Is this older yanagisawa a good quality tenor?

[Maddie1]

Hi - I'm a mom who is looking to purchase a good used tenor sax for my 20-year old son. He's been playing since 4th grade and has never owned his own tenor. I found someone who is selling a yanagisawa, serial # 676266, and it also has a number 5 on it. Does anyone know how old it is and what the value might be? It was given to the current owner in lieu of rent so he knows nothing about it except that the person who gave it to him said it wasn't very old and a very good horn. Thanks for any help! Jackie

[Crazysaxophonist]

Not meaning to be rude, if you are a mom who is clueless to weather a Yanagisawa is a good enough horn then why are you on this forum?

[Grumps]

Not meaning to be rude, if you are a mom who is clueless to weather a Yanagisawa is a good enough horn then why are you on this forum?
Crazysaxophonist... since you're new here, I guess you don't realize that plenty of non-players come here seeking information on what to buy their child/spouse/friend who plays. Perhaps the meaning of the initial post was lost in translation for you. Either way, your post above is wholly inappropriate.

Now somebody with knowledge of these Yani's please help Maddie out.

[john]

Maddie,
Welcome. I think crazy may have meant "whether" rather than "weather."

Yanagisawa made very few duds. It's really a matter of whether your son wants the most modern horn or an older model. The individual horns in any line vary somewhat and vary more as they age and get used. Overall though yanagisawa is a reliable brand.

All of that being said-
1) go to saxpics.com and identify the horn. This way you can actually compare prices on the same model.
2) Search ebay and online vendors to get a feel for the market. It doesn't matter what the folks here say about price. What matters is- do you want the horn enough to pay the asking price.
3) Have your son play the horn- if he likes it good. If he hates it move on.
4) Take the horn to a trusted tech or pro. Have it checked and get an estimate of the cost for any repairs.

Most important- ALWAYS use the search button. Tons of info is available without actually having to ask a question.

Tell your son to keep playing.

Just my $0.02

john

[Fred]

The Yanagisawa T-5 tenor began production in 1966, so it's probably 30-40 years old. What you really need to realize about buying a sax like this is that condition can mean everything. Depending on condition, figure $250-600 for a value. Having the pads replaced (very common when buying older saxes) will run $400-500. So . . . it can be a very good deal or a money pit, depending on condition. This sax, in great cosmetic condition with great pads might be worth about $700-800.

I don't know your budget, but you should at least consider the Kessler saxes. Follow the link at the top of the page to see what Dave offers. Advantages: New condition, new pads, better than average quality (and WAY better quality than the price would indicate!) Disadvantages: Budget? (A T-5 in top playing condition might be a bit better than a Kessler, but don't count the Kessler out. It wouldn't be that dramatic.)

[Maddie1]

Dear Grumps, John and Fred - Thanks so much for your help. I love the sound of the sax and miss the thousands of hours I sat next to my son and listened while he played - all the way from Jolly Old Saint Nicholas and Three Blind Mice to Stardust! (OK, I won't get too sappy... Mothers, you know!) So I want to get him something good but can't afford too much over $1000.00. This guy with the Yanagisawa wanted $2000.00 and now has come down to $1200.00. Maybe he'll come down more. The horn appears to be in good condition - hardly any scratches - I saw one small dent. It also has two mouthpieces - one he said was really good (Guy? Hawkins). I will take into consideration all of your advice before I decide on anything. Thank you again, Jackie

[Fred]

$2000 is a pipe dream for a T-5. You can get MUCH newer Yanis for less than that . . . WAY less. Don't consider the $2000 a starting price, because it was totally out of line for that sax. The $1200 is a better starting price, but is still too high. I just sold a T-800 Yani to a friend for $800; another SOTW'r in Germany had a beautiful T-880 for I think $1200 - twice the sax of a T-5. These are all more desirable than the T-5. (BTW, your serial number indicates the T-5 is probably 30 years old.)

Of course, the other issue here that I'm not sure you can personally evaluate (not being that sax-savvy) is the condition of the pads. If those pads are original, you could look at spending $400-500 in repairs if you're not careful. Try to find out about the pads. This is crucial information; my only bad purchases in the sax world have been saxes that I bought believing the pads were OK and both needed a complete repadding. I ended up having much more invested in the saxes than they were worth.

It sounds as though the cosmetics are pretty good. Some players don't care at all about cosmetics and would just as soon play an ugly old sax that plays well. While I understand that sentiment, cosmetics definitely do affect the value of an instrument.

Before you jump on this choice, I would strongly advise you to balance this purchase against the tenors listed here: http://www.kesslermusic.com/KesslerCustomSax/kesslercustom.htm
You may well be a cautious person that is not accustomed to doing business with a company you've never heard of . . . I fully understand that. But you've come to the forum for some guidance, so here's the honest truth. Dave Kessler (and dad Chuck) are as honest as they come. Check out his guarantee . . . it's for real. And you can talk to Dave (call and ask for Dave Kessler . . . don't email!) and he will care more about getting you the right sax than he will about selling his own product. He's talked many forum member out a purchase . . . to his own loss (monetary wise) but to his own credit (integrity wise).

Am I saying the Kessler is the sax for you? NO. But stay mindful of a option of a new sax with new pads at a given price against an old sax with unknown (at this point) pads. The Kessler will be a very good intermediate level sax that will outperform its price point by far. If you can get the Yani for the right price and in the right condition, it will be a great tenor for your son. If you can't make the deal work right, the Kessler is a great option.

And one more thing . . . thanks for being a giving Mom.

[Grumps]

If it's a used pro sax you want, try www.junkdude.com. It's always better to call him rather than use e-mail. He'll set you up with a nice second hand horn within your price range, and if your son doesn't like it, he can send it back.

[Thomas.Kushin]

T-4/T-5 horns are very good horns, not as good as contemporary Yani models, but they can hold their own. The horns can be spectacular when adjusted well. I would have no problem advising someone to spend over $1000 for one in very good condition, so long as that person really likes the horn.