Top 5 ALTO SAX Upgrade Models | Yamaha vs Yanagisawa vs Selmer vs Cannonball vs Eastman

[@timonhebi8015]

Thank you Simon for beeing bloody honest about those horns!

[@AndehMoore]

Desire to buy a new saxophone intensifies.

[@dawkesmusic]

Imagine working here!!! ;)

[@davidclaro152]

Great for you. Try many horns. For me, I was looking for a rich sound that will not break down on me.From my experience, I never had any troubles with Yamaha. In fact, I still have my YAS-23 (It needs an overhaul) that I’ve had since 1987. The beginner model is a great horn that will carry you far many years. It did for me and still does. Just change your reed and mouthpiece. I currently play a Selmer Reference that I won’t let go, unless my oldest daughter, who is currently playing a YAS-280, decides to upgrade. Depending on when she does, I’ll let her get her own or give her mine and I’ll either continue with another Selmer or go with a YAS-62. Good luck to you!

[@francistaylor5097]

Superb video as always; the dream team! I'm saving up for a YTS62 and will certainly purchase from you guys. My Windcraft Soprano has worked very well for me over the past year.

[@dawkesmusic]

Awesome, thank you! We're glad the Windcraft Soprano is going well for you and when you're ready for a Tenor just let us know! Thanks for watching :-)

[@michaeldavis9954]

I am an adult amateur and after trying a slew of saxes in this price range (including the 62), chose the Axos when it first came out. I loved and still love the sound. Coming from a YAS275, I did have to adjust to the different mechanics, but it was worth it.. for me. Would I have chosen it over the top-of-the line Yamahas, Yanis or Selmers? Maybe not, but as an amateur of average ability with limited budget, they weren’t really options. Simon wondered who the Axos is for. Sometimes when professional musicians talk about types of players, they seem to imagine young students and then semi-professionals and then professionals, as if that’s a common experience, and they forget about all the players like me. My sax repairman has had nothing but great things to say about the horn, by the way. It’s a keeper.

[@dawkesmusic]

@michaeldavis9954 - Good points and it's great that you enjoy the Axos. We sell lots of them so plenty of other players agree with you. These videos are always limited to the p-o-v of the team on screen so it's nice to hear other experiences/views. Thanks for watching :)

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

One of the best videos of this type. Wished they playtested amd talked about some of the other selmers and yamaha z series. Also, great playing by Simon!

[@billducker7404]

You 2 make marvellous videos. God bless you both. Bill. UK

[@dawkesmusic]

Thank you kindly

[@AlexVolkhin13]

I like your videos. Great advertisement for the Brilhart mouthpiece!) When will they be revived? I'm already tired of waiting.

[@dawkesmusic]

They have recently revived some of the Brilhart mouthpieces, check out our video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anfZYaKmZ5Jrn7Mfeature=shared

[@AlexVolkhin13]

@@dawkesmusic Yes, I have seen it, but this is not the version of the mouthpiece. Yours is much better)

[@DynamixWarePro]

I have a Yanagisawa AWO2 and while not an AWO1, the only difference is that the AWO2 is bronze not brass. I have normal sized palms but slightly short fingers and thumbs and the keywork feels perfect for me. Great saxophone and feels well made. My only criticism is that on mine, the lacquer has started to pit and come off in some areas like the left hand thumb rest. I have read about this has happening other WO Yanagisawa saxophones and the type of lacquer on them is prone to this.

[@dawkesmusic]

Good point about the keywork re: slightly smaller hands/fingers, we always find Yanagisawa are best for that. Re: the lacquer, we haven't seen any worsening of this (statistically) in the move from the 901 to AWO1, but in general terms every manufacturer does have some minor issues occasionally with finishing due to the nature of how it's applied. Solely speaking from our stats (and understanding that is a limited data set) Yanagisawa is not outside the 'normal' small number of issues vs other brands.

[@EricTorreborre]

I am having the same issue with my curved Yani soprano (under the left thumb) and while I don't mind the esthetic of it, it feels weird under the thumb

[@denominator208]

Great review, thanks for the honesty. I've always been sold to Yamaha horns.

[@dawkesmusic]

Good choice!

[@tricogaster]

YAS 62 The toyota of saxophones.

[@dawkesmusic]

That just got a big laugh in the Dawkes office ;)

[@michaelstewart7285]

Very Interesting and useful. However, having listened to all the comments, I will stick with my ancient Yamaha YAS-61

[@dawkesmusic]

Those were great Saxophones, if it's still going strong then stick with it!

[@michaelstewart7285]

Yes, I have no intention of changing, especially as I am now in advanced years and doubt I could play any other sax now. However, if I were unhappy with it, it would be out tomorrow!

[@markwhite672]

Yanagisawa upgraded the brass for the WO series saxes to a different copper / zinc mixture, which greatly improved the sound of all their brass saxes. Of course, their bronze saxes have even more copper in the mix.

[@davidclaro152]

Thank you very much for your superb and well informative video.

[@dawkesmusic]

You are welcome!

[@EricPalmerBlog]

Thanks for the effort. We'll done.

[@dawkesmusic]

Our pleasure - thanks for watching!

[@SuttonHornsby]

I am an 8th grader going into high school and I would consider myself a higher level intermediate player, but i am very budget restricted. I am in the jazz band as lead alto and i don’t even own my own sax. Any recommendations or advice?

[@pedrodavidrodrigues1959]

Between the Yamaha 62 and the Yanagisawa awo1, whicho one is "louder", which one projects more and which one is brighter?

[@christophebaux5048]

hello, thank you for your video. I am an "old" saxophone player. I am interested in your remark saying approx. "we all know they are better saxophones that the so-called big 5" you compared in your video. As already mentioned I am an old player and I am interested in knowing which trademarks you consider being better than the "big 5". don't misunderstand my words I am not saying we are telling s..t, not at all, I would really be interested in knowing what you would recommend beyond the "big 5". many thanks I am planing to buy a soprano, so any advice is more than welcome ;-) ).

[@obadee2000]

What mouthpiece did he use in this Video?

[@dawkesmusic]

Simon was using his old Brilhart Tonalin

[@stevenbrooks9647]

Do you know the specifics, please? ​@dawkesmusic

[@HayKay_]

Big fan of Cannonball and Keilwerth 😂. In my opinion, Cannonball is the best Alto 🎷 while Keilwerth is the best Tenor 🎷.

[@MrSinghafor]

Hi tell me about yas 62 is made japan or indonesia

[@dawkesmusic]

Japan :)

[@tedtedsen269]

the eastman and p-mauriat are in the same category cheap but does the job

[@Boriskrasno9412]

J’adore vos commentaires et constate que nous sommes d’accord ,yamaha est une référence,je le préfère au Yani trop clair et fait pour des mains de femmes !

[@rpj-sax4lyfe]

My guy, loves yamaha..😆..

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

So it boils down to this: Yamaha and Yanni offer their real workhorse PRO models at this price, while other companies offer "spruced up a little" amateur models, artificially squeezed into the same segment into which they don't really belong.