Saxophones Yamaha - no sopranos why??

[fibracell]

I thought I'd upgrade my cheapo sop, and thought I'd just look for a cheap second hand yamaha. And then I found out that there doesn't appear to be any 23/25 or 275, and no new 62s, and next to none old 62s for sale. Yet they make 32 and 62 very expensive bari saxes.

surely they're loosing out by not making any YSS 275/32/62 ?

just curious.....

Rob

 

[Ads]

The 62 was replaced with the 622 or something like that (same level but they wanted a 3 figure number on the Sop for some reason) . they never made a 2 series , the cheapest is the 475 which still go for a lot on the used market ...... I`d be looking at a Yani anyway , Yamaha always for Alto and Tenor but for sop - Yani for me (when and IF I can afford or even justify it)

 

[baritonesax]

I think the gap in the line-up for sops was for the same reason as for baris - too few people start playing sax on those two to make the exercise of making student models worthwhile. The Yamaha 82 sop is very nice, but not so different from a Yanagisawa... slightly broader sound than my Yani.

 

[Reed Warbler]

Jericho sops are cheap and very, good plus they come with a long guarantee.

 

[aldevis]

I think the gap in the line-up for sops was for the same reason as for baris - too few people start playing sax on those two to make the exercise of making student models worthwhile.

Exactly. And too many good competitors on the market.

The Yamaha 82 sop is very nice, but not so different from a Yanagisawa... slightly broader sound than my Yani.

I had a 62r in the past. The guy who bought it 15 years ago is still tanking me (true).
It was a groundbreaking instrument, then replaced by the Custom series (separate necks). They now reintroduced the 82z on the 62 style: a good horn but it does not drive me crazy.
The 475 is an excellent midrange horn, allegedly with the same tube shape of the old 62. Common among doublers, but quite a still sound.
I tried almost everything two years ago before finding Sequoia, and soprano has been my main instrument for a long time.

You can find a good ultracheap soprano nowadays, but the upgrade costs a bit. still not as much as when I bought my 62: It was about 40% more than a (out of tune SA80 Selmer), if memory serves well.

 

[secondhandsaxes]

i love yamaha soprano's....the intermediate model 475 is a really good saxophone...and one can always resell it at the same-ish price...not sure about the other non-japanese asian horns.....
i think the best sop is the 62r which is still my all time favourite...but at $3000-4000 it costs....
cheers,philip

 

[aldevis]

i think the best sop is the 62r which is still my all time favourite...but at $3000-4000 it costs....

Still I don't regret selling it. Curved Yanny followed for 15 years, now Sequoia.

1998 (?) recording, YSS62R, Berg Larsen HR mouthpiece. On good old analog tape (Studer)
http://www.aldevis.com/refuso.html

 

[fibracell]

anyone have a view on the Hanson sops?

 

[Jeanette]

anyone have a view on the Hanson sops?

My tutor rates the Monarch

"Ok possibly made a very expensive error tonight by using the Hanson Monarch soprano.Great 62 presence & intonation with a massive warmth/focus damn you Alasdair and Roy!!!!!!!"

Jx

 

[fibracell]

the monarch's are a tad too pricey for me!

 

[Jeanette]

the monarch's are a tad too pricey for me!

They do let you have their other models for a trial period

Jx

 

[aldevis]

I struggle to understand why Sequoia always seems to be ruled out. It is a monster horn regardless of price range, that I prefer to my curved Yanni. Is that because of the name? The price range? Counrty of origin?

 

[Pyrografix]

I have a Hanson Saxello (almost straight sop!), and I recently purchased a BW 'improved action' sop (SSSPD model). I think I prefer the tone of the Hanson, though I've not had much chance to play either of them recently. The Hanson is very well made and plays best with a Yani m/piece.

 

[Jeanette]

I struggle to understand why Sequoia always seems to be ruled out. It is a monster horn regardless of price range, that I prefer to my curved Yanni. Is that because of the name? The price range? Counrty of origin?

Must admit I always think of them at the higher end of the market, also difficult for people to try unless they can get to London or Italy. Tempting though the coffee is

Will try remember in future

Jx

 

[trimmy]

I struggle to understand why Sequoia always seems to be ruled out.

Can't give an opinion if haven't seen one (in the flesh/metal) let alone played one, i suspect a lot of players will be the same.

 

[aldevis]

Can't give an opinion if haven't seen one (in the flesh/metal) let alone played one, i suspect a lot of players will be the same.

It is time to insist with a couple of shops, then.
Please pm me recommendations about the best shop(s) outside London, so I can ask Mr. Sequoia to send them a proposal directly.

BTW, anything big in Scotland, while I am there?

 

[kernewegor]

Trevada Music are a well regarded established family firm in Cornwall.

The boss is Leonard Adams, who knows about horns - before he started the shop he used to be an engineer with Holman's, the world renowned engineers who specialised in compressed air and drills for hard rock mining!

This probably gave him an edge as a brass bander and conductor, too....

http://www.trevadamusic.co.uk/

 

[Jeanette]

It is time to insist with a couple of shops, then.
Please pm me recommendations about the best shop(s) outside London, so I can ask Mr. Sequoia to send them a proposal directly.

BTW, anything big in Scotland, while I am there?

Woodwind Exchange in Bradford

http://www.forsyths.co.uk/instruments/32209-saxophone Manchester

 

[Targa]

It is time to insist with a couple of shops, then.
Please pm me recommendations about the best shop(s) outside London, so I can ask Mr. Sequoia to send them a proposal directly.

BTW, anything big in Scotland, while I am there?

Nessie.

 

[Greg Strange]

Cheap and Yamaha soprano saxophone is a bunch of words that do not compute...

Yamaha only made pro sopranos up to 1998 with the introduction of the 475 series, the going price in NZ for one of these was over NZD4,000.00 (over 2,000 Pommy Squid). I got mine December 2013 for NZD1,500.00 which I thought was a very good price off TradeMe (NZ equivalent of ebay) the bloke I bought it from had purchased a Selmer (Paris) Series 6 (? then later referred to it as a Mark IV), at a guess a Mark VI soprano from the States. My 475 is an early one it has 1700 serial range number has plays very well after my favourite horn repair man, Tim Berger worked his magic...the current 475 Mark II retails for NZD4695.00, here in Kiwiland and the 675 which I believe is to be discontinued is a mindblowing NZD8,000.00 (!?) I would hate to think what the 875 or 82Z sopranos retail for in NZ - I don't think you would get much change out of 10 grand Kiwi dolliros or may be more...

I also have a Walstein soprano (the ancestor of the Bauhaus Walstein current sopranos...) which I have owned for about 7 years recommended by Pete Thomas at the time...

If a 475 soprano is good enough for LA sax man Jeff Driskill - it's good enough for me

http://www.jeffdriskill.com/bio.php

until a cheap (!?) purple logo 62 soprano pops along...

Happy sopranoing...

Greg S.