Unison Curved Sops?

[coufplayer]

Anyone have an opinion on these? I'd like to have a decent curved sop without spending a fortune. They have an attractive price and I understand that many feel the other Unison axes are good.

[DaveKessler]

Anyone have an opinion on these? I'd like to have a decent curved sop without spending a fortune. They have an attractive price and I understand that many feel the other Unison axes are good.

I dont deal with Unison any more so I am not trying to sell you one when I say that it is probably the best Taiwanese curved soprano we have played.

However, most of my techs still are going to say that on curved sopranos, either buy the Yani or find a good vintage curved. They agree that the Unison is the best curved out of Taiwan at the moment but it still has its problems. They all would prefer the sound of a good vintage one over the Unison if they were not able to spend the bucks for the Yanagisawa (which is by FAR the best curved on the planet).

[Dave Dolson]

Coufplayer: I recently posted an experience I had with a Unison curved sop and their hard rubber clarinets in the Unison section.

The Unison I played (maybe NOT indicative of all Unisons) was a new silver-plated curved Bb sop. Nice horn - well made and the finish was nice.

I immediately followed the Unison by playing my straight-neck Yana SC902 (curved bronze sop) and frankly, there was no comparison. The SC902 is exceptional - clear sound, accurate scale, perfect response throughout the horn's range, and powerful to a fault.

If I didn't own two Yana curved sops, an S992, and three great vintage straight sops, I'd consider the Unison, especially for the price ($1200.00). The curved silver Unison was better than a black Cannonball curved sop I played a year or so ago, as I recall the experience. DAVE

[coufplayer]

Thanks for the replies. Dave - right after I posted this I went to the Unison Board and saw your post. I would still appreciate other comments from anyone else out there in sax land.

[DaveKessler]

I've owned 3 Yanis (one stamped Martin), a vintage Conn, and a Buescher. I now play a black nickel Unison with a high G. It's the best soprano I've played.

Have you tried it up against Current Yanis?

[Dave Dolson]

Lomar: I'm glad you like your Unison, just as I like my four Yanagisawas (and my vintage saxophones, sops and altos). That one (or three . . . or several) play better than some other brand is not so much a function of an entire line's quality as much as it is the quality of the individual horn one tries.

The Unison I tried was no where close to the playability of any of my Yanagisawas. That does NOT mean that all Yanas are better than all Unisons (but from what I've experienced and from what many others have posted, that well may be the case), nor does it mean that because you compared your Unison to one Yanagisawa, that all Unisons are better than all Yanagisawas.

Like you said, it could be that 1) you have an exceptionally good Unison, and/or 2) the Yana you tried need some tweaking. Lastly, just as your Unison played good out of the box, so did all of my Yanas (actually five, because I have/had two altos as well). Best of luck with your horns. DAVE