Yamaha Sax review / comparison - lowest price to highest. 🎶 Saxophone advice

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Here's a link to the track used in the video;
• Soul/RnB Backing Track...
Chez's thoughts and ideas on saxiness
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Peace out,
Chez

[@paulhare6947]

I have the YTS62III and YAS62III and love them both.

[@caseykorstanje9942]

Hi Chez, I have the gold plated YTS 480 and it is fabulous. I looked at a lot of saxophones before I settled on this horn, and I have never looked back.

[@nicolaswolfer298]

excellent video, just what I was looking for to purchase my 1st tenor sax. Thanks!

[@gipstetz6720]

Thanks Chez for the very interesting post. Hope to see more of the like. Would be great to see a whole series of these from some of the better manufacturers. Thanks again.

[@cheztaylorsax]

Yeh good shout. I hope to get back to sax.co.uk next week. I've been off the radar too long & am keen to get back into youtube after a break from it!

[@jkuczero]

I also felt like the 875ex was incredibly fun to play, and the intonation was perfect from bottom to top without any effort. No oral gymnastics as on the VII, which I was replacing. Of the 9 saxes (Yani, 62, a silver 480, 2 Selmers, and others) I played that day, the EX was the one for me.

[@CarlyWaarly]

Fab, we went with the Yamaha 480, lovin the presentation :)

[@bishoyfayez7919]

Thank you for this amazing review I just was thinking of tenor YTS-480 gold one and I want to know your recommendations and review about it regarding the low notes and high register as you did in the other models .. do you feel comfort while playing ?? Thank you

[@garyreid6165]

Hello, Chez! I have purchased and played an intermediate Yamaha tenor saxophone years ago. The difference was clear. I used to play a Bundy II tenor when I started. It served me well in learning the ways of the horn. But, the intermediate Yamaha tenor had tighter control and a big sound. It would probably work in any musical setting and in any musical genre. The sound of the 875EX is impressive and well worth the money. Great demonstration! Have a great one!🎷😎❤️✌️

[@1971cncguru]

Hi Chez Thanks for the review. Have you ever had a chance to try out the Yamaha YTS 580 Allegro? I'm just interested in what you think of it versus a Yamaha YTS ,480? Thanks

[@cozymellons1516]

I own a 200ad Yamaha it's a good beginner model but I've been playing on a yas-52 at my school and it's a fantastic intermediate model and I love playing on it.

[@cheztaylorsax]

Thanks for the comment honey.Yamaha is a great reliable brand. I rate them! Cx

[@rchtamhk]

Thanks a lot you let me know what is a good sax! Hope you can compare a selmer ref 54 tenor with the Yamaha ts 875

[@angus7278]

I quite like my P Mauriat System 76 tenor, which seems to have a nice balance between price and quality. Started with a beginner Yamaha which was a good work horse, but found that in addition to the sound, the ergonomics were so much better with the P Mauriat.

[@cheztaylorsax]

I've come across a few players with these - they seem popular. Nice to know the merits of them. Thanks for commenting, I'm sure readers will find this useful. Cx

[@philipTOMPSETT]

Fantastic and great fun to watch too.

[@zaxophne]

I have an 82Z II silver plated tenor. I really like it.

[@ObeytheRussianBlue]

Thanks for the review of Yamaha! I plays 2 Yamaha’s and sold my Mark VI for profit; like Yamaha better across the dimensions you reviewed! Appreciate your comparative comments! 🚀

[@cheztaylorsax]

Thanks for the feeback honey. That's amazing that you sold your sax for a profit!! I'm strongly considering buying the alto selmer balanced action. What do yo think?!

[@joshhu1465]

I play yamaha ex horn soprano alto and tenor. and yeah they are one of the best. Custom z Atelier tenor are so good.

[@TheGrizNation]

Got the 82Z alto and 875EX tenor both with the sterling silver V1 neck and they play better than anything. Highly recommend Yamaha horns.

[@kevinnguyen4123]

i've got the yts 82z and yas 62III and love them both

[@ObeytheRussianBlue]

I thing you deserve whatever you want woman!!! Go girl! 🚀

[@chriss1152]

I'm not into Yamaha saxophone but I do have a Yamaha soprano I think 475 it's pretty good my tenor set up is p mauriat pmx 66rul a Selmer soloist mouthpiece D facing what are your thoughts on p mauriat saxophones

[@jaylevert2312]

I am, have been, and will probably always be a "Yamaha First" musician. I play Alto & Tenor Sax, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Drums and Keyboards, and my primary instruments are all made by Yamaha. I even prefer Yamaha for things like Mouth Pieces [Sax & Trumpet], Synthetic valve oil, Audio Interface for DAW, etc. I have always been very finicky when it comes to musical instruments, and for the past 20 years Yamaha has consistently come out on top in my book.

[@captainbongos3457]

What do you recommend for someone who played alro sax 3 years ago and wants to get into tenor

[@rsdigiomoney]

can you please do a video on the cheap chinese sax aka the mendini by cecilio

[@IsteadAl]

Very interesting video, I play a 62 which is great

[@cheztaylorsax]

Thanks honey. The 62 is a fab model. Really reliable. I like Yamaha. I know someone who works for their team in London - apparently the Japanese tend to have a 10 year game plan and stick to it! They are not swayed by trends or current demand. It's interesting how this effects the style of their designs...

[@billducker7404]

Yamahas are very fine instruments across the whole range. If you are buying a saxophone for the first time get a Yamaha then you can concentrate on the music and not the equipment. They're like M&S you'd be very unlucky to get a product that doesn't work well. Unfortunately Yamaha aren't the cheapest but in my opinion are great horns.Thanks for the video. Bill. UK

[@BobDoherty]

If the low tones are not playing easily on the 26 and 62 then those horns are not properly setup. I play a YTS-23 that has been setup properly and the low end just falls out of the horn effortlessly.

[@petew260]

Nice to hear you play Chez I like the way you play. I think you can play any brand and make it sound nice

[@cheztaylorsax]

Ha ha! Lovely of you to say so but I doubt that very much! I am strongly considering buying that balanced action from this video.... Big investment considering I have a perfectly good sax but I'm smitten! kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6m1pJmVltyHhKc

[@ggauche3465]

I play a YAS-62IIIs and it's great. For some reason I don't have the dust and tarnish problem Chez reports.

[@cheztaylorsax]

Thanks for the comment Graeme. Wonder if it's to do with climate. London is a filthy city to be honest so not surprising that dust collects !! :-/

[@ggauche3465]

I live in a small seaside village between Sydney and Melbourne (I think you said you've been to Australia in one of your vids?). Anyway it's not dusty and pretty clean, so maybe that's it.

[@cheztaylorsax]

Graeme Gerrard my brother lives in Sydney, on the northern beaches. I adore it there. If it weren’t so far from my parents, sister & friends here I’d be tempted to move over. His kids have a wonderful life there. Thanks for watching my videos from afar honey! Cx

[@richardjones990]

To my ear that 480 is the buy, (full rich tone with body). The gold Custom model is very nice as well but quite off the charts, as in expensive. Thank you for playing a song during this comparison as most players go over very fast key work the doesn't help me at all. As far as taking care of the silver model, I wipe down my equipment after each session. I clean all fingerprints and smudges from each piece of equipment. If you are putting out that kind of money for a fine sax it needs to be taken care of. You have a great deal of talent so your opinion goes a long way towards giving credibility to a review. In the end, each player needs to audition different manufacturers and models to experience the true difference in each. I do have to wonder how these Yamaha models compare to the tenor you currently play?????

[@cheztaylorsax]

Thanks for the intelligent comment and for your kind compliments Richard. Means a lot to me. Yes, that would be an interesting video - how my sax (my backbone) compares to some of the models of a similar price out there....Hmmm...I feel an idea brewing....

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

Both 480 alto and 480 tenor are excellent value instruments.

[@ApertureLad]

Hi Chez, being a yts 62 player I really enjoyed this review and your comments about tuning and playability. I would like to make a step up to a better saxophone and I'm torn between the Yamaha 875 and an equivalent Yani. Because I know you are a Yani player, I wondered if you think their are any major differences in ease of playing.

[@cheztaylorsax]

So sorry for the incredibly slow response! My life went a bit mad for a while. Finally back on track! Hope this isn't too late! I would say the main difference is that the yamaha is a brighter "cleaner" sound and the yani is . darker more mellow. Hope this helps! Cx

[@ApertureLad]

Many thanks for taking the time to reply Chez.

[@tyresepeace2335]

My dream is to own Yamaha saxophones my for now I use the Legacy brand. AS1000 for alto and TS1000 tenor

[@cheztaylorsax]

I would definitely recommend saving for one of these bad boyz! They're reliable, bright and clean sounding. Cx

[@filippofalcone5167]

Try out the aizen mouthpieces. They are bombs. (They're great)

[@root4343]

Tenor 👍yeah!. Really interesting to hear . You do wonder what the manufacturing differences are, if it goes down to material, material thickness or what it is all about. Or manufacturing precision maybe?

[@cheztaylorsax]

Ooh! Interesting question. I suppose I never thought about it much. I would say the cheapest is factory made. The more expensive may be partly made by hand. Then yes, more intricate design, better quality materials and lots of detail into the sonority, shapes and resonance of the internals on the pro saxes....

[@root4343]

Thanks, nice to hear that you are still there. I got worried. I was a while since last video. You have spoiled us 😉.

[@hazlitt1]

Why are your fingers flying so far off the keys when you release them? Is it some new technique?

[@craik7]

i like the blue saxophone

[@mdsaj6316]

Olá ! Adoro você ! És linda, super simpática e muito talentosa. Tenho um YTS 62 Yamaha (Anos 90), melhor safra dos 62. Maravilhoso ! Gosto muito. 🎷🎷🌹🌹🌹🌹😘😘😘😘! Parabéns pelo trabalho. Sempre lhe acompanho. Eternos beijos com muito carinho e respeito. 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷😊🙏🏻🎷

[@cheztaylorsax]

Thanks for the beautiful comment Manoel and I'm so sorry it's taken such a long time to respond! Cxxxxxx

[@timkies3997]

Chez, I did find the sound of the silver sax to be actually nice, but I would never buy one for myself, due to the very reasons that you mentioned, plus I played mostly gigs that we had lighting that would have flashed and sparkled to the point that it would have been distraction to me. My tenor was a Yamaha YTS 23, just a youth model, but it was about 1200 $ American. That was back in the 90's. I experienced some of the same issues that you describe on the lower end models both with this tenor and also with the last Selmer discussion that you showed. Problems with intonation at the top and bottom ends. But I overcame those with a lot of practice. I was spending about 25-30 hours per week between practice and actual gigs. Plus a full time day job in a foundry, I was kind of busy. I do have a question for you, though. If I was going to play professionally again, I would consider spending the same money for my alto, around 1200$, and not double on the tenor. But I wonder if my money would be better spent on a used, better quality instrument, than on a new, lesser one. I hope you understand my meaning.

[@cheztaylorsax]

Tim I'm so truly sorry to have not responded sooner. It's been an insane couple of months and I'm finally on the other side of it! Did you make any decisions on how to move forward with this? I ma strongly considering buying a balanced action which is obviously vintage so have some history behind it. The sound is to die for though! I'm smitten. So I really rate 2nd hand instruments, I would warn you to buy from a reputable dealer though who can guarantee the sax and can reassure you with records of repairs etc pre-sale.... Hope this is helpful.. Cxxx

[@timkies3997]

Chez, You are a busy person, and I am grateful for the time that you have taken already. I have seen a Yamaha Alto 875 EX for sale for 3500$, which is quite a bit more than I wanted to spend at this stage in my life on a sax. It was also from a private seller, but had been gone through by a dealer here in our small city, and has the paperwork to show it is in good shape. If I were planning on playing gigs again, I would certainly consider that horn, even though I am a tenor play at heart. I will let you know what I end up with, and who knows, it does often seem like you end up playing gigs when you least expect to. That is how I got some studio work after I left Tradewinds, the band I played with for a few years. Best of wishes and enjoy your summer, here in Michigan, it is hot and sunny. Thanks and be well.

[@tomswift6198]

Oh, good. Now I have an excuse for being so bad on anything near that low Bb with my Yamaha 23 alto and Vito 23 tenor (since the Vito is a Yamaha in disguise). We don't have the 280 in the US; the current Yamaha student altos and tenors are both 26s. Of course the real problem is that I have no idea what I'm doing. Though on my dirt-cheap Chinese soprano I can get down there just fine. Strange.

[@cheztaylorsax]

Sorry for the horribly slow response Tom. Have you had the sax checked? If you find it easy to get the notes out on soprano, it may be that your tenor Bb key has a leak. Although, saying that, they do require incredibly different embouchure shapes in order to get those low register tones out successfully across the different saxes. Have you come across this video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqbRkol-abqBoqc

[@christianhansen3292]

tenors rock my first sax lo the bflat mellow tone. yamaha is a good brand in my experience that also make good pianos. love your outfit.

[@christianhansen3292]

Your figure is as sexy as that instrument!

[@cheztaylorsax]

Hee hee! Thanks honeybee ;-) I have a yamaha upright piano. For a "non-pianist" I would say their pianos are just wonderful - so bright and clear with a nice action. Same goes for their saxes really. A very "clean" sound, if you understand my meaning?

[@LEARNHOMEOPATHY]

Super useful thanks Please compare Yamaha to Yanagisawa :D

[@aidan4473]

I must ask, why do u tune on an F# on tenor when it’s tuning note is B.

[@clementineb8352]

idk, maybe cuz its F# for alto. she's probably just used to that

[@joeholland9593]

C on tenor, G on alto, is B flat concert. C is actually a lousy note to tune upon on saxophone.

[@zaxophne]

F# resonates best.

[@JoAnnP38]

Doesn't Yamaha still manufacture the YTS-52? It seems like this model is always skipped over when doing reviews.

[@bruhlmaoo]

no? as far as it’s shown it is only the bari that has the 52 model. ofc you can find a used YTS-52.

[@claragary]

Beautiful lady and saxes of course👍Thanks for the video!

[@carlwilson4375]

I had the same problem on the low notes on every Yamaha alto I play tested.

[@cheztaylorsax]

Interesting....so perhaps this is a common theme with them. What horn do you play now honey? x

[@carlwilson4375]

Chez Taylor - Saxophone I play a Cannonball Stone Series A5-L.

[@carlwilson4375]

Chez Taylor - Saxophone I really liked the Selmer Referance 80 the best. The key action and sound was the best but the price was way out of my range.

[@sampurnell463]

hi chez, ive been looking for months for videos and diagrams on how to play the altissimo notes ( top G and up) and although ive found many the fingerings they show don't agree with my TJ SR alto. could you do a quick vid on the fingerings that you use so that i can see if they work on mine? P.S ive been loaned the cheap tenor you played at the start of the vid and i always worry about going flat in the upper reg (top B onwards). can you do a vid on what tenors i can buy that are mid range so i dont have to worry about going flat? ( please vary the brands so i can do more research into them) thanks!

[@cheztaylorsax]

Hey sam, I'm so sorry for the slow response, so horrible of me! I've been so up against it with various life disasters! Glad to finally have time to get back to you. I plan to go back to sax.co.uk next week so will see if we can squeeze in a tenor vid with decent comparisons between brands. Re:altissimos I use these fingerings on alto, have you come across this video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iISVnql3a7CmgLM

[@kaivrock]

The one that you had a hard time hitting the lows with I'm guessing just needs to be warmed up a bit with some long tones. I've never had a sax that didn't need a five minute session of long tones just to get the whole piece of brass "heated up". It looks like the very expensive models sound ready to play right off that rack.

[@jackhenry.1853]

Chez Taylor can I ask a favor

[@AGC828]

Overlooked? REally? I thought Yammies were popular. Yasmaha as a company is a great one. Not just for sax's but for trumpetts, hybrid pianos and acoustic pianos. They also have the biggest network of authrized stgores and corporate building locaitons...great for professional msisicians who like to get their horns serviced while on the road...harder to do with other brands.... I've always llike the "Yahama sound for sax's"...i har more bite and are usually more beefy. what I prefer vs Yanaigasawa 's which sound more "smooth" to my hears. ...why i liked the Selmer Ref 36 over the 54.....or the SBA....Conn.....even if it's more about the neck/mouthice and US...heh..

[@smokinjoe4709]

That mirror couldn't be in a better place!

[@Osnosis]

I like the French first name with the British accent😏

[@Highflight1000]

Yamaha YTS Allegro 575

[@esfahan1961]

Sorry Chez, I play a Selmer Series III :)

[@cheztaylorsax]

Sorry to only just be able to get back to this! What do you make of the series 3? Thoughts?? xx

[@esfahan1961]

Chez Taylor - Saxophone I tried a Reference 54 and a SA80 Series II before the III. It’s warm tone and easy keys, making it real fun to play over it’s entire range, won it over the II (and I have an alto Series II!) for me. Liked the Reference 54 but with its price tag and my amateurish level, I discounted it as unreasonable. Had I been a pro like you, I might have gone for the 54.

[@craik7]

thanks for standing up to carry and play the saxophones

[@simonsimon5124]

All four sound the same to me. As if they were played by 90 years old granny.

[@simonsimon5124]

If you are a professional, than I must be Michael Brecker.

[@patsfan1152]

for 6K us it should be attached to you at all times lol

[@simonsimon5124]

And why would you use false fingering. Use your ears and lips.

[@simonsimon5124]

The neighbour player sounds better with his scales.

[@thebritandtheyank3821]

For real? I know it's a small island, but really?.....

[@hemartinezb]

You are gorgeous!

[@rmoraespinto]

Hey, Chez. I believe that you should try to speak more slowly...

[@SaxSith]

Chez Taylor, you can’t play at all.

[@Kaoson73]

Oh girl you cannot play the sax and strip at the same time. I can play it for you while you strip.

[@alessandrovaccari782]

I'll be brutally honest. Review less, practice more.