Re: new needs good advice.
For under $700, if it's good, it will have to be used, I believe. Recently I picked up an E.M. Winston tenor sax - their top of the line 3-4 years ago - which is very lightly used for around your maximum. I've always been a vintage horn snob - but was uneasy leaving a $7000 horn on the bandstand at some spots my oldies rock band has been playing. So now I take the Winston. And I still sound like me. Low Bb is too much of a reach - poor design - but it's mostly OK. And for one tenth the money of my Selmer Mark VI.
I refer you to the discussions here - notably Jim's Approved Brands list in the High School section. Also one entitled Best Sax. Stick to these brands. The cheap Chinese horns should be avoided. Some Taiwan horns - like Winston, USA Selmer, Steve Goodson, P. Mauriat and etc. have gotten pretty good now, after being mostly junk 10-30 years ago. So China could learn, but why risk it?
The other important thing to do is to get a private instructor. They also might help with the horn search - may have connections or etc. Incidently, a Yamaha 23 lightly used might be only $500 or so - and a 52 might be only $700 or so. These are great to learn on. I know one guy making money with one of these so-called student saxes. - - - - Good Luck.
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