How can I look up a Yamaha serial number?

WriterMom · 02-03-2003, 09:31 PM

Hello! I'm thinking about buying a used Yamaha YSS-475 soprano. Before I do, though, I'd like to look up the serial number so that I can find out when it was manufactured.

Does anyone know of a website that lists serial numbers and manufacturing dates for Yamaha saxes? (I already tried Steve Goodson's Sax Gourmet website. It has lists for several brands, but not Yamahas.)

**Morry** · 02-03-2003, 10:12 PM

My understanding is that Yamaha has never assigned sequential serial numbers and, therefore, there is no direct correlation between serial # and production date.

WriterMom · 02-03-2003, 10:15 PM

Is there any way to tell the age of a Yamaha sax, then, other than relying on the dealer/seller? (At first, they told me this particular sax was about a year old. Now, they're saying two or three years.)

pknight · 02-04-2003, 04:56 AM

Saw it in half and count the rings?

MS · 02-04-2003, 06:17 AM

Contact a product specialist in the American branch in Grand Rapids MIch.

You may be able to find your local area Yamaha Sales rep through their web site, who can check for you or put you in touch with a factory product specialsit. This is the route I took to find out when my horn was made (Custom 875 Alto).

MojoBari · 02-04-2003, 03:15 PM

475s have not been out that long. Maybe 4-5 years? If it looks good to you, 1 vs 3 years should be a non-issue. I have not played one, but they are considered a good value.

WriterMom · 02-05-2003, 05:44 PM

Thanks for the info!

Gordon (NZ) · 02-07-2003, 03:40 AM

As far as I know dealers have access to a book which tells when every model was begun and ended for every instrument. I too, have heard that the serial numbers mean very little.

Robert Hammond · 03-02-2003, 06:20 PM

You can find out the production date by contacting :Yamaha Band and Orchestral Division
3445 East Paris Ave. S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-0899
USA
Tel: (1) 616-940-4900
Fax: (1) 616-949-7721
Internet: www.yamaha.com/band

Ask to speak to the customer support and they can help you. I just bought a YSS-875 and I called them first to run the serial number and they were able to give me the day that they shipped it to the store; and they told me that usually it is finished the same week that they ship it. This should be able to get you to within 1 week of the production date.
Robert Hammond

W. Minier · 03-02-2003, 07:19 PM

Robert Hammond- They don't produce the 875 at the Grand Rapids plant. It's just shipped there from Japan. So tell me, how does that help anyones' inquiry.

Robert Hammond · 03-02-2003, 08:30 PM

W. Minier. I do believe they come from Japan, but they are assembled at the Grand Rapids plant. You can take the virtual tour and watch the assembly at the Grand Rapids plant by going to "http://www.yamaha.com/band/instruments/factory.htm" and there you will see a drop down menu; please select "Saxophone" and it will guide you through the entire assembly of the horns at the Grand Rapids plant. The following is a quote from the tour; "The processes of bell forming, tube bending, and post application occur in Japan. The instrument components are shipped to the Grand Rapids, Michigan factory for final assembly. The picture below is an overview of our saxophone assembly line." This should suffice your inquiry ~ if not, please call Tel: (1) 616-940-4900 and ask for customer support. If I remember right, you will be connected with a lady named Stacy. I just bought a new YSS-875 from "Prowinds.com" with a serial number of 005020 and I wanted to know the production date. I called the Grand Rapids store, was transferred to customer care and I gave her my serial number, and was told "I cannot give you the exact date your horn was completed, but I can tell you when we sent it out to the store which will probably be the same week that we finished it on assembly and packaging." It ended up being the middle of February of 2002 which was good enough for me. I believe this will help someone's inquiry. When you're investing 3 grand in a horn and accessories, it would behoove you to know the history of the horn. Thank you for your reply W. Robert Hammond

W. Minier · 03-02-2003, 10:32 PM

They might be able to tell when they shipped it to the dealer but they can't tell when the horn was produced. They are not assembled at the Grand Rapids plant. I work there. I am in charge of production repair. This is just another example of the BS that the sales end,which Stacy works for, dishes out. One of the reasons that the sales end of it is be transfered back to Calif. before summer is out. It's not your problem Robert but the BS just makes me mad. Because of all the unneeded confusion it creates.

Robert Hammond · 03-02-2003, 11:22 PM

This reply really surprises me. If this is true, which I do believe you, then their website is VERY misleading. What I posted earlier is exactly what took place when I called them just 2 weeks ago. I find this very disturbing news indeed W. Who then is doing the assembling shown on the virtual tour on the Grand Rapids website???

W. Minier · 03-02-2003, 11:47 PM

The assembly is being done on student horns. The plant in the US assembles 23s and 52s. And now 475s and Advantage models. No pro saxs are done in the US. The only pro models ever done in the US were 61s and very early 62s. And yes the website is very misleading. And then they add the BS like marketing is handing out to make it even worse. I've worked for Yamaha for 29 years and it is very frustrating ,as a few of the older members here will testify too. I for one am very glad to see the marketing division go. I don't go to their web site and I won't have to see the BS they are spreading. I guess I"ll just have to deal with on this site.

Jmz · 03-03-2003, 03:14 PM

Robert---no need for you to be alarmed. W. Minier only has about 40% of his story right. Your experience with Stacy when you called the Grand Rapids plant is extremely accurate...that's how every serial number inquiry is handled. As for W.'s comments, he's correct only in that the Pro and Custom saxes are made in Japan. What W. didn't tell you (or maybe doesn't know) is that ALL saxes sold in the US, regardless of their point of production, are tracked by serial number (that is, they keep a record of which dealer bought which specific horn---they obviously can't keep track of resales). The "virtual tour" that you saw on their website is also correct. All Yamaha saxes, regardless of where they are made, are made by the same methods and processes (thus the outstanding consistency that they're known for), so the tour you saw is exactly what happens, whether it's a Custom or a 23. Is the website confusing? Maybe. Is it misleading? Absolutely not.

(By the way, if you're wondering where I got my info, it's straight from Yamaha, not someone that "claims" to be someone important there. I've worked them on a number of projects and I've been at the factory a number of times. The only thing better than the saxes are the people there. Great people!)

W. Minier · 03-03-2003, 09:34 PM

"Which dealer bought what specific horn". It still doesn't tell you when it was produced. Which, I believe the inquirey is all about. Also I believe another point is that Stacy eluded to the fact that the 875, in question, was on the assembly line at Yamaha US the previous week. THEY AREN'T ASSEMLED IN THE US. " When your investing 3 grand in a horn" you don't deserve this kind of run around. Another problem is that there are two web sites. One for Yamaha Japan and one for Yamaha B& O division. One is informative and one ain't. As far as being someone important there, I don't believe I eluded to that at all. I am just there everyday and work on the horns(all horns.flutes clarinets etc.) everyday. " I got my information straight from Yamaha." Maybe it's the same BS.LOL

Jmz · 03-03-2003, 11:58 PM

The practice of giving "about" dates regarding serial numbers isn't a new thing, W. The fact, good or bad, is that just about all the major sax companies work the same way. Selmer can't give you an exact date any of their horns were made, yet the information they provide is useful to those who requested it. Keilwerth and Yanagisawa are the same way. That's just how it is done. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder towards Yamaha, W---why is that?

Gordon (NZ) · 03-04-2003, 01:52 PM

Minier has made many a valuable and positive comment re Yamaha in this forum over a long period.

We are fortunate that he is also conscientious in providing the balance that only truth provides.

We are also fortunate to have ANYBODY here who is close to the Yamaha infrastructure and manufacture.

MojoBari · 03-04-2003, 05:25 PM

I agree. W. Minier has been a source of reliable Yamaha information for many years. He will tell you what is good and what is bad about Yamaha from his perspective as a worker and a player.

MBushaw · 03-05-2003, 12:08 AM

Jmz- If there's a chip on Mr Minier's shoulder (which I doubt) it would have your name on it. Could you blame him for being offended? He works there, knows what is going down the line. Then you say he's not even half right (40%)!!
How can you say that the information given over the phone is accurate, when the Yamaha representative says the horn is assembled in the USA?
How can you say the website is accurate when they don't indicate that ONLY student and intermediate horns are assembled in USA? The process may be the same, but if KIA were to post a virtual tour of a Ford plant woud you say that was accurate also?
You may know a lot, and we may all learn some valuable things from you, but please be a little more careful about who you are talking about. And since you claim to have access to the factory, maybe a face-to-face with Mr Minier over coffee would be a good idea...