Deceiving day for my Yamaha tenor 875!!

[saxobari]

Today I received a email from Yamaha manager from Canada regarding the date of my horn comin out of the manufacture! I bought this horn last summer a tenor Yamaha 875 Custom brand new from a good music store in Montreal,the only catch is that it was manufactured August 1998!! This means that I now own a quite old version of the Custom,,almost 7 years old,,gees maybe one of the first Custom I really don't know! I am deasapointed in a way that I was'nt told so! Are the new Custom more advance or better sounding then the old ones! Have I been had in a certain way,,I know that he gave me a fair price on,but still I am wondering!! Any similar experhences or any thoughts on my situation!
Regards Mario

[Dave Dolson]

Mario: I'd be more concerned about how the horn plays. Many of us have recently purchased saxophones much older than yours just because they played well.

I'm not lecturing, mind you . . . I guess I'd be a bit disappointed, too, if I though a brand new horn (fresh out of the factory) was the best way to go, then finding out it was sitting in inventory for years. But I can't recall too many newer models that were far superior to older versions of the same horn.

Oh, maybe comparing a new Ref 54 to an older Serie III, but not two YTS Z's a few years apart.

Let us know how it plays. DAVE

[Gandalfe]

What is different between the two horns (the one you recieved and one made in 2004)? If you really don't know and this horn is like brand new, maybe playing it will change your mind. If you are unhappy you certainly should be able to return the sax.

[saxobari]

I can't tell about the new version of 875,well I've been playing mind for 6 months,it is not a bad horn,but it is not a fantastic horn If you know what I mean! It always seems to need a new reed to sound great ,when the reed becomes a little used ,it becomes sort of hard to play nice in a most of the registered,and feels like it looses his heart! From the beginning I've had second thoughts,but mostly it plays well! I also own a soprano Ya.675,and a bari Selmer Super Action 80 which are great horns! Maybe I should have went for the Z model,but to be honest never tried one yet!
I just think that I should have been told that it was not a recent model even though it was brand new for sure!
Thanks for both replies guys I apreciate,,,Mario

[pauljam]

Hello Mario I know just how you feel that you thought it was the lastest model. I purchased the same horn for my son last Christmas but I called Yamaha just to make sure it was a revised Yts 875 with the new G1 neck that is the only real difference between the models. Call Yamaha and maybe they will swap a new neck Give it a shot you have nothing to lose. Good luck! Jim D

[saxobari]

Allo Paul,,I did wrote to the manager and told him how desapointed I was about the situation and that is one thing that always seemed strange that I had the M1 neck on that tenor,and everybody lately has the G neck! I did'nt mentioned that to the manager but he knows it I am sure!Is that neck really more of a better neck,and always wondered If another neck would make it a little more better response? Do you know since what year they have changed the neck on the 875? I also asked the manager that I would be ready to put a bit of money to have a fair trade If it comes down to that! The music store itself did'nt say no for a trade but after 6 months I don't think that they will agree!!
I don't know what will come out of all this!I also wrote a letter (e mail) to the music store where I did purchased my baritone,soprano and now tenor which from beginning always been a bit of a small desapointment,and told tehm my thoughts of all this!
Let you know the turn out of this If it has a positive end!
Regards Mario

[Wisco99]

I have owned a Yamaha silver plated Custom tenor with the M neck for several years. It also sat in the store for a few years because one of the octave keys was out of adjustment and the horn played like a dog because of it. I figured out the problem and the horn is a killer.

You have a great horn with a great neck. Always having the latest doesn't mean it is always better. I also have a great Selmer Mark VI that I picked out at the factory in the '70s. I play that, but usually end up on my Yahmaha for gigs. Enjoy what you have... a great horn is a great horn.

[MBushaw]

Saxobari, I could be wrong (it's happened twice today so far, according to my wife), but your description of needing a new reed to play well sounds to me like there are some small leaks. Has the horn been adjusted recently? The 875, from the first day, was and is a great, great horn. It should feel alive in your hands, like it really wants to be played. If not, have the horn checked for small leaks, even the neck fitting.

[saxobari]

Wisco,first thanks for taking time to reply!
I know that it should be a great horn,but this is not my only sax and there is definitely something strange about this horn,as M. Busha has suggested they may be a little leak or something that is not right on my tenor! My bari and soprano sax are good examples of what I'm talking about,they have great response,from the moment that I take them they always play with rich and good sound all the time,why should my tenor always becomes sort of dull sound after a while of playing,or becomes like the horn is getting stuffee? The horn has been checked about a month ago,there was a few things,but nothing major! One thing that I have noticed also,is that this tenor had a lots of very stickee pads,from the first time i played it,so stickee that you could hear all the pads with the stickee sound between keys,even today they still are some stickee keys,,they replied that they put some pads with the silicone treatment that makes those pads very stickee for a long time! I dont think that this is the problem! I do think that all brands as Selmers,Yamahas,some are good some are bads and some are OK! I think that my tenor is an Ok horn,but I am not impressed with it as my bari and soprano that is for sure!!Wisco the point is that I was desapointed in my tenor from beginning,then I think I should have been told that this was a 1998 horn,when you pay that kind of money for a horn,at least If you go for a new horn,it should have been a more rescent horn,unless you are told about it!! It was 'nt right ! Lets say I sell this horn tomorrow,you think that I will not loose money because of the year of this sax,even If it is in brand new condition still?
The store is looking for a solution,but this will take long I guess!! Time will tell!
All my regards Mario

[saxobari]

Allo Jim,YAmaha did offered me a G1 neck,I will give a try and who maybe,just maybe it will free the resistance a bit that I do feel!
Regards Mario

[pauljam]

Hello Mario glad to hear that Yamaha will be giving you a new G1 neck. They are a first rate company. Let us know how if you like it.

jim d

[saxobari]

Thanks Jim,I wanted to had that my horn is now in another shop that will revised the horn! He took a look at it and right away he noticed that it was way too closed,so that is probably why it did felt stuffee and strange from the very first day! The other store looked at it and made adjustments about four times and never noticed that! It does make sence If all the keys are not well set ,that does a difference in the way the horn respond and sort of make the horn not as free as it is suppose to play! The guy that is now fixing it is the best technicien in Montreal!So I have switched store,they sort of letting me down the way they handle the situation so I am now very pleased with the other place! Also until I get my horn back,he lend me a Selmer Mark VI ,a great horn! So after I get the horn back and try both necks the M1 and G1 I ll make the decision which one to keep ! Yamaha is giving me great service,I can't say as much for the store I bought it!!
All my regards ,,,Mario