Recommended Saxophone Equipment

One key to success on saxophone is to make sure that you have the correct equipment, and that your saxophone is in good working order. Whether it is the start of the school year, the holiday season, or you are looking for an upgrade, take a look at this blog to get an idea for starting equipment as well as what I use.

As always consider buying these products from your local music store, or from the company’s site directly. Though for ease and if you would like to support me with no extra cost to you, the following are amazon affiliate links. If you buy a product from the link provided I get a small commission. So thank you!

Reeds

For Band/Solo and Ensemble I highly recommend Vandoren Blue Box Strength 3 to begin with. D’Addario Reserve are also a solid brand. For synthetic reeds, wait to try them until you have spoke with your private instructor. There are great brands, my personal favorite right now is D’Addario Venn. Légère is also a great brand for synthetic reeds. For Jazz I recommend D’Addario Select Jazz, Strength 2M to begin with. Vandoren has excellent options as well for jazz such as the Java and ZZ reeds, but I have always had a better experience with D'Addario Jazz Reeds.

Classical Reeds:
Vandoren Blue Box:
Soprano: https://amzn.to/49vagZ8 - Alto: https://amzn.to/47tzXr1
Tenor: https://amzn.to/3SzjsFT - Baritone: https://amzn.to/47wTEOD

D’Addario Reserve:
Soprano: https://amzn.to/3MATDl2 - Alto: https://amzn.to/47wTIOn
Tenor: https://amzn.to/40x3DBv - Baritone: https://amzn.to/477j85r

Synthetic:
D’Addario Venn:
Alto: https://amzn.to/3sxics5 - Tenor: https://amzn.to/40HNtVV

Légère Signature Cut (might suggest French in the future):
Soprano: https://amzn.to/3ubUS3H - Alto: https://amzn.to/3MGt1Pg
Tenor: https://amzn.to/3FXuxZW - Baritone: https://amzn.to/3MGE5vR

Jazz Reeds
D’Addario Select Jazz:
Soprano: https://amzn.to/3QVI0HM - Alto: https://amzn.to/47slXhb
Tenor: https://amzn.to/477gLQf - Baritone: https://amzn.to/47slUC1

Vandoren Java:
Soprano: https://amzn.to/3SVoInx - Alto: https://amzn.to/3SEKfAG
Tenor: https://amzn.to/477mWDL - Baritone: https://amzn.to/49zFq1C

Vandoren ZZ:
Soprano: https://amzn.to/3FXvLEm - Alto: https://amzn.to/3SBFK9O
Tenor: https://amzn.to/3sAUGuc - Baritone: https://amzn.to/40HrHli

Mouthpieces

My recommendation for classical saxophone is to start with the Vandoren Optimum series for each saxophone. Vandoren Optimum Series (preferably the L3s) is excellent, not too expensive and very consistent. Selmer C* is also acceptable but is more expensive and less consistent. Personally, I find the Vandoren mouthpiece to be darker in tone than the C* mouthpieces. This is preferred for concert band, especially for beginning saxophonists. Both of these mouthpieces will last well into high school and college. There are a wide array of mouthpieces to choose from, but these two are the standard starting places for classical saxophone. If these are out of your budget, then the Yamaha 4C mouthpiece is a fine starting mouthpiece.

For Jazz, my recommended starting mouthpiece is the D’addario Select Jazz mouthpiece. Meyer 5M and the Morgan Excalibur mouthpieces are also great.

Vandoren Optimum (L3)
Soprano: https://amzn.to/3Qzz9u2 - Alto: https://amzn.to/3QVjp4T
Tenor: https://amzn.to/3QEesgq - Baritone: https://amzn.to/3QEesgq

Selmer C*
Soprano: https://amzn.to/3QE5LCG - Alto: https://amzn.to/3QtaOGc
Tenor: https://amzn.to/47b9ZZB - Baritone: https://amzn.to/3MEFl2P

Yamaha 4C
Soprano: https://amzn.to/49zzXaL - Alto: https://amzn.to/49zA0Dt
Tenor: https://amzn.to/3SGdFOS - Baritone: https://amzn.to/3QXdHAu

D’Addario Select Jazz:
Alto: https://amzn.to/3SELHTl - Tenor: https://amzn.to/3MDfVT9

Instruments

Always consult with your private instructor before purchasing a new instrument! Make sure you go through an extensive testing period, and that whoever you buy the instrument from has a return policy. Recommended brands are limited to Selmer and Yamaha. There are other acceptable brands but they often do not hold their resale value well. My preference is Yamaha.

Accessories and Other Gift Ideas!

Here are a few of the accessories that I use and recommend for students. It is important for each saxophonist to have a good swab, mouthpiece patches, mouthpiece brush, etc. I discovered Key Leaves last year and they are amazing for reducing sticky G# and C# keys. I highly recommend them as a gift for yourself, or a saxophone friend/family member. If you don’t have Key Leaves, then powder paper is a must.

Something should also be said about neck straps! I always tell my students to avoid NeoTech as a brand. Especially neck straps that have any stretchy material. These will often stretch too long over time and get to a point when you can no longer tighten them enough. For aspiring saxophonists, I recommend a Rico neckstrap, but there are many other brands that help take the pressure off of the neck such as the Jazz Lab neck strap. Neck Straps are also very personal, and it may take some time for the student to find a solution that works well for them.

Key Leaves: https://amzn.to/3R6UeO5

D’addario Mouthpiece Patches: https://amzn.to/3MJogEN

Recommended Cleaning Kit: https://amzn.to/47x1rfG

Hodge Swabs (swab included in kit): https://amzn.to/3sAKNwH , I use a tenor swab for both alto and tenor.

Mouthpiece Brush (included in kit): https://amzn.to/47qyOAs

Powder Paper (included in cleaning kit): https://amzn.to/47dRRhS

Neck Straps:
Sax Holder by Jazz Lab, great for removing pressure from the neck. Though it is awkward for Tenor and Baritone: https://amzn.to/40zgumL

Protec, good for Soprano to Tenor, would not recommend for Baritone: https://amzn.to/3QYhrSv

Recommended starting place for Baritone: https://amzn.to/46l3l20