Introduction Back it

[PaulC]

Hello!

Health issues made me unable to play for a while. I was a multi instrumentalist but that was then and this is now.

Been looking at my YAS-23 case lately and thinking I'm not getting any younger. Decided to pick it up and, to my surprise, I can still play.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but then neither do any of us, I am just going to enjoy whatever music making I have in me.

That being said, I'm going to resurrect this old account of mine and jump back in.

Cheers!

 

[Pete Thomas]

That being said, I'm going to resurrect this old account of mine and jump back in.

Great news and welcome back!

 

[PaulC]

Great news and welcome back!

Thanks Pete.

 

[Jeanette]

Welcome back and hope you enjoy your sax 🎷 🎷 🎷

 

[PaulC]

Welcome back and hope you enjoy your sax 🎷 🎷 🎷

Thank you.

 

[mizmar]

You can check out of the secret brotherhood of YAS/YTS-23 Players, but you can never leave

 

[PaulC]

You can check out of the secret brotherhood of YAS/YTS-23 Players, but you can never leave

They really are great horns for the price. I got mine for $500 Canadian.

 

[Tenor Viol]

Hi, welcome back

 

[Ivan]

Welcome back, @PaulC

 

[PaulC]

Thanks Ivan.

 

[Ghr9204]

Been looking at my YAS-23 case lately and thinking I'm not getting any younger. Decided to pick it up and, to my surprise, I can still play. [...] That being said, I'm going to resurrect this old account of mine and jump back in.

Welcome back! I think you'll find you've lost no ability and be back where you left off!

Awaiting its brother, my YTS-23 disguised as a Le Blanc Vito now in the repair shop. The 23's are good solid performers. (Lack of the high F# can easily be made up with altissimo fingering.)

Looking forward to your future posts.

 

[PaulC]

Thanks ghostler. I didn't realize that the Le Blanc Vitos were Yamaha stencils. Is that the same with the Le Blanc alto's?

 

[GCinCT]

Welcome back, Paul C. I’m Paul R. I returned to the saxophone after a long time away about 8 years ago.

 

[Ghr9204]

Thanks ghostler. I didn't realize that the Le Blanc Vitos were Yamaha stencils. Is that the same with the Le Blanc alto's?

Depends on the year of manufacture. Jupiter was also contracted by Le Blanc for some years. Those, I am told the identifying mark is "Taiwan" stamped on the body. I am not sure, but think I heard that Yanasigawa was also contracted some years to make stencils.

Mine took a while to figure out, it has no country of manufacture on it and an odd stamped design on the Bell brace resembling the one on some Holton trumpets, certainly not Yamaha-like. Metallurgy is very stout, seems a bit heavier than some other tenors, very dent resistent. It has no decorative engraving on the bell except for the word Vito stamped on it.

Then I saw a Yamaha YTS-23 case, which was an exact match compartments, buckles and all. Non-jewelled lower pad cup guards of identical design, etc. Bingo!

Explains why I picked it up about 13 years ago for less than what I would pay for a true Yamaha YTS-23, a best kept secret.

This is a photo of it just before I dropped it off to Tarpley's to be serviced:

The barrelling distortion is by my LG V20 cellphone's camera, doing a close up shot.

 

[PaulC]

Welcome back, Paul C. I’m Paul R. I returned to the saxophone after a long time away about 8 years ago.

Thanks from one Paul to another.

 

[PaulC]

Depends on the year of manufacture. Jupiter was also contracted by Le Blanc for some years. Those, I am told the identifying mark is "Taiwan" stamped on the body. I am not sure, but think I heard that also Yanasigawa was also contracted some years to make stencils.

Mine took a while to figure out, it has no country of manufacture on it and an odd stamped design on the Bell brace resembling the one on some Holton trumpets, certainly not Yamaha-like. Metallurgy is very stout, seems a bit heavier than some other tenors, very dent resistent.

Then I saw a Yamaha YTS-23 case, which was an exact match compartments, buckles and all. Non-jewelled lower pad cup guards of identical design, etc. Bingo!

Explains why I picked it up about 13 years ago for less than what I would pay for a true Yamaha YTS-23, a best kept secret.

That is a great secret. Even the Jupiter ones would be a great grab if the price is right.

 

[Ghr9204]

That is a great secret. Even the Jupiter ones would be a great grab if the price is right.

Yes it is, and a bit of coincidence, but I bought the sax on Ebay from someone in Canada! (I think it was Winnipeg area.) It was a touch over $400 US or so shipping included. (Then, New Mexico did not charge tax for out-of-state purchases.) A recent check on Ebay, the Yamaha's are selling for about double that for Vito stencils.

 

[PaulC]

Great score!

It really is too bad that there is so much in the way of taxes and such for cross border shopping. It would be great if private sales like that were tax free.

 

[Ghr9204]

Great score! It really is too bad that there is so much in the way of taxes and such for cross border shopping. It would be great if private sales like that were tax free.

Back then, I don't think I paid any US importation tax. I did run into a situation where my wife's brother lives in Quebec, who wanted to learn sax. I was planning to ship him my 1980's Selmer Bundy II alto after I got it serviced, but recently found from what I could gather, the Canadian government would charge importation fees worth the value of this sax made in US.

Instead, I went to Amazon.ca and ordered him a Chinese sax that had favourable reviews for around $200 US. It was shipped direct to his door from a Canadian vendor for minimal shipping fee. So far, he is happy with it.

13 years ago after much research, found the Chinese Venus brand straight soprano saxes had very favourable reviews compared with others. I ordered one from an Ebay vendor, Musical Wheel out of California for $219.00 US. Still using it love it. It plays like an intermediate. (Wore out the case after much use, now is in a better ProTec case.)

Plus, I was in an active military band in the early 1970's after graduating high school. We were issued a professional grade instrument for indoors and concerts, a beginner model for outdoor parades and performances. (Concept was better to ruin an inexpensive instrument due to rain than a pro model.)

So basically I learned to make do with either. I heard that occasionally Charlie Parker would show up at a gig with a beginner model sax. With a decent beginner model sax, good mouthpiece and reed, they can sound good. I got SATB.

There are elements beyond our control, so one just makes the best of the situation. Case in point, bought a Venus beginner ebonite (plastic) Eb sopranino clarinet a decade ago for under $100 US. Then, I guess they had a warehouse full of them. It's tuning throughout its range leaves some to be desired, but I can play it in tune.

It is a hoot to play jazz with.

 

[PaulC]

Very cool. I get tempted to try out those cheap Amazon horns sometimes just for fun. Your experience of being happy with them piques my interest.