Yamaha · Student · YAS-26 · 2012–present
For well over a decade the Yamaha YAS-23 was the standard student alto in American school bands, and in 2012 Yamaha replaced it with the YAS-26. Paul Effman Music, a New York school-band dealer, said at launch that the new horn looked almost identical to the old one. The changes sit where students wear a horn out. Yamaha redesigned the neck receiver to make the mechanism more durable, and reworked the low B to C# connection so the low C# key closes the same way every time and the low notes speak clearly. The body uses the traditional 62 shape from Yamaha's pro line, with a two-piece bell joined by hand, drawn tone holes, stainless steel springs and a J-style guard over the low keys. There's a front F key but no high F#, which is the quickest way to tell a 26 from a YAS-280 in photos. Yamaha ships it with a 4C mouthpiece and a hard case. Because Yamaha built so many student altos, a Montreal shop, Twigg Musique, points out that parts are easy to find and any serious repair shop knows how to put one right.
A safe first alto for a middle schooler, and a model most band directors know on sight. Look hardest at the pads and the low notes, which is where a well-used 26 shows its age.
Build and caseYAS-26
The YAS-26 replaced the YAS-23 in 2012, so a horn stamped YAS-26 dates from 2012 or later. Yamaha doesn't publish a saxophone serial chart. Kessler & Sons notes that Yamaha USA can sometimes look up a horn it distributed if you send the model and serial number, with records going back to the 1990s.
Pads dry out, stick or harden with age, and the low notes are the first to suffer when a big pad or the low B to C# linkage stops sealing. Twigg Musique finds YAS-26s vary more by year and factory than YAS-23s, so ask for a play test or a video.
More on this in our saxophone buying guide.
Buying guide
For a first alto we'd buy a US horn titled with its neck, mouthpiece and case, like the one at $863 delivered from a 100% seller, under the $950–1,300 band most complete YAS-26s ask. There are at least 62 for sale, nearly all in the US, and new ones from dealers ask about $2,169 delivered, so a used one should cost about half. About a dozen of the 32 listings we looked at come from zero-feedback accounts, many with the same "Standard Eb Alto Saxophone" title and $95.88 or $50 shipping, a known scam pattern, so buy from an established seller and pay only through eBay checkout. Ask for a video of low C, B and B-flat played softly, since the pads are where a used 26 shows its age, and budget for a shop check-up on any horn not titled serviced. Skip the $2,488 store listing, a used horn asking more than a new one.
$776.85est. delivered
The lowest delivered complete YAS-26 here at $777, titled with its original case and as a "very nice functional instrument" from a 99.7% seller. Shipping is $106 of that and there's no service claim, so ask for a low-note video and plan on a check-up.
Yamaha YAS-26 Alto Saxophone With Original Case. Very Nice Functional Instrument
$862.90est. delivered
Titled with the neck, mouthpiece and case, so there's nothing to add, and $863 delivered is under the band from a 100% seller. It's titled Made in China, like several 26s on this page.
Yamaha YAS-26 Made in China Alto Saxophone with Neck, Mouthpiece, and Case
$994.44delivered
Titled "Plays Perfect" by a 100% seller that lists serviced band instruments, with free shipping at $994 delivered, inside the band. The title doesn't name a case or mouthpiece, so confirm both before you buy.
Yamaha YAS-26 Alto Saxophone! Gorgeous! 🔥 Plays Perfect 🔥
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$776.85est. delivered
$671.25 + $105.60 shipping
Buy It Now$671.25
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled with the original case and functional. No service claim.
Seller: joscottage
99.7% positive
Used$862.90est. delivered
$839.95 + $22.95 shipping
Buy It Now$839.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Neck, mouthpiece and case titled. Under the band.
Seller: mississippiusa
100% positive
Used$994.44delivered
$994.44 · free shipping
Buy It Now$994.44
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled plays perfect, from a seller that services horns. Free shipping.
Seller: clarinetstation
100% positive
Used$794.35est. delivered
$769.50 + $24.85 shipping
Buy It Now$769.50
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
No case or mouthpiece in the title. Ask what comes with it.
Seller: sarahndipity555
99.8% positive
Used$1,076.38est. delivered
$1,000.00 + $76.38 shipping
Buy It Now$1,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Neck, mouthpiece and case titled, right at the median.
Seller: roger20226
100% positive
Used$1,045.88est. delivered
$950.00 + $95.88 shipping
Buy It Now$950.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Zero feedback, a title copied across accounts and $95.88 shipping. A known scam pattern.
Seller: kma2382
No feedback yet
Used$1,085.70est. delivered
$1,050.00 + $35.70 shipping
Buy It Now$1,050.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller. Pay only through eBay checkout.
Seller: chimp_19
No feedback yet
Used$2,487.99est. delivered
$2,428.00 + $59.99 shipping
Buy It Now$2,428.00
Priced high
Used, about 2.3 times the median and over what new ones ask.
Seller: musicstoreinc
100% positive
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