Prelude by Conn-Selmer PAS111 Student Eb Alto Saxophone

A well-built first alto saxophone with pro-borrowed details — leather pads with metal resonators, a precision-tapered bore, and a high F# key — packed into a durable, student-ready package.

Is This the Right Alto Saxophone for You?

The PAS111 is designed for the student who is about to pick up the alto saxophone for the first time — whether that's a middle schooler joining concert band, a young player starting private lessons, or anyone stepping into the instrument without prior woodwind experience. What makes it stand out in the student category isn't just price — it's the quality of the internal design. The precision-tapered Prelude bore makes it genuinely easier to produce a centered, projecting tone from the beginning. The treated kid leather pads with metal resonators create an airtight seat that holds regulation better than standard student pads, which means more consistent intonation over time and fewer trips to the repair bench. The high F# key and left-hand table key rocker mechanism with articulated C# adjusting screw are features you'd expect to find on a step-up instrument — here from day one. Conn-Selmer built this saxophone to give beginning students real traction, not just something to survive their first year on.

Key Highlights

• Precision-tapered Prelude bore design produces an easy, in-tune sound and enhances projection from the first note
• Yellow brass body with gold lacquer finish delivers warm, full alto tone and resists corrosion
• Post-to-rib-to-body (ribbed) construction adds structural rigidity and long-term key alignment stability
• Detachable, reinforced body-to-bow connection reduces the risk of damage at one of the saxophone's most vulnerable joints
• Treated kid leather pads with metal resonators provide an airtight seal for consistent tone and better pad longevity
• Power-forged brass keys are built for durability and resist bending under normal playing conditions
• High F# key extends the playable range to F# above the standard range
• Left-hand table key rocker mechanism with articulated C# adjusting screw for smooth, coordinated key action
• Adjustable metal thumb rest accommodates different hand sizes and playing angles
• Hand-engraved bell adds a distinctive, professional appearance
• Blued steel springs deliver reliable, fast key return
• Includes Primo mouthpiece with cap and ligature, neck strap, cork grease, and hard-shell case with exterior pocket

Why You'll Love It

Great Fit For

• Beginning band students in middle school or high school picking up alto saxophone for the first time
• Students starting private saxophone lessons who need a reliable, well-equipped first instrument
• Parents looking for a durable student saxophone that won't require constant repair attention
• Young players who want a saxophone with room to grow — including a high F# key and extended upper range
• School music directors selecting a consistent, serviceable alto saxophone for program or rental use

Sound, Feel, and Use Case

The PAS111 produces a warm, full alto tone with genuine projection — the kind of sound that reads clearly in a concert band setting without requiring a student to overblow. The precision-tapered bore encourages a centered, focused air stream, which helps beginning players develop correct wind support habits naturally rather than working against the instrument. The overall response is open and easy, meaning less physical effort to produce a usable sound early in the learning process.

Key action is light and well-regulated, with the rocker table mechanism making the left-hand pinky cluster noticeably more comfortable and coordinated than a standard linkage. The adjustable metal thumb rest lets students dial in a grip angle that suits their hand without forcing an awkward position. For concert band rehearsals, private lessons, marching season, and daily home practice, the PAS111 is ready for all of it — and the hard-shell case with exterior pocket keeps everything organized and protected in transit.

Specifications