Beginner Saxes Just bought my first new sax.

[JayeNM]

But man is it an improvement over the used Chinese no name sax I bought to start on.

I suppose that could also be a sign that the cheapo could use a service.

I had tons of problems getting stable sound when using the octave key on the old one, which I now understand was probably due to leaky pads....

Yes...even a cheapie if leak free would speak up and down cleanly.

Yes again, lack of note stability would point to leaks or poor airflow. As the latter is not a problem on your new born, then your cheapie was leaking.

Nevertheless, a Yama is a solid horn so no doubt your new axe is a significant step up. Congrats.

 

[SuperAction80]

Yes...even a cheapie if leak free would speak up and down cleanly.

Depending on how cheap the cheapie is, this could last for a number of years, or a number of days. That's the problem with cheap. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Then there's the case where Selmer Paris horns have pads and keys falling off of them straight after you bought them new from the shop. In that case, you don't get what you pay for. It's complicated.

 

[JayeNM]

I certainly have mine. Up to the 62, they're the same horn. They give you nicer looking keywork, and a high F# key, but they're the same design.

The Z series has a slightly modified bow and tonehole placement on the low C. Z owners will fight me on this, but eventually concede that it's pretty much the same horn. 😆

...respectfully....no..

Sorry, but, gosh.

The 62 neck and bow change from the 23/25/26/200/280.

The 52 which became the 475 then 480 has different bow than the base models. Also tilting Bb table which 21/23/25 did not.

The 575 was a 62 with no ribbed posts. The 34 was the same except with a 23/52/475 neck.

The 82 Z's have add'l spec changes from a 62.

How do I know this ? Because I have caliper measured all of them, and cross referenced part numbers from the Yamaha parts online catalogue.

So, honestly....what you wrote has been written before, by several others on this and other forums...I even recall a tech a while back on SOTW who posted claiming "I am a CERTIFIED Yamaha repairer and I am telling you, the 23 is really the SAME horn as the upper models, just with a different neck" (he didn't even mention the pinky table differences, which was visibly obvious even to a non-player) 😳...and he claimed this which such (ostensible) authority, all responders just took it for true.

But it was never true. Likewise, you measure up, then you source the replacement parts and crossreference the parts, you discover there are differences, and not negligible ones. Again, respectfully.

 

[SuperAction80]

...respectfully....no..

Sorry, but, gosh.

The 62 neck and bow change from the 23/25/26/200/280.

The 52 which became tge 475 then 480 has different bow than the base models. Also tilting Bb table which 21/23/25 did not.

The 575 was a 62 with no ribbed posts. The 34 was the same except with a 23/52/475 neck.

The 82 Z's have add'l spec changes from a 62.

How do I know this ? Because I have caliper measured all of them, and cross referenced part numbers from the Yamaha parts online catalogue.

So, honestly....what you wrote has been written before, by several others on this and other forums...I even recall a tech a while back on SOTW who posted claiming "I am a CERTIFIED Yamaha repairer and I am telling you, the 23 is really the SAME horn as the upper models, just with a different neck" 😳...and he claimed this which such (ostensible) authority, all responders just took it for true.

But it was never true. Likewise, you meadure up, you source the replacent parts and crossreference the parts numbers, and you discover there are differences, and not negligible ones. Again, respectfully.

Can you give me the neck spec changes outside of the tone ring, and bracing? While we're at it, whatever other measurements you have on the horns would be useful.

 

[JayeNM]

Depending on how cheap the cheapie is, this could last for a number of years, or a number of days. That's the problem with cheap. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Then there's the case where Selmer Paris horns have pads and keys falling off of them straight after you bought them new from the shop. In that case, you don't get what you pay for. It's complicated.

Agreed....fair to assume that the cheapie started leaking before a reputed brand probably would.

I was just more addressing the fact that many a time a poster, often a beginner but sometimes not, will attribute a horn which speaks with difficulty, to THAT brand of horn. When it isn't necessarily THAT correlation....brand to "speaks poorly".

The correlation is : 'leaks' = 'speaks poorly'.

(again, there also exists the correlation "leaks develop quickly" to 'cheap brand' in many instances.

 

[BalancedReaction]

I bought "just" a YTS-275 nearly nine years ago and still have it as my only sax. I had thoughts of buying a '480' or a '62' but never did. I have only recently become more pleased with my sound (slow progresser). Good luck with your journey. Seems learning to play the sax can be a long term project, but I have had a great deal of fun out of it.

Same here. So far seven years on YTS-280. Solid and easy to play. I think I'll upgrade in the long run, but I don't really need to. There are still plenty of things to master.

 

[cappers]

The 52 which became the 475 then 480 has different bow than the base models. Also tilting Bb table which 21/23/25 did not.

It gets rather complicated. I have a 32 (non-PL) which I believe is called a 52 in the US, and mine doesn't have a tilting Bb.
The key work and octave mech is the same as on my 25 but different to my Vito 23. I believe later model 32s had tilting Bb tables unlike the PL32s and early 32s. I have no idea about the necks/crooks but was told the 32 is different to the 23/25; it has a black logo rather than brass but looks the same otherwise. I'm sure the bow is different because the tone of the 32 is richer and fuller than the 23 and 25.
Whatever they are called and classed I am very happy with them.

 

[PigSquealer]

Nah. They're more of a gateway drug.

This explains what happened after I bought my NOS YAS-23. Played on it for months. Stumbled across another NOS YTS-23. Days later a Holton tenor arrived. The YTS-23 I never opened. It’s still factory sealed inside the case….8-1/2 years later. I really should play my Hohner President alto sometime.

 

[Wonko]

I don’t have a collection of Yamaha's. Is this a new thing ?

At 18 months it appears you’re behind schedule. Well maybe you’ve been having undisclosed GAS issues

It certainly isn't in my case.

I started with a YTS32, after about 20 years I added a baritone (2nd hand Stephanhouser).
About 3 years after that I Got myself a Conn 10m from 1963, that one blew me away with it's rich, broad sound. Compared to that the Yamaha has a very bland sound. The yamaha is now my backup horn, I hardly ever play it.
And about 1.5 years ago I got myself a curved Soprano by Rampone & Cazzani.

So certainly not a collection of Yamaha's, more a journey of discovery. Looking for the sound that I like.

Of course, everybody has to make his/her own journey of discovery, find out shere it will take you ......

PS: You'll probably think that I am very much behind schedule 😎

 

[Frederik]

Yes again, lack of note stability would point to leaks or poor airflow. As the latter is not a problem on your new born, then your cheapie was leaking.

Nevertheless, a Yama is a solid horn so no doubt your new axe is a significant step up. Congrats.

My initial thought was that my embochure or airflow was making me squeaky.

So it was a welcome surprise that a new horn “fixed” that for me.

Thank you.

Depending on how cheap the cheapie is, this could last for a number of years, or a number of days. That's the problem with cheap.

I don’t think that the old horn was necessarily the worst of the worst.
I now understand that it was probably not very well maintained by the original owner, and that I failed in that regard as well.

It has a detachable bell, which, as I understand it, often can be taken as a sign that it was made with serviceability in mind, and could, possibly, be a decent horn if correctly maintained.

 

[PigSquealer]

PS: You'll probably think that I am very much behind schedule 😎

A true musical journey has NO timeline. Your above posted experience is well enough proof of this. Very sincere and honest.
My “ Behind schedule” comment was a poking joke. I didn’t intend to mislead anyone with a false growth mindset or timeline.
My apologies if anyone has viewed the comment otherwise. This said, I do encourage exploration when the opportunity presents itself. Not all of us have odd or different options to explore local options . Travel to trade shows or group gatherings for exposure is often expensive. The Café is a valuable resource for quality information. International humor replies , well this sometimes doesn’t reflect a serious response. No offense.
Anyone in need I hope will ask for clarification / more information and not be set off.

 

[SuperAction80]

I don’t think that the old horn was necessarily the worst of the worst.
I now understand that it was probably not very well maintained by the original owner, and that I failed in that regard as well.

It has a detachable bell, which, as I understand it, often can be taken as a sign that it was made with serviceability in mind, and could, possibly, be a decent horn if correctly maintained.

Could be. Problem being, one can't know until you start tearing the horn apart to see what materials were used. Anything is repairable, but materials used can make for a situation in which the freshly overhauled horn cannot hold its regulation. Less likely these days, but it still happens.

 

[Wonko]

A true musical journey has NO timeline. Your above posted experience is well enough proof of this. Very sincere and honest.
My “ Behind schedule” comment was a poking joke. I didn’t intend to mislead anyone with a false growth mindset or timeline.
My apologies if anyone has viewed the comment otherwise. This said, I do encourage exploration when the opportunity presents itself. Not all of us have odd or different options to explore local options . Travel to trade shows or group gatherings for exposure is often expensive. The Café is a valuable resource for quality information. International humor replies , well this sometimes doesn’t reflect a serious response. No offense.
Anyone in need I hope will ask for clarification / more information and not be set off.

No need to clarify (on my part)
I read your comment "At 18 months it appears you’re behind schedule. Well maybe you’ve been having undisclosed GAS issues " very much as a joke.
Hence the smily after my remark.

 

[Woodpad]

A true musical journey has NO timeline. Your above posted experience is well enough proof of this.

A friend of mine has played the last 40 years on the same Yamaha saxophone. Now he suddenly wants to play my Baldwin special, because of sound and response. His saxophone was recently serviced, but to be sure I let him play on a good closing YamaVito to counter check his saxophone. Sound and ease of playing was the same so he now goes for a Bougnier model 37. I don't think this qualifies as GAS.

 

[eb424]

Same group meets on Thursdays @ 5:30. Fish & Chips place on Main Street. The Secret Society of C tenors. Great fishing & C tenor stories. Some are even true !

Didn't think you should eat before playing...

 

[SuperAction80]

A friend of mine has played the last 40 years on the same Yamaha saxophone. Now he suddenly wants to play my Baldwin special, because of sound and response. His saxophone was recently serviced, but to be sure I let him play on a good closing YamaVito to counter check his saxophone. Sound and ease of playing was the same so he now goes for a Bougnier model 37. I don't think this qualifies as GAS.

And sometimes, you just want a darker tone. The swap would certainly do that. Sometimes, when you find a mouthpiece/reed combo you swear by, a horn swap becomes the logical choice. It's an incremental change, but if it's important to the player, the player isn't wrong.

 

[thomsax]

It’s nothing special. “Just” a Yamaha 280.

But man is it an improvement over the used Chinese no name sax I bought to start on.

It’s so easy blowing it’s almost unbelievable compared to the old one.
I suppose that could also be a sign that the cheapo could use a service.

I had tons of problems getting stable sound when using the octave key on the old one, which I now understand was probably due to leaky pads, it’s so much better on the new one, I can finally concentrate on actually playing music rather than fighting my horn.

I bought a new mouthpiece as well, USA Meyer G series. I was actually surprised how much difference the MP makes in terms of playability.
It is a completely different animal from the 4C that came with the YAS, and the 6C i got with the old sax.

So it’s gonna be a lot of fun to experience playing two different MPs.

"Tillykke"! Yamaha YAS 280 is a good sax.

 

[Woodpad]

Same group meets on Thursdays @ 5:30. Fish & Chips place on Main Street. The Secret Society of C tenors. Great fishing & C tenor stories. Some are even true !

Any connection to the secret flamboyance of high pitch C-mels?

 

[PigSquealer]

Any connection to the secret flamboyance of high pitch C-mels?

Dunno 🤷 ? I’ve never been to the Tuesday meetings 🤣

 

[Tuppertn]

Any connection to the secret flamboyance of high pitch C-mels?

Dunno 🤷 ? I’ve never been to the Tuesday meetings 🤣

I bet karaoke night is a hoot.