4 Excellent Baritone Saxophones for Deep Soul-Touching Music

How do you react to a type of music that does not involve rigorous and high-velocity dancing? You will agree that this is a genre of music that soothes the soul. Such music is also ideal during any time of the day. Elite musicians such as Luther Vandross, Elton Jones, and others made a mark because they used the best baritone saxophone. However, the quest of finding the ideal baritone saxophone is not an easy one.

This review explores 4 top quality baritone saxophones the world has ever produced.  When choosing our list, we looked at the materials used to make the saxophones, and their outstanding features such as thumb rest, keys, reeds, and engravings. We also considered the instruments’ finishing quality, design, weight, and manufacturer warranty. All four saxophones on our list have garnered top ratings in most online stores. It tells you you can trust their quality whether you have just enrolled for saxophone lessons or you are a professional sax player.

To give you this information, we have spent several weeks, perhaps months, doing research. The quest to find the most authentic information has led us to many sax enthusiasts including renowned performers. With all the information on our palms, we have decided to share it with you. In the review, you will find a comparison table that will help you have a quick glance at the 4 saxophones we’ll talk about. Then, we will delve into individual saxophones highlighting features, in-depth descriptions, and their pros/cons. You will also find the various factors and features to consider before settling on a specific saxophone in our buying guide.

Top 4 Baritone Saxophones Review 2024

How does a perfect baritone sax sound?

To know how a perfect baritone sax sounds, you must first know what baritone sound is. For learners, this might be a challenge. However, for professional saxophonists, it is simple to tell how a perfect sax sound.

A perfect sax is not too high or too low. Remember a baritone sax carries the word ‘baritone’, a sound or voice traditionally produced by male artists. The voice is neither so high nor is it too low. It comes in between bass and tenor. From this simple explanation, it is prudent to say a baritone sax should be of moderate sound that is not high in pitch and so low in terms of bass.

Money sound

The amount you have in your pocket or what your credit card reads is what will mostly determine which saxophone you purchase. Most of the baritone saxophones we have reviewed above do not come cheap. If you live outside the U.S, it is even more expensive because of the shipping fees. Nonetheless, we find that the Levante LV-BS4105 is cheaper. This is our budget pick sax.

Choose the best baritone saxophone by the following features

Are you struggling to decide which best baritone sax you are going to purchase? If you are torn between several options, we want to make it easier for you. This section not only mentions some of the outstanding features you need to look at before your buy the sax but also explains in detail how each feature will affect your search. We will also give our unbiased recommendation based on the in-depth research we have carried out.

Material and finish

Have you realized that most saxophones on our list are made from high-quality material? Is this by chance? Well, most of the best saxophones in the market are made from yellow brass with a lacquer finish. This does not, however, mean that there aren’t other options. High-end baritone saxes have some sterling, copper, bronze, or even silver finish on their necks and bells.

All the baritone saxophones on our list are made from high-quality metal and coated with either gold or nickel. Yamaha YBS-62 for instance comes with an elegant gold epoxy lacquer finish. This in itself explains why most professional saxophonists prefer spending their money on the baritone sax. Choose a baritone sax with the perfect finish but remember that you have a lot of options.

Body construction and design

A good baritone sax should be well constructed, allowing each feature to be in its right place. Robust construction ensures sturdiness, durability, and comfort when using the sax. The two types of body construction are ribbed and non-ribbed. With the former, the posts are attached to the horn with the use of ‘ribs’ and they are mostly used by intermediate and professional players. Non-ribbed saxophones do not use ribs to attach the horn to the post.  They are affordable and lightweight although you will have to use more strength when playing.

From the general body construction to design, we are sure you will agree that Growling Sax Origin Series is well built. The 34-lb baritone sax looks elegant. Whether you are viewing it online or shopping at a brick-and-mortar store, the sax has a decent look.

Reeds

The number of reeds contributes over 90% of the sound projected by a saxophone. A sax with a higher number of reeds tends to produce different sweet sounds. It also gives the player the liberty to leverage the different sounds to entertain his/her fans. On this, we strongly recommend Yamaha YBS-62. The sax comes with among other things, front F plus high F# key, low B mechanism rocker style, and mother-of-pearl keys.

Keys

Keys and key placement is another point of consideration. A good sax will provide a variety of keys. Remember keys help to produce different sounds and offer the ideal intonation befitting a specific setting. On this, we choose two baritone saxophones from our list: Yamaha YBS-62 and Growling Sax Origin Series. Although these two musical instruments come with Eb to low A, high F#, and low B as well as low C keys, they also come with exceptional keys such as front F and mother-of-pearl.

Weight

Do you find yourself carrying your sax when you are traveling to perform or to enjoy yourself when on vacation? You need to consider the weight. We must agree that most of the high-end baritone saxophones are relatively heavy.

However, you can find a lightweight sax that will not give you a hard time carrying, transporting, and storing it. Levante LV-BS4105 comes in as the lightest baritone sax on our list. We chose this sax because it weighs 27 lbs. In addition, the sax comes with a nicely-done casing that allows for easy packaging, transportation, and storage.

Mouthpiece quality

As the name suggests, the instrument should only project a baritone voice. When buying the sax, ensure it produces the desired sound. To help you ascertain the right mouthpiece quality, look at a sax that has a sizeable mouthpiece, which allows you to cover the entire vent with your mouth. On the other hand, do not go for a sax that has an extremely wide mouthpiece because you need to cover the mouthpiece using your lips.

Bell

A big bell is key. To project the sweet baritone sound, the sax bell should be big enough. In most cases, if you go for a sax that has a small circumference, you will not attain the desired baritone sound. Apart from its long list of quality features, the Growling Sax Origin Series, which measures 45” x 18.5” x 12”, offers you the right bell size. For this reason, most professional sax players choose this tool when entertaining their fans.

Accessories set

While what you need is a saxophone, you need to care about what the manufacturer is giving as additional accessories. Modern baritone saxophones come with leather pads, resonators, and casing that is fitted with extra-large wheels. Various accessories help in the easy carrying and storage of the sax. If you are worried about how you will be transporting your sax, get the Levante LV-BS4105 or the Yamaha YBS-62.

Think of lacquered brass keys, engraved bells, and sax bodies when you are looking for elegance. Some saxophones come with detachable mouthpieces and other parts, which many see as accessories.

Warranty

This is a great thing. For you to leverage the manufacturer’s services, if any, you need to look for a sax that comes with a longer warranty. From our observation, most saxophones come with 12 month limited warranty. However, when we take a closer look, we find out that Yamaha YBS-62 has a 5-year manufacturer warranty. Although the warranty is limited, according to the manufacturer, it will help if the baritone sax develops a problem before it reaches you. The warranty also serves you for 5 years from the day you purchase the sax.

Thorough guide for baritone sax beginner players

If you are a beginner or are planning to start lessons to play sax, it might be a challenge to do things perfectly. Nonetheless, you are not alone. First, you need to understand that professionals started the same way you have started. Go for a lighter baritone saxophone such as Levante LV-BS4105. You might also consider practicing on Selmer BS500. This is our choice for students.

The sax is not complicated. The keys are raised and it comes with an adjustable thumb rest, which enables you to enjoy your lessons with ease. We also advise that you use one song or sound for a long time. Do not try to master several sounds or practice on different songs. The more you practice on a particular sound the easier it will be to master other songs. Soon, you will be a pro. The following video will help you start:

FAQ

Our Verdict

To this end, you now know that it is absolutely possible to master the bari sax if you have the urge to play one. Our top choice for the best baritone saxophone is the Growling Sax Origin Series. We loved it for its perfect black nickel finish, quick response, and precise intonation.

The second choice is the Yamaha YBS-62, which has a great thumb rest feature and produces amazing sounds.

Our budget pick is the Levante LV-BS4105 which is ideal for beginners. Despite being affordable, the saxophone offers some quality music and comes with various accessories.

When choosing your ideal bari sax, concentrate on the features, material, and weight, and of course look at your budget. You will definitely find your preferred baritone saxophone.