How good is your 991's intonation?

[wolfe]

I'm looking to buy a new saxophone (it'll be my first buy beyond the student model I have now - very exciting!) and I'm seriously considering the 991. I was very impressed with the intonation and tone quality. In fact, I've been test playing both the yani as well as a Yamaha 62, JK SX90A (I don't know if this is right, I don't have the horn right here, but that's what was on the invoice), and a selmer series III. I have to say that I like the tone of the yani much much better than Selmer, which it seems is a fairly common view on this board.

Before this becomes too long, I should ask my question: as I said, I like the intonation, however I noticed that the middle D is about 20 cents sharp, and the rest of the notes up to a G are all fairly sharp as well. Also, the side fingering of the middle Bb is about 15 cents flat, and the bis key only improves it slightly. Has anyone else noticed this, or is this horn an exception and should I ask for a different one? (This is a fairly large retailer who sells to schools all over the state of Maine, so they have a pretty good inventory).

Despite these drawbacks in tuning, I think I like the yani better than the Selmer because of the tone and response (amazing dynamics). It seemed to me that the bore of the yani was a bit larger than the selmer. Also, could the fact that the yani has plastic pad resonators and the selmer has metal?

Sorry if that was a bit long, I'm just very excited about getting a new saxohpone!
Cheers everyone,
-Nathan

[john]

Wolfe,
Most unusual. My T991 is within a few cents (0-5) all the way up and down as is my B991. Virtually all of the Yana 900's and 990's I've played have been near perfect intonationwise.

Maybe you have one of Yana's few dogs. Maybe it'r been damaged (neck maybe?).

Good luck.

john

[Dave Dolson]

Wolfe: My S992 and A992 are spot-on throughout the horns' range, as is my SC901 and SC902. That's one of many reasons why I like Yanagisawas so much. DAVE

[Paul S]

My S991 has the best intonation of any horn I've played, including my tenor buescher aristocrat, which is considered one of the best in this area.

i have noticed that i tune better with some mouthpieces, have u tried more than one on this horn?

[Paul S]

oh yes..... if they have more than one of each horn, I would defintely try a few - they do vary sometimes

[wolfe]

Paul S., in terms of mouthpiece, unfortunately I have only had the opportunity to try three mpcs on the horn: selmer c*, hite premiere, and the mouthpiece that came with the yani. That's one of the things that I thought of, but that D and those other few notes up to G are still way off the "acceptable scale". The sales rep is coming tomorrow, hopefully with another yani and a yamaha custom Z. Interestingly perhaps, I've decided against the selmer serie III, but I'm still somewhat torn between the yani and the keilwerth, so this custom z will throw in a whole other dimension as well, but I don't want to make a hasty decision.

Thanks all for the great comments - they've all been very helpful
-wolfe

[sparkee]

i spent some time trying to buy a new alto recently, and also found the Series III to be a big disappointment after reading so much positive stuff about them (blind selmer devotees, i guess). The upper octave mechanism - a super-convoluted see-saw mechanism on the Series III - seems hopelessly "french"; there must be a better way to handle the middle C# thing... How will that thing ever stay in adjustment?? I know a better design was done by Buffet on their Super Dynaction, and apparently now on the Steve Goodson thing in a similar way...

But there are other sax makers who've got a great product - Yani and Yamaha seem to have good stuff. All the extra gizmos don't seem necessary if you get a good one, right (one that plays in tune with good sound and intonation - the "holy grail")?

Of the saxes i tried, there was an old-style Yamaha 62 that was the most "on pitch" of any.... ...i just didn't like the sound so much. I liked the Yani A992 - sounded great, but pitch was too far off on a few notes. Yani has a good reputation, but this one wasn't on. ...i'd like to try a Yamaha Z, too, but haven't seen one.

Finally i've given up, and will keep playing what i've got till the right one comes along. It would be nice if you could buy one sight unseen and hope to get a good one (internet buying is WAYYY cheaper), but that seems too much to hope for.

[Dr G]

"...blind selmer devotees, i guess..."


I suppose if you could say that, then someone that has played Selmers for a lifetime because they prefer the sound might say in return that you must be a deaf Yanagisawa afficiando? Sarcasm aside, I respect your right to have a preference. Please consider doing the same for others whose tastes vary - for whatever reason - from yours.

And don't worry about how a mechanism looks. The proof is whether they work. I have had Serie III and Ref horns for many years now and the octave mechanism has not been an issue - not even required adjusting. And yes, they have seen considerable use in both jazz and classical settings.

[wolfe]

Well, I got a chance yesterday to play the 992 and 901, and that same D was way out of tune, all about 20 cents sharp. I even tried with a few different mpcs and none of it changed. So, it might be a problem with the player not the horn, except that why would that be when I can play it in tune with hardly any adjustment on other horns (I actually have the keilwerth in my lap right now and I can tune the high G, go down to middle D and the tuner doesn't budge).

The only answer to this problem that I can think of is that from the time the saxophone left the factory the pad has been pushing up on the felt bumper, compressing it and thereby raising the pad. But would that really happen to three horns? And what about other makes, why shouldn't that happen to them too?

Anyway, as you can see, I'm pretty much shooting in the dark on trying to figure out why it plays so out of tune. Anyone have any comments as to whether they think it might be something that I'm doing or if it's the horn? I think that if I do decide to get this sax that it can be fixed easy enough by putting in some more felt on that bumper, although that's going to lower the C-key, and I don't think that can be adjusted.

Thanks again for all of the good input,
-wolfe

[Jake 35]

Hey, that 20 cent sharp D is also on my 901. I had that same problem, but i kinda got used to it and its down to like 8-10 cents sharp.

[BobD]

So what's the deal here? I thought Yanagisawa's are supposed to have amazing intonation. Now all of the sudden I'm seeing multiple postings from people asking about the intonation on these horns.

[dpwadw]

I've posted alot about yanas over the last couple months. After playin' selmer for 20 years I bought both an S-902 and A-991 recently, sight unseen. Intonation is excellent for both.

Look, the middle D is some sharp on every horn I've played from a 60's Conn to a brand new series III. My Yanas are no different, but the amount sharp is small and very, very manageable (I don't even have to think about it).

The remainder of the scale is just spot on. Many altimisso notes are very good even. I hope this helps.

[Leotomcov]

In answer to the original question here...the intonation of my A-991 is perfect. After playing Selmer Super 80 for 17 years I got used to bending all over the place to have perfect intonation...had to unlearn that on the yani...it just "nails" each note.

[Lexy]

In answer to the original question here...the intonation of my A-991 is perfect. After playing Selmer Super 80 for 17 years I got used to bending all over the place to have perfect intonation...had to unlearn that on the yani...it just "nails" each note.

I would agree with "Leotomcov"...my T991's intonation is incredible in comparison to most other saxes I have played. I also used to have to make compensations all over the place to improve intonation on other saxes, but I haven't experienced this at all with my T991...it is perfect all over, even on the highest notes...just gorgeous! :) Anyone get the impression that I love my Yani?? :lol:

[saxguy9345]

I am very happy with my A992's intonation, although the middle D is a bit sharp 4-6 cents, I adjust. A bit.

[Dentarthurdent]

No sax has perfect intonation. They all have little intonational 'quirks' - some are just better than others. In my experience Yamaha and Yanagisawa lead the field. The point has been made elsewhere that if you have been used to compensating for one particular brand in the past and try a different one, you unwittingly continue to 'adjust through force of habit which can make a different horn sound out of tune. You have to unlearn and adapt to the new horn. I think everyone would agree that there is no fundamental issue with intonation on yanis.

[jgsax]

I agree with everyone that the Yanagisawa line of horns , intonation wise, come right out of the box virtually spot on. As Dent mentioned there will always be one or two notes on every horn that you may have to adjust , when playing, but as for me I have not played a better product than the Yanagisawa brand. So much so , I play a S990, A992, and a T991 for my main instruments and have had nothing but positive remarks about the sound of my horns. You cant go wrong with the Yanagisawa brand. JGSAX.

[namenotfound06]

i play a b901 and i have a friend that plays a 992 and the only real thing that me and him have to complain about them is that the g key (g with octave) gets a little fuzzy and airy... apparaently they come out of the factory like that, but if no one else has a problem with that then it might just be the mouthpiece, ill tell my friend about bob carpenter, and i should make an appointment with him to check out my link

[andre]

I have just got a 991 silverplate great horn reliable good throughout the range up to Altissimo F good fit for my hands these are good horns it is always up to the player in the end I know aguy who plays Yamaha 61 Alto & Tnr he gets a great sound find something that feels and sounds good to you and then work with and grow into it almost all great players can make a student horn sound great think about why this should be genius maybe or could it be lots of hard work.

[Russ]

I received a used A991 this morning. An absolute minty and judging by the SN, 0022xxxx puts it at '99 aprox. Intonation is spot on all the way, to my ears at least. Very nice horn indeed.

[Sax Hut]

I'm a 3-year-old amateur (so whatever I say is maybe worth about that much), play a T-902 with a current-production NY Link. Only new horn I've ever owned. No problems with intonation--my tuner's light stays in the green up and down, at every dynamic I can muster. I assume everyone is talking about how their horn plays after it's warmed up, the reeds are soaked and chops awake. First five minutes on *any* horn, I'm gonna hear problems with the middle D and most high notes going sharp. But that's me.... When I started out, my high notes were always way sharp, but this horn nowadays will only play in tune. I suppose it over-adjusted itself to me. :treble: :line2: :space3: