Beginner Saxes Yamaha alto different models

[Chas]

Hello everyone I've decided to save my Penny's or pounds ,save up and buy an alto Yamaha saxophone could anybody tell me the best 3 Yamaha saxophone and what the initials stand for after Yamaha yas is this Yamaha alto sax and the theres a number any info would be much appreciated charlie

 

[Chas]

YAS-25 has a High F# key as do its successors (275; 280) whereas the 21, 23, and Vitos do not.

I have a nice YAS-25 I could be persuaded to part with (5% of sale price to forum fund).

From these student models you go into intermediate 32; 475; 480 then on to Pro 62; 82; 855; 875

For good used ones, student £400-600
Intermediate £600-1000
Pro £1000-2000

Then you have different ages and origins e.g. YAS-62 MkI, II, III; older Purple Logo (transfer on bell instead of engraving); Earlier Made in Japan; Later Made in Indonesia.

Confused?

They're all good. Some say Japan is better. Purple Logo sought after.

I've had alto, 21, 23, 25, 275, 32, 475, 62 PL & Vitos. 62 PL the best I've experienced. Vito best value IF you can find one.

As @JayeNM says, various makers made Vito (Yamaha; Jupiter; Beaugnier; Yanagisawa). Come back here if you're not sure and show us what you've found, to identify it.

Hello david thanks for info decided to get Yamaha 32 paid £875.00 from shop 6 months warranty what do you think chsrlie

 

[DavidUK]

£875 retail is about right for a good one so don't worry, enjoy.

 

[Chas]

Thank you David will do cheers for all your advice your a gentleman and a scholar charlie

 

[JayeNM]

Apologies if this is off topic . Excuse me but I'm curious as to the " ROC " stamp.
@JayeNM : you say this stamp denotes " Jupiter " made..
So I got into a little trouble after selling a King " Zephyr " years back . It did look a little different to other Zephs I'd seen but to my limited knowledge back then the discrepancies were cosmetic.. ( key guards ) I recall. It played just fine.
The guy I sold it too in short said I'd ripped him off ; I had no idea and sold it with the best intentions believing it to be a King.
Sorry I'm going on but how does that work ? Was it a Jupiter made King ? ( if that makes sense )...
NB...It was stamped " ROC " apparently well hidden behind the adjustable thumb hook...

It is OT, but it's an interesting situation you had there....and I think we can clear up the situation in one more reply without digressing the thread - do you still have a photo of the horn ?

I have seen 'modern' horns engraved "Zephyr"...and those are definitely asian-produced.

Did the horn read HN White or King or Eastlake anywhere ?

Or did you possibly just see "Zephyr" engraved on it, assumed Zephyr was a King model, then simply mistakenly sold it as a King Zephyr ?

 

[JayeNM]

Hello david thanks for info decided to get Yamaha 32 paid £875.00 from shop 6 months warranty what do you think chsrlie

Congrats !

 

[Adrian63]

Hi George ; it was probably ten years back or more so no pics or real detail remembered I'm afraid : other than the guy who bought it being p***** at me..
I do recall he sent his bandmate with cash to pick it up as he was either too busy or too far away ? Looking back ; regardless of what I thought if he couldn't make the effort to check it out or to at least ask relevant questions; well that really is his problem to a large extent. The guy was a dealer..he should have phoned or preppped his friend..
Honestly I think my opinion was the latter..saw Zephyr ; assumed and sold it as a King . I had been playing for some time but it was a time without internet information ; I didn't buy and sell in those days .

 

[Colin the Bear]

Didn't Ford make a Zephyr? It's a wind innit? 😉

 

[just saxes]

The slickest alto keyboard I've ever played, unaltered other than service, is a Yamaha 23 alto, owned by my cousin.

Because it was my cousin's, I could spend as long as I wanted on it, for as long as I cared to try.

I would not say the same of the tenor (due to keytouch spacing, mainly), but the 23's keyboard is outstanding.

Tone? Not so much for me. I would not want one, but the keyboard is on point.