Misc Reviews Yamaha YDS-150 Wind Synth

[jthole]

A question for you YDS experts.

I have 2 keys that don't work: G and low C; with the position of G it plays G #, with low C it plays low B. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix the problem (the service center is more than 600 km away).

Ciao

I am not an expert in any way, but I had the same issue. I have unscrewed and removed the keys, and carefully cleaned those, plus the upper side of the membranes underneath (if you want to clean under those surfaces, you have to disassemble the whole instrument). That solved my personal problem.

But the keys have very much an on/off switch feeling (and they basically are, of course), very different from an acoustical saxophone. I still use my YDS-150 for practicing (*) late in the evening, without disturbing the family or neighbors. But apart from the key layout being sax-like, I find there is little that translates to a real saxophone.

(*) especially when I am asked as replacement somewhere, or we have new music in my own bands.

 

[saxyjt]

I must say I'm thoroughly disappointed with Yamaha on their approach to this type of instrument. Being Yamaha, one would expect them to have designed a much better tool.

The sounds are nothing like a real sax. And playing it doesn't really feel like playing a sax.

They have now released a cheaper version of it (half priced) that does roughly the same, even better according to some reviews. So I feel cheated. Even buying mine second hand, it cost me 40% more than the new YDS120.

I haven't experienced the same issues as mentioned above so I may be lucky so far. Time Will tell.