The best sound was by far the Selmer Series III it had that Selmer sound and I think it could do anything you want with the right mouthpiece. The reference 54 alto is essentially a modern Mark VI and the tenor is really good post 2014. In 2014 Selmer revised the reference horns, they addressed the weight complaints, and give each one a newly designed neck that really took away the stuffiness that many initially complained about. On the Alto the neck took away the low C warble.
I love the way my Yani Alto Aw020 Elite Bronze speaks. I have the Yamaha 82zii Tenor + F# key and it plays great but looking to upgrade to the Yani Tw033 next year too.
I agree that the Selmer had the best sound with the Yani coming in second. As a repair Tech for 40+ years I’m not convinced ribs make any difference in the sound. Love what you are you are doing.
Me, too! Got my T991 new around 2003 as well, and LOVE it. I did recently have it completely refurbed by Randy at Tenor Madness, and I am not kidding, it is even better now than it was, and it was great all along. He did put metal reso's in for me, and I can't find a better saxophone so far.
I have a series 3 tenor....I agree...it was a different finger feel ....and I kept going back to my 63 mark 6...but ...after a short time I got completely used to it...and it feels great...good segment here
havent played in 5 years after i left highschool and was no longer renting through the student program. Couldnt afford to rent one while i was in college, and now i am broke broke after finally buying a house after 8 years of saving (since i was in highschool.) My dream sax has always been the yanis for ease of playing and a full beautiful range. Someday ill get back into it and have my own yani to show for it.
ive also always struggled to hit the highest ends of the register on yamahas specifically. When i rented a cannonball, selmer, and various yamahas, the yamahas were always a struggle for me. My friend had a yani and i just want it over anything else ive ever played haha
There I was feeling down that I’m too skint for any of those beautiful saxes and have to stick with my silver 62 iiii. That comment at the end made my day!
I thought the YTS had a nice solid core and sound i recently bought a YTS 62 111 and i am really impressed with it on sound ergos intonation and value . P. S YTS 875 At the top .
You made a very casual reference to ribbed and non ribbed construction and here are a few considerations. The natural frequency of vibration of the saxophone body is in direct proportion to the stiffness of the metal used in construction and is in inverse proportion to the mass or weight. The heavier the metal the greater is the content of the low frequencies. The use of ribbed construction is of immediate benefit to the manufacture as the fixture or fixtures are quite simple and straight forward and there is just one single soldering process. Nonribbed construction is almost a punishment in manufacturing with an amazing number of separate soldering operations.One way of looking at the process is that ribbed construction increases the weight or mass of the body which enhances the lows but increasing the stiffness works counter to this benefit.Nonribbed construction but increased mass would result in good lows but attenuated highs due to reduced stiffness.The entire matter is rather complex and would require serious analysis by a physicist Whether manufacturers have in fact dealt with the matter scientifically is a moot point. As far as I have been able to research the subject there has been just one single engineer inventor, ultra craftsman, composer and virtuoso who has scientifically dealt with the matter of material influence on instrument construction and performance and that is the genius Theobald Boehm.His highest order instruments were of silver followed by instruments of nickel silver.I do not know if saxophones were ever made of nickel silver but based on Boehm’s experience this would perhaps be something to look forward to.
Great vid as usual adrien i own a yts 62 great horn ive owned martins selmers conns beuschers , but never were they a patch on the 62 it just does everything with ease
You should try a Yamaha 62 along with some different neck options (E1,C1,V1 necks). You might like the V1 neck if you don't want it "too easy" to play. The V1 will probably fit you well if you want to have to work and put some air through. Piece of cake. Good luck.
Funny you say that, because I too can Wholeheartedly 100% vouch that the different model necks make a much bigger difference than people might assume. I just recently well about a year ago purchased a used YTS 875 Custom in gorgeous Black lacquer. The buyer also included two necks with it. Both of which were black which is cool, a V1 neck and an M1 neck. After months and months of going back-and-forth and deciding which one I wanted to keep, I just kept coming back to the V1, because contrary to your findings, I thought the V1 was the neck that was much more well-balanced throughout the entire register and made for better intonation and easier overall playing throughout the entire range of the horn. I found the M1 to be quite a bit more resistant, and thus harder to play especially down in the bell keys, (i.e. low C# thru low Bflat .). I really tried my hardest to like it, but More often than not I was always getting That God forbidden bell key gurgling sound that A lot of people will get when there’s something wrong between mouthpiece/neck geometry, or Everyone’s favorite, a good old leaky horn. Anyways I just found it interesting that for me the V one was the easiest to play whereas the M1, was much more difficult. But again every horn is different just like every person is different so take this for as little as it’s actually worth. I personally like the sound of the EX and the Yani most. I felt like the Yanni had a sweeter sound where is the EX an in your face but not in a aggressive harsh way which is how I consider the 82 to be. In my honest opinion of the four you played the EX provided the roundest sound, With the tightest core. It’s very difficult to describe sounds but at least that’s what I hear and interpret it. Curious to know what year it takes were on it and what your favorite was Mr Sirvalor. absolutely fantastic comparison. I’ve been a long time subscriber and every Time I I get that notification of a video that you just dropped, I feel like a kid with a key to a candy store. Keep doing your buddy you’re killing it and you’re by far and away everyone’s favorite saxophone TH-camr. Because you tell it how it is and we love that and we appreciate that and we will always salute you. You’re on everyone’s mount Rushmore in fact you’re my number one. Keep doing your buddy we all love you here Although it sounded great and was quite a bit brighter than the V1. I just couldn’t get used to that difficulty dealing with the strange resistance I was getting from that particular M1 neck.
The V1 neck is nice, it is the largest bore and I added to my 875. I have an older M1 neck but I also picked up a 52 retro silver neck and modified to share with my 52. I skipped the 62 but had a jam up setup on my 52 so I am comfortable with the old girl almost anywhere. Good post on the necks!
The most comfortable tenor I ever played ( for me ) was a Couf Superba. Like an idiot I sold it to my friend Bill Green. Today I play a Keilwerth. Great video! Thanks, John
Thx for commenting on the keyboard layout and feel. Many reviewers fail to comment on this. Also, the idea that the ergonomics positioning the neck to lengthen is very interesting. Make that vocal tract open up. Cake is coming your way.
Great video especially for me who's looking to finally invest in a pro tenor. I have to say I think the 82Z and the 875EX both sound very similar and are my favorite our of the 4. Both sound very powerful and rich with the 82Z being a little brighter than the 875EX. The difference between these and the series iii was huge and I'm really surprised because I didn't think the sax model mattered as much as I can hear in the video!
I play a variety of brands. My alto and bari are Yanagisawa (A901 and BW-01), my tenor is an Yamaha 82zUL, and my soprano is a Keilwerth SX90ii. Been through Selmer and while I loved my Mk6, I moved on to a Keilwerth SX90R (which annihilated the 6) before getting my 82zUL after finance issues caused me to sell my Keilwerth to pay the rent. Try a Keilwerth. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Most interesting. My choice was without a doubt the Yani. The tone had a quality the others lacked, especially on altisimo. No question in my mind, and I'm pretty old
Very interesting take and your order. It is all a matter of personal preference. I tried out the 82z and the series III and stuck with my 875 and looked at P.Mariat 66RUL for what I was looking for. (When I was looking) The Yanas sound great but alas not looking any more unless I find a Sugar Mama too! Thanks for the review!
Most useful for these tests are long tones, octave pairs/triads, middle D stuffiness, etc. If you play a tune, just play the head of a chart slowly and same chart for each horn.
The TW01 caught my attention. I was looking for a new tenor with a darker tone quality and flexibility in sound, total clarity of sound and eveness of the scale from top to bottom. I just got a TW02 2 days ago based on your video. I liked the TW01 but preferred the TW02. Wonderful sound, feel, lighter in weight, fantastic construction and perfect key placement. This is what I been looking for and hearing in my head. Thanks for the video.
thanks man for the super interesting comparison!🙏 very good job👍...for me the Yamaha 82Z sounded the best of all horns...I sold my silverplated Selmer MK VI to a silverplated Yamaha 82Z (with high f#) ´cause the specific notes popped out better and with a bit better sound for me....oh man there are so many good horns out there....what do you think about the P.Mauriat horns? hope you test one of these horns in the future 🙏🤗...keep up makin´these GREAT videos👍👍👍
Crazy thing I brought a jupiter 1100 seris It's a intermediate model horn lovely horn sounds good my original horn is a buffete advanced model love that horn to but this recent horn I just got is a 1950s king cleveland tenor sax that dam horn is now my favorite it has a big sound very rich colorful sound altissimo just screams out of it god I love that horn
@@shawjazzy I wanted a new alto for the longest time, and I was thinking about the 82Z from Yamaha, but I just couldn’t afford it. I feel like it would make more sense for me to get my Jupiter overhauled if it really came down to that. Same thing with my tenor. I’m sure it would cost a lot less than five grand to overhaul my 62ii, and I can’t imagine the 82Z would be worth thousands more. Just not rich enough or talented enough to make decisions like that!
@@shipsahoy1793 I definitely do a overhaul or buy a vintage American horn from king zephyr a martin or Conn 10m don't have to be a selmer mark vi or sba those to expensive lol
I'm in the market of buying a new tenor sax and I kind of fell in love with the cannonball Gerald Albright GT5-B tenor saxophone. It sounds wonderful and it looks beautiful and I just can't figure out why people aren't buying the saxophone I go to Memphis Tennessee about 2 to 3 times a month and every professional that plays tenor saxophone says do not buy cannonball, but they didn't give me a reason why. And I've watched this video and you're changing brands, so my question to you is why aren't you upgrading your cannonball? A few players said that they traded a cannonball in because it kept playing out of tune.
Cannonball makes great saxophones but here are a few things to keep in mind. They are focusing on things that don't make the saxophone any better. I like the plating variety that the offer and the engraving is the best there is but none of these actually innovates new ideas into making saxes better. Keilwerth has advancements for the palm keys and the infamous sticky G# key. Selmer has redesigned the bore, bell and neck tenon with the Supreme, Yanagisawa has made "in my opinion" the best ergonomic layout and Yamaha has essentially mastered the art of saxophone altissimo with how easy it is on their horns. Dealers are selling Cannonballs almost as much as they are for the "Big 4" and in some cases more. All these saxes felt much more upscale than any of the CBall horns that I've owned over the last 22 years. Even with the advancements that they have made(intonation), I still feel like after all this time they are playing "catch-up". Thanks for watching.
I feel you.should get another cannonball u sound good on it . But i would get the Yanagesawa as a back up cause u sound good on it n u said it is well balance. And use it as a back up
I'm in the market for a new tenor and have been trying everything I can get some time on. I've been back to the local brass shop 5x to play a silver plated YTS 875, so I was interested to see you put this last. I've tried this model at a few different stores, but the silver plated one is always on my mind. Just hoping I can keep chipping into the savings pot and get it before someone else takes a shine to it. 🎷
Hey man! Good work as always…I’m glad you test drove these beautiful horns! I like how you left it kind of unedited as you played the horns for the first time - honest review.
Great video! IMO, for the money, Yanagisawa has a distinct pleasant and dark tone (and you tried just the entry model!). Sure, it's not as exquisite as the 875, but keep in mind it almost half the price... Also, Yanagisawa's default mouthpiece (size 5) is 3x more expensive than Yamaha's Custom (size 4)...
what a great video, my conn shooting stars has been amazing to learn but I would love to jump to a yanagisawa model; would you like to make another video making a review about some vintage and modern yanagisawa models? regards from Germany Sir, your videos are always funny, good you play amazing.
Man I wonder if you would of had a longer neck strap if it would of made a difference. And I also wonder how you would of sounded if you would of used your V16 mouthpiece?
That Yamaha 82z sounds like there is a metallic zing to it. My least favorite. I can be convinced to like the Yana, 3rd on my list. Toss Up between the 875 and the Series III. You had better low end on the Yama and it does not have that mettalic zing. Series III probably needs low end adjustment. I have tried one and hoping to get one. It sounded like a Mark VI but with much better keywork.
Great review. The Selmer for me was the best sounding horn. I myself use a Ref 54. The Ref 36 is a fantastic sax as well. Looking forward to you doing more of this stuff.
Like your videos -- usually a different view. I would love to hear your impressions of the Selmer Axos tenor and how it sounds compared with the others. It's $3800 new, competitive with these non-Selmer models.
Ishimori are great horns! You dont see too many of them pop up on the used market and even the new ones can be difficult to get. Love the sound of those horns
Hey, I've been watching your videos for years! Have you ever tried a horn set up by Tenor Madness or one of the Tenor Madness horns? If you wanted to try some let me know, we can do a trial on horns, I feel like you'd love a TM.
Good evening i have a Giardinelli Tenor n Alto sax. Could you one day test play one i value your opimion . I follow u alot n i am very greatful for what your doing n teaching.you and other on u tube make ne want to n play more m reach higher ground
_"No high F# key"_ Well, it generally makes the horn much lighter and the tone projection feels different imo. I got myself an old YTS23 vs. my Serie II it sound much more vintagee. The action is less reliable though.
I have to tell you your flute work with the intro... very pretty. I was doing a personal recorded comparison as I look towards a possible upgrade. I decided to save towards one over the next year or so, and be able to shop between several candidates.
I’m not sure how much of an issue price is going to be on your decision, but if you’re looking for something slightly cheaper I would take a good hard look at Trevor James’ models. I myself have never played one personally but I’ve heard fantastic reviews from people all around the country from all different demographics and they seem to be legit horns at more of an intermediate price point, unless of course they’ve gone up over the past year.
Yamaha has a really weird pricing system for their saxes now. I would avoid the 26 series at all costs because they are priced way to close to more advanced Yamaha saxes. We can't get the 280 in the USA so this presents a wierd pricing gap for their horns so I would start with the 480. I have two reviews for the Jean Paul alto saxes and they were both defective. Part 1. th-cam.com/video/GCkKpqbLVhU/w-d-xo.html Part 2. th-cam.com/video/HkEB5d-DXww/w-d-xo.html If you do go with the Jean Paul tenor sax, make sure you understand the return policy. I bought mine on Amazon and I had 30 days to return it. Here is a link to a silver-plated intermediate JP tenor sax: amzn.to/3WufRYC This is an affiliate link to which I will earn a commission. I didn't see the student JP tenor sax there. I also have an affiliate link for the Yamaha on WWBW if you are interested. This is a time limited offer link: www.wwbw.com/Flash-Sale-Coupon.wwbw
Good morning l know this is an old video l really do hope you could reply to my question. I have recently acquired a SA series11 Selmer tenor. Strangely my Yamaha intermediate tenor sounds better especially at the lower notes. Could it be the mouthpiece. I presently use a Girdinelli mouthpiece The Yamaha does not have a high F SHARP KEY. Ireally need that key for altissimo. Any advice is really appreciated. Thanks.
Hello. The Selmer Series I tenor sax is one of my favorite saxophones 🎷 ever. Selmers are typically more resistant than Yamahas. Before changing the mouthpiece, I would try some different reed brands. I would even try the Yamaha mouthpiece on the Selmer. You may find that the reeds you are using on the Yamaha are too hard/soft on the Selmer. This could contribute to a less desirable sound when playing the Selmer. Unfortunately, there are too many videos of people using the same reed when testing different saxophones. This gives the wrong impression about how pro players pick saxophones. Try a wide variety of reeds with the Selmer, and be sure to record yourself when you play. Listening back to it will give you a much less biased opinion of your sound
I’m thinking about getting a Yanagisawa T-W020. My other option will be a Yamaha YTS875EX in Black. I’ve heard the T-w020 are hard to play due to their resistance. I want to play everything from classics to modern. What do you recommend thanks.
I'm pretty biased toward Yanagisawa. I love their saxophones 🎷. Yanagisawas are very free-blowing with a quick response. I didn't care for the Yamaha 875 that I tried but I would recommend that you try the silver plated 62III from Yamaha. My top pick is the Yanagisawa Tw02 followed by the Silver plated 62iiiS
Ok what’s the differences between the t020 and the T02? With the bronze I heard it has more resistance than brass. Is there any truth to this? I do want to get a Yanagisawa but I’m torn between the TW020. And the YW02. Thank you so much.
The king of altissimo needs a high F# key? :-) Adrian, I played an 82ZII for a year, and a MKVI For 40 years. They are nothing alike, neither in feel, nor in tone. The Z has infinitely less resistance and is extremely easy to play, particularly in the altissimo; but lacks the complexity and beautiful spread of a Selmer. I didn’t find modern Selmers (Ref. 36 and 54) to be any better than the MKVI. And in a world with incredible instruments coming out of Taiwan, I think it’s madness for anyone to spend Selmer money. I’’d encourage you to try the Signature Custom Raw by Trevor James (my pick), and a P. Mauriat pro horn. What is it that has turned you off to your Cannonball? Good luck in your search! You make everything you touch sound great!
I "prefer" a high F# key mainly on tenor because it facilitates playing the altissimo "G". Almost everyone needs to scoop into just to play it without cracking but I've made videos offering many alternate fingerings for that note. It also facilitates playing many other altissimo notes and helps to improve mobility in that range. Keep in mind that Selmer made changes to the Mark VI over its life span so to my ear, the 82Zii encompasses the span of Mark VI's but not any one particular era. Cannonball makes great saxophones but here are a few things to keep in mind. #1, the are focusing on things that don't make the saxophone any better. I like the plating variety that the offer and the engraving is the best there is but none of these actually innovates new ideas into making saxes better. Keilwerth has advancements for the palm keys and the infamous sticky G# key. Selmer has redesigned the bore, bell and neck tenon with the Supreme, Yanagisawa has made "in my opinion" the best ergonomic layout and Yamaha has essentially mastered the art of saxophone altissimo with how easy it is on their horns. Dealers are selling Cannonballs almost as much as they are for the "Big 4" and in some cases more. I'm beginning to wonder if having the saxes made in Taiwan poses a financial limit on innovation. I have tried the P. Mauriat horns but they were too much like my Cannonball for me to go that route. Keep in mind, I've played CBall tenors exclusively for 22 years. I haven't tries the TJ saxes yet but I'm more interested in their flutes to be honest. If a sax should show up, I do hope to play it though!! Thanks for watching.
@@Sirvalorsax Big A, you know I love what you do, and I appreciate that response! The Mauriats are good, but do try the TJ SC, I truly love mine; never looked back at my MKVI or Custom Z again. And yes, the Virtuoso Voce is a great flute, and what I play as well! I like my Yamaha alto's F# key, but on tenor, which doesn't have one, I quickly lift the middle finger off of the Bis key like a grace note as I pop the G (with front F and side Bb). I played a Yani and Eastman and found them sonically meh. You are so right about the Yamaha altissimo, though, that 'wall' between F# and high G just doesn't exists, 'especially on the ZII! Love ya' man!
The cheating you’re talking about; these companies know the truth and that’s that air is the most important thing when it comes to wind playing. Great demo! I think you are absolutely right, if they are adjust their instruments to promote better airflow they are going to sell more instruments. I’ve been playing a YAS62III, this instrument is easy to play which I like. I also play a selmer series III and it’s sound is nice but it is not as in tune with itself. All in all it takes time to learn the horn you are using, as long I take time on the horn I can make it play to my needs.
Sir keep the cannon ball n get the yanagasawa or get the Giardinelli 52nd st temor with vintage sound.I have a Gjardinelli Gts 10 tenor intermediate horn with vintage sound. You Albrite Elon troutman make want a cannon ball.
I didn’t like the sound of the Selmer by comparison. Here the Yanagisawa sounded better than the Selmer also, in my opinion. When I was buying a tenor I test played a Selmer series II, 2 Selmer series III (1 brass lacquered, 1 black lacquered), a Yamaha 875 EX brass lacquered, a Keilwerth shadow and 3 Yamaha 82Z (brass lacquered, unlacquered & black lacquered) I thoroughly disliked the Selmers. I bought the black lacquered 82Zii. I was also tempted by the Keilwerth shadow, but the extremely minute difference didn’t justify the extra money.
I was wondering why you wanted to change from your Canonball ? It’s interesting, I’ve got a wonderful Selmer Reference 54 tenor and since I bought the Canonball Vintage Reborn (same as the one you had before) I don’t play with the Selmer anymore. Amazing how I love this Canonball saxophone. It’s definitely my favorite since I bought it over a year ago. It would have been interesting to hear that Canonball in the tryout, next to the 4 others and tell us the pros and cons compared to your first choice 🙏
@@isaiahd9947 Ive made recordings and compared just by listening. It’s the sound I like although technically and in terms of mechanics the Selmer is a bit easier to play and more refined. But sound wise, it’s the Canonball Vintage Reborn that bring me the most pleasure. I like it’s deep dark and full sound.
@@Sirvalorsax sure I understand. Thanks for your reply. I remember you made a great video about the Cannonball explaining how nice it was. I still think it would be great if you could explain what you have come not to like about it or what it lacks after years of experience and playing with it.
hey man, I was just watching a review on your aibay mouthpiece and drug my old one out from my box of saxophone stuff. Mind you I've refaced the step baffle into a rollover/curved hybrid. I just want to know what ligature you would use for it since my setup is some #4 vandoren blue boxes and the stock ligature, which is terrible.
I agree with you about the Series III being "best" but I have an inherit bias towards warm/dark tones, ala Getz/Sims/Cohn etc. I'm curious, did you feel the keywork on any was more comforatble than one of the others? THe thing that I really liked about the Ref 54 I played was how fluid the keywork was in comparison to my horn. I''m nowhere near the player you are though.
The Yanagisawa felt really advanced to me. Like they really did their homework in making a nice layout. It almost felt like an alto!! I liked the layout of the Series III but it felt different from other Selmers that I've played in the past "which is the whole point of changing it". It would take one practice session for me to get used to it
@@Sirvalorsax it’s funny you say this, because I owned, well I still do own a Super Action serie II Alto That I’ve been playing since the mid 90s. A little later on in life, I picked up a used student Yamaha YTS-23 tenor So I could start doubling. on just my regular student Yamaha YTS 23. One of my biggest concerns was the spacing between the pinky spatula keys and how far they were going to be from the first stack, because I have really small hands, Coupled with arthritis in my finger joints thus it’s not an easy reach AT ALLLLLL to finger low B-flat on the YTS23. And to be honest It’s nearly just as hard of a reach on my alto as well. So I was really concerned with how it was going To be on the new tenor saxophone. I assumed it was going to be identical to the 23 but boy was I pleasantly wrong. And I’m not lying when I say this 875 Has the best laid out spatula keys at least for me & my tiny arthritic hands lol. Furthermore, like I said even though it’s a tenor saxophone, it’s “STILL” an easier reach on this than it is on my Selmer series II alto. Go figure? But anyways, if you like key work that works well for people with smaller hands, or people with less than optimal finger flexibility, you might want to consider picking up an older 875 custom before they turned it into the 875EX. I mean I would assume that they would be similar or the same, but I thought that would be the case between the student model and my current 875 and I couldn’t be further from the truth. A low Bflat On a fast passage with that 23 Was nearly impossible. Now it’s the easiest B-flat to reach amongst all six of my horns, not counting the soprano tho 🤣
To me, Yanigisawa tenors blend notes together, and from a distance (like live situations) they sound like mush. They are made well and play easy, but that seems to be what they are going for and not a distinctive sound. Maybe a different setup could bring out better qualities.
If my memory serves, when I watched this video when you just posted it, the TWO1 ranked 2nd, while 82Z ranked 3rd. Now it looks like you edited the rank later? Thx!
Hi. Good video, but the sound quality rather let it down. It sounded like you were using the built in mic on a smart phone. I listen using good quality headphones or hifi system connected to computer, and I had hoped to be able to tell what the saxes actually sounded like. Incidentally, I have a 20 year old Selmer Reference 36 tenor and a 1957 Mk6 alto (which I’ve had for 45 years). The Reference 36 sounds superb, and my only gripe with it is the lack of modern adjustment screws on the lift bar areas. Selmer really should have incorporated them when even the cheapest Yamaha saxes have them.
I was in a small practice room in a music store where I can't setup my personal recording gear so yeah, it was my phone. That's also why I call these a Demo and not a Review. I didn't know the Reference horns lacked that adjustment. I'll check out some photos. I have always liked the Super Balanced Action horns more than the Mark VI's. Do the Reference 54 have it?
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The best sound was by far the Selmer Series III it had that Selmer sound and I think it could do anything you want with the right mouthpiece. The reference 54 alto is essentially a modern Mark VI and the tenor is really good post 2014. In 2014 Selmer revised the reference horns, they addressed the weight complaints, and give each one a newly designed neck that really took away the stuffiness that many initially complained about. On the Alto the neck took away the low C warble.
The TW01 seems like the best choice
I love the way my Yani Alto Aw020 Elite Bronze speaks. I have the Yamaha 82zii Tenor + F# key and it plays great but looking to upgrade to the Yani Tw033 next year too.
The Yanagisawa TW01 sounds the best, with its beautiful dark sound. Thanks for the nice comparison.
I agree that the Selmer had the best sound with the Yani coming in second. As a repair Tech for 40+ years I’m not convinced ribs make any difference in the sound. Love what you are you are doing.
I have had a Yanagisawa T991 since 2003. I tried a Mark 6, several pro Yamahas, Jupiter and a vintage Conn. The Yana just sings!
Me, too! Got my T991 new around 2003 as well, and LOVE it. I did recently have it completely refurbed by Randy at Tenor Madness, and I am not kidding, it is even better now than it was, and it was great all along. He did put metal reso's in for me, and I can't find a better saxophone so far.
@@goinxnginx Very cool! 😎
I have been playing a Series III tenor for many years, it is a great horn. Tried Everything.
I did like the sound of #4 875 ex. Thought it was phatter and darker. I like horns that approximate a 10m Naked Lady sound. Dark and lovely!
I have a series 3 tenor....I agree...it was a different finger feel ....and I kept going back to my 63 mark 6...but ...after a short time I got completely used to it...and it feels great...good segment here
havent played in 5 years after i left highschool and was no longer renting through the student program. Couldnt afford to rent one while i was in college, and now i am broke broke after finally buying a house after 8 years of saving (since i was in highschool.) My dream sax has always been the yanis for ease of playing and a full beautiful range. Someday ill get back into it and have my own yani to show for it.
ive also always struggled to hit the highest ends of the register on yamahas specifically. When i rented a cannonball, selmer, and various yamahas, the yamahas were always a struggle for me. My friend had a yani and i just want it over anything else ive ever played haha
I have a Yamaha 82 z11, and it gives me so much joy when i play on it, when i hear you play on it i AM chure i chosen the right sax.
Karsten
😀
Will you please play test the Jay Metcalf Better Sax?
There I was feeling down that I’m too skint for any of those beautiful saxes and have to stick with my silver 62 iiii. That comment at the end made my day!
I thought the YTS had a nice solid core and sound i recently bought a YTS 62 111 and i am really impressed with it on sound ergos intonation and value . P. S YTS 875 At the top .
I have as yani wo33 alto, it plays like a dream
You made a very casual reference to ribbed and non ribbed construction and here are a few considerations.
The natural frequency of vibration of the saxophone body is in direct proportion to the stiffness of the metal used in construction and is in inverse proportion to the mass or weight. The heavier the metal the greater is the content of the low frequencies. The use of ribbed construction is of immediate benefit to the manufacture as the fixture or fixtures are quite simple and straight forward and there is just one single soldering process. Nonribbed construction is almost a punishment in manufacturing with an amazing number of separate soldering operations.One way of looking at the process is that ribbed construction increases the weight or mass of the body which enhances the lows but increasing the stiffness works counter to this benefit.Nonribbed construction but increased mass would result in good lows but attenuated highs due to reduced stiffness.The entire matter is rather complex and would require serious analysis by a physicist Whether manufacturers have in fact dealt with the matter scientifically is a moot point. As far as I have been able to research the subject there has been just one single engineer inventor, ultra craftsman, composer and virtuoso who has scientifically dealt with the matter of material influence on instrument construction and performance and that is the genius Theobald Boehm.His highest order instruments were of silver followed by instruments of nickel silver.I do not know if saxophones were ever made of nickel silver but based on Boehm’s experience this would perhaps be something to look forward to.
Keilwerth SX90R Shadow is made of nickel silver.
Great vid as usual adrien i own a yts 62 great horn ive owned martins selmers conns beuschers , but never were they a patch on the 62 it just does everything with ease
LOL that Yanagisawa reaction was priceless! Worth watching the video just for that.
Lol
Awesome comparison, you really showcased them well.
Regarding the Yanagisawa, you may really prefer the elite models with the ribbed construction.
Agreed
You should try a Yamaha 62 along with some different neck options (E1,C1,V1 necks). You might like the V1 neck if you don't want it "too easy" to play. The V1 will probably fit you well if you want to have to work and put some air through. Piece of cake. Good luck.
Funny you say that, because I too can Wholeheartedly 100% vouch that the different model necks make a much bigger difference than people might assume. I just recently well about a year ago purchased a used YTS 875 Custom in gorgeous Black lacquer. The buyer also included two necks with it. Both of which were black which is cool, a V1 neck and an M1 neck. After months and months of going back-and-forth and deciding which one I wanted to keep, I just kept coming back to the V1, because contrary to your findings, I thought the V1 was the neck that was much more well-balanced throughout the entire register and made for better intonation and easier overall playing throughout the entire range of the horn. I found the M1 to be quite a bit more resistant, and thus harder to play especially down in the bell keys, (i.e. low C# thru low Bflat .). I really tried my hardest to like it, but More often than not I was always getting That God forbidden bell key gurgling sound that A lot of people will get when there’s something wrong between mouthpiece/neck geometry, or Everyone’s favorite, a good old leaky horn. Anyways I just found it interesting that for me the V one was the easiest to play whereas the M1, was much more difficult. But again every horn is different just like every person is different so take this for as little as it’s actually worth.
I personally like the sound of the EX and the Yani most. I felt like the Yanni had a sweeter sound where is the EX an in your face but not in a aggressive harsh way which is how I consider the 82 to be. In my honest opinion of the four you played the EX provided the roundest sound, With the tightest core. It’s very difficult to describe sounds but at least that’s what I hear and interpret it. Curious to know what year it takes were on it and what your favorite was Mr Sirvalor. absolutely fantastic comparison.
I’ve been a long time subscriber and every Time I I get that notification of a video that you just dropped, I feel like a kid with a key to a candy store. Keep doing your buddy you’re killing it and you’re by far and away everyone’s favorite saxophone TH-camr. Because you tell it how it is and we love that and we appreciate that and we will always salute you. You’re on everyone’s mount Rushmore in fact you’re my number one. Keep doing your buddy we all love you here
Although it sounded great and was quite a bit brighter than the V1. I just couldn’t get used to that difficulty dealing with the strange resistance I was getting from that particular M1 neck.
The V1 neck is nice, it is the largest bore and I added to my 875. I have an older M1 neck but I also picked up a 52 retro silver neck and modified to share with my 52. I skipped the 62 but had a jam up setup on my 52 so I am comfortable with the old girl almost anywhere.
Good post on the necks!
The most comfortable tenor I ever played ( for me ) was a Couf Superba. Like an idiot I sold it to my friend Bill Green. Today I play a Keilwerth. Great video! Thanks, John
The Couf Superba is a Kielwert instrument. You should've known that.
I mean a good sax helps but it’s ultimately dependent on the player’s mastery of the instrument
Also gotta say love the anime intro ;)
Thx for commenting on the keyboard layout and feel. Many reviewers fail to comment on this. Also, the idea that the ergonomics positioning the neck to lengthen is very interesting. Make that vocal tract open up. Cake is coming your way.
Thanks.
Great video especially for me who's looking to finally invest in a pro tenor. I have to say I think the 82Z and the 875EX both sound very similar and are my favorite our of the 4. Both sound very powerful and rich with the 82Z being a little brighter than the 875EX. The difference between these and the series iii was huge and I'm really surprised because I didn't think the sax model mattered as much as I can hear in the video!
5:08
12:10
I play a variety of brands. My alto and bari are Yanagisawa (A901 and BW-01), my tenor is an Yamaha 82zUL, and my soprano is a Keilwerth SX90ii. Been through Selmer and while I loved my Mk6, I moved on to a Keilwerth SX90R (which annihilated the 6) before getting my 82zUL after finance issues caused me to sell my Keilwerth to pay the rent. Try a Keilwerth. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Will do, Thanks
Sir try the Yanagadawa T992 with under sling octive key. It really sounds awesome
Went to playtest a TWO1 after this and purchased it on the spot
It would be best if you had tried a bronze Yanagisawa TWO20. All the things you didn't like are different in this model. Let us know when you try it.
Cool
The Nexus One I hear good things about it, if you can I like your comments on that one.
Omar
I don't know anyone that has one to try. If one should show up, I'll try it for sure
Most interesting. My choice was without a doubt the Yani. The tone had a quality the others lacked, especially on altisimo. No question in my mind, and I'm pretty old
I love that Yany
Very interesting take and your order. It is all a matter of personal preference. I tried out the 82z and the series III and stuck with my 875 and looked at P.Mariat 66RUL for what I was looking for. (When I was looking) The Yanas sound great but alas not looking any more unless I find a Sugar Mama too! Thanks for the review!
LOL
I have serie 3: its increible amazing! I can play classical music, pop, blues, jazz
Say man...how long you been an altisimo Master?? Beautiful!
Most useful for these tests are long tones, octave pairs/triads, middle D stuffiness, etc. If you play a tune, just play the head of a chart slowly and same chart for each horn.
The TW01 caught my attention. I was looking for a new tenor with a darker tone quality and flexibility in sound, total clarity of sound and eveness of the scale from top to bottom. I just got a TW02 2 days ago based on your video. I liked the TW01 but preferred the TW02. Wonderful sound, feel, lighter in weight, fantastic construction and perfect key placement. This is what I been looking for and hearing in my head. Thanks for the video.
I'm looking forward to trying other Yanagisawa saxes in the future. Feel free to use my links for any purchases, it helps the channel grow immensely.
Great comparison! Have you tried wood stone new vintage tenor? Like to know your opinions 👍
thanks man for the super interesting comparison!🙏 very good job👍...for me the Yamaha 82Z sounded the best of all horns...I sold my silverplated Selmer MK VI to a silverplated Yamaha 82Z (with high f#) ´cause the specific notes popped out better and with a bit better sound for me....oh man there are so many good horns out there....what do you think about the P.Mauriat horns? hope you test one of these horns in the future 🙏🤗...keep up makin´these GREAT videos👍👍👍
Crazy thing I brought a jupiter 1100 seris It's a intermediate model horn lovely horn sounds good my original horn is a buffete advanced model love that horn to but this recent horn I just got is a 1950s king cleveland tenor sax that dam horn is now my favorite it has a big sound very rich colorful sound altissimo just screams out of it god I love that horn
I still use 1100 type Jupiter on alto (jas-869) and a Yamaha yts-62ii .. new better saxes are big bucks..🤯. 🎷🥳👨🏻
@@shipsahoy1793 yes they are big bucks
@@shawjazzy I wanted a new alto for the longest time, and I was thinking about the 82Z from Yamaha, but I just couldn’t afford it. I feel like it would make more sense for me to get my Jupiter overhauled if it really came down to that. Same thing with my tenor.
I’m sure it would cost a lot less than five grand to overhaul my 62ii, and I can’t imagine the 82Z would be worth thousands more.
Just not rich enough or talented enough to make decisions like that!
@@shipsahoy1793 I definitely do a overhaul or buy a vintage American horn from king zephyr a martin or Conn 10m don't have to be a selmer mark vi or sba those to expensive lol
TWO1 choice!
In Japan, it is the cheapest and best choice.
Always love your videos - This was an amazing video...I'm looking for a tenor and you've convinced me!
Sweet
My favourite is the 82zii but my skill level makes them all sound the same. Perhaps a more interesting answer in a year or so!
Awesome review Adrienne!
I'm in the market of buying a new tenor sax and I kind of fell in love with the cannonball Gerald Albright GT5-B tenor saxophone. It sounds wonderful and it looks beautiful and I just can't figure out why people aren't buying the saxophone I go to Memphis Tennessee about 2 to 3 times a month and every professional that plays tenor saxophone says do not buy cannonball, but they didn't give me a reason why. And I've watched this video and you're changing brands, so my question to you is why aren't you upgrading your cannonball? A few players said that they traded a cannonball in because it kept playing out of tune.
Cannonball makes great saxophones but here are a few things to keep in mind. They are focusing on things that don't make the saxophone any better. I like the plating variety that the offer and the engraving is the best there is but none of these actually innovates new ideas into making saxes better. Keilwerth has advancements for the palm keys and the infamous sticky G# key. Selmer has redesigned the bore, bell and neck tenon with the Supreme, Yanagisawa has made "in my opinion" the best ergonomic layout and Yamaha has essentially mastered the art of saxophone altissimo with how easy it is on their horns. Dealers are selling Cannonballs almost as much as they are for the "Big 4" and in some cases more. All these saxes felt much more upscale than any of the CBall horns that I've owned over the last 22 years. Even with the advancements that they have made(intonation), I still feel like after all this time they are playing "catch-up". Thanks for watching.
Will be interesting to see what you make of the Keilwerth. I have a SX90R (Nickel Black), and that thing is a Honking dream machine 🤘🏼
I couldn't agree more. I will also add TJ Custom Raw XS or Cannonball BB.
The Shadow is a really nice horn too! Owned mine for almost 15 years and love it
@@HayKay_ He's owned some big bells before. I don't remember which vid he mentioned this is, but if I can find it, I'll share it here
great review from a very capable players perspective :-)
Thanks
I feel you.should get another cannonball u sound good on it . But i would get the Yanagesawa as a back up cause u sound good on it n u said it is well balance. And use it as a back up
I'm in the market for a new tenor and have been trying everything I can get some time on. I've been back to the local brass shop 5x to play a silver plated YTS 875, so I was interested to see you put this last. I've tried this model at a few different stores, but the silver plated one is always on my mind. Just hoping I can keep chipping into the savings pot and get it before someone else takes a shine to it. 🎷
Hey man! Good work as always…I’m glad you test drove these beautiful horns! I like how you left it kind of unedited as you played the horns for the first time - honest review.
Thanks, I wish more reviews were done this way
Agreed - the Selmer sounded killer - nice job
Great video! IMO, for the money, Yanagisawa has a distinct pleasant and dark tone (and you tried just the entry model!). Sure, it's not as exquisite as the 875, but keep in mind it almost half the price...
Also, Yanagisawa's default mouthpiece (size 5) is 3x more expensive than Yamaha's Custom (size 4)...
nice job
what a great video, my conn shooting stars has been amazing to learn but I would love to jump to a yanagisawa model; would you like to make another video making a review about some vintage and modern yanagisawa models? regards from Germany Sir, your videos are always funny, good you play amazing.
really nice reviews. Thx
Man I wonder if you would of had a longer neck strap if it would of made a difference. And I also wonder how you would of sounded if you would of used your V16 mouthpiece?
That Yamaha 82z sounds like there is a metallic zing to it. My least favorite. I can be convinced to like the Yana, 3rd on my list. Toss Up between the 875 and the Series III. You had better low end on the Yama and it does not have that mettalic zing. Series III probably needs low end adjustment. I have tried one and hoping to get one. It sounded like a Mark VI but with much better keywork.
Great review.
The Selmer for me was the best sounding horn.
I myself use a Ref 54.
The Ref 36 is a fantastic sax as well. Looking forward to you doing more of this stuff.
Using a Ref 54 while I’m on waiting my horn. Very nice sound and feel!
I like Selmer Reference 36, check out the test on Get your sax together...the sound is so rich.
Cool
Like your videos -- usually a different view. I would love to hear your impressions of the Selmer Axos tenor and how it sounds compared with the others. It's $3800 new, competitive with these non-Selmer models.
If I get access to one, I'll do it. Thanks
Keep it up. Great
I have a Keilwerth SX90R tenor. Best tenor I ye ever played.
I played a few many years ago and I was very impressed
Id like to hear him on some vintage horns. I.e 1946 Zephyr. Naked Lady 10m rolled or not. Martin "the Martin". Sleeper horn is a Pierret tenor❤
No P. Mauriat?
As you look at different tenors, take a look at the Ishimori WoodStone
Will do
Ishimori are great horns! You dont see too many of them pop up on the used market and even the new ones can be difficult to get. Love the sound of those horns
TWO1 sounds good but thin.. I just bought a TWO1 and returned it for the same issue.
Hey, I've been watching your videos for years! Have you ever tried a horn set up by Tenor Madness or one of the Tenor Madness horns? If you wanted to try some let me know, we can do a trial on horns, I feel like you'd love a TM.
Supreme 👍🏾🎶🎵🎷
Nobody commented on the intro -- probably the best part -- very original and sounds great. Not that I like Manga. But funny! Who did the artwork?
random artwork off the interwebs..LOL but the music is from a Concerto that I wrote for tenor sax
Awesome. Would be nice to add Keilwerth SX90R or Trevor James Custom Raw XS to the mix.
That would be cool! If they get them, I'm trying them
Good evening i have a Giardinelli Tenor n Alto sax. Could you one day test play one i value your opimion . I follow u alot n i am very greatful for what your doing n teaching.you and other on u tube make ne want to n play more m reach higher ground
Please stay with the cannon ball or the yangasawa Tenor with the under sling octive key . But i like the way u sound on the cannom ball
_"No high F# key"_ Well, it generally makes the horn much lighter and the tone projection feels different imo. I got myself an old YTS23 vs. my Serie II it sound much more vintagee. The action is less reliable though.
Ahah, too cool. Thanks for video.
Glad you liked it!
I have to tell you your flute work with the intro... very pretty.
I was doing a personal recorded comparison as I look towards a possible upgrade. I decided to save towards one over the next year or so, and be able to shop between several candidates.
Thanks. Good luck with your choice!!
Yani is you, Sir
I’m not sure how much of an issue price is going to be on your decision, but if you’re looking for something slightly cheaper I would take a good hard look at Trevor James’ models. I myself have never played one personally but I’ve heard fantastic reviews from people all around the country from all different demographics and they seem to be legit horns at more of an intermediate price point, unless of course they’ve gone up over the past year.
Beginner Tenor Sax Yamaha model to buy, or Jean Paul Tenor? I like the silver.
Yamaha has a really weird pricing system for their saxes now. I would avoid the 26 series at all costs because they are priced way to close to more advanced Yamaha saxes. We can't get the 280 in the USA so this presents a wierd pricing gap for their horns so I would start with the 480. I have two reviews for the Jean Paul alto saxes and they were both defective.
Part 1. th-cam.com/video/GCkKpqbLVhU/w-d-xo.html
Part 2. th-cam.com/video/HkEB5d-DXww/w-d-xo.html
If you do go with the Jean Paul tenor sax, make sure you understand the return policy. I bought mine on Amazon and I had 30 days to return it. Here is a link to a silver-plated intermediate JP tenor sax: amzn.to/3WufRYC
This is an affiliate link to which I will earn a commission. I didn't see the student JP tenor sax there. I also have an affiliate link for the Yamaha on WWBW if you are interested. This is a time limited offer link: www.wwbw.com/Flash-Sale-Coupon.wwbw
Good morning l know this is an old video l really do hope you could reply to my question. I have recently acquired a SA series11 Selmer tenor. Strangely my Yamaha intermediate tenor sounds better especially at the lower notes. Could it be the mouthpiece. I presently use a Girdinelli mouthpiece The Yamaha does not have a high F SHARP KEY. Ireally need that key for altissimo. Any advice is really appreciated. Thanks.
Hello. The Selmer Series I tenor sax is one of my favorite saxophones 🎷 ever. Selmers are typically more resistant than Yamahas. Before changing the mouthpiece, I would try some different reed brands. I would even try the Yamaha mouthpiece on the Selmer. You may find that the reeds you are using on the Yamaha are too hard/soft on the Selmer. This could contribute to a less desirable sound when playing the Selmer. Unfortunately, there are too many videos of people using the same reed when testing different saxophones. This gives the wrong impression about how pro players pick saxophones. Try a wide variety of reeds with the Selmer, and be sure to record yourself when you play. Listening back to it will give you a much less biased opinion of your sound
love to hear you on a good vintage Conn
I’m thinking about getting a Yanagisawa T-W020. My other option will be a Yamaha YTS875EX in Black. I’ve heard the T-w020 are hard to play due to their resistance. I want to play everything from classics to modern. What do you recommend thanks.
I'm pretty biased toward Yanagisawa. I love their saxophones 🎷. Yanagisawas are very free-blowing with a quick response. I didn't care for the Yamaha 875 that I tried but I would recommend that you try the silver plated 62III from Yamaha. My top pick is the Yanagisawa Tw02 followed by the Silver plated 62iiiS
Ok what’s the differences between the t020 and the T02? With the bronze I heard it has more resistance than brass. Is there any truth to this? I do want to get a Yanagisawa but I’m torn between the TW020. And the YW02. Thank you so much.
Would love to hear you try a P Mauriat
I'm looking into it
The king of altissimo needs a high F# key? :-) Adrian, I played an 82ZII for a year, and a MKVI For 40 years. They are nothing alike, neither in feel, nor in tone. The Z has infinitely less resistance and is extremely easy to play, particularly in the altissimo; but lacks the complexity and beautiful spread of a Selmer. I didn’t find modern Selmers (Ref. 36 and 54) to be any better than the MKVI. And in a world with incredible instruments coming out of Taiwan, I think it’s madness for anyone to spend Selmer money. I’’d encourage you to try the Signature Custom Raw by Trevor James (my pick), and a P. Mauriat pro horn. What is it that has turned you off to your Cannonball? Good luck in your search! You make everything you touch sound great!
I "prefer" a high F# key mainly on tenor because it facilitates playing the altissimo "G". Almost everyone needs to scoop into just to play it without cracking but I've made videos offering many alternate fingerings for that note. It also facilitates playing many other altissimo notes and helps to improve mobility in that range. Keep in mind that Selmer made changes to the Mark VI over its life span so to my ear, the 82Zii encompasses the span of Mark VI's but not any one particular era. Cannonball makes great saxophones but here are a few things to keep in mind. #1, the are focusing on things that don't make the saxophone any better. I like the plating variety that the offer and the engraving is the best there is but none of these actually innovates new ideas into making saxes better. Keilwerth has advancements for the palm keys and the infamous sticky G# key. Selmer has redesigned the bore, bell and neck tenon with the Supreme, Yanagisawa has made "in my opinion" the best ergonomic layout and Yamaha has essentially mastered the art of saxophone altissimo with how easy it is on their horns. Dealers are selling Cannonballs almost as much as they are for the "Big 4" and in some cases more. I'm beginning to wonder if having the saxes made in Taiwan poses a financial limit on innovation. I have tried the P. Mauriat horns but they were too much like my Cannonball for me to go that route. Keep in mind, I've played CBall tenors exclusively for 22 years. I haven't tries the TJ saxes yet but I'm more interested in their flutes to be honest. If a sax should show up, I do hope to play it though!! Thanks for watching.
@@Sirvalorsax Big A, you know I love what you do, and I appreciate that response! The Mauriats are good, but do try the TJ SC, I truly love mine; never looked back at my MKVI or Custom Z again. And yes, the Virtuoso Voce is a great flute, and what I play as well! I like my Yamaha alto's F# key, but on tenor, which doesn't have one, I quickly lift the middle finger off of the Bis key like a grace note as I pop the G (with front F and side Bb). I played a Yani and Eastman and found them sonically meh. You are so right about the Yamaha altissimo, though, that 'wall' between F# and high G just doesn't exists, 'especially on the ZII! Love ya' man!
The cheating you’re talking about; these companies know the truth and that’s that air is the most important thing when it comes to wind playing. Great demo! I think you are absolutely right, if they are adjust their instruments to promote better airflow they are going to sell more instruments. I’ve been playing a YAS62III, this instrument is easy to play which I like. I also play a selmer series III and it’s sound is nice but it is not as in tune with itself. All in all it takes time to learn the horn you are using, as long I take time on the horn I can make it play to my needs.
I might sell my Cannonball for a silver plated Yamaha 62 III. It's number 1 on my list for a tenor upgrade. 2nd is a Yanagisawa TWO30.
@@Sirvalorsax to clarify I was talking about my alto. My alto is a 62mkIii darn I haven’t tried the tenor version.
What's name of the neck strap you are using?
Sir keep the cannon ball n get the yanagasawa or get the Giardinelli 52nd st temor with vintage sound.I have a Gjardinelli Gts 10 tenor intermediate horn with vintage sound. You Albrite Elon troutman make want a cannon ball.
Give me one advice please sir! What tenor saxophone is still good to buy in 2023 overall?
What are your plans for playing? Are you going to college, are you going to go pro, or are you a part-time player? How much do you want to spend?
@@Sirvalorsax I’m clarinet player since 2012-2016 2016-present soprano player , for soprano I use selmer series 2
I didn’t like the sound of the Selmer by comparison. Here the Yanagisawa sounded better than the Selmer also, in my opinion.
When I was buying a tenor I test played a Selmer series II, 2 Selmer series III (1 brass lacquered, 1 black lacquered), a Yamaha 875 EX brass lacquered, a Keilwerth shadow and 3 Yamaha 82Z (brass lacquered, unlacquered & black lacquered)
I thoroughly disliked the Selmers. I bought the black lacquered 82Zii. I was also tempted by the Keilwerth shadow, but the extremely minute difference didn’t justify the extra money.
Try the higher prise yani like the black laquire horn
I hope I get a chance to do so
have you tried the ref54 by selmer?
I was wondering why you wanted to change from your Canonball ? It’s interesting, I’ve got a wonderful Selmer Reference 54 tenor and since I bought the Canonball Vintage Reborn (same as the one you had before) I don’t play with the Selmer anymore. Amazing how I love this Canonball saxophone. It’s definitely my favorite since I bought it over a year ago. It would have been interesting to hear that Canonball in the tryout, next to the 4 others and tell us the pros and cons compared to your first choice 🙏
Definently depends on the player but I think most people would call you crazy for giving up a ref 54 for a cannonball
I'm super familiar with my horn so I would sound more familiar with it.
@@isaiahd9947 Ive made recordings and compared just by listening. It’s the sound I like although technically and in terms of mechanics the Selmer is a bit easier to play and more refined. But sound wise, it’s the Canonball Vintage Reborn that bring me the most pleasure. I like it’s deep dark and full sound.
@@Sirvalorsax sure I understand. Thanks for your reply. I remember you made a great video about the Cannonball explaining how nice it was. I still think it would be great if you could explain what you have come not to like about it or what it lacks after years of experience and playing with it.
@@isaiahd9947 PS : have you ever tried a Canonball Vintage Reborn ? If not, you should and you might be surprised… Maybe.
Can I check, are you sure that was a Selmer Series 3?? Because the spatula keys don't look like a series 3...
hey man, I was just watching a review on your aibay mouthpiece and drug my old one out from my box of saxophone stuff. Mind you I've refaced the step baffle into a rollover/curved hybrid. I just want to know what ligature you would use for it since my setup is some #4 vandoren blue boxes and the stock ligature, which is terrible.
I sed the slim metal tenor sax ligature that fits Berg Larsens
Not a fair fight ! A Yanagisawa TWO20 would have been a better comparison . Or even the TWO2 Unlacquered would have been a better candidate .
No Keilwerth?
I agree with you about the Series III being "best" but I have an inherit bias towards warm/dark tones, ala Getz/Sims/Cohn etc.
I'm curious, did you feel the keywork on any was more comforatble than one of the others? THe thing that I really liked about the Ref 54 I played was how fluid the keywork was in comparison to my horn. I''m nowhere near the player you are though.
The Yanagisawa felt really advanced to me. Like they really did their homework in making a nice layout. It almost felt like an alto!! I liked the layout of the Series III but it felt different from other Selmers that I've played in the past "which is the whole point of changing it". It would take one practice session for me to get used to it
@@Sirvalorsax it’s funny you say this, because I owned, well I still do own a Super Action serie II Alto That I’ve been playing since the mid 90s. A little later on in life, I picked up a used student Yamaha YTS-23 tenor So I could start doubling. on just my regular student Yamaha YTS 23. One of my biggest concerns was the spacing between the pinky spatula keys and how far they were going to be from the first stack, because I have really small hands, Coupled with arthritis in my finger joints thus it’s not an easy reach AT ALLLLLL to finger low B-flat on the YTS23. And to be honest It’s nearly just as hard of a reach on my alto as well. So I was really concerned with how it was going To be on the new tenor saxophone. I assumed it was going to be identical to the 23 but boy was I pleasantly wrong. And I’m not lying when I say this 875 Has the best laid out spatula keys at least for me & my tiny arthritic hands lol. Furthermore, like I said even though it’s a tenor saxophone, it’s “STILL” an easier reach on this than it is on my Selmer series II alto. Go figure? But anyways, if you like key work that works well for people with smaller hands, or people with less than optimal finger flexibility, you might want to consider picking up an older 875 custom before they turned it into the 875EX. I mean I would assume that they would be similar or the same, but I thought that would be the case between the student model and my current 875 and I couldn’t be further from the truth. A low Bflat On a fast passage with that 23 Was nearly impossible. Now it’s the easiest B-flat to reach amongst all six of my horns, not counting the soprano tho 🤣
To me, Yanigisawa tenors blend notes together, and from a distance (like live situations) they sound like mush. They are made well and play easy, but that seems to be what they are going for and not a distinctive sound. Maybe a different setup could bring out better qualities.
Interesting
If my memory serves, when I watched this video when you just posted it, the TWO1 ranked 2nd, while 82Z ranked 3rd. Now it looks like you edited the rank later? Thx!
This video has not been edited after it was posted.
@@Sirvalorsax Thanks for the reply! I guess I must be drunk when I watched it the first time. 😂😂. Great review and I really enjoy it!
Try Ishimori 😉
Yanagisawa sounded the best by far. Despite all the stuff u mentioned later.
It is an incredible saxophone
Hi. Good video, but the sound quality rather let it down. It sounded like you were using the built in mic on a smart phone. I listen using good quality headphones or hifi system connected to computer, and I had hoped to be able to tell what the saxes actually sounded like.
Incidentally, I have a 20 year old Selmer Reference 36 tenor and a 1957 Mk6 alto (which I’ve had for 45 years). The Reference 36 sounds superb, and my only gripe with it is the lack of modern adjustment screws on the lift bar areas. Selmer really should have incorporated them when even the cheapest Yamaha saxes have them.
I was in a small practice room in a music store where I can't setup my personal recording gear so yeah, it was my phone. That's also why I call these a Demo and not a Review. I didn't know the Reference horns lacked that adjustment. I'll check out some photos. I have always liked the Super Balanced Action horns more than the Mark VI's. Do the Reference 54 have it?
@@Sirvalorsax I'm fairly sure that the Reference 54 does NOT have the adjustment screws on the lift bars.
TW01 or yam 82z
i think 875 sounds best lol