the best models they currently offer.

Proving that saxophone production is indeed an international business, represented by seven countries, in terms of corporate headquarters!

Selmer Paris

No Saxophone brand is more prestigious than Selmer.

A true family business, this legendary French company has been manufacturing woodwind instruments since 1885, and its current president Jérôme Selmer is a great-grandson of its original founder Henri Selmer.

The French company created the first saxophone in 1922, continuing to create historic models such as the Cigar Cutter', Balanced Action, Super Balanced Action and Mark VI.

In particular, the Mark VI is the most iconic saxophone of all time and the choice of many legendary players: Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Michael Brecker, Jean Coltrane, Phil Woods and many others.

As you would expect with a brand that is considered 'best of the best' when it comes to saxophones, Selmer products don't come cheap.

Available in a variety of lacquer finishes, the Selmer Reference horns are two of their current flagship models: the Reference 36 draws inspiration from the 1936 Selmer Balanced Action, while the Reference 54 is a modern version of the Selmer Mark VI legend in 1954.

Both strive to recreate the 'special' feel of a classic saxophone while offering the reliability and ergonomics of a modern trumpet.

The brand also continues to produce two long-time favorites, the Super Action 80 Series II – described as “certainly the most famous professional alto saxophone in the world” – and the Series III. .

The Selmer Paris saxophone is some of the more expensive instruments on the market, but that's partly because more than 80% of each trumpet is still produced by hand (including all engravings) in one of the factories. The oldest of its kind is in Mantes-la-Ville, west of Paris.

So if you're simply looking for the best sax possible, look no further!

Jean Paul USA

The Jean Paul saxophone is one of the top favorites when it comes to beginner and intermediate musical instruments.

The combination of high-quality manufacturing at an affordable price makes them a great compromise between low-quality low-end instruments that can slow progress and expensive high-end options.

The company is a small, family-run business based in Florida that started more than 25 years ago, distributing musical instruments including major brands like Yamaha.

Seeing a gap in the market for high-quality yet affordable sax, they started producing their own beginner and intermediate instruments in 2012 with the goal of providing affordable options. Low cost with sturdy design.

The Jean Paul saxophone is available in two finishes – lacquered and silver plated – and is available in the following sizes:

• Alto (AS-400)

• Tensor (TS-400)

• Soprano (SS-400GP)

Yamaha

The Yamaha Corporation has made a name for itself in all sorts of products, from motorcycles to sportswear to audio equipment.

The Japanese company also produces a wide range of musical instruments: it is the largest piano manufacturer in the world and also produces wind, woodwind, drums, brass instruments and keyboards.

Yamaha may not have the same reputation as Selmer in the saxophone world, but they have a reputation for producing incredibly well-built trumpets that offer excellent value for money.

And, unlike Selmer Paris which focuses on professional level trumpets, Yamaha also produces alto and tenor saxophones for students and intermediate levels.

The YAS-280 alto and YTS-280 tenor are recognized as some of the best student saxophones on the market, although they will cost you a bit more than recognized low-end brands. than.

Perfect for the mid-range saxophonist, this is once again considered one of the best in its price range and comes in a variety of finishes, including silver-plated lacquer.

Yamaha Custom is Yamaha's most premium product line since 2002.

The more spacious, free-flowing Custom Z is a particularly great saxophone for jazz, while the Custom EX is considered a more classic saxophone.

These are highly regarded instruments: Phil Woods has been playing the Selmer Mark VI for many years.

Yamaha is arguably the best alto saxophone for beginners today.

Yanagisawa

A small family business based in Japan, Yanagisawa as a company has a history dating back to 1894, when it started as a woodwind instrument repair business.

The company started producing saxophones in 1951 and is now one of the top three manufacturers in the world, along with Selmer and Yamaha.

Yanagisawa tends to focus on selling relatively affordable products.

Since 2014, it has produced the WO Series, which is divided into the WO1 professional models and the slightly more expensive WO10 elite models.

The brand doesn't make student or intermediate level trumpets, but its professional-standard saxophones offer excellent value for money and are significantly cheaper than the top saxophones in the country. elsewhere in the market.

They produce a rich, warm sound and boast incredibly smooth ergonomics. Each saxophone comes with a high quality ebonite mouthpiece.

Famous Yanagisawa supporters include J.D. Allen, Gary Bartz and Lakecia Benjamin from the jazz world, and Jess Gillam and Christina Leonard from the classical field.

Elkhart

Elkhart is one of a number of brands - along with King, Vincent Bach and (in the US) Selmer Paris - distributed by the American company Conn-Selmer.

Originally based in Elkhart, Indiana, the company now focuses on producing saxophones for the student market and manufactures its products in Taiwan.

The Elkhart 100 Series is a great budget option. A cheap saxophone compared to many others here, it is highly regarded by teachers around the world and has been purchased in bulk by countless schools and music services.

They are well built, and when compared to other student trumpets like the Yamaha YAS-280, the price is extremely affordable for a saxophone.

Elkhart also offers the SXAD Deluxe, a more advanced student alto saxophone, and the SXB-WB, a mid-level baritone saxophone.

Jupiter

Jupiter's reputation has never been matched by Yamaha's, but its trumpeters appreciate its durability, ease of maintenance, good tone, and innovative design.

Each saxophone is designed with the most up-to-date software and is assembled by hand, and undergoes a series of tests and plays before it ships.

In 2000, Jupiter invested in a R&D center in Taiwan, aiming to achieve world-class quality.

This led to a number of accolades in the following years, including "Best Instrument" at the UK's MIA Awards in 2004 and "Excellent Vendor Award" by Music Inc. in 2007 and 2008.

So, if you're looking for a saxophone brand that constantly strives for technical excellence and effortless playability, Jupiter could be the pick you've missed so far…

P. Mauriat

The P. Mauriat saxophone is new to the trumpet industry recently, but this Taiwanese brand has been a real success story ever since it first started making waves in the sax world in the mid-1990s. 2000 with pro and intermediate level trumpets of great value.

One of the strengths of P. Mauriat is that it offers the option of a coiled hole on professional alto and tenor saxophones.

This means that the sound holes are made entirely from brass, rather than individually soldered, and are intended to provide superior gasket fit and resonance.

All saxophones are hand-forged from French brass and many come with a distinctive vintage-style unpainted finish as standard.

Their beautiful 'black pearl' tenor sax looks great while the 66R tenor saxophone line in particular is the company's flagship product and has been heralded as something of a modern classic.

Meanwhile, the Le Bravo is an excellent mid-range saxophone: with a solid nickel-silver neck, it has a more modern, powerful tone that makes it an ideal saxophone for jazz.

Their baritone saxophone is also highly regarded, and for the saxophonist who wants a baritone on a medium budget, the Mauriat could be the perfect choice.

P. Mauriat's supporters include famous American jazz musicians James Carter and Marcus Strickland.

Keilworth

Julius Keilwerth started making saxophones in his native Germany with his brother Max in 1925.

The brand began focusing on the European concert hall tradition, but in 1986 hired saxophonist Peter Ponzol as a consultant to help build the instrument for the jazz market.

Within a few years, the SX90R lineup had grown in popularity, with the likes of Branford Marsalis, David Liebman and Courtney Pine picking up the Keilwerth.

The iconic Keilwerth Shadow: made in Germany, it has a special black nickel finish for a rather dramatic look.

Keilwerth is known for its slightly different ergonomics than most modern saxophones, and the inclusion of adjustable left palm rests is rather unusual.

The hand-carved figure is ornate and covers both the bell and the neck of the trumpet. This is definitely an instrument for the advanced saxophone player looking for something a little different from the norm.

Keilwerth produces some of the finest soprano saxophones, and this critically acclaimed lineup includes a signature David Liebman model designed with input from the saxophonist.

Conn-Selmer

Despite its name, the modern American company's Conn Selmer saxophone has little to do with the products of the two illustrious brands 'Conn' and 'Selmer' – although Conn-Selmer does distribute the products. products of Selmer Paris in America.

Conn is arguably the major producer of the first half of the 20th century, with famous saxophonists including Charlie Parker and Lester Young choosing legendary models like the 10M, while the Selmer Paris, as we've discussed, has perhaps the most famous saxophone manufacturer in the world.

Despite this, Conn-Selmer has established itself as a major player in the saxophone world since its founding in 2003. With production now largely shifted to China, it is a producer of musical instruments. for America's largest band and orchestra.

The company's mid-level saxophones, intended for fresh graduates or professional players on a tight budget, have particularly impressed reviewers and dealers.

The 'Premiere' PAS380V has a stylish unpainted finish, with some reviewers comparing it to classic (and much more expensive) Selmers. It also comes with a high quality Rosseau ebonite mouthpiece.

Other Conn-Selmer models include the LaVie and Liberty lines.

Cannonball

In 1996, Sheryl and Tevis Laukat founded Cannonball Musical Instruments in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the company has 25 employees.

Cannonball saxophones are built in factories in Taiwan, before being shipped to headquarters in Utah, where they are "hand-tuned" and extensively tested.

The brand's signature product line is the Big Bell Stone Series.

Each saxophone is decorated with a variety of semi-precious natural stones and two necks: a standard and Cannonball's patented silver-plated FAT Neck, which has an octave key on the underside and is inspired Inspired by the design of the King Super 20, a classic vintage saxophone.

In terms of price, the Cannonball is roughly in the same category as the P. Mauriat, in that they are professional saxophones in the more affordable segment.

Borgani

Borgani is a family run company founded in Marcerato, central Italy in 1872 by Augusto Borgani.

The current chairman, Orfeo Borani, has held the position since 1983 and is the fourth generation of the family to head the company.

Borgani makes premium straight and 'semi-curved' alto, tenor and soprano saxophones. Each instrument is available in a variety of materials, including 24K gold alloys and the particularly popular silver plating, each offering a distinct sound quality.

For Borgani, they have the great tenor Joe Lovano as their brand ambassador: helped design his own signature Borgani model, crafted from Pearl Silver alloy and featuring 24k Gold keys.

Other backing artists include Will Vinson, Jimmy Greene and Tim Garland.

Borani is not as widely sold as the other brands on this list, so you may need to search carefully to find a dealer if you want to try it out.

Trevor James

British company Trevor James' beginner saxophone is made in Taiwan, but designed and finished in Lenham, England.

Trevor James's The Horn Classic has been hailed as an outstanding student saxophone since the brand's arrival in the early 1990s. It was revamped as the Classic II in 2012.

Priced roughly halfway between the Elkhart 100 Series and well below the Yamaha 280, it has won three UK Music Industry Association awards and is an extremely solid choice for a saxophone novice.

While still primarily known for low-end saxophones, Trevor James has recently begun producing well-received professional trumpets.

The Signature TJ is handcrafted in the UK, with RAW and RAW XS providing an uncoated finish in varying shades.

Trevor James also now produces the SR series, a competitively priced mid-range saxophone series.

Conclusion: Best Saxophone Brand

Above are the top 12 saxophone manufacturers in the world!

As you can see, there are a lot of countries included, as well as different selling points for each country.

While choosing a saxophone is a personal experience, most experts agree that Selmer Paris produces the most iconic high-end saxophones available, Yamaha being the best brand for super quality and Jean Paul USA is a competitor if you are looking for something on the cheaper side of things.

See more:

Saxophone

Saxophone Alto

Tenor saxophone

Saxophone Soprano