Soprano saxophones are sophisticated instruments with a beautiful sound and appearance!
They play key roles in many ensembles and contribute to quality performances, but unfortunately, they can be a little pricey.
Just How Much Does A Soprano Saxophone Cost, Exactly?
A soprano saxophone costs at least $1,000 if it’s an entry-level instrument. However, the price range varies depending on the quality of the instrument. You can expect to pay at least double that for intermediate sopranos and at least $3,000 for lower-end professional soprano saxophones.
The rest of this article will elaborate on what to expect in terms of price while shopping for your soprano saxophone, so you can continue your search for the perfect instrument in confidence.
Read on to learn more information about the pricing of soprano saxophones, and especially what to look for while shopping!
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Are Soprano Saxophones Expensive Compared to Other Sax Types?
So we’ve established that soprano saxophones are definitely a hefty investment, as far as price goes. But how does this cost compare to other types of saxophones? Let’s take a look.
Soprano saxophones are less expensive than other sax types because they are much smaller. While some alto and tenor saxophones can often be found at affordable prices at student grade quality due to demand, a good quality soprano sax will actually be a lot cheaper.
This is simply because other saxophone types like the alto, tenor, and baritone are significantly larger than the soprano saxophone, and require a lot more material.
Although, it’s important to note that as the quality of an instrument increases, so will the price.
I’ll be using this student-grade Allora ASPS-450 Vienna Series Straight Soprano Sax as a reference, currently listed at over $1,200.
I’ll also be using this professional-grade P. Mauriat System 76 One-Piece Professional Soprano Saxophone as an additional reference, which is listed at over $3,000.
So how do other saxophones compare to the price of soprano saxophone? Let’s take a look at some examples.
Soprano Saxophone Cost vs. Alto Saxophone Cost
To start off, let’s explore the cost of alto saxophones in comparison to soprano saxophones.
First, let’s start with this Yamaha YAS26 Alto Saxophone, currently listed at over $1,500. This is a student-grade alto saxophone and is therefore of entry-level quality.
This is more pricey than a soprano saxophone at the same level.
But as you can see in this Yamaha YAS-62III Professional Alto Saxophone, as the quality increases, so does the price. This is a lower-end professional-level alto saxophone, and the instrument still costs over $3,000.
However, a high-end professional soprano saxophone like the P. Mauriat System 76 One-Piece Professional Soprano Saxophone costs less.
Although, it is possible to find affordable alto saxophones, as this is a standard instrument in beginner ensembles, which creates a high demand for cheap instruments.
While you’ll definitely be compromising quality with a cheaper alto, they do exist and are more affordable than most sopranos.
For example, this low-end Etude EAS-100 Student Alto Saxophone is currently listed at over $300, which is significantly cheaper than a high-quality student-grade alto or soprano saxophone.
Soprano Saxophone Cost vs. Tenor Saxophone Cost
Now, let’s look at the cost of soprano saxophones compared to tenor saxophones.
First, this Allora ATS-450 Vienna Series Tenor Saxophone costs over $1,500.
This tenor saxophone is student grade, and compared to the student grade Allora ASPS-450 Vienna Series Straight Soprano Sax, this is a lot more expensive.
Now, let’s explore this professional-grade P. Mauriat System 76 Professional Tenor Saxophone, which is currently being sold for over $4,500!
As you can see by the cost, this pro-level tenor saxophone costs much more than the professional soprano saxophone I referenced above, which is over $3,000.
Soprano Saxophone Cost vs. Baritone Saxophone Cost
Baritone saxophones are one of the most expensive types of saxophones, aside from rarer instruments like bass and contrabass saxophones.
Quality student-grade baritone saxophones start at about $3,000, and that’s only at an entry-level. Some professional grades can have price increases in the thousands.
For example, this Allora ABS-450 Vienna Series Baritone Saxophone is currently priced at over $3,000.
This instrument is a high-quality student-grade baritone saxophone, which, as you can see, costs a lot more than a good starter soprano.
As far as professional-grade baritone saxophones are concerned, you can expect to pay thousands of dollars for a good instrument.
For example, this pro-level Yanagisawa BW01 Professional Baritone Saxophone is currently listed at over $7,500, which is a lot more expensive than the professional-grade P. Mauriat System 76 One-Piece Professional Soprano Saxophone at $3,000.
Examples of New Soprano Saxophones by Brand
Now that we’ve explored the cost of soprano saxophones compared to other types of saxophones, let’s look at some examples of new soprano saxophones by brand.
Selmer Soprano Saxophones
Selmer is one of the most sought-after instrument manufacturers, favored for their high-quality make and tone.
If you’re looking to invest in a soprano saxophone, Selmer is definitely a great option. However, you will have to invest more into a Selmer since they tend to run on the pricier side.
For example, this Selmer Paris Series III Jubilee Professional Soprano Saxophone is currently listed at over $7,500.
However, there are cheaper options for Selmer soprano saxophones. For example, this lower grade Selmer SSS411 Soprano Saxophone is priced over $2,500.
Jupiter Soprano Saxophones
Jupiter is another excellent choice as far as manufacturers go. Jupiter saxophones are known for being high-quality and affordably priced instruments, and you’ll definitely be in good hands if you purchase a soprano saxophone by Jupiter.
To start, let’s take a look at a good starter option. This Jupiter JSS1000 Intermediate Bb Soprano Saxophone is an excellent option for students or beginners and is currently listed at over $2,000.
Suppose you’d rather invest in a professional-grade instrument. In that case, you can find something like this Jupiter Performance Level Bb Soprano Saxophone, which is currently available for over $2,500, which isn’t too far of an increase from the intermediate one mentioned above.
Yamaha Soprano Saxophones
Yamaha is one of the most trusted music brands out there. Known for excellent quality and reliability in the industry, Yamaha will be a great choice if you choose to use a soprano saxophone from this manufacturer.
Aside from their reputation, another great thing about Yamaha is their broad range of products.
They offer various instruments ranging from student to professional grade to meet different musical goals and budgets.
For example, this Yamaha YSS-475II Intermediate Soprano Saxophone is a great beginner instrument, costing over $2,500 while this high-end professional-grade Yamaha YSS-82ZR Custom Professional Soprano Saxophone is currently listed at over $5,000.
They also have this higher-end Yamaha YSS-875EX Custom EX Soprano Saxophone for a little over $5,200.
As you can see, Yamaha offers customers a decent range of instruments varying in quality and affordability, so you can find a saxophone that meets your needs.
Allora Soprano Saxophones
Allora is another trusted instrument manufacturer known for affordability and reliability, especially for student-grade instruments.
While Selmer and Yamaha will have the best quality, Allora is an excellent choice for those shopping for soprano saxophones on a budget, whether you’re a student, beginner, or professional.
For example, this beginner-grade Allora ASPS-250 Student Series Soprano Sax is priced a little over $700, which is exceptionally affordable for a soprano saxophone.
However, you can find something of a higher quality with this professional-grade Allora ASPS-550 Paris Series Straight Soprano Sax, currently listed at over $1,200.
Examples of Good Used Soprano Sax Prices
Purchasing used saxophones is a great way to shop for an instrument on a budget without compromising too much quality. Let’s look at some examples of reasonably priced used soprano saxophone prices.
Kaizer 1000 Series Bb Soprano Saxophone
To start, let’s look at this Kaizer 1000 Series Bb Soprano Saxophone on eBay.
This saxophone is currently priced over $250, which is an excellent deal for any instrument, especially a soprano saxophone.
It’s also claimed to be in “open box” condition, which is very close to new. This is an excellent option for those looking for a beginner-grade instrument at a bargain.
Professional Black Gold Soprano Straight Saxophone
For the next example, take a look at this Professional Black Gold Soprano Straight Saxophone available on eBay.
This is a professional-grade instrument, currently priced over $300. The condition is brand new and barely used, and the brand is OPUS USA.
While this brand is definitely on the cheaper end, this is still a really good deal.
John Packer JP043G Soprano Saxophone
The next example of a reasonably priced used soprano saxophone is this John Packer JP043G Soprano Saxophone on eBay, which comes with a Selmer mouthpiece.
This is a higher quality instrument and is currently listed just below $900. While it’s more pricey than the other examples on this list, it’s still a great deal.
The Cost of Straight vs. Curved Soprano Saxes Compared
As far as pricing goes, straight soprano saxophones tend to be cheaper than their curved counterparts.
For example, this pro-level Allora ASPS-550 Paris Series Curved Soprano Sax is priced just below $1,900, which is a lot more than the Allora ASPS-550 Paris Series Straight Soprano Sax I previously mentioned.
This instrument is in the same series and has the same quality, but it’s currently selling for a little over $1,200, which is a lot cheaper.
What To Look For in a Good Soprano Sax (3 Important Factors)
While shopping for a soprano saxophone, it’s important to keep some things in mind. Here’s what to look for in a good soprano saxophone.
Grade
While searching for a soprano saxophone, it’s important to look for an instrument whose quality meets the grade you have in mind.
For example, if you’re looking for a student-grade instrument, keep this in mind so you don’t spend more money on a professional instrument.
Reputation
Your soprano saxophone manufacturer’s reputation is critical to consider while looking for a good instrument.
If you stumble across a sax made by a manufacturer you’ve never heard of, this will probably be a lower-quality instrument. Stick to the trusted brands we mentioned above.
Price
While it can be tempting to purchase the cheapest option available, one thing to keep in mind is that higher quality instruments will be priced higher.
If a soprano saxophone is listed at a cost that seems too good to be true, it probably is.
A good instrument will require some financial investment, so look for instruments that aren’t cheap enough to be considered an outlier.
Final Thoughts
Soprano saxophones are an excellent instrument to invest in. However, it can be tricky to navigate the purchasing process if you don’t know what to expect.
Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand the pricing of soprano saxophones, so you can continue to shop for your next instrument in confidence.
