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#1 in SaxophonesBest Overall

Yamaha YAS-280

Name: Yamaha YAS-280
Brand: Yamaha
Rating: 9.4 (1 reviews)

Yamaha

$1,299.00 – $1,499.00

Best-selling student alto saxophone with a gold lacquer finish, high F# key, and precision-machined key mechanisms. Offers exceptional intonation and a responsive feel that accelerates learning for beginners.

9.4

Excellent

Consensus

Our Analysis

Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.

Score Breakdown

Expert Score

9.4

User Sentiment

9.5

Value Score

8.8

Complaint Risk

8.7

Freshness

8.1

Community

8.3

Availability

9.5

Pros

Industry-leading student saxophone
Industry-leading student saxophone
Excellent factory intonation
Excellent factory intonation
Reliable key mechanism
Reliable key mechanism

Cons

Limited tonal complexity for advanced players
Limited tonal complexity for advanced players
Neck octave key can feel stiff initially
Neck octave key can feel stiff initially

Don't buy this if…

Always store with the neck removed and mouthpiece cap on to prevent pad damage and reed warping.
Always store with the neck removed and mouthpiece cap on to prevent pad damage and reed warping.