Any word on new Yani curved sopranos?

[saxshooter]

Anyone heard anything definitive/good rumours on the upcoming Yani curved sopranos?

I remember seeing a photograph from last year's Frankfurt Music Fair on www.saxophones.co.uk website (it's not there anymore) of what they said was the upcoming Yani curved, which, in the photograph, had the bell keys on the right side.

There was talk on this forum about a fire at the factory, destroying bell molds, etc. Has anyone heard anything else?

[DaveKessler]

Anyone heard anything definitive/good rumours on the upcoming Yani curved sopranos?

I remember seeing a photograph from last year's Frankfurt Music Fair on www.saxophones.co.uk website (it's not there anymore) of what they said was the upcoming Yani curved, which, in the photograph, had the bell keys on the right side.

There was talk on this forum about a fire at the factory, destroying bell molds, etc. Has anyone heard anything else?

Last estiamte I heard was that it would be June/July before they had the bell molds rebuilt and functioning. After that, they want to pump them into production ASAP.

[Morry]

I'm saving my pennies for a SC-992. I hope they make them.

[Dr G]

I remember seeing a photograph from last year's Frankfurt Music Fair on www.saxophones.co.uk website (it's not there anymore) of what they said was the upcoming Yani curved, which, in the photograph, had the bell keys on the right side.

I hope they don't put bell keys on the right. That was exactly the reason that I couldn't get along with my curved Buescher sop - my fingertips kept hitting the bell key guard. Very annoying. :evil:

[singlereed]

I think they need to put the bell keys on the right in order to make the LH pinky table work like a modern sax - it all goes back to the Balanced Action I believe. I for one will welcome it, but yes, they are going on the right and I imagine they will change the whole range of curved sops, as the bodies are presumably all going to be the same - remember those solid silver ones need modernising too. :wink:

[DaveKessler]

I kind of agree with DrG as do many of the customers that I have talked to about it.

Yes they will be going on the right sand and my understanding is as well so they can modernize the LH mechanism.

I wonder if perhaps they will put them slightly forward off to the right? I dont know how this would affect the playability but would definately make it more comfortable.

The other thing that I recall being different is that the neck octave pip was on the underside of the neck and completely underslung. This I found interesting but again, we will have to wait to see when they finally come out.

I had the owner of a Taiwanese sax company check it out for me at the Frankfurt Musik Messe. He confirmed all this but said that Yanagisawa wasnt allowing anyone to try it... now they may have just fed him that line so that he couldnt get his hands on it. Who knows.

If I hear more about them, I will post it on the Forum just like I did when I heard about the fire.

[Morry]

The picture I saw did, in fact, have the bell keys on the right.

[Dave Dolson]

I agree with Dr G. Those right-side bell keys may interfere with the right fingers (as does the one right-side bell key on the curved TT I played a while back. Very distracting.

I guess I just don't understand the need for a modern pinky table (I'm aware of the concerns, though) - I get around either style with ease and that design is the LEAST of my concerns on soprano, straight or curved. DAVE

[DaveKessler]

So Woodwind & Brasswind now has the SC991 listed on their site at $2195.00 however, Yanagisawa has NOT released any pricing on this model yet. Its also funny that they are using a picture of an SC901 for it.

I made another call today to find out more and I am being told the End of Summer for the SC991 release even though WW&BW says July 14.

We will see...

its also interesting to note that WW&BW has removed the SC901 from their website. So far there has been no indication from Yanagisawa that they will be discontinuing the SC901 that I have heard. If I can co-oberate it, then I will post it here.

[Morry]

Dave, do you assume there will be a SC992 model also?

[DaveKessler]

Dave, do you assume there will be a SC992 model also?

I wouldnt see why not. I assume that there will also be a SC9937 model as well. Yanagisawa makes the Bronze and sterling silver models in all designs.

Granted, the SC991 will be the first one available but the 992 and 9937 should follow very shortly if not at the same time of release.

[3saxes]

As a result of LeBlanc not responding :( to my requests for information about the existance or plans for Yanagisawa to manufacture an SC-9937, I contacted the Yanagisawa distributor in the UK. The Yanagisawa product manager responded quickly to me and confirmed that the SC-9937 would begin production in August and he would place an order for one to be received on October 8th. He also confirmed that all the new SC models will be upgraded to feature the mechanisms as per the 991 series. He had me contact a dealer in the UK who provided me with a quotation. I placed my order at the beginning of June and I should receive my SC-9937 by Mid October. :)

I touched bases with both the distributor and the dealer last week and they both assured me that the manufacturing is on schedule and in fact where the distributor normally receives shipments on the 7th or 8th of each month, they have been receiving shipments around the 1st of each month so I may receive my horn a week earlier than previously anticipated. :D

The dealer is: T.W.Howarth Ltd.
You can contact Peter Beaumont there on: sax@howarth.uk.com

[Perfect Pitch]

3saxes - looks like you should have your new baby. How about a review?

[3saxes]

Not yet, somehow it missed the October shipment and is now 'guaranteed' to arrive in December. I will post when I receive it and when I have had a chance to give it a good workout! Stay Tuned!

[singlereed]

They had a new SC992 at saxophones.co.uk for about one day and it was sold before I could get a look at it, so they are coming through at last.

[Morry]

Mathew Aron at saxforte.com has already received and sold an SC-991. I don't see how he managed to get one before WW&BW, but he did.

[DaveKessler]

They're heeeerrrrreeeeee (almost).

Just got word that SC991's sopranos will be landing in the US in about 7-10 days.

Still havent heard a confirmed price on them yet though. From what I am being told, they will most likely sell for around $2300.

If anyone is seriously interested in getting one, let me know so that I can make sure to grab one.

[Morry]

Dave,

Any word on the SC-992?

[DaveKessler]

Dave,

Any word on the SC-992?

I didnt even think to ask! I will try and remember to check on Monday and post back once I know.

My guess is that they are also in that shipment.

[Dr G]

Regarding the newly positioned bellkeys:
I kind of agree with DrG as do many of the customers that I have talked to about it.

Yes they will be going on the right sand and my understanding is as well so they can modernize the LH mechanism.

I wonder if perhaps they will put them slightly forward off to the right? I dont know how this would affect the playability but would definately make it more comfortable.

Any word yet regarding the whole bell key position issue? If I cannot find the baby Borg' of my dreams, I may be looking at the SC-992 but if the bell keys hit my fingertips (ala my ol' curved Buescher), the deal is off. :(

[DaveKessler]

Regarding the newly positioned bellkeys:

Any word yet regarding the whole bell key position issue? If I cannot find the baby Borg' of my dreams, I may be looking at the SC-992 but if the bell keys hit my fingertips (ala my ol' curved Buescher), the deal is off. :(

No news yet. I have inquiries on that subject but no answers yet.

[singlereed]

http://www.saxophones.co.uk/acatalog/saxophones_co_uk_Yanagisawa_Soprano_Saxes_56.html

Here you go, chapter and verse. Low tone holes all on RHS, modern LH little finger table, more curved crook. Prices not as much as I might have expected for the SC991/992.

[DaveKessler]

Yeah, thats about what I thought they would end up running.

[RS]

The new design looks good but I wonder if the right side B and Bb would get in the way of the right hand fingers. If they don't then I'd say the new design is a definite improvement over the old model with the clumsy Mark VI (soprano) type left hand table.

[DaveKessler]

Looks like the bell keys are also slightly forward compared to say a Buescher curved. That was also my biggest concern was the cramped-ness of the RH stack.

[Morry]

Dave, I'd be interested to find out what you'll be able to do pricewise on the SC992. I think saxophones.co.uk is selling them for equivalent of about $2400.

[DaveKessler]

Dave, I'd be interested to find out what you'll be able to do pricewise on the SC992. I think saxophones.co.uk is selling them for equivalent of about $2400.

Well, I will be finding out pricing on Friday. I will be getting at least one of the SC991 models.

Do you know whether or not the VAT Tax applies to US purchasing? If so, then the SC992 really is about $3000 US.

[singlereed]

No, you don't pay the VAT importing into the USA. As I understand it, US import tax can run to around 3.5%, and of course you have the cost if shipping as well, albeit not too bad for a soprano.

[Morry]

That is correct. The 17.5% VAT only applies to Euro buyers.