How can i be sure i'm buying the latest model?

[obzi]

I'm looking to buy new and there seems to be quite a difference in price of the same new saxophone depending where you look, let's use Yamaha model as an example.

If i shop around i can find hundreds of pounds difference on a YTS 475 so how can i make sure i'm buying the latest version and not just old stock that's been got sold off as new?

I'm sure there's very little difference between a yts475 manufactured 3 months ago and one made 2 yrs ago and maybe i shouldn't be worried by this but i would like to make a fair comparison and how can this be done when they all carry the same model number.?

I'm sure even slight modifications in manufacturing are done for a reason so is there a way to tell when it was manufactured or a version?

The obvious choice would go to an 'authorised' dealer but they seem to be extremely uncompetative on price.

Appologies for a long first question but i don't think this subject has been discussed before. :S

 

[Linky Lee]

[No message]

 

[Bobby G]

I would say if you were faced with a row of the same model sax, say at a large shop like sax.co.uk, I wouldn't worry too much about how old they were if they were all 'unplayed' as they are effectively new, more or less, barring any modifications on brand new ones over ones that may have been lurking in the shop for a while. The main thing for me would be to find one I liked - as Linky says, the best way to find what you want is to physically play it.

It's not always easy to date a horn exactly from it's serial number, so you won't even necessarily know whether a horn that got to the shop last week was built two weeks ago, or two months ago. In that case, the main criteria I'd apply when looking at 'new' horns would be 'has it been played at all apart from tryouts in-store', and 'is it set up and ready to go'. As I say, the exact date of manufacture wouldn't worry me too much.

Cheers, Bob

p.s. welcome to the forum obzi! 🙂

 

[Pete Thomas]

A fair point about the latest model but more likely to apply to the cheaper horns such as Gear4music - which I know have undergone recent improvements probably due to some constructive criticism from Stephen Howard.

Yamaha I'm sure get things mostly right in the development stage. Of course many people disagree about what might be an improvement, often earlier models are more sought after.

Difference in price is mostly due to overheads I think. A physical shop usually has to charge more due to rent, staff and warehousing, and hopefully you get a better pre- and after-sales service. You have the chance to try out several instruments of different or the same make (more important than relying on the latest model).


When you buy online expect to take it to your local repairer, it won't be worth the hassle of returning something for minor setting up. In fact you might find its best to do this after playing for a few days as things may settle in or faults may develop.

 

[Pjonah]

Just a generalism, if a manufacturer applies a model number to a manufacturing run, there is a good likelyhood the first units off the production line will be pretty much identical to the lastest units. Any major change to the unit will incur either a model designation change ie YTS 485 for example. Small details tend to get swallowed up in serial # designations.

Obviously, this differs per manufacturer but the basic principle normally applies. Its fair to say if you are buying an established brand instrument say a Yanagisawa, Yamaha or Selmer then the chances are these will be pretty uniform from supply to supply, but as Linky and Pete suggests you will benefit from getting the instrument looked at by a reputible tech head. Don't assume either that because you purchased it from a local dealer it will necessarily be set up ready to rock and roll, saxophones are specialist instruments that need attention from someone in the know.

Simon

 

[Pete Thomas]

Pjonah wrote:
Just a generalism, if a manufacturer applies a model number to a manufacturing run, there is a good likelyhood the first units off the production line will be pretty much identical to the lastest units. Any major change to the unit will incur either a model designation change ie YTS 485 for example. Small details tend to get swallowed up in serial # designations.

Not if that change was sorting a problem - chances are they won't even admit it existed.

e.g. Selmer changed the internal structure of the bow on the MK VI to overcome "burbling" on the low B. (People were dropping a cork in there to fix the problem)

If a company changes the length of a neck to overcome intonation issues, they won't say so as people with the older models will ask for a refund.

 

[frankb]

I can't comment on the age of model thing, but regarding the online dealer / competitive price / setup aspect...


They claim that all their instruments are checked, setup and test played before they're shipped. I can't verify the last, but it played well straight from the box (in the hands of my teacher). It arrived when they said it would... Basically from my perspective it was a dream transaction.

I have no affiliation with them (other than as a very happy customer).

Hope this helps!

Frank