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TBT: Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation

12 March 20268 March 2026 The Portly Politico5 Comments

Note: this post contains several Amazon Affiliate links. I receive a portion of any purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you.

My students and I are back at the SCISA Music Festival this morning, and yours portly has a saxophone gig tonight. As such, it seemed like a good time to look back at my “Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation” post from 12 March 2025—one year ago today!

The thrust of last year’s post was that, for under $400, you can purchase a decent—not great, but serviceable—alto saxophone. Indeed, I’m playing at this very same saxophone tonight:

Here are the updated prices for the items I listed last year; remarkably, the price is lower than a year ago; however, Slade seems to be phasing out the horn, as there is only one sax available at the time of writing:

Slade alto saxophone – $216.69 (down $43.21 from a typical price of $259.90 in 2025); only gold is still available
Yamaha 4C mouthpiece – $39.99 (up $1.04 since 2025)
10-pack of Strength 2 Rico Royals – $33.99 (up $8.99 since 2025)

Grand Total: $290.67 (down $33.18 from the typical price in 2025) before taxes

With that, here is 12 March 2025’s “Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation“:

Lazy Sunday CCCI: Saxophone Sunday

23 March 202522 March 2025 The Portly Politico4 Comments

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Want to play the sax? Read my ultimate guide to getting started for under $350.

I had a little sax gig up in North Carolina last night, so I’ve been playing more than usual lately. I’ve been very pleased with my beautiful Slade alto saxophone, which I purchased last year (that link is an Amazon Affiliate link; I receive a portion of any purchases made through that and other links, at no additional cost to you). It has a few small intonation issues, but otherwise is plays beautifully. I’ve really been pleased with the smooth, bright, clear tone I get from the horn.

As such, I thought I’d take a look back at some of my saxophone-related posts:

“Open Mic Adventures LXX: ‘Moody Noodling’” – a post with some video of my demonstrating my Slade alto saxophone.
“Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation” – my detailed guide to purchasing a decent sax and all necessary accoutrements for under $350. It’s also riddled with Amazon Affiliate links—mwahahahahaha!
“Phone it in Friday LXXXV: YouTube Roundup XXXV: Borodin’s ‘Polovtsian Dance No. 1’” – me playing a gorgeous piece by Alexander Borodin; I really love the colors of the melody.

Happy Sunday—and Happy Saxophoning!

—TPP

Other Lazy Sunday Installments:

Phone it in Friday LXXXV: YouTube Roundup XXXV: Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dance No. 1”

21 March 202518 March 2025 The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Yours portly has an out-of-town gig tomorrow night for a private party in Wilmington, North Carolina. I’ll be playing a mix of French and modern pieces on my alto saxophone.

Naturally, I have spent some spare time this week after school and lessons and practicing. One of my recent favorite Romantic Era pieces is Alexander Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dance No. 1,” from his opera Prince Igor.

I made a small recording and uploaded it to YouTube:

Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation

12 March 20259 March 2025 The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

My students and I will head to the annual SCISA Music Festival tomorrow, and I’ve been trying lately to book more gigs playing the saxophone, and it’s gotten me thinking about the Slade alto saxophone I purchased last year (that link—and most of the others in this post—is an Amazon Affiliate link; I receive a portion of any purchases made through that and other links, at no additional cost to you). It’s been a very good saxophone, and I’m prepared to recommend it to potential budget sax shoppers, with one major caveat.

This post is intended as a guide for parents looking to buy an affordable alto saxophone for their child, or for a later-in-life beginner who wants to get into the instrument without too much cost. If you follow my advice, you should be able to kit yourself or your child out with a decent, budget load-out for under $350.

For those of you stumbling upon this post, I’ll briefly introduce myself: I’ve been playing saxophone for nearly thirty years, and have been teaching music nearly full-time for fifteen years. I also teach a ton of private music lessons, and have helped a number of families find affordable, quality instruments over the years. I’m not a pro saxophonist, but I know a lot about them, and I love the instrument.

A quick note: many school music programs will have a rental program set up with a local music shop. These rental programs are not worth it. You’ll end up spending way more money over time, even if you’re doing a rent-to-own situation. If money is an issue, set aside $50 a month for six months, and you’ll be able to afford everything I’m recommending here. Save another $25, and you’ll be able to afford the reeds I’m recommending (the Slade comes with reeds; more on that below). If you child is starting band in the fall, start saving now, and you’ll be fine by September.

I detail the pros and cons of the sax and various accessories. For my list of recommended items to purchase (the sax and accessories), scroll to the bottom of the post.