Yamaha YSL-354 Student Model Tenor Trombone | Instrument Review

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Thanks for tuning in to this review! Make sure to leave a like & comment if you enjoyed. This trombone has served me well for about a year but it is now for sale at Clearwater Music. Visit www.clearwatermusicserves.com... and get in contact with our staff for more information.
~EQUIPMENT~
www.wwbw.com/Yamaha-YSL-354-S...
~CHAPTERS~
0:00 - Intro
0:24 - EXCERPT: St. Louis Blues
0:31 - Overview & Specs
1:57 - Fun Fact of the Day!
2:24 - Case & Outfit
2:54 - My assessment of Yamaha student models
3:47 - EXCERPT: Brahms Chorale Prelude No. 10
4:05 - Low/pedal registers
4:36 - High register
5:09 - Mouthpiece discussion
6:08 - Yamaha shank insertion
6:38 - Closing thoughts & Verdict
7:45 - EXCERPT: Blue Bells of Scotland
8:30 - Outro
~SOCIALS~
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~ABOUT SAMUEL PLAYS BRASS~
Do you enjoy content relating to all things music and brass instruments? Sam has got you covered! On this channel we have been devoted to bringing you brass covers, play-alongs, multitracks, gear reviews and discussions, tips and tricks, collaborations, and even vlogs about the music world since 2016! Sam is a hobbyist brass multi-instrumentalist majoring in mechanical engineering. He is an active local performer and has played countless personal arrangements and compositions in small ensemble settings. If you like to nerd out over brass instruments, mouthpieces, music theory, and more, then make sure to subscribe and stay tuned! Thanks for watching.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Thanks for watching, everyone!! Stay tuned to see me talk about the new trombone... ;)

[@addiel2317]

my screw thingy wont unscrew what do i do

[@WadeMacKinnon]

The YSL-354 is imo the best student model trombone. It sounds fine, the positions in all partials are consistent and where you expect them to be, and it is easy to play and get a decent sound.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

I agree about its consistency and ease of playing. While I didn’t find it to be my favorite jazz trombone sound (I ended up preferring the sound of the King 606), as far as student horns go, for the actual purpose of serving as a student’s first horn, the 354 does an excellent job.

[@jean-pierrelalonde2289]

Very nice review, thank you! That answers my questions very well. Hope I will get as good as you one day because i simply love the sound of that instrument, when it is well played!

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

I’m glad you enjoyed this review! Do bear in mind that while this is a nice trombone, it is a student/intermediate model, and Yamaha does make some significantly better models in both small and large shank.

[@abramratajczak4617]

Wasn’t expecting that deep of a voice

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

It’s my brand as a creator at this point

[@matthewpalm7484]

He's... a Baritone

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

@@matthewpalm7484 no, I’m a euphonium.

[@matthewpalm7484]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass I like your sense of humor good sir

[@thomaswomack3888]

I played tenor trombone thru high school and college and enjoyed it very much but got distracted by work, girls, fast cars...well you can figure out what happened lol. Now at age 69 I have rediscovered the instrument thru a new to me Yamaha YSL 354 and I love this instrument, much better made than the Bundy I played previously. Maybe I will outgrow it in a year or two or maybe I won't either way I am having fun with it now and thats what its all about for me. I hope I get as good as you one day, but realistically I probably won't. I play other instruments that also take practice time...but I appreciate your review and confirmation of my own assessment of this instrument. It is well made and sounds really good. It makes me sound better than I really am.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Thank you for the comment and the kind works, Thomas! I’m glad that you found your way back to the trombone and that the 354 is serving you well. I imagine it is difficult getting back into the saddle at your age but I’m sure it will be no less rewarding, however tough it may be.

[@CH47U]

I have a Yamaha YSL-354 from when they didn't put the logo on the bell. I guess it's from the 80's. That bone is well made and of the best quality. I'm looking for a YSL-651 or 653 to play some jazz and salsa. I'm a huge fan of early Yamaha models.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Early Yamahas are unbeatable! Unfortunately Yamaha has a habit of discontinuing some of the coolest old models in favor of things like the Xeno or Custom line. Inevitable and understandable, but sad nonetheless.

[@majorclem]

I personally use a Yamaha 200ad, which has great all around versatility for any type of playing.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Modern variant of the same great horn. Glad you like yours!

[@mortadelas]

Thank you trombone moistcritikal!

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

One of the best compliments I’ve received to this day

[@webduelist]

I actually am glad I still have my YSL-354, a decade later and I feel like I am starting over.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

It makes for a great comeback horn! Fairly forgiving and easy to play/produce a nice tone on compared to many student trombones.

[@webduelist]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass it feels good to be back, but its gonna take a while before I'm back to the level I used to be at :)

[@trbharam]

About YSL-354 Trombone Although currently a Yamaha capital-owned company, it used to be manufactured by Nippon Wind Instrument Manufacturing, an OEM supplier to Yamaha. They are still made in the same factory in Saitama Prefecture as they were then.

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Any relation to Nikkan? I have a Nikkan YTR-332 that's essentially just a Yamaha. It's a neat horn. 5" rose brass bell, .445" medium bore. Really dark sound.

[@trbharam]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass Yes, It is Nikkan. 日本管楽器製造（日管　Nikkan）

[@lil_ice688]

First of all wonderful video 10/10 2nd of all do you know any good music stores where I can rent a YSL 354 trombone?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Glad you enjoyed! We may have one or two at Clearwater Music in Spokane, WA. But keep in mind it’s best to stay as “local” as possible when it comes to instrument rentals.

[@calebwilliford5587]

Saw your ig story, here’s a totally real person comment 😂

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Haha, much appreciated!

[@Juan_Bone09]

King 606, Yamaha YSL354 or Conn Director?

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

I usually cannot answer questions like this, but I had the opportunity to play all three working at a repair shop this past summer. King 606: best of the three for jazz, easily. Brightest sound, most free-blowing high notes. Complemented well by small/shallow mouthpieces. Yamaha: best classic horn by a long shot. Capable of playing extremely dark and with a beautiful low register sound for a small bore. Cooperates nicely with larger mouthpieces. Conn Director: not a huge fan, personally. It’s an okay horn, but nothing special. I love the Director cornet because it has a unique sound and feel, but their trombone is just a slightly lesser version of any other student model. Again, just my opinion! Even the Conn is not bad by any means-I just think the King and Yamaha are both very special horns.

[@JohnScheppler]

How do the Yamaha compare to the King trombone? If you had to pick one is there a difference or clear winner between them? Thanks

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Keep in mind each company has many models of trombone, but if this comparison is strictly between the Yamaha 354 and King 606, these are my impressions: In favor of the Yamaha 354, I notice a cleaner and perhaps more consistent sound, less likely to drill a hole in the back wall. I also think Yamahas are incredibly consistent from one horn to the next, making them an ultra-low-risk choice. In favor of the King 606, I think it is the closest you can get to the quintessential jazz/big band sound out of a student trombone. I recently got my own and like it very much. Its sound can range from a soft, honey-like ballad quality to, like I said, putting a hole through the wall. It also has, in my opinion, a more open and resonant higher register than the Yamaha. The difficulty is finding a good 606 that doesn’t have a history of abuse. In general, the older ones are hidden gems and therefore the ones I truly prefer over Yamahas, whereas a lot of new 606 are just, well, student horns. The Cleveland and Tempo eras were particularly good for King. My 606 is a Tempo model from 1989, whereas the other standout ones I’ve played have been from the 60s and 70s. Usually very ugly looking horns with lots of scratched and lacquer wear, but they play beautifully compared to either a newer 606 or a Yamaha 354 in my opinion. **Editing this comment to provide a proper conclusion:** If you are looking for a solid, consistent instrument for students in beginning/intermediate band or generally classical-leaning playing, I would more readily recommend the Yamaha 354. If this is for a more experienced player who doesn’t mind poor aesthetics but wants a really versatile jazz horn, then the King 606 is one of my top bets, if you can find one of the “good” ones. King is famed among jazz trombonists.

[@JohnScheppler]

@SamuelPlaysBrass Thank You! This could be a good video comparing the same brands eras or brand vs brand in the same category. You would even need to pick a winner just this is why I like X, and this is why Z would be a good consideration.

[@JohnScheppler]

@SamuelPlaysBrass thanks for your information and insight. I've been looking at getting my daughter her own trombone, and the music shop has a used Yamaha YSL354 and a King 606 Cleveland, similar in price and condition. Trying to decide which one 🤔

[@traftonstakes1553]

Hi. Just a fellow human leaving a comment 👀

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

What a relief! I was beginning to think the human race was dying out and AI was swiftly taking over.

[@traftonstakes1553]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass I mean..

[@glasscityy7370]

how much is it worth

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

$500 if in really good condition, otherwise probably $300-400. Keep in mind that most shops will have higher sell prices because their instruments come with warranties and much more thorough quality control than anything you buy from an individual seller secondhand.

[@glasscityy7370]

@@SamuelPlaysBrass thanks i just sold it

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

Congrats! Thinking of moving up to an F-attachment trombone?

[@RobertCardwell]

I'm really a bot. 🤣🤣🤣

[@zenarobinson3851]

rubbish case; no room for the cat!

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

HAHA true, I can’t sneak a cat into my luggage on a trip with a case like that one!

[@richardparker930]

Que mouthpiece number is ?? Denis ... Number 12cs...???

[@SamuelPlaysBrass]

I stated in the video that it is a Denis Wick 6BS.