Yamaha compared to others

feller · Dec 28, 2007

I must admit to being a Yamaha man all the way. I just like the feel. I was thinking of getting the 62 (of which I am very familiar) but instead I just purchased a 61 at a very good price. Other than hearing they are a little darker than a 62 however I know little of them (I haven't played it yet). Most people would not buy a horn they haven't played but I think I can turn it over and get my money back if I don't like it. I really like the custom line but they are out of my price range for the time being. What are some thoughts on Yamaha and the 61 especially?

Bobby G · Dec 28, 2007

As far as I know, the 61 is the forerunner of the 62, and I've also heard the 62 is a little brighter.

I love my YAS-62, it's one of the older ones as it had the nasty purple logo transfer on the bell (why, Yamaha, why?) which I removed as soon as I got the horn. I like the feel, the sturdiness and the fact that you can get a good sound out of it and everything feels like it is in the right place, and you seem to be able to slap any mouthpiece on it and it'll work.

I've tried and owned one or two other horns on my way to the YAS such as a Buescher Aristocrat 200, and a couple of Trevor James, which were all nice and did the job for me as a newbie. I also have an old Dolnet which I like a lot but it could never replace the Yamaha.

Not so long ago I had a go on some Yanagisawas which are very good horns, but something about them doesn't really inspire me, whereas when I pick up the Yamaha I don't want to put it down.

Apart from that I haven't really tried any other horns (and there are thousands of them!) so I can't comment any further, although I did have ten minutes on an ancient Martin a while ago which was really hard work!

I also have a Yamaha tenor, a YTS23, which is old and a bit beat-up, but it plays very well and just seems to soldier on.

Saxlicker · Dec 29, 2007

A great horn!

josh_johnson · Dec 29, 2007

I had to order my Yamaha Custom from Japan before trying it (not a great call for them in Thailand), at that time time I still had my Selmer Mk VI as well.

Now, I only have the Yamaha. It felt risky buying before trying, but I had no choice and have not been disappointed.

Good luck!

jools · Dec 31, 2007

"I like the feel, the sturdiness and the fact that you can get a good sound out of it and everything feels like it is in the right place, and you seem to be able to slap any mouthpiece on it and it'll work. "

That's it in a nutshell! - totally agree.

greg_strange · Jan 7, 2008

As Bob said in the above post the 61 series Yamahas are the ancestor of the 62 series, and I believe they were introduced in the early 1970s. They are excellent horns and some people prefer the 61 series over the later 62 series. LA session sax man David 'Woody' Woodford (Tenor sax solo on "The Heat Is On" - Beverley Hills Cop soundtrack, also Aerosmith, Rod Stewart, Supertramp, REO Speedwagon, etc) has been playing a 61 series alto and tenor for the last 30 years.
I nearly purchased a mint condition 61 series tenor a few years back, and I am still kicking myself I didn't go ahead with it. I certainly wouldn't part with my 62 series alto (I have had it for 22 years).
Regards,
From a hot and humid New Zealand,
Greg Strange.

robaldo · Jan 8, 2008

I was convinced yanis (yanagisawa) were The Dogs, until I had a go on a friend's beautiful tenor 62.

I've since spoken to a couple of people in music shops who've said that the newer 62s aren't too well put together, and that the current yanis are better than the current 62s.

Who knows?

Bobby G · Jan 8, 2008

This is the rumour about 62's, both tenor and alto models - the older ones are said to be better, whether in terms of sound or build quality I don't know.

rhysonsax · Jan 8, 2008

Robaldo wrote:
I was convinced yanis were The Dogs, until I had a go on a friend's beautiful tenor 62.

Isn't "Yani" = Yanagisawa

and I suppose Yamaha = "Yama" or "Yammy" or something ?

Rhys

robaldo · Jan 8, 2008

Bobby G wrote:
This is the rumour about 62's, both tenor and alto models - the older ones are said to be better, whether in terms of sound or build quality I don't know.

The action on the 62 I tried was lovely. Probably 10-12 years old.
Sound-wise it just sounded like me playing my yanagisawa.

feller · Jan 10, 2008

Well it came in and it was beautiful. There is barely touched but the accessories in it looked ancient. I imagine its a case of somebody wanting to learn but giving up in a few weeks and committing it to the closet. There is minor work (The cork fell off from deterioration and a few pads leak) to be done before its up to snuff but I am very pleased. It came with a super action 80 mouth piece and jazz Vito 2 piece. Wow that jazz piece makes growling so much easier, but I wasn't to impressed with the s80. I like the c* better.

kos · Jan 10, 2008

i don't know about this much but my dad's alto sax the one i use to practice is a yamaha yas 21(something like that i can't read the second number)
is it good or bad?all i know is i love the sound that comes out of it

Bobby G · Jan 10, 2008

Erm, yeah, could be a 21, which I imagine is an ancestor of the 23 - does it have high F#? I have a beat up old tenor 23 which is good, and jools has an alto 23 which he seems happy with so yeah, they're a good horn even if they were considered a student model.

kos · Jan 10, 2008

wait im still learning the ropes so f# is 3 pressed down on the right hand and the middle one on the left hand? if thats f# ti does have it

jools · Jan 10, 2008

Nah, I think the Fsharp key was an addition placed just above the lower stack Fsharp trill. The fingering you describe sounds like alt fingering high register stuff. This 'additional' key was a 'cheat' key added to allow the easier playing of G and D scales. HAH. That's all it did.

My 23 doesn't have one but I'd have to say I can't fault it, in sound, action or handling. Student model or not. Some of the vintage 'classics' were considered 'student models' (Martins for eg) and they play as good as gold.

They make some darn fine motorcycles too! 😉

Bobby G · Jan 10, 2008

I never saw a Martin motorcycle, but they make some damn fine acoustic guitars!

jools · Jan 10, 2008

:laugh:

bobk · Jan 11, 2008

Bobby G wrote:
I never saw a Martin motorcycle, but they make some damn fine acoustic guitars!

It is a shame not to have seen a Martin motorcycle. Here is a Moto Martin Honda CBX engined special from the '80s...

cheers,

Bob

ps - admittedly not as common as Yamahas, but its probably easier making bikes out of old tuning forks and saxes than it is out of bits of acoustic guitars....