Saxophones Can you help Iidentifying Alto Saxophone (Vito)?

[smoothoperator17]

I ended up picking up an alto sax from a thrift store recently, and was wondering if anyone on the forums could help me identify the specific model. I have the brand I believe (Vito) as well as the serial number (020420), but I'm not overly familiar with how to go about identifying the specific make/model, especially without an indication as to where it was manufactured. Ive read some instruments have the manufacture's location etched into the instrument itself, but no such luck on this one as far as I see. If I could please have some help trying to identifying this instrument's specifics, I would be very grateful, and if you could spare some knowledge on how to go about looking into such in the future with trying to identify other instruments I run across.

Thanks in advance for the time and help,

- RJ

 

[BalancedReaction]

This Vito was made in Japan by Yamaha. It's basically equivalent to their YAS-21 line.
This serial number chart would put it around 1975.

 

[jonf]

Yup, it's basically a student Yamaha sax. I have an identical one, and it plays great. As log as it's in good order, you have a good sax there.

Vito as a brand name is a bit of a moving target. The brand is or was owned by Leblanc, and Vito branded saxes have been made by Yamaha, Beaugnier and Jupiter. Lots of them were Yamaha YAS21/23 models but with the Vito branding, which is what yours is. They are easy to spot by the one pieve bell key guards.

 

[DavidUK]

Few know or believe these are identical to their Yamaha equivalent so resale values stay low, around half what you'd pay for the original.
But they play just as well.

 

[smoothoperator17]

Appreciate all the helpful info, guys. I saw a less detailed list that placed the serial number as a student model made in 1975 as well. So its good to know I have confirmation on that from a second party. Also google's image search ai listed the model as the YAS-23, but according to the report the 23 model wasn't introduced until 1980. So it's essentially the equivilent to the YAS-21, but not the exact model. And the Keyguard near the bottom of the horn covers both the low C, whereas the 23 model has a seperation of the key guard into two pieces if I understood correctly?

 

[PigSquealer]

The cloth guard on 23’s were a different cutout. Also the Vito’s were two production years behind the current year true Yamaha.

 

[thomsax]

I can't see if the Vito body - bow is detachable? YAS and YTS 21 have detachable body and bow.

 

[Vlad]

Interesting, the only Vito saxes I've come across have been I think Beaugnier ( presumably French made?) The Yamaha version would no doubt be a good, under the radar ,bargain if you can score one as ''only a cheapo student instrument'' 🙂

 

[SaxBoss]

Nothing inferior about the horn you have. If one takes it to a saxophone technician and they put it back into playing shape, it could last another 30 years.

You planning to play it?

 

[PigSquealer]

Not so common and completely under the radar are YAS 23’s as Bundy & Holton.