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Yamaha Sax? I have a Sax that only has Yamaha and Japan & no Serial Numbers.

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sunnydin

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I have a brass colored Yamaha Sax with silver coloured keys(?) with no serial Numbers. Appears to be "well used" with one very small dent, and several areas with finish worn down. Several scratchs on it from a support lanyard. No scroll or engraving work anywhere.
I want to donate it to a small local School grades K to 10. But the finish is worn considerably in some areas. The pads need replacing ( I think). One finger note sticks open and needs repairs.
Folks, ALL it has is "Yamaha" with "Japan" below the Yamaha. Absolutely NO numbers or model numbers/letters anywhere. Nothing. The carrying case has NO booklets or manuals with make & model stated. Every part of the Sax has been examined but has no names or serial numbers.
I have no music background but I want to assist some young people at a school with an instrument, but I don't want to donate a "lead anchor". My challenge is to find out the following:
1. Is it a valuable one and worth repairing?
2. Is it a worn out Marching Band or School Instrument that has "had its day".
3. What model of Yamaha sax is it?
4. Is it Alto or what kind/style of Sax?
I love kids and want to assist a school, but, it may end up just as a "wallhanger". No idea where to go on this.
I would love to send someone photos, and let you folks assist me, if you so please to?
I apologize if I sound ignorant, but I have no clue where to go, or how to consume my time on this.
Thanks!
 
Hi, welcome. Lot's of good questions, but... Sorry, we'd need to see the sax to have much idea. Even then we wouldn't be able to answer most of the questions. Best bet is to find a reputable technician in your area, get his/her opinion.

I've heard of numberless saxes before. Could be an early model, could be a fake. In general Yamaha saxes are strong, well made, live forever and are worth repairing. Fixing a key that doesn't close is often simple, like putting a spring back onto the right side of the post.

On alto/tenor you should be able to tell yourself - if the neck goes up and back at a rising angle without curving down and up again, it's an alto. Otherwise tenor.

On the model, no idea, but it doesn't really matter.

Worth repairing? Had its day? No idea, technician will have to assess it first.

Sorry, can't tell you more. Pics of both sides and the neck would help, but wear/repairability are still going to need a tech's opinion.
 
How about finding a member that is in your area and can assist you in identifying the type/model? Possibly even evaluate the cost of getting it back to playable status. Just as an indication.
 
I've never seen a Yamaha without a serial number - and there are only three reasons I can think of as to why it wouldn't have one.

The first is that it's a fake. This is unlikely - it seems it's quite an old horn,so it probably pre-dates the rather recent practice of certain Chinese manufacturers punting out fakes. In any event, it's quite likely that the fakes have a serial number.
The second is that the number was removed for some reason. This too is unlikely (though not unheard of), and should be evident from a noticeable groove where the serial number used to be.
The third, and most likely reason, is that a replacement body tube has been fitted. If the horn has seen any action as a marching band horn, it's likely to have led a very hard life. Severe damage is not uncommon - and if the body of the horn got mangled when relatively new it would have made sense to replace it rather than write the horn off.
It's also unlikely that a replacement body tube would be stamped with a serial number - though I would have expected to have seen a model number.

As for what it is - here's a Yamaha alto:

Yamaha YAS275 alto saxophone review

And here's a Yamaha tenor:

Yamaha YTS23 tenor sax review

From the description (brass body, silver keys) it's most likely a 23 or 25 series horn. These had a lacquered brass body with nickel plated keys.

Yamahas in any condition are generally worth repairing.
 
sunnydin said:
I have a brass colored Yamaha Sax with silver coloured keys(?) with no serial Numbers. Appears to be "well used" with one very small dent, and several areas with finish worn down. Several scratchs on it from a support lanyard. No scroll or engraving work anywhere.
I want to donate it to a small local School grades K to 10. But the finish is worn considerably in some areas. The pads need replacing ( I think). One finger note sticks open and needs repairs.
Folks, ALL it has is "Yamaha" with "Japan" below the Yamaha. Absolutely NO numbers or model numbers/letters anywhere. Nothing. The carrying case has NO booklets or manuals with make & model stated. Every part of the Sax has been examined but has no names or serial numbers.
I have no music background but I want to assist some young people at a school with an instrument, but I don't want to donate a "lead anchor". My challenge is to find out the following:
1. Is it a valuable one and worth repairing?
2. Is it a worn out Marching Band or School Instrument that has "had its day".
3. What model of Yamaha sax is it?
4. Is it Alto or what kind/style of Sax?
I love kids and want to assist a school, but, it may end up just as a "wallhanger". No idea where to go on this.
I would love to send someone photos, and let you folks assist me, if you so please to?
I apologize if I sound ignorant, but I have no clue where to go, or how to consume my time on this.
Thanks!
Click to expand...


Hey! I, too, just purchased a tenor saxophone that fits your description. The lady I bought it from furnished a receipt
Dated July 2002. What did you find out about your horn?

Elizabeth
 
Ebenyahia said:
Hey! I, too, just purchased a tenor saxophone that fits your description. The lady I bought it from furnished a receipt
Dated July 2002. What did you find out about your horn?

Elizabeth
Click to expand...

Are you saying it also has no serial number? That is very odd for a 2002 Yamaha. As mentioned above the most likely explanation is a replaced body tube, and if the seller still had the purchase receipt she would presumably know if it had been repaired. Such a repair is not a bad thing if done properly.
 
I think I've seen a post before about a Yamaha without serial number. Was a very early sax. I'll try and find it, if @Jeanette doesn't beat me to it.
 
It's in excellent condition, and it has yamaha and Japan written on the side of the bell. All the brand stamps are where they should be. One is on the other side of the bell, and the other is on the to of the key on the neck.
 
Pete Thomas said:
Are you saying it also has no serial number? That is very odd for a 2002 Yamaha. As mentioned above the most likely explanation is a replaced body tube, and if the seller still had the purchase receipt she would presumably know if it had been repaired. Such a repair is not a bad thing if done properly.
Click to expand...
The receipt is for 1169 and some cents back in July 2002, bought from Colorado Springs
 
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