Selmer Series III vs Yanagisawa 992

[Big B]

Hey Big B is back on the forum with yet another pulsing and hopefully raging debate. Right now i'm looking to get a new sax better suited to the classical style with enough vibrance to still keep a killer jazz sound. Now I love my guardala BUT it takes lots of air to keep a steady sound at the lowest dynamic levels. Also my tone itself isn't quite the round warmness like I want. Now mouthpiece choices have make things a lot better settling on a Selmer Soloist C** but I am just not getting that warm wholesome tone I would like. I am looking into either the Selmer Series III ( sax professor preference ) Yanagisawa 992 ( my personal preference ) and those horns specifically because of their wide followings. No series II for me cause it just doesn't punch enough for me and well I just never had a liking for yamaha's. Anyway I wanna hear from players with experience and not just those jumping from a student horn. I am looking for a warm but can be easily manipulated tone that is very dynamic. Also something that I feel like I can never begin to outplay and feel like I'm still learning. Well let the debate begin....oh yeah and i know i'll get plenty of TRY THEM YOURSELF statements but it doesn't hurt to have a good feedback rating to go in with.

[Dave Dolson]

Big B: I've only tested one Serie III alto (a brass lacquered model) and I own an A992, so what I write is based on only one example of each. Every saxophone is different, even among the same models and finishes.

The Serie III I tried was brand new (at Kessler's Music in Las Vegas). It was a good player but very bright to my ears. My A992 (although I did not have it with me when I played the Serie III) is a lot more mellow and plays just as well.

I bought one of three Ref 54 altos I tested that day. Among the three (Serie III, A992, and Ref 54), the Ref 54 was the best - in fact, it is the best saxophone I've played/owned. Better than that, all three Ref 54's I tested seemed better than anything else I've played, at least in the alto line.

I also had a chance recently to try another SOTW poster's new Yamaha Z (brass lacquered). It was the best of several Yamahas that I've tried over the past year - well worth your consideration even though you said you don't care for Yamahas. Well, neither do I, but this one was very nice. DAVE

[Dweekie]

My personal preference is the serie III. I think you already answered your own question when you said the yanagisawa was your personal preference. I can't think of anything to debate since you already made up your mind as to which is better for you.....

[Big B]

I didn't say preference between horns but just concistancy of brand name. To me Selmer has been a LOT of hype especially with their series 2 horns but their latest models dealing mostly with the series III or Ref 54 have inpressed me to let me give them a second look. I have been very pleased with every yani I have tried but I haven't tried the 992 so I was just tring to get player opinions BEFORE i hit chuck levin's in the summer and pick out something to hopfully give me 4 years of college playing pleasure unto a hopeful professional carrer.

[3saxes]

Big B, I don't play classical, but your setup can completely change the sound of a horn. If you are thinking about a Selmer Serie III, check out the Selmer Discussion board and in particular the setup scene. Check Miles Oslands setup differences between classical (legit) and jazz.
http://www.selmer.com/saxophone/discus/index.html

ALTO
Series III black lacquer with black neck (for legit) and custom sterling silver neck (for jazz)
Selmer Larry Teal w/Vandoren 3 (for legit)
Bay gold 7 w/Vandoren Java 3 (for big band)
custom Limited Edition Meyer 7M (small chamber) w/Rico Select 3S filed - for everything else

I would say you should try similar setups with the Yanagisawa A992. I play an A9937 which is very similar in sound to the Serie III so I would think the A992 is similar as well but maybe a little darker.

I play a Yanagisawa Metal #7, Rovner Dark Lig, Vandoren Java 3 with my A9937 for Jazz....

Good Luck!

[SuperDave]

Hey Big B, maybe you should have your Guardala checked.
I have Guardala Tenor and Baritone saxes and both are amazingly easy to play down low I can whisper low Bb especially the tenor it's like butter.
A checkup would be cheaper than a new horn, but not as fun.

[Big B]

This time I might go with the teachers ideas and actually sell off the DG and get myself a Reference 54 alto for a graduation gift from high school. I know the DG has served me well but I think my taste in sound has matured and plus after my first experience with A MK6 and a reference well I'm kinna getting a sound quality in my head.

[Big B]

Let me finish that thought. The Ref really put a tone in my head that I really want. It has the warmth, the sound, and the great intonation I like and need as a young player. I'm not saying the DG is bad by NO MEANs in fact its been a GREAT horn for me its just I'm only getting the jazz half completed from the sax and not the concert setting tone I want. And i've got a great setup for that. Plus The silver is giving me a hard time tring to keep clean.