Saxophones Bauhaus Tenor with IA

[Bobby G]

IA being Improved Action, as endorsed by the wonderful Bobby Wellins, although I don't recall him actually playing one when I've seen him. Is this saxophone worthwhile, they certainly look nice. As I'm playing tenor a lot more seriously these days I'm considering a change from my rather knackered and battered mid-70's Yamaha YTS-23, how would the Bauhaus compare to an old Yam? By the way, if you get a chance to chat with Mr Wellins (most jazzers seems to be very approachable and supportive), he is definitely up for talking saxophone and is a nice bloke.

 

[jonf]

Different, not necessarily better, it's a subjective judgement. I haven't owned the tenor version of either of these, but I've had the alto of both. I really, really like the 1970s 21/23/25 series Yamahas. They have, in my experience, a fairly bright but neutral tone which allows the player to mould the sound into their own. The BW has a more mellow tone and a high F#. The BW feels well made, but from my experience of them (including a key which bent under light finger pressure) I'd be very surprised if, in forty years, they hold up as well as a forty year old Yamaha does now. Personally I'd stick with the YTS23, it's a great sax.

 

[MandyH]

I have a BW AI PD tenor, and a YBS62 bari.

The tenor is heavy....noticeably so. (Not heavier than the bari, you understand, but definitely heavy for a tenor)
But I rather enjoy playing it and the sound it makes. It's a pretty good instrument for a fraction of the cost of the Yamaha.

 

[DavidUK]

What would Steve Howard say?

I think he'd say stick with the Yamaha, however much he liked the Bauhaus.
He had his YTS-23 for decades before a TJ Raw lured him away. Even then, I still believe he kept the Yam.

;}

 

[MLoosemore]

I have a BW AI PD tenor...

So do I and I love it but it is my first tenor so what do I know ???

 

[Stephen Howard]

What would Steve Howard say?

I think he'd say stick with the Yamaha, however much he liked the Bauhaus.
He had his YTS-23 for decades before a TJ Raw lured him away. Even then, I still believe he kept the Yam.

;}

Yep, I still have the 23 🙂

So - battered old 23 or shiny new BW?
Depends what you're looking for. The 23 has bags of punch and clarity, and when properly set up it has an action that's blisteringly fast as well as light.
The BW is a much beefier horn, both in terms of weight and tone.
Playing the two side-by-side it would be very easy to say that the BW had the bigger, more complex tone - but in some ways it's like comparing a robust Merlot with a new Beaujolais. Both are good, but in their own very individual way.

At the list price the choice is very much in the BW's favour, it can punt out a tone that very few, if any, budget horns can match...and easily squares up to those costing quite a bit more.
In the Yamaha's favour the build quality is that much better (less so of late, though).
But when comparing the BW with a used 23 the choice might be a bit harder...and if you already have a 23, harder still.

Only one way to find out...

Cheers,

Steve