finally got my 82z unlaquered w/out high fsharp key

[billyg]

finally after almost an 8 month wait I received my horn. I found 1 at sam ash online after having one on back order from woodwind and braswind. This is by far the best horn I have ever owned. Talk about dead on intonation, this horn is perfect. I have rid myself of all vintage horns after owning great mark 6s, top hat and canes and 10ms and sbas. No more equipment issues. I have play test this model with and without the high f sharp key and let me tell you it makes a big difference. Serial number is 216740 for those interested. The horn screams and can whisper your baby to sleep at the same time. Just sold my sx90r because of the issues with that middle d, it was driving me crazy. No more!!! Thanks to all you yamaha fans and your posts. Go yamaha

[saxobari]

Glad that you did get finanly get your horn after 8 months ,gees that is a long time for a horn! So the unlackered are that hard to get! A friend of mind has one in Ottawa,bought it in Montreal! I own a 875,,sure that the Z must be fantastic! I am happy with the 875!! Almost bought the 62 but was offered a great deal on the 875 lackered Custom,so why not,went for it!
Strange that you mentioned that you did own great saxes over the years and Yamaha Z finaly is what you were lookin for!Another friend of mind is looking to buy a tenor but for her that it is the opposite she wants an old horn,a Conn,or a Selmer,,tried to tell her that maybe just maybe she should try a Yamaha,,but no way,,she just does'nt want to even try one,,she was told that they are bright,and all sorts of negative comments!!
Too bad for such prejudice and also find this a ignorant way to see Yamaha instruments! I also own a Selmer S.A.80 bari,,so I do like Selmers too,but I guess that people get influence easily!!
Well congrats on your new horn!!! Mario

[Tully]

What difference does the high F# key make?

[Sigmund451]

Ive talked to dealers of R&C horns about that option. They state that if you dont use it it can be of benefit. Not because a High F is inherently a problem in sax design but that they add one more easy place for a leak. If you dont use it your better off without it. Small leaks high on the sax can really impact intonation. I found that out through personal exeperience. I couldnt get my sax to play in tune to save my life and finally found the culprit...a small palm key leak.

[jaankaden]

personally, i don't quite understand how the presence or lack of a high F# key can make a real difference in a horn. granted, like sigmund mentioned, an extra key means an extra chance of a problem or leak. but if both horns were set up well without any leaks, i really don't think there should be too much, if any, difference.

[shmuelyosef]

Each tonehole is a deviation from a perfect cone, because of the additional volume of the chimney. As has been discussed many times (and generally agreed upon) is that the closer you get to your mouth, the more important small variations are. It is easy to imagine that the presence/absence of a chimney that high up has an effect.

On the other hand, one would hope that the designers would attempt to compensate for the addition of the tonehole. I have horns with and without (although no good A/B) and can't ascribe any particular characteristic to the presence/absence of an F# chimney.

[jaankaden]

i see your point and it definitely makes sense. but like you said, it'll be good if the designers compensated for the extra tone hole with certain adjustments to maintain the overall integrity of the whole thing. i definitely believe yamaha to be that kinda designer. haha.