I played a YAS-23 right into college. They're very good horns for people to start on... they're very free-blowing, easy to maintain, and built like tanks. I would pick a YAS-23 over any Bundy any day. As far as the dents, if they're just small dings in an open section (i.e.- not near any keys or rods) it shouldn't make much of a difference. If there are any dents near rods or keys, that's different. Dents can absolutely affect a sax's playability. A bent post or dented key can and most likely will affect the way a key sits, creating leaks and / or intonation problems. If you have a relatively large dent on the bow (the lowest section of an upright saxophone) that may also affect the horn's over-all intonation. Also, look for solder marks. This is a sign the horn has been repaired. Look extra closely to any parts that the repair pertains to and make sure those parts are working properly.