Saxophones Yamaha YSS – 675 Soprano Saxophone, any thoughts? (last one, I promise)

[MBGT]

Just one last instrument I'd like to query if I may (of my dad's)

A Yamaha YSS - 675 Soprano - a professional quality horn again I trust? Are these quite highly regarded?

Looks in excellent condition - not so much sentimental value here as he hasn't had it anywhere near as long... and he was more of an occasional Soprano player (I understand he bought this new - in 2005 (or thereabouts??)). I'd imagine it's only had light use....

Not a lot of info via the serial number from what I understand.

I've had it advertised for £1600 on a non specialist site (I believe they are roughly £2500 new now?) and have had several lowish (blind) offers....

Again, are we in the right ball park??

 

[milandro]

Great horns , the price sounds fair and it looks great.

If you like the way it sounds and feels it is certainly worth considering but for that kind of money you should be spoiled for choice.

There is no way to say how each and every saxophone would play so, ultimately, you have to go, play it and see if it does anything for you.

If you are able to play it and it excites you while trying it, buy it, otherwise move on to trying something else until you find the horn that gives you a better feeling about its sound.

Don’t get enamored with looks and bling though!

 

[MBGT]

PS. As one of my prospective inquiries points out, it only has one 'crook' (would you normally expect two? - admittedly, there is space in case for 2). Should that have any/much effect on the asking price??

 

[milandro]

I understand that they are sold with one or two necks. Of course if it had two it would be better for you and you could certainly try to knock off few pounds because of that.

If you like straight neck sopranos, of course, you won’t mind it.

 

[Jay]

He's trying to sell this, it was his Dad's, rather than buy it.

 

[milandro]

ooooops

 

[Jay]

It's still good advice, just needs reading from the other end

 

[thomsax]

Steve Goodson/saxgourmet is doing Yamaha serial and model charts. He is working on it. Or maybe he is ready?

The YSS 675 model started around 1990.

YSS-675 '90-
YSS-675R '90-
YSS-675S '91-
YSS-675SR '91-
YSS-675SU '90-
YSS-675U '90-

 

[altissimo]

£1600 seems reasonable, there's two on here - http://www.musicalinstrumentsales.co.uk/saxsales.html at £1799 and £1350

 

[Jeanette]

I think since you can probably pick up a YSS62, if there was one for sale (big if as not many around) for around that price it might be considered overpriced as many would buy that model instead (I know I did) But again if a buyer picked it up, played it and liked it £1,600 isn't a huge amount when you look at what a buyer would have to pay new for a Yamaha.

There was one for sale when I was looking but I can't remember the price. I'll have a look from home and see if I can find any info.

Jx

 

[milandro]

In my part of the world the problem of all high end Yamaha musical instruments ( flutes, clarinets........) is that they are in the realm where other competitors, with names that appeal a bit more than Yamaha’s to those who buy in that segment, enjoy the favor of the public quite a bit more than them.

However the normal price of a YSS 475 over here is 1000€.

A YSS 62 would make 1600€.

1.600£ is a substantial amount of money but it is just an asking price.

Come a serious buyer, nobody prevents OP from a lowering his price after some negotiations.

 

[MBGT]

Thanks for the feedback. We settled on £1400 in the end. All happy I think under the circumstances.... (the guy really liked it - it's going to a good home!). Needs a little TLC to play really sweet (nothing major) and one crook down..... Nice to hear it played well..!!!

Ex army musician too apparently (my dad was in the army entertainment corp during the war!).

It's still good advice, just needs reading from the other end

Too right Jay, thanks Milandro (no worries mate - I got your drift.....)

Thanks Jeanette - I read your input.... was possibly hoping for a little more and may of lost the sale had I held out.....

Thanks again to all....

 

[Colin the Bear]

A thing is only worth what you can get for it.

 

[Saxlicker]

I had one of these once....very good!
Mine had...and I thought all of them came with one neck only.
2 necks with the 875 and other than that no detectable differences between the 2 horns if I remember right....but don't quote me.