Ask a sax teacher in Britain or Europe what a beginner should buy and you'll often hear YAS-280. It's Yamaha's international student alto, the successor to the YAS-275, and for years it wasn't sold through Yamaha's US dealers, which is why so many American listings are imports. SaxTuition was still pointing that out in 2024. Yamaha USA now carries it too, pitching the 280 to American students and teachers. It isn't the same horn as the US YAS-26. Both have Yamaha's improved low B to C# connection and a sturdier neck receiver, but the 280 adds a high F# key and comes in gold lacquer or silver plate. Yamaha describes it as light and easy for a young beginner to hold. The 280 that MRO Saxofoons, a Dutch repair shop, took apart for a review was stamped Made in Indonesia, and the shop found it easy to work on, with plain steel springs and thin solder joints that reward careful handling. It comes with a 4C mouthpiece and a case, and it plays well in tune once it's set up.
A great first alto for a young player, and the high F# key means a student won't outgrow it quickly. Pick one with recent pad work or plan on a service, since a repair shop found sticky, dried-out pads on a 280 after only 18 months of use.
Build and caseYAS-280
Yamaha doesn't publish a saxophone serial chart, so date a 280 from its paperwork rather than the serial. For a horn Yamaha USA distributed, Kessler & Sons says Yamaha can sometimes look up the serial if you send the model and number.
MRO Saxofoons found dried and sticky pads, a low C# key that wouldn't close and an octave key opening too far on an 18-month-old 280, plus thin solder joints and an upper post that can break off if the horn is knocked. Twigg Musique says the 280 reinforced the neck-screw area that was a weak spot on the YAS-275.
More on this in our saxophone buying guide.
Buying guide
For a US parent the YAS-26 page is the better place to shop, since the 280 is Yamaha's international student alto and nearly every one for sale here ships from Japan. If you want the high F# key the 280 adds, we'd buy a Japan dealer horn titled tested, like the one at $1,060 with free shipping, under the $1,400–1,700 delivered band most ask. There are at least 91 for sale, shipping runs from free to $390, and a horn from Japan has no US dealer support and an expensive trip back if it's wrong. New ones ask about $1,516 delivered at the median, about what used imports ask, and the only US listing, at $985, is from a zero-feedback account with no shipping stated. A repair shop found sticky, dried-out pads on a 280 after only 18 months, so ask for a video down to low B-flat and budget for a shop check-up when it arrives.
$979.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered 280 here at $979, titled with a hard case and as adjusted and tested, from a 99.4% seller. It ships from Japan with $90 of that in shipping, so a return means sending it back overseas.
Yamaha YAS-280 Gold Hard Case Eb Alto Saxophone Adjusted Tested Preowned Japan
$1,059.99delivered
Titled tested, with free shipping at $1,060, about $340 under the band from a 99.4% seller. The photo shows it in a case, but the title doesn't name a mouthpiece, so ask.
Yamaha YAS-280 Alto Saxophone Gold Lacquer Used Tested
$1,255.00delivered
The most play-ready listing here, titled professionally adjusted and play tested, with a case, at $1,255 with free shipping from a 99.5% seller. It ships from Japan, so ask for a video down to low B-flat before you buy.
YAMAHA YAS-280 Alto Saxophone Professionally Adjusted Play Tested Case
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$979.00est. delivered
$889.00 + $90.00 shipping
Buy It Now$889.00
Good buy
Titled adjusted and tested, with a hard case. Ships from Japan.
Seller: japan-orchestra8
99.4% positive
Used$1,059.99delivered
$1,059.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,059.99
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 tested. Free shipping from Japan.
Seller: noenemy
99.4% positive
Used$1,255.00delivered
$1,255.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,255.00
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.
Good buy
Titled professionally adjusted and play tested, with case. Ships from Japan.
Seller: yoban8star
99.5% positive
Used$1,499.00est. delivered
$1,370.00 + $129.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,370.00
Our take
Titled with a Selmer mouthpiece and case. Ships from Japan.
Seller: japanese_treasure_supply
100% positive
Used$1,510.00est. delivered
$1,200.00 + $310.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,200.00
Our take
Semi-hard case and mouthpiece titled. $310 shipping from Japan.
Seller: aibo.japan
99.4% positive
Used$1,727.40est. delivered
$1,438.85 + $288.55 shipping
Buy It Now$1,438.85
Check the seller
Bare title shared with other sellers, and $289 shipping. Ask for photos of this horn.
Seller: riversideworks_japan
98.4% positive
Used$2,213.75est. delivered
$2,193.75 + $20.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,193.75
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
Top of the range, with a title shared across sellers. Ask for photos of this horn.
Seller: japan-quick-delivery-company
100% positive
Used$985.00+ shipping
$985.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$985.00
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
The only US listing. Zero feedback and no shipping stated.
Seller: imthemusicguy
No feedback yet
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