Mendini saxophones by Cecilio are some of the cheapest beginner saxes available.
That, along with the ease of which they can be ordered on Amazon, makes them an attractive proposition for beginner saxophone students.
But of course, there’s usually a trade off between cost and quality, so we wanted to dive deeper into this saxophone brand and se what the pros and cons of starting with this horn are.
Is it a good option for you (or your child)?
Let’s have a brief overview before we dive into the details…
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#1 Mendini Alto Sax Option  |
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#1 Mendini Tenor Sax Option  |
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Mendini by Cecilio: The Basics
Made by Cecilio Musical Instruments in China, these instruments are available in 3 sizes from the saxophone family:
- Mendini Alto sax (Eb, the most popular beginner horn size)
- Mendini Tenor saxophone (Bb)
- Mendini soprano saxophone (Bb)
Advantages Of Mendini Saxophones
Of course, the main advantage of this saxophone is the price point.
Instead of spending a fortune on an instrument that you’re not sure to stick with, it’s a low-risk way of trying it out.
It’s by no means a well-known sax brand, but it can still create a good solid sound when played properly.
On top of that, it’s a lightweight instrument and provides an even intonation, especially in the mid-register which is where the beginner saxophonist will spend most of their playing time.
The instrument certainly looks the part: a gold lacquer body and keys, an engraved bell decoration, leather pads and contoured keys with faux mother-of-pearl inlays.
You can also choose from a variety of other colours if you prefer.
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Disadvantages Of This Instrument
Whilst this instrument is a very cheap beginner saxophone, that can also be it’s downfall; a lower quality horn is harder to play well, which can put off early student musicians before they have a chance to master a basic technique.
Some customers have noted pads coming off easily or not sealing well, which can also lead to more difficulty playing the instrument.
Whilst the ‘comes with everything’ description looks good, some of the accessories are not the best quality. The neck strap, for example, has a plastic clasp that could break easily causing the sax to fall and become irreparably damaged.
Which brings us to another important point: with such a low cost, most damage to this instrument would be uneconomic to fix, meaning that a new saxophone is required.
Compare that to more expensive established beginner instruments (such as the highly recommended Yamaha 280 series) and not only are repairers willing to work on these, you can also get a good price selling them second hand, when it’s time to upgrade.
What Do You Get In The Case?
Mendini saxophones are a nice choice for beginners who want to get started quickly.
These models have a one-year warranty and come packed with:
- a chromatic tuner & metronome
- an Ebonite mouthpiece
- a ligature
- a box of 10 reeds (2.5 size)
- a nylon covered hard case with backpack straps and zipper pocket.
- a cleaning swab
- a neck strap
- a polishing cloth
- also (weirdly) it comes with a pair of white gloves.
Basically it arrives on your doorstep with everything you need to get started with playing saxophone.
Alternative Cheap Saxophones On Amazon
If you’re sold on the idea of a super cheap saxophone that can allow you to get started right away, you might want to compare some other great low-budget beginner instruments first.
Amazon (our go-to place for quick and affordable!) usually stock these alternatives to Mendini by Cecilio saxophones:
Eastrock Alto Saxophone
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The East Rock alto saxophone is another well-regarded budget instrument with a solid sound.
The pads are leather and it too comes with all the basic accessories such as a mouthpiece, reeds, mouthpiece cushion pads, cleaning cloth and cleaning rod, a neck strap and a case.
Strangely (as with many of these budget saxophones) it also comes with a pair of white gloves!
One possible downside is the leather pads since they might not be quite as durable as other options.
Glory Professional Alto Eb Saxophone
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Despite its name, this model is not a common choice for professionals, and instead – a beginner model.
What’s more, it’s a good beginner’s model, too.
The Glory Professional Alto Eb Saxophone comes with all necessary accessories – a case, a strap, 8 pad cushions, 11reeds, a mouthpiece, and a care kit.
Basically, everything that a beginner needs to start practicing and test whether alto saxophone is their thing.
It doesn’t promise high levels of accuracy and consistency, but then again, a beginner doesn’t need a perfect instruments to make the first steps.
This model is also a great gift idea.
Juxaan Alto Saxophone Eb Beginner Saxophone
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Again, a solid alternative for those seeking for a try-out, beginner model.
For the price range – this model preformed surprisingly well.
Its body (coated for extra resistance to corrosion) is denser than similar models, providing a decent tone quality and resonance.
The Juxaan Alto sax comes with a strap, a cloth, a special case, reeds, and other minor accessories.
All in all, a nice option for beginners.
So, are Mendini Saxophones Good?
The million dollar question!
Well, perhaps the ‘less-than-300-dollars’ question…
Here at Jazzfuel we are lifelong saxophone fans and believe in giving beginners every chance to get to grips with playing as easily as possible.
Do Mendini by Cecilio saxophones provide that?
Probably not, if you look at the full range of beginner options out there, which includes the extremely good value Jean Paul saxophone series and the top-of-the-range Yamaha saxes.
You can’t argue with the price point though, so if you are really looking to just dip your toe into saxophone playing and see if it’s for you with. very little financial risk, this is a perfect instrument for you.
As long as you’re ok with the idea that you’ll need to upgrade sooner rather than later, feel free to give it a whirl!
The Cecilio alto saxophone would be our #1 tip in that case, rather than the more unwieldy tenor or soprano saxophone options.
But keep in mind our top tip for any beginner saxophone: the mouthpiece can make a massive impact on the sound you can create, and the one you receive with any new budget saxophone is unlikely to be great.
So if you’re saving big on a new horn, consider splashing out a little extra on a solid beginner mouthpiece – such as the Yamaha 4C – to give yourself a little extra help.
What other instruments do Mendini by Cecilio make?
Before we sign off, you might have seen this brand pop up in other places too.
Whilst we’re focused on their saxophones, Mendini also make a range of other instruments which can also be found online:
- Cecilio violin
- Cecilio drum kit
- student trumpet
- Cecilio clarinet
- Cecilio flute
As with our Mendini saxophone review, these are all extremely affordable instruments which can give the complete beginner a taste of playing.
Looking for more? Check out our Jean Paul saxophone review (with video) here.
Nice review.
I’m a professional saxophone player, aged 65, and have been playing them since 1969. I’ve had several brands & sizes, from baris to sopranos, and Yanagisawas, Selmers, Yamahas, a Couf, a LeBlanc, and even a Paul Mariat. But I was intrigued when I saw online video reviews of cheap saxes on Youtube from Better Sax. I bought a Mendini Tenor and an Eastar Tenor from Amazon, each for less than what I make for a single gig, just as a test. After all, it was through Amazon Prime; I could return either or both for any reason at all within 30 days.
Comparing the two, the Mendini had the edge, but only from a price point. The Eastar played equally well, was slightly heavier, but had no other obvious advantage over the Mendini.
I sent back the Eastar and started playing the Mendini once or twice a month on gigs. It needed very little adjustment out of the case–just a slight leak on the low F key that was easily adjusted with a strip light showing the problem. I applied some Sugru to build up the left palm keys and the right high keys, and it plays perfectly for me.
I set aside the mouthpiece it came with, along with its reeds, and use my Berg-Larsen mouthpiece and Hemke reeds. It honestly plays just about as well as any of the professional grade saxophones I’ve blown.
That was February of 2024. It’s September now. The only negative so far is the key pearl fell out of the bis key.
I purchased an Assurion insurance policy as part of the original Amazon order. I started the process of opening a claim, then discovered they want to refund the entire purchase price and have me ship the horn back to them. For just a faux mother-of-pearl key cover? Ridiculous!
I contacted Mendini directly. It’s a Sunday today, so they need to wait for someone more experienced in their parts department to contact me tomorrow. Hopefully it’ll just be a matter of sending them a photograph & the original order number, and they’ll send me a replacement key pearl.
Beyond that, the Mendini Tenor Sax I bought has been just fine for professional use. Amazing. It makes me think about those horns I blow that run from $5K to $13K new at the local Schmitt Music store. They’ll likely last longer than this Mendini, and I bet the key pearls don’t drop out & get lost at a gig.
But at $260, this sax is an easy winner. Especially considering I don’t plan on spending around $10K on a replacement sax at my age when a cheap Asian build works quite nicely.
Thanks for sharing such a detailed experience!
Cheapest sax alto for me to get on amazon prime. I’m a 74 yr. Old greenhorn