I lucked into one on eBay a few years ago, and what a joy it is to play paired with my Hammond 5FL. It's so easy to get that beautiful rich flugel sound I love on it, and I can actually give it a lot of gas and fill the horn up without it sounding too edgy. The YFH-635ST is truly a hidden gem!
Another wonderful presentation!! 👏When you were playing in the upper register, I was hearing Chuck Mangione! Then, as you played the lower registers, you sounded like you were playing a trombone! Outstanding!
Hi Samuel. Thank you so much for your review. I recently bought a YFH 635T. It's silver plated but doesn't have th S after the number. Do you think it may have lacquered originally and then plated at some point, or did they not have S after the number, it's hard to tell from my phone screen if yours does? For me it feels and plays easier than my YFH 6310 which was my favourite until the 635T.
@@jameswycherley6581 Thanks for your comment James! I agree; I was enamored with the 6310 right up until I played the 635, and the latter changed the game for me. Anyhow, I wish I could give you a good answer… This flugel did indeed say “635ST” on the valve block, with S indicating silver, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Yamaha started or stopped doing that at some undefined point in time. Their serial numbering is a mess and their model naming is not that much better. I do still think there is a solid possibility of the silver plate on yours being an aftermarket job but I don’t have any way of telling for certain.
Nice review. I prefer the smaller .413 bore horns. The .433 horns have a bigger sound and are more open, but they are slow(er) to respond and take more air, I think. Test drive an XO 1646R if you ever get the chance. It's a sweet-playing pro horn.
@@ronaldinnewmexico1912 Thanks for your comment, Ron. I generally prefer .413” bore flugels too, although I don’t think a .433” will physically take any more air if you use the same mouthpiece with the same throat size on each. The response is indeed slower, though, and you’re getting at the right thing, which is that there’s less effective impedance at the valve block for the same existing amount of air, and the overall apparatus is less conical. I’ve tried a few Jupiters: the intermediate 846R and 1100R as well as the XO. Honestly, the intermediate ones were so incredible that the XO didn’t feel like much of a step up, besides playing a little easier below the staff. I love the 1100R-quite possibly one of the best-value flugels on the market.
That 635 sounds awesome!! How do you compare the sound and the ability to get around and play in tune on that horn compared to the Getzen 4 valve that you play.
Hi Tom, the playing footage from this video is older than the first time I tried the Getzen, so take my words with a grain of salt, BUT… SOUND: the Getzen is a more straight-ahead “dark and thick” sound, with the Yamaha having a softer touch, similar darkness, and more smokiness. Almost like a large bore vs. small bore trombone respectively. FEEL: Yamaha unfortunately is quite a bit easier to play. I said goodbye to some of that when making the switch from my ACB to the Getzen, for the sake of sound, intonation, and the 4th valve. INTONATION: quite similar across the two-not a huge difference. Many report the older Getzen Eternas with the squared-off bell crooks as being very hard to wrestle into tune-either they got unlucky, I got lucky, or Getzen fixed their issue by the time mine was made.
I do think it has a marginally better sound than the ACB, although the biggest difference is the vastly better intonation. The ACB was really annoying to tune. I sold the ACB about six months ago because I got a Getzen Eterna 896 for a great price. This video was recorded a little while ago, hence why the ACB was still in my possession there.
I just finished replacing the pistons on an old 1978 YFH 231S that has a trumpet valve block with no slide adjustment at all.Evan now Yamaha dropped the student model for more then ten years now. So you only have a higher pro model choice. No more student models.
I think they made the right choice eliminating the 2-series flugels. Unless they design one that actually has the proper proportions and wrap, as well as a trigger for the 1st and/or 3rd slide, there's no point in them trying to appeal to the student/school flugel market. The Chinese-made flugels that are built on proper French bores are now outcompeting any .460" bore flugel made for students. The issue with the 231/2310 is indeed the trumpet valve block with the too-large bore, which prevents it from sounding like a real flugelhorn. With that said, I hope yours plays well.
Congratulations to Gordon Hudson for figuring out that this was the model I was alluding to in my 6310Z review! Thanks for watching, everyone!
I lucked into one on eBay a few years ago, and what a joy it is to play paired with my Hammond 5FL. It's so easy to get that beautiful rich flugel sound I love on it, and I can actually give it a lot of gas and fill the horn up without it sounding too edgy. The YFH-635ST is truly a hidden gem!
Wow, lucky you! I can only hope to score one someday!
Another wonderful presentation!! 👏When you were playing in the upper register, I was hearing Chuck Mangione! Then, as you played the lower registers, you sounded like you were playing a trombone! Outstanding!
Thank you, Marc! It’s truly incredible how versatile this instrument is-just as you described. Your characterization is very accurate.
I love the older Yamaha Flugelhorns. They play and sound great.
Hey DB! I agree. Unbeatable.
Love your presentation dude. Came here from the Giardinelli trombone review. Keep it up!
Thank you very much! Really glad you stuck around for more than just one video!
Nice flugelhorn review Sam!
@@kevinlewellen1037 Glad you liked it!
I still play this model 635ST. I bought it in the early '90.
@@bennievonk9337 Those who know never let them go!
ofc yamaha delivered a great horn and u delivered a great video as always!
Indeed they did! I wish it was still in production. And thank you!
@@SamuelPlaysBrass ofc sam! i wish yamaha still had stuff for their old mellos on their site so i could get a proper mouthpiece ,_,
Great tone, very warm and silky
Indeed! You can see why it is that I rave about this horn.
Hi Samuel. Thank you so much for your review. I recently bought a YFH 635T. It's silver plated but doesn't have th S after the number. Do you think it may have lacquered originally and then plated at some point, or did they not have S after the number, it's hard to tell from my phone screen if yours does? For me it feels and plays easier than my YFH 6310 which was my favourite until the 635T.
@@jameswycherley6581 Thanks for your comment James! I agree; I was enamored with the 6310 right up until I played the 635, and the latter changed the game for me.
Anyhow, I wish I could give you a good answer… This flugel did indeed say “635ST” on the valve block, with S indicating silver, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Yamaha started or stopped doing that at some undefined point in time. Their serial numbering is a mess and their model naming is not that much better. I do still think there is a solid possibility of the silver plate on yours being an aftermarket job but I don’t have any way of telling for certain.
Nice review. I prefer the smaller .413 bore horns. The .433 horns have a bigger sound and are more open, but they are slow(er) to respond and take more air, I think. Test drive an XO 1646R if you ever get the chance. It's a sweet-playing pro horn.
@@ronaldinnewmexico1912 Thanks for your comment, Ron. I generally prefer .413” bore flugels too, although I don’t think a .433” will physically take any more air if you use the same mouthpiece with the same throat size on each. The response is indeed slower, though, and you’re getting at the right thing, which is that there’s less effective impedance at the valve block for the same existing amount of air, and the overall apparatus is less conical.
I’ve tried a few Jupiters: the intermediate 846R and 1100R as well as the XO. Honestly, the intermediate ones were so incredible that the XO didn’t feel like much of a step up, besides playing a little easier below the staff. I love the 1100R-quite possibly one of the best-value flugels on the market.
The Leo P Moanin’ solo 👀
Good ear! I have no idea why I like playing it on flugelhorn of all instruments, but both the Christian Scott and Leo P solos are so much fun.
Great video Samuel!🤗👍👍👍
Thank you!
You're so welcome!
That 635 sounds awesome!! How do you compare the sound and the ability to get around and play in tune on that horn compared to the Getzen 4 valve that you play.
Hi Tom, the playing footage from this video is older than the first time I tried the Getzen, so take my words with a grain of salt, BUT…
SOUND: the Getzen is a more straight-ahead “dark and thick” sound, with the Yamaha having a softer touch, similar darkness, and more smokiness. Almost like a large bore vs. small bore trombone respectively.
FEEL: Yamaha unfortunately is quite a bit easier to play. I said goodbye to some of that when making the switch from my ACB to the Getzen, for the sake of sound, intonation, and the 4th valve.
INTONATION: quite similar across the two-not a huge difference. Many report the older Getzen Eternas with the squared-off bell crooks as being very hard to wrestle into tune-either they got unlucky, I got lucky, or Getzen fixed their issue by the time mine was made.
But wait! There's more!
The Yamaha flugel family tree's roots go deeper than one might think!
Great, now I want one. LOL
Now I want one - and I'm a sax player LOL
@@lukasalihein Leave some for the trumpet players 😩
@@SamuelPlaysBrass No it's cool - I'm broke. Like I said I'm a sax player :)
How are you able to play that high especially on a Flug? Do a video on range and your secret.
I don't think I have any great 'secrets' when it comes to range, but I'll try to do a video on it sometime if I'm not too busy.
Also, this sounds so much better than that China ACB of yours.
I do think it has a marginally better sound than the ACB, although the biggest difference is the vastly better intonation. The ACB was really annoying to tune. I sold the ACB about six months ago because I got a Getzen Eterna 896 for a great price. This video was recorded a little while ago, hence why the ACB was still in my possession there.
@@SamuelPlaysBrassdo you still recommend the acb for beginners or are there better options for a similar price point
Your channel seems to be basically the same as the youtube were trent hamilton
He was one of my inspirations back in the day, but I try to put my own spin on the genre as well.
@@SamuelPlaysBrass Cool, yeah, I am still subscribed to his channel
But i've also been to yours for a while now
Only six likes??? Lemme try and fix that..
Slow start as per usual but I appreciate the support!
I just finished replacing the pistons on an old 1978 YFH 231S that has a trumpet valve block with no slide adjustment at all.Evan now Yamaha dropped the student model for more then ten years now. So you only have a higher pro model choice. No more student models.
I think they made the right choice eliminating the 2-series flugels. Unless they design one that actually has the proper proportions and wrap, as well as a trigger for the 1st and/or 3rd slide, there's no point in them trying to appeal to the student/school flugel market. The Chinese-made flugels that are built on proper French bores are now outcompeting any .460" bore flugel made for students. The issue with the 231/2310 is indeed the trumpet valve block with the too-large bore, which prevents it from sounding like a real flugelhorn. With that said, I hope yours plays well.
It sounds very French!
Yamaha did their homework!