Saxophone Brands Guide: Who Makes What in 2026

Saxophone branding is more confusing than it looks. The word “Selmer” can mean a French professional maker or an American student line. Keilwerth is German-designed but owned by a French group. And some of the best-value instruments carry the name of a shop rather than a factory. This guide sorts out who owns what and what each brand currently sells, based on manufacturer catalogues and retailer listings checked in 09/2026.

Yamaha

Yamaha covers every level and every voice, which makes it the default reference when comparing saxophones. Its current UK range includes:

• Alto: YAS-280 (student), YAS-480 (intermediate), YAS-62, YAS-82Z and YAS-875EX (professional)
• Tenor: YTS-280, YTS-480, YTS-62, YTS-82Z, YTS-875EX
• Soprano: YSS-475II, YSS-82Z, YSS-82ZR, YSS-875EX, YSS-875EXHG
• Baritone: YBS-480 and YBS-82, with the YBS-62II still sold at Thomann

The YAS-280 is made in Yamaha’s Indonesian plant and is one of the most widely recommended student altos, at about £848 at Thomann UK (09/2026). The YAS-480 replaced the YAS-475 and borrows the 62-series octave mechanism. Older models such as the YAS-475, YTS-275 or YBS-32 now only appear on the used market.

Selmer Paris vs Conn-Selmer: two different companies

This is the most common source of confusion for buyers.

Henri Selmer Paris

Henri Selmer Paris was founded in 1885, made its first saxophones in 1922 and builds its instruments in Mantes-la-Ville, France. The company was bought by the investment firm Argos Wityu in 2018. Its lineage runs from the Mark VI (1954-1975) through the Mark VII, Super Action 80, SA80 Série II and Série III.

The current alto catalogue lists four models: Axos (entry professional), Super Action 80 Série II, Signature and Supreme, plus a 2025 limited edition Supreme. The tenor line is Axos, Signature and Supreme; baritones are the SA80 Série II and Série III; the bass and sopranino are SA80 Série II. The Série III alto and tenor and the Reference 54/36 are no longer in the catalogue. Read our Selmer Axos review for the most accessible model of the range.

Conn-Selmer (Selmer USA)

Conn-Selmer is a separate American company, part of Steinway, which also distributes Selmer Paris and Yanagisawa in the US. It also sells saxophones under the “Selmer” name: the current catalogue lists altos such as the SAS201, SAS202, SAS301, SAS511 and SAS711, and tenors STS201 and STS301. Older models such as the SAS280 La Voix II were Asia-sourced student instruments; the La Voix II is no longer in the catalogue and is not sold at Thomann.

In short: a “Selmer” student alto and a Selmer Paris professional alto share a name, not a factory. Our Yamaha vs Selmer debate page covers how players see the two big professional names.

Yanagisawa

Yanagisawa began as a repair business in Japan in 1894 and built its first saxophone prototype in 1951. The brand is best known for its sopranos, and it is notable for making saxophones in materials other than standard brass, namely phosphor bronze and solid silver.

The current WO series (alto from 2014, tenor 2015, soprano 2017, curved soprano and baritone 2018) replaced the older 990 series. Model numbers indicate material: WO1 is brass, WO2 bronze, WO10 is the brass “Elite”, WO20 the bronze Elite, and the WO3x models use solid silver. We explain what that means for players in Yanagisawa brass vs bronze.

Jupiter

Jupiter is a mainstream student and intermediate brand. In Europe, the current alto line is the JAS510, JAS700, JAS1100 (including a Colours of Sound version), JAS1150 and the Stellar model. The JAS510 is officially the successor of the JAS500, which is no longer in the range.

In the UK, the JAS700Q is about £933 at Thomann UK and the JAS510 about £849 at Gear4music (09/2026). Jupiter also makes the JTS700Q tenor, the JSS1000Q soprano (with high F# and high G keys) and the JBS1000 baritone, an intermediate low A instrument.

Keilwerth and Buffet Crampon

Julius Keilwerth, the German saxophone maker, has been owned by the French Buffet Crampon group since 2010 (not by Jupiter, as is sometimes claimed). Keilwerth’s SX90R is its well-known professional line. Buffet Crampon also sells saxophones under its own name, including the Prodige student alto and the Senzo alto. UK prices for these models were not verified for this guide, so check current price.

P. Mauriat

P. Mauriat has a wide saxophone catalogue. Its soprano range, for example, includes the System 76 II (straight and curved), Master 97, PMSS-185, PMSS-601 and 200S. We have not verified UK prices, so check with your dealer.

Trevor James

Trevor James is a familiar name in UK music shops. Its current range includes The Horn (alto, tenor, two-piece soprano and baritone), EVO, SR, the professional Signature Custom (RAW and RAW XS), the Andy Sheppard Autograph tenor and the Alphasax. The Classic II is no longer listed, so it is a used-market instrument now.

Trevor James saxophones are not sold at Thomann UK. At Gear4music (09/2026), The Horn alto is about £669, the tenor about £1,025, the soprano about £849 and the baritone about £3,299.

Retailer house brands: Startone, Thomann, Gear4music

Large retailers sell saxophones under their own names, which explains their low prices:

• Startone (Thomann): SAS-75 alto, STS-75 tenor, SCS-75 curved soprano and SBS-75 baritone. At Thomann UK, the SAS-75 is about £255 and the SBS-75 about £1,111.
• Thomann: TAS-180 alto (about £285 at Thomann UK), TTS-180 tenor, TBS-150 baritone, TSI-350 sopranino and the TBB-150 bass (about £2,599).
• Gear4music: own-brand alto, tenor and soprano from about £250 to £350, the Rosedale baritone and bass, and the Elkhart 100AS and 100TS.

These instruments get mixed reviews from technicians and players: some are perfectly serviceable, others need set-up work. See cheap saxophones: owner and tech feedback.

Brand overview

Brand	Parent company / origin	Main levels	Example current models
Yamaha	Yamaha (Japan)	Student to professional	YAS-280, YAS-480, YAS-62, YAS-82Z
Henri Selmer Paris	Argos Wityu since 2018; made in France	Professional	Axos, SA80 Série II, Signature, Supreme
Selmer (USA)	Conn-Selmer, part of Steinway	Student and school	SAS201, SAS301, STS201
Yanagisawa	Yanagisawa (Japan)	Professional	A-WO1, A-WO2, A-WO10, A-WO20
Jupiter	–	Student to intermediate	JAS510, JAS700Q, JAS1100, JBS1000
Keilwerth	Buffet Crampon since 2010	Professional	SX90R
Trevor James	–	Student to professional	The Horn, SR, EVO, Signature Custom
Startone / Thomann	Thomann house brands	Entry	SAS-75, TAS-180, TTS-180, TBB-150

Which brand should you shortlist?

For a first saxophone, Yamaha and Jupiter student models are the safe benchmarks, with house brands as the budget option. For a step up, Yamaha’s 480 series and Jupiter’s 1100 series are the obvious comparisons. At professional level, Yamaha, Selmer Paris, Yanagisawa and Keilwerth are the names most players try side by side. For prices across all of these, see our saxophone price comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Is Selmer USA the same as Selmer Paris?

No. Henri Selmer Paris is a French maker based in Mantes-la-Ville, while Selmer (USA) saxophones come from Conn-Selmer, a separate American company that is part of Steinway.

Who owns Keilwerth saxophones?

Julius Keilwerth has been owned by the French Buffet Crampon group since 2010, not by Jupiter.

Is the Jupiter JAS500 still made?

No. Jupiter Europe lists the JAS510 as the official successor of the JAS500, which now only appears on the used market.

What are Startone saxophones?

Startone is a Thomann house brand. Its range includes the SAS-75 alto, STS-75 tenor, SCS-75 curved soprano and SBS-75 baritone.

Sources — Henri Selmer Paris: alto range, Conn-Selmer saxophones, Julius Keilwerth (Wikipedia), Jupiter Europe: alto saxophones, Trevor James saxophones.

See prices on Thomann →