Danb,
Go here http://www.geocities.com/saxontheweb/index.html

This is a Sax forum. I don't have any idea which is the best new low end sax. I still play a Buescher "400" that I bought in '63 or so to replace a Selmer MarkIV that was stolen out of the club I was playing in at the time.

Expect a lot of different suggestions just as on this forum.

If you can get a good Buescher "400" off of ebay for $1200 or so go for it. It cost me $475 new. Selmers at the time were going for $595. I got a store that was going out of business. Buschers were maybe $525 at the time. Selmer MarkIV from the 50's and 60's are going for $3500 and up if in good condition today.

There is a remodel contractor about 60 years old I know that bought a brand new Selmer Alto sax a year or so ago and started taking sax lessons. If you have the bucks, lessons will move you much faster.

Boo