https://www.amazon.com/Jean-Paul-USA-AS-400-Saxophone/dp/B006WAVQKA

Still suboptimal to renting a YAS but these are ranked a bit higher than that brand.

Oof, that's a very nice gift, but $500 on Amazon is unlikely to get you a solid sax compared to what you can find used for the same price (there are a lot of excellent used Yamaha horns that will last a lifetime with proper care), and something from Amazon will probably need a tune up from a technician after it arrives. The best potential deal might be something like this, but the reviews I've seen have been mixed.