Please tell me some pros about yamaha

[Saxplayer_70]

What makes Yamaha horn special? What are some pros or good points? What are some of the advantages Yamaha's have over some other brands? Do many professionals play Yamahas? Thank you for your inputs.

[Gordon (NZ)]

For a start:

Consistency, from one instrument to another.

But some guys say this is not a pro but a con, because they aim to track down and buy, out of a batch of say 30 inconsistent instruments, the one that they like best.

Another pro: FAR less of the scruffy manufacturing experienced with Selmer recently. Indeed, the manufacture of Yamaha is NOT scruffy.

Con: Some Selmer worshippers will look down on you for playing a Yamaha. You need strength of character.

[SaxyAcoustician]

Your playing defines your character. Shed, shed, shed...that's the only way you garner respect no matter what horn you play on.

[Gandalfe]

Another point in Yamaha's favor, they have great prices for very popular saxes. And they are one of the few manufacturers of saxophones who are currently rolling out new models with interesting innovations--witness the CustomZ line.

[saxboy]

The cool thing about Yamaha is the constant study and improvement of the proverbial mouse trap. I got time with one of the designers this past January and so loved hearing of all the discoveries and improvements. They really are the innovators for the new Century!
SAXBOY

[Andrew]

I'm personally a "Selmer" player, but I think that the Yamaha horns are very good horns. I mean, because they are so consistant, yes, they all tend to sound the same, but I've come across some that weren't consistant w/the factory, but they played with as much character as my VI does.

[saxboy]

Cool thing about Yamaha is the consistency.

Cool thing about people is the personal sound we each get on the same horn.

SAXBOY

[Buster]

I play a Conn 1937 Conn alto but a fairly new Yamaha tenor. The Conn is solid and has a very distinctive vintage tone regardless of the mouthpiece I use - it also has a variety of built up corks, pieces of tape, keys that need more pressure and notes that you need to give a little more on. All part of the fun you might say.
My Yamaha tenor (which replaced an older Selmer and left me with plenty of extra cash to experiment with mouthpieces) is incredibly well made with far more adjustment srews, comfortable key positions and clever ideas than I had ever seen before. It plays with dramatic ease from top to bottom - what have I been struggling with all these years. The complaint that they all sound the same is, I feel, misplaced. The variety of sounds you can achieve by varying the mouthpiece/reed combination is very impressive - my Conn is a little beauty but always sounds like a 1937 Conn.
I used to look down on Yamaha players but am now looking for a Yamaha alto.

[sax maniac]

as long as you don't play with the 4c that comes with the horn they r great, i have a62 and with a selmer c* and a francois louis its so different than the person that sis next to me with the same sax






alos built much better than other saxes

[Morry]

The Yamahas have velvety smooth action. Best of any horn I've played.

[averageschmoe]

i like the lack of character argument. everyone who's played on my 875 tenor has sounded completely different. and half the time they were playing on my setup.

[Tears June]

averageschmoe

When I test the YTS-875 and compare with other horns at side by side - Series III, Ref 54 & Guardala. What I found from YTS-875 is yes, it lack of sonic character. But the good thing is stable, consistenecy, very smooth keywork and very easy to handle.


I've listened to YAS-82Z sound clip, it make me very surprise and impressive. Even better than Series III, in teh same level with Mark VI.
Totally different with thier tenor. I hope not only the sound clip but it sound as well as I heard.


:cry:

[averageschmoe]

what i meant by my post is that the horn doesn't get in the way of my personal sound. after playing on countless selmers (reference 36's, 54's, series III's, and II's, and quite a few mark vi's) i've found one mark vi that allowed me to sound like me... at twice what i paid for my custom. i don't want to sound like a mark vi or a balanced action or whatever, that's just some inanimate hunk of metal with moving bits. i'd prefer to sound like a micah, for that is who and what i am.

need sleep now.

[averageschmoe]

and as far as i'm concerned the soundclip is meaningless. some guy who recorded tracks on an 82z isn't going to demonstrate to me how i'll sound playing an 82z. if while playing the 82z i hear something closer to my concept of how i sound then by all means it's the horn for me. if not, so be it. again, all i ask of the horn is that it play in tune and get out of my way as much as possible.

and now it's time for sleep.

[saxboy]

Well said Schmoe Micah.

SAXBOY

[phathorn]

Funny how the argument about 'lack of character' in reference to Yamahas is still around. I would have thought the 875 would've stopped that in it's tracks....The summer after he graduated high school, Otis Murphy was mesmorized by my (then brand new) 875's sound.