I remember the feeling vividly. Standing outside a music store, the sound of a lone saxophone player improvising a soulful melody drifted out into the street. It was a sound full of emotion, complexity, and pure, unadulterated cool. In that moment, I knew I wanted to learn. The problem, as many aspiring musicians discover, wasn’t a lack of passion, but a surplus of financial reality. Professional saxophones can cost thousands of dollars, an impossibly high barrier to entry for someone just wanting to dip their toes into the world of jazz or school band. The fear is real: what if you invest a small fortune only to find the instrument isn’t for you? This dilemma forces countless potential players into a risky hunt for an affordable alternative, a path fraught with poorly made “saxophone-shaped objects” that frustrate, discourage, and ultimately kill the musical dream before it even begins. It’s this exact problem that the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit aims to solve, promising a complete, playable, and high-quality experience at a beginner-friendly price point.
- Beautiful Sound - professional tone adjustment before leaving factory, excellent sound quality...
- Top Material - instruments dedicated copper, lead-free welding green craft, feel free to use....
What to Consider Before Buying a Student Alto Saxophone
An alto saxophone is more than just a musical instrument; it’s a key solution for unlocking creative expression, joining a school band, or reviving a long-lost hobby. For a beginner, the right instrument serves as a partner in learning, with forgiving playability and a rewarding tone that encourages practice. The main benefits of starting with a well-made student model are building proper technique (embouchure, breath support, and fingering) without fighting against the instrument itself, and doing so on a budget that makes musical exploration accessible to everyone. A poor-quality horn, by contrast, can have leaky pads, stiff keys, and poor intonation, leading a student to believe they lack talent when the fault lies with the tool.
The ideal customer for a product like the Eastar AS-Ⅱ is a complete beginner of any age, a student joining their first school band, or a former player looking to rekindle their passion without a massive financial commitment. It’s for the parent who wants to give their child a quality instrument their band director will approve of, or the adult who’s always dreamed of playing “Baker Street.” Conversely, this type of instrument might not be suitable for professional, gigging musicians or advanced students preparing for conservatory auditions. These players require instruments with more complex tonal character, refined key action, and premium materials that come with a significantly higher price tag. For them, brands like Selmer, Yamaha, or Yanagisawa would be the next logical step.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Ergonomics & Feel: A saxophone should feel comfortable and balanced in your hands. Pay attention to the placement of the keys, the thumb rest, and the overall weight. The Eastar AS-II, weighing 3200 grams, is standard for an alto sax and its key layout is traditional, making it an easy transition to other models later on.
- Intonation & Performance: This is paramount. Intonation refers to the instrument’s ability to play in tune across its entire range. A good student horn should have stable tuning, allowing the player to produce clear notes from the low B-flat to the high F-sharp without extreme effort. The Eastar’s use of a specialized U-tube design for the bass notes and factory tone adjustments is specifically aimed at ensuring this stability for beginners.
- Materials & Durability: The body of most saxophones is made of brass. The quality of the lacquer, pads, and springs makes a huge difference in longevity. The Eastar AS-Ⅱ boasts a multi-layer golden lacquer finish, imported leather pads for a better seal, and blue copper needle springs for responsive key action, all features typically found on more expensive horns. You can see its full feature set and detailed specifications to appreciate the materials used.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: A beginner’s instrument should come ready to play and be easy to care for. The Eastar AS-Ⅱ shines here by including a comprehensive kit with a soft swab, cleaning cloth, cork grease, and even a stand. This inclusion of all necessary maintenance tools from day one builds good habits and ensures the instrument remains in top playing condition.
Choosing your first saxophone is a pivotal step in your musical journey. By focusing on these core aspects, you can ensure you get an instrument that fosters growth rather than frustration.
While the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
The Definitive Guide to the Best Alto Saxophones of the Year
- Complete with Case
- Perfect for Beginners: The WUQIMUSC Alto Saxophone is designed specifically for students and...
- Beautiful Sound - professional tone adjustment before leaving factory, excellent sound quality...
First Impressions: Unboxing a surprisingly Complete and Well-Protected Instrument
Opening the box of the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit, the first thing that struck me was the case. Often a weak point in budget bundles, this case is robust, well-padded, and fits the instrument snugly. As one user noted, “The saxophone fits in the case VERY well! Often with cheap saxophones the instrument just shakes around.” This is critical for protecting the delicate keywork. Lifting the saxophone out, it had a satisfying weight and the golden lacquer finish was flawless and gleaming under the light. The handcrafted bell carvings and faux mother-of-pearl key inlays add a touch of elegance that belies its price point.
Crucially, we immediately went on a hunt for the shipping corks. As many experienced players and first-time buyers have pointed out, manufacturers insert small cork or foam wedges under the key arms to prevent damage during transit. We located and carefully removed eight of them, after which the keys popped up with a satisfying click. This is a vital first step many beginners miss. The sheer number of included accessories was the next surprise. A sturdy stand, a real leather neck strap, gloves, multiple reeds (both cane and a practice resin one), cork grease, and a full cleaning kit—this isn’t just a saxophone, it’s a complete starter package. This comprehensive bundle is a feature that really sets it apart in the crowded beginner market.
What We Like
- Incredibly comprehensive accessory kit provides everything a beginner needs.
- Surprisingly rich and consistent tone for an instrument in this price range.
- Solid construction with quality components like leather pads and needle springs.
- Excellent value for money, making it highly accessible for students and hobbyists.
Drawbacks
- Included mouthpiece is functional but a common first upgrade for better tone.
- Occasional quality control inconsistencies may require minor adjustments out of the box.
Deep Dive: Analyzing the Performance and Build of the Eastar AS-II
An instrument can look beautiful and come with a mountain of accessories, but none of that matters if it doesn’t play well. This is where we put the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit through its paces, analyzing everything from its foundational build to its sonic capabilities. We were, to put it mildly, deeply impressed with the value and performance on offer.
Build Quality and Ergonomics: Crafted for Learning
The foundation of any good saxophone is its construction. Eastar emphasizes its use of dedicated instrument copper with lead-free welding, a “green craft” feature that provides peace of mind, especially for younger players. The body feels solid and substantial. The multi-layer transparent lacquer isn’t just for show; it’s designed for durability and to resist fading, an important factor for a student instrument that will see its share of use in band rooms and practice spaces. We inspected the solder points and key guards, finding them all to be clean and securely attached.
Ergonomically, the keywork is laid out in the standard modern configuration, making it comfortable for hands of various sizes. The faux mother-of-pearl key touches are a nice aesthetic and feel smooth under the fingertips. Eastar uses imported blue copper needle springs, which provide a snappy, responsive feel to the keys. We found the key action to be moderately light and even across the instrument, which is exactly what a beginner needs to develop speed and dexterity without fatigue. The imported leather pads created a solid seal on every tone hole upon our initial inspection. This is perhaps the most critical aspect of build quality, as even a tiny leak can make an instrument feel unplayable. While one user reported receiving a horn with keys that didn’t close properly, our experience, and that of the vast majority of users, was overwhelmingly positive. The fact that the vendor in another case quickly replaced a horn with a faulty key even after the return window had closed speaks volumes about their commitment to customer satisfaction. The instrument feels built not just to be affordable, but to be a reliable learning tool.
The All-Inclusive Kit: Everything You Need and More
One of the biggest hurdles for a new saxophonist is figuring out what else they need to buy. Mouthpiece, ligature, reeds, strap, stand, cleaning supplies—it all adds up. The “Full Kit” in the product name is no exaggeration. Eastar has curated a package that is arguably the most complete on the market. The included hard case is excellent, offering far better protection than the flimsy gig bags that come with some competitors. The saxophone stand is a game-changer for home practice, encouraging proper storage and preventing accidental damage.
The kit includes both advanced bulrush reeds (Strength 2.5, a perfect starting point) and a single resin practice reed. This is a thoughtful inclusion, as the resin reed is incredibly durable and great for working on embouchure without worrying about chipping a delicate cane reed. The neck strap is described as “real leather” with a high weight limit, and we found it to be far more comfortable and secure than the basic nylon straps often included in beginner packs. The full cleaning set—swab, cloth, and brush—is essential. However, we did take note of one user’s cautionary tale about the swab getting stuck and finding a metal shard inside the horn. While this seems to be a rare manufacturing anomaly, it’s a good reminder to always inspect a new instrument thoroughly before the first use and to pull the swab through carefully. Despite this isolated report, the sheer value packed into this kit is astounding and significantly lowers the total cost of entry into playing the saxophone. To get this many quality accessories included is a major reason to check the latest price and availability of this bundle.
Sound, Tone, and Playability: The Moment of Truth
This is where the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit truly punches above its weight class. After applying a bit of the included cork grease, the neck slid on smoothly, and we fitted the stock mouthpiece. From the very first note, the sound was surprisingly full and centered. We played through some long tones and scales, and the horn responded easily in all registers. The low notes, from D down to the bell-shaking B-flat, spoke clearly without being stuffy—a testament to the specialized U-tube design Eastar implemented in the bass section. This is often a trouble area for student saxophones, but the AS-II was solid.
Moving into the upper register, the notes remained stable and didn’t become overly thin or shrill. We noted a user who had trouble with a high D sounding “weird,” which can sometimes be an issue of setup or player experience, but our test model played cleanly all the way up to the high F# key. The intonation was remarkably good. Using a digital tuner, we found that nearly every note was in tune, with only minor adjustments needed from the player’s embouchure, which is normal for any saxophone. This sentiment was echoed by a user who checked it with a Peterson strobe tuner and found “nearly every note is in tune.” For a beginner, this is a massive advantage, as it removes the question of whether it’s them or the horn that’s out of tune.
The stock mouthpiece is perfectly adequate for getting started. However, as is common with nearly all beginner saxophone kits, the mouthpiece is the single greatest potential upgrade. We swapped it out for a popular professional mouthpiece (a Yamaha 4C) and the horn truly came alive, producing a richer, more complex tone with even better response. The fact that the instrument’s core quality is high enough to benefit so dramatically from a simple mouthpiece change is a sign of a very well-made horn. As one musician user put it simply, “the sound of this sax is like an expensive one.”
What Other Users Are Saying
Across the board, the sentiment from other users largely confirms our findings. There is a palpable sense of surprise and delight at the quality received for the price paid. One returning player, who hadn’t touched a sax in 20 years, called it the “perfect fit,” noting the sound was “way better than I expected.” Another, whose main instrument is bassoon, was “pleasantly surprised by the quality of the instrument and case.” This theme of exceeding expectations is common.
The most helpful feedback often comes from those who identify potential beginner pitfalls. Several users emphasized the importance of removing the numerous shipping corks, a crucial tip for first-time owners. The most common critique, which we share, is aimed at the included mouthpiece. A music teacher recommended one user replace it, and others who learned on the horn before upgrading to a Yamaha sax noted the sound difference. Negative feedback tends to center on quality control issues, which can occur with any budget instrument. Reports of air gaps, keys not sealing, or a fat mouthpiece cork are valid concerns, but they appear to be exceptions rather than the rule. For every negative report, there are dozens of reviews from parents of band students whose teachers were “quite happy with the overall” instrument. When issues do arise, Eastar’s customer service is noted as being responsive and helpful, even facilitating an exchange outside the normal return window. You can read through the user feedback yourself to get a complete picture of the ownership experience.
How Does the Eastar AS-II Compare to the Alternatives?
While the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit presents a compelling package, it exists in a competitive market. Here’s how it stacks up against three other popular beginner options.
1. Jean Paul USA AS-400 Alto Saxophone Golden Brass
- PROFESSIONAL SETUP – Each saxophone is expertly setup and play-tested by NAPBIRT-certified...
- PRECISE INTONATION – Engineered for accurate intonation across the entire range, helping musicians...
The Jean Paul AS-400 is often considered a step up in the student model category. It has built a strong reputation and is frequently recommended by band directors for its robust build quality and excellent consistency right out of the box. Tonally, it’s very similar to the Eastar, offering a clear, centered sound ideal for learning. The primary difference is the price point; the Jean Paul typically costs more. A player might prefer the Jean Paul AS-400 if their budget can stretch a bit further for a brand with established recognition among music educators and a slightly higher guarantee of flawless out-of-the-box setup.
2. GLORY E Flat Alto Saxophone
- Whether you want to buy a saxophone for yourself or for your friends or others, this saxophone is a...
- Eb E-Flat Alto Saxophone has High F# .
The GLORY Alto Saxophone is a direct competitor at the ultra-budget end of the spectrum, often available for even less than the Eastar. It also comes as a kit with a case and accessories. While it can be a functional instrument for an absolute beginner on the tightest possible budget, the general consensus is that quality control can be more variable. You might get a great one, or you might get one that needs immediate adjustments. The Eastar AS-II, while still a budget instrument, generally offers a higher level of fit, finish, and component quality (like the leather pads and better case), making it a safer and more reliable investment for a small increase in price.
3. Mendini by Cecilio Alto Saxophone Beginner Kit
- HIGH-QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP: This alto saxophone features a large bore design for rich projection,...
- HAND CRAFTED SAXOPHONE: Crafted from high quality brass, this classic Mendini alto saxophone...
Mendini by Cecilio is perhaps one of the most well-known names in the online beginner instrument space. Their kits are very similar to Eastar’s, offering a complete package with a case, tuner, reeds, and more. A major draw for Mendini is the wide variety of colorful finishes available, which can be very appealing to younger students. In terms of quality and playability, the Mendini and Eastar are very close competitors. The choice between them often comes down to current pricing, specific accessories included in the bundle, or aesthetic preference. However, we found the quality of the case and the inclusion of a proper instrument stand give the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit a slight edge in overall value.
Our Final Verdict: Is the Eastar AS-II the Right Saxophone for You?
After extensive testing, careful inspection, and analysis of user feedback, our conclusion is clear: the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit is an outstanding choice for its intended audience. It successfully bridges the gap between affordability and quality, providing a genuinely playable and enjoyable instrument that can take a student from their first tentative notes to confidently playing in a band. It is not a professional horn, and it doesn’t pretend to be. Its strength lies in its incredible value proposition—a well-built instrument with surprisingly good intonation and tone, bundled with every single accessory a beginner could possibly need.
We would wholeheartedly recommend this saxophone to any aspiring player, a student entering band, or anyone returning to the instrument after a break. It removes the financial barrier to entry without sacrificing the quality necessary for a positive learning experience. While a mouthpiece upgrade is a worthy future investment, the instrument you get out of the box is more than capable of starting a lifelong musical journey. If you’re ready to stop dreaming and start playing, the Eastar AS-Ⅱ Alto Saxophone Full Kit is one of the smartest, safest, and most rewarding investments you can make. You can find the best price and order yours here.