Saxophones Another Yanagisawa "Frankenyani" issue

[Mark Hancock]

Being the owner of 2 new Yanagisawa saxophones, I have been following the post "I have the wrong front F key on my new Yanagisawa TWO20", by @Alexandra with interest. So I had a good look at my 2 Yanis this morning and noticed this "anomaly" on my SWO1:

I've owned this sax for about 3 months and I never noticed it!!!!
In this photo, it's much more noticeable than in "real life", but now that I've seen it, I can't un-see it!
I'm not that worried about it, but ...how???? ....why????
I'm not sure I even want to get involved with the shop (sax.co.uk) or Yanagisawa over this,
Can you see it?

 

[Alexandra]

Have no fear! That looks like the right key for the Yany soprano...just checked my brochure:

Edit: Sort of...hmmm...yours is almost like a transitional design between the 'pebble' like key and the more 'angular' design on the new alto & tenor.

 

[Alexandra]

There's a picture of this for the curved sop:

Maybe @Stephen Howard can shed more light on this?

 

[nigeld]

There seems to be a mixture of gold and silver coloured rods, but the brochure has the same.

 

[Mark Hancock]

Have no fear! That looks like the right key for the Yany soprano...just checked my brochure:
...
Edit: Sort of...hmmm

The high F key is fine, the "issue" was something else....at least I thought it was an issue until you posted that brochure photo.

The sax in your brochure has exactly the same issue!! The silver rod that the G touchpiece is attached to.

"problem" solved. Thank you

 

[Mark Hancock]

It seems like it is intended to be like that - I just never noticed - even though I spend possibly a little too much time admiring my saxophones when I should really be playing them.

 

[Mark Hancock]

Seems like a curious design choice.... just one silver rod on an otherwise completely brass instrument.

 

[Mark Hancock]

There's a picture of this for the curved sop:
View attachment 15577
Maybe @Stephen Howard can shed more light on this?

Actually, the front F key on this model (the curved one?) looks different (fatter) than the one on my SWO1.
Mine looks exactly like the one in the first image you posted of the straight sax.

 

[jazzdoh]

Its been done before, my B&S 2001 tenor has all the long rods in nickel silver and the smaller ones in gold, maybe the silver ones are stronger.

 

[Mark Hancock]

Its been done before, my B&S 2001 tenor has all the long rods in nickel silver and the smaller ones in gold, maybe the silver ones are stronger.

It's an interesting idea, but the longest rod on my SWO1 is the low Bb, and it's brass.

 

[jazzdoh]

It's an interesting idea, but the longest rod on my SWO1 is the low Bb, and it's brass.

Ok maybe its not for strength then, all my long rods are silver and the short ones are gold I assumed it was for strength.
It looks like from images on the net that yours is how it's supposed to be, but it's odd that they just do one long one.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Silver threads amongst the gold. Isn't that a song?

 

[DavidUK]

For the SW037 the UK Yany site says:

"G KEY
Silver Rod

Introduced a German silver rod to the G key to increase strength, redesigned the G# key so as to be adjustable in its pitch."

From: SCWO37 - Soprano Sax Curved - solid silver - Yanagisawa Saxophones UK


For the SW01 the UK Yany site shows the silver rod, but the spec doesn't explain it as with the 037: SWO1 - Soprano Sax - Brass - Yanagisawa Saxophones UK


All is well.

 

[Alexandra]

Seems like a curious design choice.... just one silver rod on an otherwise completely brass instrument.

I've always found that an interesting feature of their sopranos. Other makes have it too.

 

[Mark Hancock]

Silver threads amongst the gold. Isn't that a song?

It seems so! Maybe "Nickle rods amongst the brass" would be more appropriate.

 

[Mark Hancock]

For the SW037 the UK Yany site says:

"G KEY
Silver Rod

Introduced a German silver rod to the G key to increase strength, redesigned the G# key so as to be adjustable in its pitch."

From: SCWO37 - Soprano Sax Curved - solid silver - Yanagisawa Saxophones UK


For the SW01 the UK Yany site shows the silver rod, but the spec doesn't explain it as with the 037: SWO1 - Soprano Sax - Brass - Yanagisawa Saxophones UK


All is well.

Aha! It needs to be stronger because the G touchpiece is one the longest lever. You were right @jazzdoh !

 

[Mark Hancock]

The Wikipedia page on nickel silver:
... an additional benefit is that the metal is harder and has more corrosion resistance than brass.[21] Because of its hardness, it is the most commonly used material for woodwind keys.

 

[Jazzaferri]

Nickel Silver methinks

 

[thomsax]

On my old Martin HC Committee (I and II) saxes the complete key system (key touches, key cups, rods) is solid nickel silver. On my "The Martin Magna Tenor" some keys, key touches and the long rods are solid nickel silver. But all key cups are brass. I think King also had some nickel silver rods on thier S20. So Yanagisawa is going back to the future!

 

[Alexandra]

German silver rod to the G key to increase strength

So is this rod more delicate or prone to damage on a soprano?

Yany don't have this feature on their other saxophones AFAIK, and other makes like selmer seem to just use brass rods on their sops..