Buying a used sax

Burning Down · 06-06-2009, 02:18 PM

I play the flute, and I made the mistake once of buying one second hand off ebay. When I got it, there were dents-galore in the body of the instrument, as well as scratches that were well beyond repair. Things that you can buy online are not tangible like they are in a store, so you can't touch them or try them out before you buy the item.

I would advise you to be cautious and do some research before buying the sax. Also, think about what you are going to be using the instrument for (performance? home practice? school?) and how long you plan on playing the sax.

I've been playing the flute for nearly 14 years, and the general rule about any woodwind instrument is that if you buy the instrument NEW, and use it for school or performance, it should provide you with quality sound for about 12-15 years with annual maintenance.

With that in mind, make sure the listers on ebay or craigslist mention how old the instrument is, when it was manufactured, how often they played it, etc, or be sure that you can ask them these questions.

06-06-2009, 02:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Burning Down The Music Guru. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Beyond the Wall Posts: 4,858	I play the flute, and I made the mistake once of buying one second hand off ebay. When I got it, there were dents-galore in the body of the instrument, as well as scratches that were well beyond repair. Things that you can buy online are not tangible like they are in a store, so you can't touch them or try them out before you buy the item. I would advise you to be cautious and do some research before buying the sax. Also, think about what you are going to be using the instrument for (performance? home practice? school?) and how long you plan on playing the sax. I've been playing the flute for nearly 14 years, and the general rule about any woodwind instrument is that if you buy the instrument NEW, and use it for school or performance, it should provide you with quality sound for about 12-15 years with annual maintenance. With that in mind, make sure the listers on ebay or craigslist mention how old the instrument is, when it was manufactured, how often they played it, etc, or be sure that you can ask them these questions.