Beginner Saxes Purchasing a Pro Horn as a Beginner

[CliveMA]

is there anything about a pro horn that will make it harder to play than a student horn?

Yes, there is a difference between the YAS-875 and YAS-62 and below that potentially makes it harder to play for a beginner: the wider stock neck bore. Most beginners find the wider neck bore difficult to impossible to play in tune. On the 62 and the 480, the stock neck is a narrow bore, deliberately intended for less advanced players. But buy the 875 anyway and enjoy! I'll explain why!

The 62 (on Tenor but maybe also on Alto), in an earlier iteration, had a wider stock neck that gained a reputation as having poor intonation. In actuality the neck was fine but too wide for the buyers. The 62iii Tenor stock 62 neck is narrow and as close to perfectly in tune as saxophones can be.

I have done a similar journey myself but on Tenor. I bought a Tenor YTS-62iii with stock 62 neck and found it quite easy. I upgraded the neck to a V1 neck, the widest bore. It is the neck that ships with the 82Z. In my geography (Australia), the E1 neck ships with the 875. The E1 neck is wider than the 62 neck but somewhat narrower than the V1 neck. You should check which neck comes standard in your geography.

At first on the V1 neck my intonation was all over the place but I much preferred its richer tone. As I only play for my wife and I, intonation (within limits(!)) is pragmatically irrelevant. After 6 months or so I became as in tune on the V1 neck as the 62 neck without conscious effort but it was a little concerning to me at first. My wife always thought the 62 with V1 neck beautiful!

On the positive side, to my surprise, the wider bore V1 neck is MUCH easier to speak on bell notes and palm notes and Front E/F notes. The palm+ notes are also much more in tune than the narrower neck. The bell notes are effortless on the V1 neck but take some concentrated exactness on the narrow 62 neck.

The key difference between the 875 and the 62, apart from the tonal difference with different necks is that the 875 has real pearls vs plastic and the 875 as very attractive engraving vs almost none. Enjoy your 875!

If your stock 875 neck is too wide for you initially or if you prefer a more focussed tone, you can buy a C1 neck for the price of a mouthpiece. I have a stock 62 neck, a C1 neck, and a V1 neck and my wife selects which she prefers for different tunes. Mostly she prefers the V1 neck but she prefers the C1 neck for "My Foolish Heart." I find the C1 neck better suited to tunes with lots of long held notes. It has more of a natural buzz.

The following graphic is provided by Yamaha for thei custom necks. I've added where I believe the stock 62 neck is positioned.

 

[MrJ]

Yes, there is a difference between the YAS-875 and YAS-62 and below that potentially makes it harder to play for a beginner: the wider stock neck bore. Most beginners find the wider neck bore difficult to impossible to play in tune. On the 62 and the 480, the stock neck is a narrow bore, deliberately intended for less advanced players. But buy the 875 anyway and enjoy! I'll explain why!

The 62 (on Tenor but maybe also on Alto), in an earlier iteration, had a wider stock neck that gained a reputation as having poor intonation. In actuality the neck was fine but too wide for the buyers. The 62iii Tenor stock 62 neck is narrow and as close to perfectly in tune as saxophones can be.

I have done a similar journey myself but on Tenor. I bought a Tenor YTS-62iii with stock 62 neck and found it quite easy. I upgraded the neck to a V1 neck, the widest bore. It is the neck that ships with the 82Z. In my geography (Australia), the E1 neck ships with the 875. The E1 neck is wider than the 62 neck but somewhat narrower than the V1 neck. You should check which neck comes standard in your geography.

At first on the V1 neck my intonation was all over the place but I much preferred its richer tone. As I only play for my wife and I, intonation (within limits(!)) is pragmatically irrelevant. After 6 months or so I became as in tune on the V1 neck as the 62 neck without conscious effort but it was a little concerning to me at first. My wife always thought the 62 with V1 neck beautiful!

On the positive side, to my surprise, the wider bore V1 neck is MUCH easier to speak on bell notes and palm notes and Front E/F notes. The palm+ notes are also much more in tune than the narrower neck. The bell notes are effortless on the V1 neck but take some concentrated exactness on the narrow 62 neck.

The key difference between the 875 and the 62, apart from the tonal difference with different necks is that the 875 has real pearls vs plastic and the 875 as very attractive engraving vs almost none. Enjoy your 875!

If your stock 875 neck is too wide for you initially or if you prefer a more focussed tone, you can buy a C1 neck for the price of a mouthpiece. I have a stock 62 neck, a C1 neck, and a V1 neck and my wife selects which she prefers for different tunes. Mostly she prefers the V1 neck but she prefers the C1 neck for "My Foolish Heart." I find the C1 neck better suited to tunes with lots of long held notes. It has more of a natural buzz.

The following graphic is provided by Yamaha for thei custom necks. I've added where I believe the stock 62 neck is positioned.
View attachment 19178

Here in the US, it comes with the V1 neck. I do currently send a portion of my daily practice doing long tones with a tuner. I can play in tune thru the range of my YAS-23 but palm keys are a struggle. I guess I will need to get the horn in my hands to see how I play it. I was initially looking at the yas-62III but I also seen the music store I buy from online had Demo 875EXII's on sale for $4k where the 62 is $3300. My thought is that if I buy the 875 and it doesn't work out I can exchange it for the 62 on as you suggested swap the neck.

 

[squeak]

I am a middle-aged adult beginner. To initially get me started I bought the cheapest and ugliest playable YAS-23 I could find and got a teacher. This was to gauge my commitment to learning and to see if its something I would enjoy and stick with it. Not only did I stick with it, I religiously practice at least an hour every day working on the material my teacher assigned. Now I am l looking at picking up a new Yamaha YAS-875 Custom EXII. Since there isn't any place I can go to physically play it before I buy it, is there anything about a pro horn that will make it harder to play than a student horn? Thanks in advance

Get the gear that is necessary and that you really want, play it and ignore all else (MsJ included 🙂). I have not been very good with the necessary part and that can lead to endless distraction and less progress. However, you clearly don't suffer from such flaws.

 

[Rusax]

I think the pro horn is a lot more enjoyable to play , because you know it's a pro horn , tend to like it more and in the best case you spend more time practicing it, which gets you closer to the pro level . I guess that is why they called it pro in the first place.
The only thing, from my experience , look at other brands as well, it might give you a more diverse overview and you will definitely see a lot more difference going to the other brand than changing from Yamaha to Yamaha. You might realise why Yamaha is so great for you or stick with something else. Either way, 5-6 horns later you will know what it is that you want much better and will only be 5-6 horns away from the one you always wanted .

 

[MrJ]

Get the gear that is necessary and that you really want, play it and ignore all else (MsJ included 🙂). I have not been very good with the necessary part and that can lead to endless distraction and less progress. However, you clearly don't suffer from such flaws.

I kinda put this on the same level as when I changed my mouthpiece from a Yamaha 4c to a Selmer s80 C*. Yes, I could play the 4c but the S80 felt so much better to play. Then I went from practicing for 30 mins a day to 1-2 hours. I can play the 23 but if the Pro horn feels better in my hands then it's worth it to me. I'd probably even keep the 23 as a backup in case one has to go in for service. I really hate going a day without any practice.

 

[MrJ]

I think the pro horn is a lot more enjoyable to play , because you know it's a pro horn , tend to like it more and in the best case you spend more time practicing it, which gets you closer to the pro level . I guess that is why they called it pro in the first place.
The only thing, from my experience , look at other brands as well, it might give you a more diverse overview and you will definitely see a lot more difference going to the other brand than changing from Yamaha to Yamaha. You might realise why Yamaha is so great for you or stick with something else. Either way, 5-6 horns later you will know what it is that you want much better and will only be 5-6 horns away from the one you always wanted .

If I try a Selmer Paris I might like it then I would have to spend Selmer Paris Money. It took some wheeling and dealing to get my wife to agree to $4k budget. She would stroke out if I told her I spent $6k-$7k.

 

[Rusax]

If I try a Selmer Paris I might like it then I would have to spend Selmer Paris Money. It took some wheeling and dealing to get my wife to agree to $4k budget. She would stroke out if I told her I spent $6k-$7k.

If I try a Selmer Paris I might like it then I would have to spend Selmer Paris Money. It took some wheeling and dealing to get my wife to agree to $4k budget. She would stroke out if I told her I spent $6k-$7k.

Be honest with yourself, this moment will come , by spending less now, you're just pushing it further away )))

 

[CliveMA]

I'd probably even keep the 23 as a backup in case one has to go in for service. I really hate going a day without any practice.

+1
I have two Tenors and two sopranos, deliberately with different tonal tendencies but mainly so I never miss a practice because of service or pads still wet from previous same day practice.

 

[CliveMA]

I was initially looking at the yas-62III but I also seen the music store I buy from online had Demo 875EXII's on sale for $4k where the 62 is $3300.

I paid $US 2300 for my 62iii Tenor (which are dearer than Altos) new in box Feb 2020. The best price I can find near me is $4600 for an 875ex/mk 5. Confirm your 875exII has Pisoni Pads (see below).

Note: Yamaha Generations - Sorting out confusion with Yamaha model numbers.

There have been 5 official versions of the 875 Alto Sax. Yup, 5. They are:

YAS-875 – First Release
YAS-875EX – Change in Design, new “Custom EX” branding
YAS-875EX (revised) – Change from the G1 to the V1 Neck
YAS-875EXII – Change in Design (hence new model number)
YAS-875EXII (revised) – Change to Pisoni Pro Pads
So, based on all of this information, the current YAS-875EXII with the Pisoni Pro Pads (which went in to production in 2019)

 

[nigeld]

I was initially looking at the yas-62III but I also seen the music store I buy from online had Demo 875EXII's on sale for $4k where the 62 is $3300.

Go for it!
You'll get a first-class instrument for a reasonable price.

 

[Ivan]

The most exciting is the top right

Though they've missed off the last two letters; R and A

 

[eb424]

Unfortunately, there isn't anywhere I can go locally as the local stores do not keep saxophones in stock. I would need to fly to a big city or order from a place with a solid return and exchange policy. I won't say I am set on a custom ex I am just basing it on reviews and watching comparisons. Besides the EX I was considering the YAS-62, Selmer Axos, and P.Mariuat 67R

at least if you buy from a shop you could try something like the 62 with one of yamahas after market necks which are meant to make a difference (whether they do or not I dion't know)..I agree with the advice above re buying new its great ONLY if you know you have found your sax for life....For the amount you lose if you sell you could buy a used 62 or similar and if you want to sell they retain their value....the difference between pro horns and others seems to vary but they should be the same to play...The difference between a YTS 32 and a 61 for example is meant to be the engraving and real verses plastic keys which doesn't affect the playability....

 

[Phil]

At the risk of sounding self serving Im gonna bring up mouthpieces. In part because There is a wold of better pieces than an s80. Its ok for classical but if you want flavors other than vanilla consider a mpc that is not vanilla. Its a lot cheaper and will open up more color palates than a prettier horn…or if money is not a big deal do both. Nothing wrong with having a great horn. Just dont put cheap used tires on a Porsche.

 

[jazzdoh]

Obviously spending this kind of money on a pro horn is important, trying different options is the preferred way to go but if that is not available to you then you might have to take a leap of faith and go with your 2 options of the Yamaha's, but it's ok that it might not be your forever horn and there will be plenty of time in your sax journey to get that right, most sax players over say 20 years of playing would have had a number of horns to have got it right.
What you will get if you buy Yamaha 62/ 875 is a quality horn that will allow you to progress your journey without the the horn holding you back.
I will say that you would get this from other horns too like Yanagisawa and Selmer and others.

 

[Phil]

Yani altos are nice. Very lively but a really sweet core.

In order of importance:

Player
Mouthpiece
Reed
Horn

Providing all are in proper working order

 

[Stephen Howard]

The most exciting is the top right

Though they've missed off the last two letters; R and A

Well, it's been around three hours now - and no-one's followed this up...so I guess it's down to me.

Ahem.

Wouldn't that make it a bit of a stiff blow?

 

[SaxBoss]

We all drive cars, ye??
What does a new car cost? 25k to 50k?? You spend how long driving it a day? An hour?

This musician practices hard every day for an hour or two? And we down grade him for wanting a a good new horn??

@MrJ if I was you and had worked so long and hard for a new horn the had been already cleared by MrsJ, I WOULD BE PRACTICING ON THE NEW HORN before someone else bought it before me!

I have always said this, buy the best you can offord, as you will enjoy your experience. If you have worked something then you deserve it.

Enjoy your new horn and tell us your first impressions and then after 2 weeks of playing.

Great honking

 

[MrJ]

At the risk of sounding self serving Im gonna bring up mouthpieces. In part because There is a wold of better pieces than an s80. Its ok for classical but if you want flavors other than vanilla consider a mpc that is not vanilla. Its a lot cheaper and will open up more color palates than a prettier horn…or if money is not a big deal do both. Nothing wrong with having a great horn. Just dont put cheap used tires on a Porsche.

I have a Theo Wanne Earth metal mouthpiece on order although I am going for a more classical sound over Jazz. I do want to be flexible though. I have heard that when developing your sound that you should listen to artists that have a similar sound that you are going after. For me that is Nobuya Sugawa. I know I will never sound like him but that type of sound is what I am after. My favorite piece of music has been Canon in D since I was 12.

 

[jazzdoh]

I have a Theo Wanne Earth metal mouthpiece on order although I am going for a more classical sound over Jazz. I do want to be flexible though. I have heard that when developing your sound that you should listen to artists that have a similar sound that you are going after. For me that is Nobuya Sugawa. I know I will never sound like him but that type of sound is what I am after. My favorite piece of music has been Canon in D since I was 12.

I play with the Theo Wanne Mindi Abair mouthpiece, they are good pieces, not sure whether the Earth would be good for classical but Theo does do a classic mpc the Water which is relatively cheap at £69 in the UK, $99 in the USA.
Steve Neff does a great review of this piece link below.

Theo Wanne Water Classical Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Theo Wanne Water Classical Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

www.neffmusic.com

 

[MrJ]

I play with the Theo Wanne Mindi Abair mouthpiece, they are good pieces, not sure whether the Earth would be good for classical but Theo does do a classic mpc the Water which is relatively cheap at £69 in the UK, $99 in the USA.
Steve Neff does a great review of this piece link below.

Theo Wanne Water Classical Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Theo Wanne Water Classical Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

www.neffmusic.com

Yeah, I got the earth for playing modern music. I don't think it will be my primary mouthpiece. Right now my favorite set- up is is the S80 with Hemke reeds.