Beginner Saxes Yamaha YTS280 v Trevor James EVO (Tenor)

[Bwlmog]

Hi everyone,

I'm completely new to the world of making music—I've never played a saxophone or any other instrument before! However, I've always loved the sound of the Tenor Saxophone.

I definitely lean toward the darker tones you hear in Soul and R&B, rather than the brighter, lighter sounds.

Right now, I'm trying to choose my first horn and I'm drawn between two options:

Yamaha YTS-280: This seems to be the gold standard for beginners. It gets excellent reviews everywhere, comes with a great warranty, and has a really solid repair network.

Trevor James EVO: This one is catching my ear because it's described as having that darker sound I’m naturally drawn to. However, it doesn't seem to have as many reviews, the warranty is weaker, and the repair network seems a bit more complicated here in the UK.

I'd love to hear of any experiences of these two horns. Specifically, I'm wondering whether the EVO would be a suitable student horn, and whether the EVO would benefit from adding a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece right out of the box.

Thanks in advance and I appreciate any thoughts!

 

[Jeanette]

Are you able to go and try them both? Or even some others.

Some would argue you can get any sound from any sax 😉 but how it feels in your hands is also important.

Jx

 

[Bwlmog]

I'm hoping to get across to Headwind in Bristol. They stock both and have offered to demonstrate them both for me. There are loads of reviews about in the Yamaha and it seems like a solid choice, but there something about the EVO that appeals. Maybe it's because there's so little out there on reviews and personal experiences.

 

[Pete Thomas]

because it's described as having that darker sound

Just wondering, who describes it as that? I agree 100% with @Jeanette try them both.

 

[Bwlmog]

Hi Pete, I'm trying to find the original source. I definitely saw it mentioned on a Facebook group, but it didn't go into any real detail other than it had a darker, richer sound and something about it having a greater amount of brass in it's construction.

Finding any reviews of the TJ EVO has been hard work though. Whenever I find something it invariably turns out to be the alto rather than the tenor.

 

[skeller047]

Either of these would be a fine choice. I’d lean toward the Yamaha, though, for two reasons.

1. You’re a beginner, both to the saxophone and playing music. Yamahas are a solid choice and less likely to have serious problems down the line, though Trevor James has a good reputation. Finding repair or maintenance for the Yamaha will be easier too. Finally, if you find a couple years down the road that you want a better horn, the Yamaha will be easier to sell on, and you’ll likely get a better price.

2. “Dark Sound” is really down to two things. The player and the mouthpiece. The saxophone itself plays very little role here. Not none, and a good quality instrument really helps a lot - but both your choices are good. Neither of these horns will hamper your ability to play in the style(s) you want.

I agree with the comments from Pete and Jeanette about trying the instrument if possible. Pay attention to how it feels in your hands, and choose the one which suits you best. If you know someone who plays saxophone, and can take them along with you, so much the better! Getting an unbiased opinion from an experienced player (that may be an oxymoron of sorts…) might help you in your decision.

Be sure and find a good teacher, especially for the first few months. Maybe even look for a teacher before you buy the horn - a good teacher might have suggestions. It’s better to get an opinion from a real player, rather than some old guy on the internet…. LOL. Good luck on your journey and welcome to the cafe!

 

[cappers]

@Bwlmog
This might be of help - a review of the EVO II alto, by @Stephen Howard.
TJ Evo II (2024) alto saxophone review
In his words "Tonewise it presents itself as an alto that takes a noticeable step towards the warmth and breadth of a tenor."

My teacher has both the TJ RAW alto and tenor, and to my ears they have a full, warm and rich sound, less bright than my Yamaha YAS-25 and YTS-32. He let me try them and they were nice, a bit heavier than the Yamas but nice under the fingers and easy to blow. I was quite tempted!

As you're going to Headwind you can (and should) try them there. It's a very personal choice.

 

[Bwlmog]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate you all taking the time to comment. I'll take your advice and hold the two and ask them to play the instruments in store before making any decisions.

The horn is a 50th birthday present off my wife and kids. I'm hoping that whatever horn I get, it'll be something that I can hand down to my son in the future.

Another challenge will be finding a teacher. I live in Bridgend (South Wales) and there doesn't seem to be any, so looks like I'll either have to look at an online tutor or travel.

 

[Jeanette]

Another challenge will be finding a teacher. I live in Bridgend (South Wales) and there doesn't seem to be any, so looks like I'll either have to look at an online tutor or travel.

Is @Dick Hamer close enough?

https://cafesaxophone.com/members/dick-hamer.1214/

https://www.woodwindsalesandrepairs.com/about.html

 

[ghostler]

Welcome to the forum, @Bwlmog !

Be sure and find a good teacher, especially for the first few months. Maybe even look for a teacher before you buy the horn - a good teacher might have suggestions.

Agreed, a good way to start. A possible option may be to rent a saxophone initially, which then after gaining some experience will give time to hone in choices plus find a decent preferred one within budget, to continue one's sax journey.

It’s better to get an opinion from a real player, rather than some old guy on the internet…. LOL.

A lot of us resemble that old guy, 😆

 

[Stephen Howard]

Just wondering, who describes it as that? I agree 100% with @Jeanette try them both.

Me!

 

[Stephen Howard]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate you all taking the time to comment. I'll take your advice and hold the two and ask them to play the instruments in store before making any decisions.

That's always the way to go - but you should be able to play them too. I think the longest I ever took to get a complete beginner to play a scale on a sax is 45 seconds - running from the B key down to the D.
Yeah, it'll be honky - but even a complete beginner will be able to say "That one was easier".

As for the choice between the TJ and the Yamaha, they square up to each other very nicely. The Evo's build quality is comparable (proper point screws and all) and that counts for a very great deal in my books.
The Yamaha has bags of cut and clarity, the Evo goes more for that mainstream tenor sound...and that's pretty much what the choice comes down to - though resale value on the Yamaha will always be higher. But that's a moot point if you're not going to sell it...or once you've put ten years on it.

As for the repair network, once you're out of warranty you need to find a good independent specialist. Most players do that the moment they buy a horn. It saves time.

And Headwind is a very fine store. You'll be properly looked after.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I have Yamaha. I am tempted by TJ.

It'll be a long time, if ever, before you can play musically. Never having played anything leaves me wondering why. Are you after a saxophone for the look or the cool. The noise a raw beginner makes is neither.

Perhaps a recorder would be a better place to start. Anything you learn on recorder will transfer to saxophone and give you a head start. The money investment is minimal and if you can't master it, the saxophone will be beyond you.

Tenor saxophone isn't an easy instrument to play. It takes daily practice. A few days off and your face starts to ache again and your pitching goes awol.

I'm 50 years in and still learning. If this post can put you off, you shouldn't start. It takes dedication, patience and tenacity. Saxophone is frustrating, uplifting and addictive. It's occupied my time when I had no money and earned me money when I had the time.

A saxophone is not just for Christmas. 😉

 

[skeller047]

I'm 50 years in and still learning. If this post can put you off, you shouldn't start. It takes dedication, patience and tenacity. Saxophone is frustrating, uplifting and addictive. It's occupied my time when I had no money and earned me money when I had the time.

I’m 65 years in, and still learning. That may be part of the attraction of music for me. Or indeed any art… I really like the story of Pablo Casals, who at age 80-something, was asked by an interviewer why he still practiced. His response was something like “I think I might be making progress.”

@Bwlmog - learning to play an instrument is not like learning how to drive. There is no test to pass that gives you a license to play. One can never say “Yes I know how to play saxophone”. Well, I certainly can’t.

But I CAN say “I play saxophone”, and that would have been as true on day 1 as it is today at day 20K+ And if anything, I enjoy it and am amazed by it more today.

Hopefully it will change your life. Again, welcome to the cafe!

 

[Stephen Howard]

It'll be a long time, if ever, before you can play musically. Never having played anything leaves me wondering why. Are you after a saxophone for the look or the cool. The noise a raw beginner makes is neither.
Perhaps a recorder would be a better place to start. Anything you learn on recorder will transfer to saxophone and give you a head start. The money investment is minimal and if you can't master it, the saxophone will be beyond you.
Tenor saxophone isn't an easy instrument to play. It takes daily practice. A few days off and your face starts to ache again and your pitching goes awol.
I'm 50 years in and still learning. If this post can put you off, you shouldn't start. It takes dedication, patience and tenacity. Saxophone is frustrating, uplifting and addictive. It's occupied my time when I had no money and earned me money when I had the time.

That all sounds a bit bleak to me.

I've always considered the sax one of the easiest instruments to play. By its nature it's very forgiving...even when it leaks like a sieve. And sure, there's a world of difference between being able to get a noise out of one and being able to stand on stage and rattle off a dazzling solo - but then there's also a world of difference between what people are content with.

I've seen many of my clients progress over the years. Some have gone from rank beginners to cutting albums and touring with big names. Others have settled into that spot where being a 'weekend warrior' suits their lifestyle. And then there are those who are happy to just noodle around.
It all boils down to two factors; the desire to do a thing and the time in which to do it. The more you have of both of those things, the better your progress is going to be. It's just a matter of finding the balance that suits the individual and then just getting on with it...and hopefully enjoying it.

 

[mizmar]

I think you should get the EVO.

Why?
Because
A/ you want to be told it's ok.
B/ Stephen's review says it's not a mistake.
TJ is not a fly-by-night brand making a quick buck out of cut price, back door, instruments advertised on tiktok by AI animations or whatever.
So it is most likely OK.

The response you'll get from it will be wildly different in a few weeks, months, years - so I don't know what a shop test will tell you. They're all the same size, after all..maybe a few Oz difference in weight?

Seems to me there's a very narrow range of beginner mouth pieces. I've never seen a remark about the TJ stock MP - but a Yamaha is pretty cheep. Maybe consider a 6C very slightly wider tip opening... Just for fun.
It is meant to be fun.

Many folks first upgrade is a better neck strap.
(Especially those of a certain age)
A good use of the shop visit is looking a neck straps.

I'm excited for you!
Keep us updated.

 

[Bwlmog]

Thanks again everyone, to be clear the Saxophone is for me and for my own enjoyment. I have no desire to play in a band, ideally I'd like to reach a point where my wife recognises a tune and neighbours stop posting about "that racket" on Facebook.

I'm under no illusions about the challenges ahead and recognise that it's a lifetime commitment, which will undoubtedly frustrate at times. But if I don't do it now I never will, and I don't want it to be that one regret in life.

 

[mizmar]

PS

as you're buying from a shop - they may well offer a check-up of the horn. Free, gratis or otherwise; do consider a service in a year.
It's really hard for a beginner to know if some problem is them or the instrument. A solidly working horn reduces that ambiguity - which is why Yamaha is so often recommend.

 

[Bwlmog]

My intention is to buy from a shop for that very reason. I could probably save £100-£150 buying online from places like Gear4Music, but I'd rather buy from a specialist supplier and someone you can hopefully build a relationship with as you develop and discuss needs honestly. Headwind seem excellent when I was there in August and they offer a lot of support during the buying process and after.

 

[cappers]

.......... It'll be a long time, if ever, before you can play musically. Never having played anything leaves me wondering why. Are you after a saxophone for the look or the cool. The noise a raw beginner makes is neither.............Perhaps a recorder would be a better place to start........

As a 'mature' late starter with no prior musical experience, I have really enjoyed my first two years of learning to play the sax. It has been fun, frustrating yet very fulfilling and I am so glad that I started. It has become addictive and the more I develop the more I want to continue.

I know I'll never be particularly good but with daily practise, a good teacher and a mentor, I have made some progress. My tone needs a lot more work, as does my general 'musicality', but I can knock out a few tunes now, read moderately well, and have been playing in a community band since last year. I have been told I'm doing OK, and maybe in another couple of years I might be approaching 'basic competence'.

Best wishes and good luck!