Saxophone reviews Yamaha YAS-280 - Refining a Classic

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10Ms are lovely , the sound is as good as USA Tenors get (and IMO only matched by the King Super-20) but you really DO need to play one first - the LH table is a weird design by todays standards, the B touchpiece is small and located in an awkward posisiton to get quickly due to the enlarged Bb key .....

£1000 will get you a Yamaha 62 Tenor, not a mint one, unlikely a Purple Logo but it will get you one so long as you`re not in a hurry .....

Buying from America is risky especially with a tenor as it`s travelling a long way, relying on the senders packaging skills (and their description honesty) and not easy to send back if it`s taken a hit - also carriage ,VAT, import duty etc can be cost prohibitive - I`d stick getting from someone you can trust or somewhere who`ll take the thing back easily if it`s a dud .

 

[dref]

Some people find the ergonomics of the 10m to be really good,some seem to dislike them. Steven Howard raved about the playability of the 10m . I suppose the advantage of buying modern horns is that you can try them out easily before you buy. This is not so easy to do with vintage . I realize that just because a few pundits praise the merits of something It will not suit everyone. I know that you were involved in the hobby of HI FI some years ago.Do you remember some of the awful and overpriced crap some of the pundits were raving about.

 

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It`s the LH table on these old yank (and later Corton) horns which is the trip-up if you`re used to modern stuff (though selmer invented "modern" with the Super-Balanced action, it took a while for the USA to catch on 😉 ) - I found the rest of the 10M a pleasure to play with the loveliest action ..

And yes I do remember Naim 😉 . there was a lot of cases of the Emperors new clothes in that business, thankfully Saxes are a LOT easier .. a Hell of a lot easier !

 

[Rob Pealing]

@Ads Thank you for the time and effort you have put into this review. I bought a YAS 280 about 7 months ago, on the strength that it is Yamaha and I had had a rental YAS 26 for a month. I am pleased to see that my money has been well spent. It retrospect it felt stiff when new and after an hour or so's practice a day since buying it the stiffness is disappearing and it is getting easier to play, thought I still need a gorilla grip to play low B and Low Bb repeatedly. I expect a tech can sort that for me.

 

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Yamaha are notorious for setting their actions high and heavy regardless of model , a good tech will have that playing with a featherlight touch and fast 🙂

 

[Ads]

nearly 2 months on and I`m still finding this is all the Yamaha Alto I need - I don`t miss the pruple 62 at all , the 280`s less slick action was very quickly adapted to and the sound has all the rudeness and life I could ask for in a Yam .

 

[ProfJames]

How does it compare against a TJ?

 

[Ads]

TJ what ? - S1, The Horn, The Horn Classic, The Horn Classic-II, The Horn Revolution, The Horn Revolution-II, Classic (non horn) Classic II (non Horn), SR, Signature series, Signature Custom, Signature Custom RAW or Hooker

 

[Colin the Bear]

• T.J.'s, a nightclub and live music venue in Newport, Wales

 

[DavidUK]

Prof, why are you always wining on about Ads' obsessions? Is it sour grapes?
Talking of which, and Hooker sax, go to 8:15 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPRLX9loAJU

Best I could do... you try finding TJ Hooker, William Shatner, or Captain Kirk playing a saxophone!

 

[ProfJames]

William Shatner was also a TJ

 

[DavidUK]

William Shatner was also a TJ

Elementary...

 

[kevgermany]

William Shatner was also a TJ

Back to front?

 

[Targa]

Back to front?

Not when he was a Hooker.

 

[Targa]

• T.J.'s, a nightclub and live music venue in Newport, Wales

Also a department store in Liverpool.

 

[Ads]

TJ hughes has gone Targa . went years ago .

 

[Targa]

TJ hughes has gone Targa . went years ago .

Went into administration in 2011, taken over by the Lewis group, (nothing to do with Lewis's), most stores closed, a few remained including London Road.
Still trades as TJ's.

 

[Rob Pealing]

Yamaha are notorious for setting their actions high and heavy regardless of model , a good tech will have that playing with a featherlight touch and fast 🙂

You are correct I took it to Marius Kowaloski of MKWoodwinds,
He has lubricated it, and done some work on the pads and tone holes and lightened the action and generally serviced it and it is much nicer to play and I no longer need super strong pinkies. $120 well spent.

 

[Gareth WG]

Hmmmm these posts have really got me thinking about a YAS 280 now. Pick up nice looking silver plated brand new for £800.
I have only owned one sax. have a friend who has many horns but says the YAS 62 he has, plays too bright for him.

So, as a beginner would i just be able to change mouthpiece to change the YAS 280 sound? Or is that taking away from what this sax is about (prefer darker sound, although in fairness have never played a bright sax.....so what the hell do i truly know?)

I do recall reading an interesting article about how certain saxes have an "in sound", however the YAS 62 (first models) were rated very highly as the player, once changing mouthpieces, could really get any sound they may wish.

I know I should not get too hung up with "all the gear, no idea", ( as still a beginner) but in fairness I have played the same sax, with the same yamaha 4c mouthpiece for 17 months, (have a jody jazz 5 hr now), but I am definitely looking at getting new sax in New Year.........so let me have some fun!!

 

[Rob Pealing]

My understanding is that the mouth piece makes more difference to the sound than the sax, and that mouth pieces with large chambers are darker than those with small chambers.
Have a look and a listen at this, page it might help you work out what you want.
I am using a Yam 7C mp & Legere reeds, if you want to hear it/me then go here (Legere Studio 1.75)
My suggestion is that you try your friend's 62 and take your mp & reed to the shop when you go to buy a new sax.

An after thought: I am not convinced that there is any difference in tone between the Yam 4c and 7c, there is in volume and the amount of air you need to put through it.