How are the Yanagisawa mouthpieces for alto?(ebonite)

[Saxplayer_70]

How good are the Yanagisawa mouthpieces for alto? (There is only one type by the way) Does anyone have any expereience with them? if so please post your opinions. Thanks.

[benivy]

just a classical mpc with no edge and doesnt cut through . but maybe is a good piece for classic. get a #7 or larger if u can.

[Dave Dolson]

kyhi: The stock Yana HR piece that came with my A992 was limp. I use a new Selmer Soloist on that horn and it is wonderful - for me.

I have a 20-year old silver Yana #7 (metal) piece that is way too much for me - edgy beyond description, plus it chirps on every reed I put on it. DAVE

[mostly alto guy]

I sometimes use HR Yanis on alto, sop, and tenor, and I would describe them all as predictable, manageable, polite, etc. They're well finished and seem quite durable. For concert band, they're just right on alto (I play JK and Buffet), offering good intonation and having no edge to annoy the other players in your section, or the director. And you can play one all day without ever needing to pay any particular attention to reeds, lig, etc. They'll take to any setup.

In short, Yani HRs will neither impress nor offend other players. But they impress me with their ability to be so vanilla as to let me and my sax sound just like me and my sax.

[MM]

Actually the Yani hard "aftermarket" rubber pieces are more of a moderate jazz mpc somewhat like a small chamber Meyer. They're brighter and louder than the classical mpcs such as the Selmer S80 or Vandoren V. IIMO they're more suited to big band than concert band. They are well made and well faced and I think they're underrated.

The plastic "stock" Yani mpc's are different beasts and more of a classical piece, not as high quality.

[singlereed]

I agree that the Yani pieces are underrated. However, these are the ones supplied with new horns, just like Selmer, Yanagisawa sees fit to provide a quality mouthpiece as standard. I think the previous answer applies to Yamahas - all the Yanagisawas I own (I have 4 of them) had proper HR pieces provided as standard. They are very well made and finished. I love them, and have acquired an alto piece as well even though I don't have a Yani alto. Its a very good alternative to Selmer or Vandoren pieces, it is small chambered like the Vandoren but a bit warmer sounding than the Vandoren. I use mine a lot, and also recommend them thoroughly as a good student mouthpiece. I find the Yani is a good classical piece but I'd use it as a good all-round piece for most kinds of music, except when you are seeking a buzzy edgy sort of sound, when a high baffle piece is called for.

[sjabariiii]

I read somewhere that Gary Bartz was playing a rubber yani at some point. For whatever that's worth.

-ANDYJ

[Balders]

I bought a V16 M5 mouthpiece and EDII lig about 6 weeks before buying my new Yanni 991B. I of course tried the yanni mouthpiece when the new sax arrived, and had no hesitation in sticking with the V16/EDII setup. The sound of the standard mouthpiece is very dark and quite dull compared to the V16, which is much brighter and more edgy.

Just my 2p worth.

[Phantom_NGK]

I'm thinking that yanagisawa mps is not bad and it's more for classic music, but it is not enought. Best is wandoren or selmer. But only for classic, I dont know what happening with jazz mps.

[bronzZoot]

I'm a bit confused... are the mouthpieces that come with the horns different than the other HR ones they sell? and are the ones that come with the horns classical or jazz... or neither?

SJT

[baritone]

my Yana #6 on my series II helps me to manage the horn better (I mean if I use a copper neck, as it sounds like unlacquer and the sound is wild...)....but I think once I get used to the copper neck I will stick back to my sololist.

[Rackety Sax]

I'm a bit confused... are the mouthpieces that come with the horns different than the other HR ones they sell? and are the ones that come with the horns classical or jazz... or neither?

SJT
You aren't the only one that's confused.

I've got one of these that I've been playing around with the past few days, and I'm impressed with it. I don't see a number on it, but I seem to remember the seller saying it was a 7 and it measures .080". I would not classify this as any sort of a classical mouthpiece - it's a fairly middle of the road though quite flexible jazz mouthpiece in my book. It blows quite freely, and I can play quite loud on it if I want to, but also get a more covered, subdued sound. It also plays very eveny over the range of the horn. It is perhaps a slightly "generic" sound, and for that reason is not my favorite jazz mouthpiece. However, it is an excellent one, especially so for a stock mouthpiece, and if I had to use it I would feel only very slightly constrained in getting "my" sound out of the thing.

I don't know how much these things retail for but in my book they are head and shoulders above a stock Meyer, for instance.

[SpeckledLemon]

Clarification is at hand...

They are all one and the same. Yanagisawa does NOT make plastic mouthpieces...they are all either ebonite or metal. I've played one that came with someone else's horn new, and the one I received off of eBay that was purchased new once upon a time...exactly the same.

They range from 3 to 9, with all sizes about the same as modern Meyers. Though I don't have a Meyer, I've seen one many times...and they look very similar. Maybe a slightly smaller bore, but still medium-sized. Very similar rollover baffle as well.

How does it play? Very free-blowing and neutral sound, leaning towards the darker side. Lots of volume and projection if pushed. I would say most would prefer it for jazz, but...that's preference. It's probably the best all-around piece there is, or at least is right up there. I use it for jazz meddling and any other meddling...mine is a 5.

The downside...not cheap. $124 at Weiner's, and $137 at WWBW. Expect around $60 - $80 on eBay...mine was $64. That would be the best place to get them, since they come up often.

[Rackety Sax]

I guess where I would say it surpasses the current prod Meyer is in flexibility and fullness of sound.

You are right, that price is not cheap for a "stock" mouthpiece, but in my book it belongs in the same category as the Morgans and other handmade products, and in comparison to those they are not expensive.

I haven't watched them that carefully on eBay but I imagine they tend to come up in the smaller tip openings mainly, which I think is what usually ships with the Yani horns.

[SpeckledLemon]

Maybe it's expensive to me because I would never consider even trying out an S-80...too much. Might try an S-90, though. Also, compared to my A15...well, it's still excellent. That's what you get for hand-finished.

I must disagree with the last statement. Right now, the only one up there is an 8. I've seen a 9 before, but mostly 7s...only a very few 5s, which is stock. Most of the HR pieces up there are for soprano, and the alto ones are mostly tenor. Still, doesn't take too much waiting to find what you want.

[Rackety Sax]

...I must disagree with the last statement. Right now, the only one up there is an 8. I've seen a 9 before, but mostly 7s...only a very few 5s, which is stock. Most of the HR pieces up there are for soprano, and the alto ones are mostly tenor. Still, doesn't take too much waiting to find what you want.
Yeah, that's what I get for making an uninformed statement.

[nitrosax]

My stock yani 5 sop piece blows my selmer E sop piece away...much rounder warmer sound...

[bruce bailey]

Anytime a company puts a great mouthpiece on a new horn, it is considered "stock" and people think they are bad. Yanas are some of the better ones. I get new 5s for soprano that are new horn take offs and really should be used. I agree that they are quite expensive but I sell them for about $65 and it is still a bargain. I haven't tried the Altos yet but from looking at the sopranos, it is a well made item.

[MojoBari]

I'm working on a HR Yani Sop 5 MP now that is bad. Very concave table and uneven rails left/right. I've seen a few ATBs and they were all pretty good. This sop MP may be from a bad run.

[queperknuckle]

I think every owner of a yani should give this mouthpiece a second shot. The first time I played with it, I hated it. But after giving it a second try, and asking a listener for their opinion on the difference between the yani and a selmer super session F that I had, it was clear that the yani had more projection and a stronger, higher pitched sound. What's really cool to me is how effortless it is to play the entire range of the horn with this piece, from low to altissimo. Don't discount the yani mouthpiece that comes with the horn. Just because you get it for "free" don't mean it isn't great.

[bluesaxgirl]

I use the stock that came with my Yani A902. It's the best mouthpiece I have ever used. It is very flexible for a wide array of playing: from classical to intense jazz. I wouldn't change it for another overall mouthpiece ever.

[bluesaxgirl]

Wow. I just looked at this thread.
Started in 2003, revived in 2005, revived again in 2007, and now revived again to today.
Some threads refuse to die.

[kristofor]

Yep, I use a Yani 5 with my 991. I have only played sax for 9 months, but already I am appreciating the Yani Mouthpiece. I have found it to be really nice, and my teacher thinks its a great piece. I would think it leans a little towards classical music, but I am learning jazz with it and don't find any issue with using it for jazz.

[saxophonedaniel]

for me, Yani is better than my Selmer C*. I start to using it more oftenly.

[bluesaxgirl]

Wow. I just looked at this thread.
Started in 2003, revived in 2005, revived again in 2007, and now revived again to today.
Some threads refuse to die.

And yet revived again a year later. :twisted:

[BASSOON MONSOON]

I have a 20-year old silver Yana #7 (metal) piece that is way too much for me - edgy beyond description, plus it chirps on every reed I put on it. DAVE

You mention it is 20 years old. Were older Yanagisawa metal mouthpieces brighter and edgier? I played a new one last year and it was fairly mild sounding as far as jazz pieces go.