The YTS-280 is the tenor half of Yamaha's international student pair. Yamaha built it on the YTS-275 and, in its own words, added a more stable neck receiver and a reworked low B to C# connection that holds its adjustment better. For years American buyers mostly met the 280 as an import, and SaxTuition was still pointing out in 2024 that Yamaha didn't sell the 280 series in the US. Yamaha USA has since added it, pitching the 280s to American students and teachers. It isn't a relabeled YTS-26. The 280 has a high F# key that the 26 lacks, Yamaha lists its own 280-style neck, and it comes in gold lacquer or silver plate. Yamaha also calls out a durable neck screw on the new receiver, a sensible place to spend effort, since KB Sax notes that most neck damage happens while the horn is being put together. A tenor is bigger and heavier than an alto, so this suits a student who's grown into it or an adult learner who wants the deeper sound.
A strong first tenor for an older student or an adult, and one a player won't outgrow quickly. Younger kids usually do better starting on alto, which is smaller and lighter.
Build and caseYTS-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.
The usual wear is dried or sticky pads, with leaks showing up in the low notes first. Check the neck for pull-down and the neck screw area for cracks, since the neck takes the strain every time the horn is assembled.
More on this in our saxophone buying guide.
Buying guide
There are at least 7 YTS-280s for sale, three used ones from a single seller in Italy and four new ones from US sellers, so the $1,800–4,000 band isn't a market read. The used ones ask $1,746–1,802 delivered and are titled revised, which reads as a service claim, but $123 of that is shipping from Italy and a return would go back overseas. New ones ask $4,000–4,100 from the big US dealers and $2,139 from one smaller US seller, and that's the one we'd look at for a student. A tenor suits an older student or an adult who's grown into it, so for a younger child starting out look at the YAS-26 alto page instead.
$1,746.08est. delivered
The lowest delivered 280 here at $1,746, titled full revised, which reads as a service, from a 100% seller in Italy. That includes $123 shipping, and the photo shows a soft case, so ask about the mouthpiece and how a return would work.
YAMAHA YTS 280 TENOR SAXOPHONE, FULL REVISED/SAX SAXOPHONE TENOR REVISED!
$2,139.00delivered
A new horn titled 2026 from a 100% US seller at $2,139 with free shipping, about $1,860 under what the big US dealers ask. That's a big gap for a new 280, so ask whether it comes boxed with the 4C mouthpiece and case Yamaha ships it with.
🔥2026 Yamaha YTS-280 Tenor Saxophone
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.
Serviced$1,746.08est. delivered
$1,622.88 + $123.20 shipping
Buy It Now$1,622.88
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 full revised. $123 shipping from Italy.
Seller: chicas42
100% positive
New$2,139.00delivered
$2,139.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$2,139.00
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
New, titled 2026. US seller, free shipping.
Seller: brassbarn
100% positive
Serviced$1,802.08est. delivered
$1,678.88 + $123.20 shipping
Buy It Now$1,678.88
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
Titled as new and revised. Same seller and title as another listing, so ask if it's a separate horn.
Seller: chicas42
100% positive
Serviced$1,802.08est. delivered
$1,678.88 + $123.20 shipping
Buy It Now$1,678.88
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
Titled as new and revised. Same seller and title as another listing, so ask if it's a separate horn.
Seller: chicas42
100% positive
New$4,000.00delivered
$4,000.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,000.00
Our take
New from a US dealer. Free shipping.
Seller: pianogalleryofidaho
99.7% positive
New$4,000.00delivered
$4,000.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,000.00
Our take
New from a US dealer. Free shipping.
Seller: altomusic
99.6% positive
New$4,100.00delivered
$4,100.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$4,100.00
Our take
New from a US dealer. Free shipping.
Seller: sweetwatersound
99.8% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 12, 2026.
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