Question:
Selmer Series 3 vs Yamaha EX
Hey there I am a college freshmen who can finally buy a pro. model saxophone sax. My teacher recommends one of these for general applied study on the alto sax.
I also am considering a series 2, since I have experience playing that, but I do not fully understand the difference between 2 and 3. Some say they absolutely hate the Series 3, others say they love it.
I have not tried the Yamaha Custom EX yet, but my experiences with Yamaha horns have all been good - at least they don't give me any major problems.

Answer:
Hi Sax machine
Well, you have an exciting time ahead. There's nothing like having cash to go saxohphone shopping with!
As for your choice, it really has to be down to personal taste. All three of the horns you mention are pro quality instruments that should last a life time. The one piece of advice I'd give is 'don't be too influenced by advice'. Too many people buy saxes on reputation without trying them first and end up on e-bay a few months down the line.
Sure, get to know the basics first. For this take a look at the 'test page' at
But once you've done that you really need to spend a good few hours in the shop blowing the different saxes, with different set-ups, to make your decision. Once you've settled on a model, get the shop to let you try a couple of different examples too if they have them in stock. One of them will end up feeling 'more right' than the others...
Happy sax hunting

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Sax Machine: I think it is risky to generalize about various models. If you sat down to test various models and had, say three or four of each, you would find significant differences among the same models, to say nothing about all of them.
I've tried both models you mentioned and didn't find anything that impressed me enough to buy one. But that doesn't mean there may be one out there that is good enough to buy.
Unless you have enough money to buy several over time, I agree that you just gotta play them and pick the one, realizing that you will never be able to play all of them to find the best saxophone.
Your assessment of Yamaha saxophones is what makes them so popular among the general saxophone-playing population. They are mostly trouble-free and initial impressions are usually good. For me, though, that is why I don't have any in my closet - I've sold or given away the best ones I found (and bought) in favor of other brands (including vintage) that gave me more of the sound I was looking for. DAVE

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As said before, you can't really generalize... but if it helps, I play on a series three and wouldn't trade it for the world. I got the my freshman year of highschool from a yamaha student model and could hardly tell the difference. However, now that I'm playing professionally, I'm yet to find a sax that plays better than mine. Maybe I got lucky, but I swear by Selmer. And my run in with that student model turned me off of yamaha forever.

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Thank you for your input, fellow players of the saxophone.
To tell you the truth, I'm taking out another loan to buy a sax. My professor requires something other than my Bundy II, so I figured I would buy something I would keep using. Unfortunately, it looks as if my choices will be limited financially. I don't think I can afford a series 3 (almost though), so that leaves my price range at $2500. Also, I kind of arranged with my old teacher to buy a saxophone form A&G Central Music (where he works; to help him out). That particular store does not have multiple saxes of the same model in stock, so how can I try out more than 1? I live reletively close to Grand Rapids, MI, so I might be able to go try out some Yamaha's. My question is: can a store order a specific serial # from factory?
I have yet to receive a final answer on how much of a loan I can take out, but what do you guys have to say about buying a used horn? People talk about this all the time....but I am afraid it will be poorly taken care of, rusted, bad condition, etc.

Answer:
in regards to buying a used horn: PLAY IT! If it's not busted and plays amazingly, buy it. Never ever ever buy a used horn sight-unseen. Pictures are misleading. Photoshop exists. Make sure that whatever you get (if not brand spanking new) is right in front of you. And even if it IS brand spanking new, make sure it is in front of you.
Oh, and as far as helping your teacher out: if you can do this while getting the BEST horn for your money, great. But don't sacrafice the rest of your sax playing life to put money in a teacher's pocket. When you buy a sax, look out for numero uno, ya know?

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If you want new you could try Marshall Music - 545 28th street , SW - Grand Rapids 616-530-7700. They are a multi-location store. They can bring in a bunch of horns for you to try - from all of their locations.
They only order their horns in bulk once a year so you can bring in what they have in stock. Unless you custom order.
But, vintage horns are great too.
You basically have to play the horns to figure out what sound you are looking for. If possible, see if your prof wants to try your top picks. used horns can be great, but try to bring someone that knows about the mechanics. And play test everything. If you can't playtest it, or a trial period don't bother with it.
You could also go online and get used horns from a variety of online stores. They normally give a good trial period but you do have to pay for shipping to and from if you decide to return it.

Answer:
Greelmo: I disagree with your, "Never ever ever buy a used horn sight-unseen . . ." admonition. Much depends on one's ability to take the financial hit should a sight-unseen horn turn out to be a bad one, and one's ability to recognize quality and character.
Done correctly, it can work to your advantage. I know - I've purchased several saxophones over the years without playing them first. I've never been burned. But like the Music Man, "You gotta know the territory." DAVE

Answer:
Amen to Dave's comments. Those who have bought used Selmers from me have always gone away as winners. You can certainly find a great used Serie III tenor out there for $2500 (or less). Heck, if there's any chance at all that you are going to replace your horn in a few years, you are better off buying a good used horn than a relatively inexpensive new horn. Whoever buys the new horn is the one that eats the depreciation as soon as it leaves the music store.
And, no, I am not currently advertising nor even considering selling my Selmer tenor.

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Originally Posted by Dr G Whoever buys the new horn is the one that eats the depreciation as soon as it leaves the music store.
Interesting. This is exactly how I feel about buying a new car. The only differene is that the depreciation when you drive a car off the lot is enough to buy a couple of saxes, at least.
However, I have become an advocate for buying new saxes. I do not buy saxes as investments, but to play. I have never been fully satisfied with any of the used saxes that I have purchased, and I just got tired of the buy-play-sell-buy cycle. All three of my current instruments were purchased new from dealers with great reputations for setup and service, and they have all performed beyond my expectations. Perhaps if I lived in an area where there was some real selection of quality used instruments my experiences would have been different, but for me the used route just didn't pan out.

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It would be perhaps instructive to learn what kind of horns you were buying that didn't work out for you. Good used instruments for me have included Selmer Balanced Action tenor, Selmer Serie II altos, Borgani Jubilee tenor and sop, John Lehner flute, Pearl alto flute, Leblanc LL and Symphony III clarinets, Selmer Series 9 and 10 clarinets, Gallagher acoustic guitars, Gibson ES-347, Fender Strats, Fender blackface and brownface amplifiers... I must be forgetting something... Don't get me started on mouthpieces. :shock:
The best deals usually come from knowing the instruments and getting to know the sellers.

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I'm with PKnight in that when I buy a horn, it's definitely to play, not to keep as an investment. That doesn't mean that I buy new horns though - I still always buy used. I don't ever buy ebay (though it's a great gamble if you can afford the risk) because there are other options. There are plenty of used woodwind/repair stores offering great horns, warranties and trial periods, as well as full servicing.
I'm lucky that I work in one so I get to try them all as they come in, but I'm sure there are stores like it in most major cities. I don't know about other stores but we have a one week trial period on all horns, even shipped internationally and a one year warranty on local purchases.
I'm not trying to advertise so I'm not giving the name, I'm just saying that it's not necessary to pay retail prices.
I also agree with everyone who said not to generalise about brands. We have three Series II's in right now, and they all play completely differently, as do the two Series III's. In fact the Mark VII (IMHO) plays far better than the VI sitting right next to it, and costs 3500 less.
I even gave up my Series III for a less expensive, but beautiful sounding Conn Tranny, that I would be hard pressed to give up, no matter what horn was offered.
Sorry about the ramble, guess I'm just saying that there are options other than ebay and retail.

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Originally Posted by houseofben but I'm sure there are stores like it in most major cities.
Aye, there's the rub. The nearest "major" city to me doesn't have much. Probably a good thing that somebody is willing to buy new, or there wouldn't be any used instruments for the rest of you!

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[quote=pknight]Aye, there's the rub. The nearest "major" city to me doesn't have much. QUOTE]
Yep, that's the state of my locale as well. I've learned to pack instruments very well - and to communicate well with any sellers as to how I'd like them to pack a horn so it travels safely. I shudder to think of all the money that I've spent with FedEx, UPS, and USPS. :cry:

Answer:
Originally Posted by pknight Aye, there's the rub. The nearest "major" city to me doesn't have much.
Yep, that's the state of my locale as well. I've learned to pack instruments very well - and to communicate well with any sellers as to how I'd like them to pack a horn so it travels safely. I shudder to think of all the money that I've spent with FedEx, UPS, and USPS. :cry: