Jupiter JAS500 Review: Is a Used One Still Worth It in 2026?

The Jupiter JAS500 is discontinued. Jupiter has replaced it with the JAS510 (sold as the JAS510Q in Europe), which the brand itself describes as “the successor to the popular and well-known JAS500”. Thomann UK no longer lists a JAS500, so in 2026 you will mostly meet one on the second-hand market. The real question is therefore: is a used Jupiter JAS500 still worth buying, or are you better off with a new student alto?

This page is an analysis based on manufacturer and retailer specifications plus player feedback; we have not had an instrument in hand.

What the Jupiter JAS500 was

The JAS500 (often listed as the JAS500Q) was Jupiter’s entry-level student alto, positioned above retailer own-brand beginner saxes and below the JAS700. Its documented spec is short and sensible:

• alto in E♭, body and keys in gold-lacquered brass;
• high F# key;
• stainless-steel springs;
• supplied with mouthpiece, ligature and case.

In short, a serious learning instrument for lessons, school bands and hobby playing, with no pretensions to intermediate level. That profile is exactly what makes it interesting second-hand, as long as the price is right.

Its successor: the Jupiter JAS510

According to Jupiter Europe’s product page, the JAS510 adopts the key structure design introduced with the 1100 series: repositioned touch pieces, changed key angles and optimised lever heights and lengths. It keeps the high F# and stainless-steel springs, and adds a detachable bell, an adjustable thumb rest, a C#-B♭ tilter and adjustable bumper felts. It comes as the JAS510Q (light case) or JAS510A (ABS case). In the UK, Gear4music listed the JAS510 at around £849 in 09/2026 – which puts it right alongside a new Yamaha YAS-280.

Who is a used JAS500 for?

• Beginners of any age who want an established brand without paying new-instrument money.
• Parents buying for a few years of lessons, who budget for a service at a repairer from day one.
• Returning players, or anyone wanting a second alto for travel and rehearsals.

If you are already an advancing player looking for an instrument to keep for a decade, look straight at intermediate models instead.

What should you pay for a used JAS500?

There is no official guide price, and listings vary a great deal with condition. The sensible approach is to work back from new prices. In 09/2026 a new Yamaha YAS-280 was about £848 at Thomann UK (£839 at Gear4music), a new Jupiter JAS700Q about £933 at Thomann UK, and the budget Thomann TAS-180 and Startone SAS-75 about £285 and £255 – all with a warranty.

A used JAS500, older and without a warranty, should therefore sell for clearly less than a new YAS-280. Always add the likely cost of a service to the asking price (get a repairer’s quote: pads, regulation, corks). If the total creeps towards the price of a new YAS-280 or JAS700Q, buying new is the more sensible call. If a well-kept JAS500 is offered at something close to a new budget alto, it can be a genuinely good deal.

Used-buying checklist

• Pads: look for torn, hardened, sticky or badly seated pads. Tired pads mean a service at best, a full re-pad at worst.
• Springs: stainless steel does not rust, but every key should snap back cleanly, with no unhooked or broken springs.
• Neck tenon: with the screw tightened, the neck must not wobble in the body. A worn tenon causes leaks and is not a cheap fix.
• Leaks: play the low notes quietly down to low B♭. If they crack or refuse to speak, something is leaking – a repairer can check with a leak light.
• Dents: inspect the bow, the bell and especially the body near the tone holes. A small bell dent is usually cosmetic; a distorted body or bent keys rarely are.
• Case and accessories: latches, handle, lining – and are the mouthpiece and ligature included?
• Identity: check the model engraving so you are not paying Jupiter money for something else.

Our guide to buying a used saxophone safely covers every point in detail, and the pitfalls according to owners and techs rounds it off.

New alternatives in 2026

Model (new)	Indicative UK price (09/2026)	Profile
Startone SAS-75	about £255 (Thomann UK)	Budget own-brand alto
Thomann TAS-180	about £285 (Thomann UK)	Budget: high F#, front F, detachable bell
Yamaha YAS-280	about £848 (Thomann UK) / £839 (Gear4music)	Student benchmark: high F#, front F, 4C mouthpiece
Jupiter JAS510	about £849 (Gear4music)	Direct JAS500 successor
Jupiter JAS700Q	about £933 (Thomann UK)	Current Jupiter student step-up

Indicative prices checked in 09/2026; they change regularly.

For a new first instrument, the Yamaha YAS-280 remains the reference. For the wider picture, see our best beginner saxophones guide, and once you have bought, keep the pads healthy with our maintenance routine.

Verdict: yes to a used JAS500 – at the right price

The JAS500 is neither a trap nor an automatic bargain. It was a decent student alto, since replaced by a more refined model, and today it only makes sense if it is in good condition and clearly cheaper than a new instrument. Have it checked, factor in a service and compare it with a new alto that comes with a warranty: in many cases a new YAS-280 or a new budget alto will be the safer decision.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Jupiter JAS500 still made?

No. Jupiter has replaced it with the JAS510 (JAS510Q in Europe), which it calls the successor to the JAS500. Today the JAS500 is mainly found second-hand.

How much should I pay for a used JAS500?

There is no official guide price. Including a service, it should cost clearly less than a new Yamaha YAS-280, which was about 848 pounds at Thomann UK in 09/2026.

What is the difference between the JAS500 and the JAS510?

The JAS510 uses the key structure design of Jupiter’s 1100 series, with repositioned touches and levers, and adds a detachable bell, adjustable thumb rest and stainless-steel springs.

What should I check on a used JAS500?

Pads, spring action, play in the neck tenon, leaks on the low notes, dents near the tone holes and the state of the case. Having a repairer look at it is money well spent.

Where to buy : Jupiter JAS500

Retailer	Why
Gear4music	Reference price, specialist dealer, warranty	See prices on Gear4music →
Amazon	Fast shipping, used and renewed units	See on Amazon →

Affiliate links: the price is the same for you, the commission funds our tests. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Sources — Jupiter Europe: JAS510, successor to the JAS500, Jupiter Europe: current alto range, Thomann UK: Jupiter JAS700Q, Thomann UK: Yamaha YAS-280.

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