Yamaha · Student · YTS-26 · 2012–present
Paul Effman Music, a New York school-band dealer, called the YTS-23 the de facto standard student tenor for well over a decade, and in 2012 Yamaha replaced it with the YTS-26. At a glance the two look nearly identical. The changes are a redesigned neck receiver that Yamaha says is more durable and quicker to respond, and a reworked low B to C# connection so the low C# key closes the same way every time and the bottom notes speak clearly. Like the YAS-26 alto, it uses the traditional 62 body shape from Yamaha's pro horns, with a two-piece bell, drawn tone holes and stainless steel springs, and it has separate key guards over the bell keys. It has a front F key and no high F#. Yamaha ships it with a 4C mouthpiece and a TSC-23 hard case. Most teachers start younger kids on the smaller, lighter alto, so a used YTS-26 is often a student's second sax. The fingerings are the same, so the move from alto is mostly about the bigger mouthpiece and the extra weight on the strap.
A good student tenor for a kid who's big enough to hold it, usually after a start on alto. Younger beginners are better off on an alto, which is smaller and lighter.
Build and caseYTS-26
The YTS-26 replaced the YTS-23 in 2012, so a horn stamped YTS-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.
Dried, sticky or hardened pads are the usual wear, and leaks show up in the low notes first. The neck takes knocks and can be pulled down by forcing the mouthpiece on, so check it closely.
More on this in our saxophone buying guide.
Buying guide
There are at least 8 YTS-26s for sale and only one is used, from a zero-feedback account, so the $3,750–3,900 band here is new dealer pricing, not a used market read. New lacquer ones ask $3,774 delivered from four US dealers with free shipping, and silver ones ask $4,184. The used one titled "MINT" asks $1,950, about half of new, so consider it only with clear photos of the pads and neck, and pay only through eBay checkout. Most kids start on the smaller, lighter alto, so for a first sax look at the YAS-26 page and save the tenor for a student who's big enough to hold it.
$3,774.00delivered
Tied for the lowest delivered YTS-26 at $3,774, new from a 99.7% US dealer, and the only new listing titled with its case. Yamaha ships the 26 with a 4C mouthpiece and a TSC-23 hard case, so confirm both are in the box.
Yamaha YTS-26 Student Bb Tenor Saxophone - Gold Lacquer Sax with 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.
New$3,774.00delivered
$3,774.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,774.00
Good buy
New, titled with case. Free shipping.
Seller: pianogalleryofidaho
99.7% positive
New$3,774.00delivered
$3,774.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,774.00
Our take
New from a US dealer. Free shipping.
Seller: musiciansfriend
99.8% positive
New$3,774.00delivered
$3,774.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,774.00
Our take
New from a US dealer. Free shipping.
Seller: music_and_arts
99.8% positive
New$3,774.00delivered
$3,774.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$3,774.00
Our take
New from a US dealer. Free shipping.
Seller: sweetwatersound
99.8% positive
New$3,799.65est. delivered
$3,774.00 + $25.65 shipping
Buy It Now$3,774.00
Our take
New from a US dealer, plus $25.65 shipping.
Seller: dillonmusic
99.9% positive
New$4,184.00delivered
$4,184.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,184.00
Our take
New, silver as titled, $410 more than lacquer.
Seller: musiciansfriend
99.8% positive
New$4,184.00delivered
$4,184.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,184.00
Our take
New, silver as titled, $410 more than lacquer.
Seller: music_and_arts
99.8% positive
Used$1,950.00delivered
$1,950.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,950.00
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.
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Check the seller
The only used one. Zero feedback, at about half the new price.
Seller: brfer_99
No feedback yet
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 12, 2026.
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