Yamaha 875 82Z saxophones - design differences and BORE difference.

[@markwhite672]

The great thing about the Yamaha necks is how they play so easily and you can switch between them much easier than switching mouthpieces to get different sounds. I did a big band gig recently, playing lead alto and our sound system went out. I was using a 10mfan Showboat alto mouthpiece and I was getting a huge, beautiful and deep fat sound with that mouthpiece and my 875 EXII and a Boston Sax (Black Box) reed and I use a solid silver E1 neck that matches up great with that mouthpiece. I was able to do solos that filled the room with the sound of my setup. I received compliments from the audience and the band members at how great my solos sounded and I didn't even have a sound system to help me project. I also use a solid silver E1 neck with my 875 tenor and my brighter sounding mouthpieces. Sometimes I use my solid silver V1 neck on my tenor with my darker sounding mouthpiece or my dark sounding reeds. I also have a gold plated brass E1 neck for both my alto and tenor that gives me a beautiful sound. There is an art to matching up and balancing sax gear. Whenever you see a comparison video, where someone uses the same mouthpiece and reed to test different saxes, I wouldn't take it too seriously. A warmer sounding sax and/or neck will usually sound great with brighter sounding mouthpieces and/or reeds. A brighter sounding sax will usually sound great with warmer sounding mouthpieces and/or reeds. So, you don't really hear what both saxophones are capable of if the demonstrator uses the same mouthpiece and reed for both saxes.

[@gottalovetheknowledge4749]

I'm in the camp of using a different neck too. I have silver, gold plated, 2xlacquer necks for my Selmers. I have a 62 alto with 2 necks too and if I can start playing again I'll probably try a couple more. I want to get an 875 sooner or later - probably an alto. I had one briefly at the same time I got a Cannonball BigBell tenor when it first came out that came with two necks. One neck they used a spinning metal wire brush to etch the inside of a neck, definitely affected the higher partials bouncing off the walls. That is the first time when I realized how much the design of a neck can affect the sound and how texture can also do that as all my selmers have an internal texture on the necks - the old hand hammered on a mandrel days. . And old 1930s White (Conn stencil) has it's neck opening opened a bit further. That got me into looking at how the neck opening, even a little can affect backpressure and other tonal aspects. There is so much to neck design. . How do you like your 875 compared to other horns ? I've always been a Yamaha fan since my high school days when a buddy got a 62 alto purple logo and I had my Selmer mk 7 and Couf Superba 1.

[@markwhite672]

@@gottalovetheknowledge4749 I have loved my Yamaha saxes better than any Selmer that I've played. I was in the Marine Band for 4 years and the Army band for 16 years, so I had the opportunity to play on many Selmer saxes that the miIitary provided. I've always preferred my personal Yamaha saxes over the Selmers that the military provided. I played on my personal Mark VI alto and I preferred my Yamaha 62. I played on Selmer Super Action 80 altos that the military provided and I much preferred my Yamaha 855 alto that I purchased in 1995. I have played Selmer Super Action 80 Tenors and I prefer my Yamaha 875 tenor. I have felt like I hit the jackpot with every Yamaha sax I've owned. I hear a better balanced tone from the lowest note to the highest notes on my Yamahas compared to the Selmers and also bettter intonation on every Yamaha. I am very good at repairing saxes and getting out all of the leaks, so I know it wasn't a setup problem with the Selmers. My latest alto is the 875 EXII. If you purchase the 875 EX new, it will be the II model... Yamaha doesn't put II on the sax, they just put EX over the serial number and on the bell. This II model has been out for some years now, so even if you get a used one, it could be the II model. If it comes with a V1 neck, then it should be the II model unless the owner upgraded the neck. The 875 EXII alto comes with the V1 neck, which is great for dark sounding mouthpieces and/or reeds. I suggest using the E1 neck with this alto for bright sounding mouthpieces and/or bright sounding reeds. This 875 EXII alto is the most in-tune sax I've ever played. I am still playing my 875 tenor that I purchased in 1995. The new necks make this tenor sound amazing. I used to play a Yamaha 62 soprano sax. Now, I prefer playing the P Mauriat System 76 version II soprano sax (definitely don't bother with the first version they produced). I play the gold lacquer version of this soprano. I thought the matte lacquer sounded too dark and muffled (they put the matte lacquer on too thick). In the 80's and 90's I played top of the line Yanagisawa bari saxes and a Selmer Super action 80 bari. I liked the Yanagisawa bari's more than the Selmer. I now play a Yanagisawa-copy bari sax... it's the Kessler Solist bari. I only spent $3000 on this bari and it plays just as good and in tune as the Yanagisawas I used to play. It's not as good as the newest baris that Yanagisawa makes now, but I sure love this bari I have anyway. I'm starting to make some recordings with all of my saxes and I can share them with you soon if you are interested. There is definitely an art to matching up sax equipment. One mouthpiece that sounds great on one sax or one neck will not necessarily sound great on another sax or neck. So, always take your time when trying new equipment. I now have learned to switch my necks depending on which reeds I am using. I realize that just about all of the comparison videos you see on KZbin really don't mean much when it comes to saxes because the demonstrator usually uses the same mouthpiece and reed to demo the different saxes... but the same mouthpiece and reed combination on different saxes and different necks doesn't necessarily match up and usually doesn't match up.

[@gottalovetheknowledge4749]

would you be interested in a YT video about how you view lacquer/plating thickness, necks and how it affects tone, etc. You can email me at [e-mail]

[@ArtBusker]

En realidad ....., las características particulares de cada modelo no las estas explicando, solo los detalles mínimos !!! Los dos modelos completamente diferentes ,tanto el 82 Z como el Custom 875 EX . Son excelentes para distinto tipo de performance, para mi gusto superan a Selmer en muchos aspectos. También los nuevos modelos de Yanagisawa me impresionan lo excelente que son. Saludos desde Argentina !

[@keithcampbell6806]

Good morning as a playef and repair tech. I can safely say without honest contradiction that the material of a thumb hook or rest has no effect on your sound.

[@gottalovetheknowledge4749]

I don't think your sound is affecting either from the thumb rest/hook but I found it interesting information from Yamaha.

[@staceylewisdesigns]

I was thinking the same but if they said that maybe they tested it with a number of players and variables but I doubt it can be heard by the human ear even on a really developed musical ear.