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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Decision at hand: Yani B901 or B991??

Next 20 Messages

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 14th 7:49 AM
I think I am ready to buy ... and although I originally intended to get the 901, I think that the extra money (less than $1K) for the 991 would not be that great a deal over the long haul. Although I am by NO MEANS anywhere near a pro player, I want this new bari to be with me for many years!

I am wondering though -- in addition to sturdier construction on the 991, how do these two baris compare in sound? I know, I know ... sound is VERY subjective, and that mouthpiece and reeds can change it a lot, but I am just wondering if there is much difference up front. I had one dealer describe the 901 as being "brighter" than the 991 (which isn't necessarily a plus to me, as "darker" might be better for the types of music I'll be playing). Unfortunately (like Sherry mentioned in other posts), I can't find either to try, much less BOTH.

Also, the prices between Matthews and Saxofoonwinkel seem about identical on the 991 ($3995 vs $3834), but are further apart on the 901 ($2865 vs $3195) ... I assume Saxofoonwinkel would be the way to go in either case. Any other suggestions for places to buy from? (Oh yes, www.saxophones.uk quoted $3195 and $4202. USA Horn quoted $3470 and $4495 ... their 991 price is surely inflated!! Actually these are prices from Feb. 4/5, 2002, except that I just did the Euro conversion on saxofoonwinkel's quote ... not sure it would have been higher when they sent the quote a week ago.

Thanks everyone!

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 14th 8:00 AM
Oops -- reversed the quotes for the 901 for Matthews and Saxofoonwinkel; I should have listed the prices in reverse order for the 901.

To clarify, Saxofoonwinkel had the cheaper price in both cases ($2865 - 901, $3834 - 991), against Matthews ($3195 - 901, $3995 - 991).

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 14th 8:17 AM
Have also just sent inquiries to WW&BW (second inquiry), musicalinstrumentmegastore, musique-et-art, and Alan Gregory Music (instruments-r-us! on eBay, in Manchester, England).

Sherry
User ID: 0784604 Feb 14th 10:09 AM
I own a B901 and I was able to play a B992 at NAMM. Unfortunately I did not have a 901 or 902 at NAMM for comparison. However, if there is any difference at all it's not something that you'd know unless you had the two horns side by side.

Still, if I were going to do it again, I'd get the 991 instead of the 901 that I did buy. The reason is that those rods are really long, while the reinforcement isn't essential - it's desirable. Keep in mind though that I'm not primarily a Bari player - I spend most of my time on alto, tenor, soprano, then bari in that order.

Saxofoonwinkle has always been great to deal with, but the other's you've listed have good reputations. Musique-et-Art tends to be a bit
cheaper.

Figuring 200 euro for shipping (probably a bit high) I come up with 2780 for the 901 at Musique-et-Art and $3694 for the 991.

jjgold
User ID: 0262034 Feb 14th 11:26 AM
The CHEAPEST prices have been Marnix @ Saxcompany.nl. I got my 992 Tenor and he was the cheapest.....info@saxcompany.nl

jjgold
User ID: 0262034 Feb 14th 11:31 AM
Check this out..http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/aol/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1514567796

Oh yea, I am not affiliated with this guy. i have also bought from Saxophones UK. and they were good but not as cheap.

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 14th 8:25 PM
Thanks Sherry and jjgold!

I have followed your posts in the past, Sherry, and your information has helped sway me towards the Yanis (even though I'm facing a pro-Yamaha/anti Yani bias in this area).

And, jjgold ... it was interesting to see that Saxofoonwinkel is selling on eBay! Looks like with shipping, the price on that bari is pretty close to what they quoted me (which DID include shipping), provided it doesn't climb much past the opening price.

Haven't heard from Musique-et-art yet, but are you saying you included $200 for shipping (estimated) in the prices you mention, Sherry? That would make them the lowest ... are they good to deal with?? I've heard more about Saxofoonwinkel than Musique-et-art, but if their price is that low on the 991, I'd definitely opt for it over the 901. So, I hope to hear from them!

Tom ed
User ID: 2484284 Feb 15th 1:02 AM
Hi Anne, I have been reading your posts with great interest because of my bari shopping. But I am happy to say that my mind is made up, I ordered a new 901 from Paul at Saxofoonwinkel. I played a friends 901 bari and found it to be very precise and responsive. It is comfortable to play and very expressive. It does not seem to be excessively bright compared to an older bari I'm playing now. It appears to be consturted as well as 98% of the horns that are made. The 991 does appear to be super heavy duty and if I had the extra grand it cost I would definitly go that way. I did not play a 991 so can't say much about its sound, but am sure that it plays as well or better than the 901. I decided on the 901 yana over the 52 Yamaha in spite of the fact that a local store has the 52 on sale for 2600. I just liked the Yanagisawa better, and it is almost the same price when the 8.5% local sales tax is added to the Yamaha. The world has so many saxophones to offer it is a real challenge to decide on one that satisfies the soul but doesn't blow the bank account.

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 15th 8:33 AM
Tom ...

WONDERFUL, and congratulations! Thanks so much for adding to the thread! Glad to hear you've made a choice (and have ordered!!) ... and that you picked the Yani 901 over the Yama 52, and were able to try both in the process! Your post makes me very confident that I am going in the right direction (Yani), swimming upstream against the anti Yani/pro Yamaha bias that seems to be flowing around me.

I still may go with the 991, not because I'm very good or because I intend to be anything more than an amateur player (although I do intend to get seriously better!) ... but because I envision having this horn for the "duration." (My mom is 80 and plays a 1919 Conn bari, and I hope to be playing still when I'm her age!) But, I don't see how I could go wrong with either Yani.

I'll keep you posted as to what I do ... I have a birthday coming up, so a decision is imminent! Let us know when your horn arrives and what you think about it (and your experience with Saxofoonwinkel). Thanks again!

MusicMan
User ID: 0464054 Feb 15th 8:48 AM
Anne,

Sherry's estimate of the shipping from Musique-et-Art is pretty close. I'm surprised you haven't heard back from them yet. They were very responsive when I sent them questions.

Here's the email address I used for them: contact@musique-et-art.com

Marie-Laure is the person I dealt with.

Also, keep in mind that you may or may not be charged an import duty when importing a saxophone. That may add another couple of hundred to your total. Generally, I understand the shipper will collect it or you may receive a bill from US Customs some time later. On my recent overseas bari purchase, the shipper didn't collect it and so far, I haven't heard from customs (knock wood). Several here have said it was hit-or-miss.

Musique-et-Art ships using the French Postal Service and subsequently, it arrives at your door via the US Post Office. This may actually be a good thing. UPS is a bear to get to admit shipping damage and collect insurance from. The USPS is much better. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about that. My bari arrived well packed and unharmed. Now if I could figure out what to do with a box big enough to act as a homeless shelter and enough foam peanuts to fill a VW Beetle....

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 15th 11:22 AM
MusicMan ... Thanks for the additional, very helpful info (plus I got a good laugh out of your box/peanuts reference at the end) ...

Yes, I have been counting on an additional 4.9% customs fee (based on various references on woodwind instrument fees), but didn't know that it wasn't a "written-in-stone" type of thing. I'll count on it no matter what, in making a decision -- no surprises then.

Thanks again.

BrianA
User ID: 0791694 Feb 15th 11:59 AM
Anne,
As a guy that plays bari for a living let me add my two cents here. While the lower priced Yanagisawa bari saxes are really nice compared to what else is out there, there is no substitute over the long haul for the great ideas that have gone into the 991. It is really well built and has all the right stuff to hold up to the heavy duty any working or busy amatuer player will even inadvertantly give it. A very dollar wise investment in the long run given the high cost nature of the repairs the others need down the road just to keep them well regulated.No matter how careful you try to be with a bari, the very nature of it's size makes it more prone to getting whacked around, just on the chair of the player on your right, that alone is a constant event not to mention trying to balance your bari, bass clar, alto sax and bag full of stands while just getting from your parking spot into the theatre or concert hall without banging around the bari.. the 991 stands up to it all while the others do not fare as well..If you can do it get the higher model or you may bemoan your choice in the future.
good luck
Brian

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 15th 2:14 PM
Brian ... thanks so much for your input. Yeah, I think the 991 is the way to go. I haven't heard from Musique-et-art yet (I sent a second, more in-depth email, so they would know I'm a serious buyer), but their online price looks really good (assuming I need to take out the VAT), depending on what they charge for shipping. (My other top choice would be Saxofoonwinkel at this point.)

The only thing confusing the issue at this point is that I noticed the Yamaha YBS62 is slightly cheaper than the Yani 991 at Musique-et-art -- something I hadn't expected. Do you have direct experience with both horns, Brian? My repair tech thinks the 62 is the best bari out there (and he's a bari player), but I don't know that he's had much contact with the Yani baris.

(I'll double check a previous thread, to see if my question is answered there.)

MusicMan
User ID: 0464054 Feb 15th 3:26 PM
I playtested both (YBS-62 & B991) before buying my Selmer, Anne. The Yani was a more complex sounding horn. The Yamaha was mechanically very good, but just didn't have the warmth and character of sound that the Yani or Selmer had. Of course, this is purely subjective. All had great actions. Construction wise, I'd definately give the Yani the nod.

MusicMan
User ID: 0464054 Feb 15th 3:31 PM
Let me muddy things up a bit further (sorry). In my locale, the sax professor at the University of Kentucky is Miles Osland, who also is a Selmer Artist and Clinician. He is co-director of the Kentucky Repretory Jazz Orchestra and plays a Series III alto. His wife, Lisa, plays bari alongside him in that group. She is a great bari player. Guess what she plays....nope, not a Selmer, but a YBS-62.

I know it's a difficult thing to do...I just did it myself and had to travel a lot to do it, but there is no substitute for playtesting as many horns as possible.

Bootman
User ID: 9495963 Feb 15th 3:32 PM
I tested both out not so long ago and again yesterday. I bought a 5 digit serial Low A Baritone instead. There was no contest, in the low A stakes this particular Selmer blew the others away. All when compare d to my Chu Baritone fell well short. I only bought the Low A because of an occassional need for such a horn. I would bring the Conn as number one horn because it is louder, has a bigger sound and smokes all comers.

Bootman
User ID: 9495963 Feb 15th 3:34 PM
If I was buying a new Baritone then it would be a Keilwerth because big sound, lots of power is what is required with a Baritone. It is a very physical horn to play, but what fun...........barup................barup......

jjgold
User ID: 0262034 Feb 15th 4:59 PM
Anne...the site I gave you is not Saxfoonwinkel it is Saxcompany which is a different outfit altogether!

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 15th 7:55 PM
OOps ... thanks jjgold ... I confused "saxshop.nl" with "saxcompany.nl" ... thanks for setting me straight!! I'll check with saxcompany too!

Anne
User ID: 9976863 Feb 22nd 9:18 AM
I ordered yesterday from Saxofoonwinkel (www.saxshop.nl) ... the Yani B991. I'll report more on my decision later, especially after receiving it!

Saxofoonwinkel's price was only slightly more than Musique-et-art, and Musiktreffpunkt (although the latter only quoted on a slower shipping method), but they were MUCH more helpful and forthcoming in answering questions I had in the process of making my choice. I also think their website is an excellent resource for sax buyers. I just went with my gut feeling ... based on all the positive things I've read about them on SOTW, and based on the email correspondence I've had with them.

Next 20 Messages

Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 14th 7:49 AM I think I am ready to buy ... and although I originally intended to get the 901, I think that the extra money (less than $1K) for the 991 would not be that great a deal over the long haul. Although I am by NO MEANS anywhere near a pro player, I want this new bari to be with me for many years! I am wondering though -- in addition to sturdier construction on the 991, how do these two baris compare in sound? I know, I know ... sound is VERY subjective, and that mouthpiece and reeds can change it a lot, but I am just wondering if there is much difference up front. I had one dealer describe the 901 as being "brighter" than the 991 (which isn't necessarily a plus to me, as "darker" might be better for the types of music I'll be playing). Unfortunately (like Sherry mentioned in other posts), I can't find either to try, much less BOTH. Also, the prices between Matthews and Saxofoonwinkel seem about identical on the 991 ($3995 vs $3834), but are further apart on the 901 ($2865 vs $3195) ... I assume Saxofoonwinkel would be the way to go in either case. Any other suggestions for places to buy from? (Oh yes, www.saxophones.uk quoted $3195 and $4202. USA Horn quoted $3470 and $4495 ... their 991 price is surely inflated!! Actually these are prices from Feb. 4/5, 2002, except that I just did the Euro conversion on saxofoonwinkel's quote ... not sure it would have been higher when they sent the quote a week ago. Thanks everyone!
Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 14th 8:00 AM Oops -- reversed the quotes for the 901 for Matthews and Saxofoonwinkel; I should have listed the prices in reverse order for the 901. To clarify, Saxofoonwinkel had the cheaper price in both cases ($2865 - 901, $3834 - 991), against Matthews ($3195 - 901, $3995 - 991).
Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 14th 8:17 AM Have also just sent inquiries to WW&BW (second inquiry), musicalinstrumentmegastore, musique-et-art, and Alan Gregory Music (instruments-r-us! on eBay, in Manchester, England).
Sherry User ID: 0784604	Feb 14th 10:09 AM I own a B901 and I was able to play a B992 at NAMM. Unfortunately I did not have a 901 or 902 at NAMM for comparison. However, if there is any difference at all it's not something that you'd know unless you had the two horns side by side. Still, if I were going to do it again, I'd get the 991 instead of the 901 that I did buy. The reason is that those rods are really long, while the reinforcement isn't essential - it's desirable. Keep in mind though that I'm not primarily a Bari player - I spend most of my time on alto, tenor, soprano, then bari in that order. Saxofoonwinkle has always been great to deal with, but the other's you've listed have good reputations. Musique-et-Art tends to be a bit cheaper. Figuring 200 euro for shipping (probably a bit high) I come up with 2780 for the 901 at Musique-et-Art and $3694 for the 991.
jjgold User ID: 0262034	Feb 14th 11:26 AM The CHEAPEST prices have been Marnix @ Saxcompany.nl. I got my 992 Tenor and he was the cheapest.....info@saxcompany.nl
jjgold User ID: 0262034	Feb 14th 11:31 AM Check this out..http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/aol/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1514567796 Oh yea, I am not affiliated with this guy. i have also bought from Saxophones UK. and they were good but not as cheap.
Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 14th 8:25 PM Thanks Sherry and jjgold! I have followed your posts in the past, Sherry, and your information has helped sway me towards the Yanis (even though I'm facing a pro-Yamaha/anti Yani bias in this area). And, jjgold ... it was interesting to see that Saxofoonwinkel is selling on eBay! Looks like with shipping, the price on that bari is pretty close to what they quoted me (which DID include shipping), provided it doesn't climb much past the opening price. Haven't heard from Musique-et-art yet, but are you saying you included $200 for shipping (estimated) in the prices you mention, Sherry? That would make them the lowest ... are they good to deal with?? I've heard more about Saxofoonwinkel than Musique-et-art, but if their price is that low on the 991, I'd definitely opt for it over the 901. So, I hope to hear from them!
Tom ed User ID: 2484284	Feb 15th 1:02 AM Hi Anne, I have been reading your posts with great interest because of my bari shopping. But I am happy to say that my mind is made up, I ordered a new 901 from Paul at Saxofoonwinkel. I played a friends 901 bari and found it to be very precise and responsive. It is comfortable to play and very expressive. It does not seem to be excessively bright compared to an older bari I'm playing now. It appears to be consturted as well as 98% of the horns that are made. The 991 does appear to be super heavy duty and if I had the extra grand it cost I would definitly go that way. I did not play a 991 so can't say much about its sound, but am sure that it plays as well or better than the 901. I decided on the 901 yana over the 52 Yamaha in spite of the fact that a local store has the 52 on sale for 2600. I just liked the Yanagisawa better, and it is almost the same price when the 8.5% local sales tax is added to the Yamaha. The world has so many saxophones to offer it is a real challenge to decide on one that satisfies the soul but doesn't blow the bank account.
Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 15th 8:33 AM Tom ... WONDERFUL, and congratulations! Thanks so much for adding to the thread! Glad to hear you've made a choice (and have ordered!!) ... and that you picked the Yani 901 over the Yama 52, and were able to try both in the process! Your post makes me very confident that I am going in the right direction (Yani), swimming upstream against the anti Yani/pro Yamaha bias that seems to be flowing around me. I still may go with the 991, not because I'm very good or because I intend to be anything more than an amateur player (although I do intend to get seriously better!) ... but because I envision having this horn for the "duration." (My mom is 80 and plays a 1919 Conn bari, and I hope to be playing still when I'm her age!) But, I don't see how I could go wrong with either Yani. I'll keep you posted as to what I do ... I have a birthday coming up, so a decision is imminent! Let us know when your horn arrives and what you think about it (and your experience with Saxofoonwinkel). Thanks again!
MusicMan User ID: 0464054	Feb 15th 8:48 AM Anne, Sherry's estimate of the shipping from Musique-et-Art is pretty close. I'm surprised you haven't heard back from them yet. They were very responsive when I sent them questions. Here's the email address I used for them: contact@musique-et-art.com Marie-Laure is the person I dealt with. Also, keep in mind that you may or may not be charged an import duty when importing a saxophone. That may add another couple of hundred to your total. Generally, I understand the shipper will collect it or you may receive a bill from US Customs some time later. On my recent overseas bari purchase, the shipper didn't collect it and so far, I haven't heard from customs (knock wood). Several here have said it was hit-or-miss. Musique-et-Art ships using the French Postal Service and subsequently, it arrives at your door via the US Post Office. This may actually be a good thing. UPS is a bear to get to admit shipping damage and collect insurance from. The USPS is much better. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about that. My bari arrived well packed and unharmed. Now if I could figure out what to do with a box big enough to act as a homeless shelter and enough foam peanuts to fill a VW Beetle....
Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 15th 11:22 AM MusicMan ... Thanks for the additional, very helpful info (plus I got a good laugh out of your box/peanuts reference at the end) ... Yes, I have been counting on an additional 4.9% customs fee (based on various references on woodwind instrument fees), but didn't know that it wasn't a "written-in-stone" type of thing. I'll count on it no matter what, in making a decision -- no surprises then. Thanks again.
BrianA User ID: 0791694	Feb 15th 11:59 AM Anne, As a guy that plays bari for a living let me add my two cents here. While the lower priced Yanagisawa bari saxes are really nice compared to what else is out there, there is no substitute over the long haul for the great ideas that have gone into the 991. It is really well built and has all the right stuff to hold up to the heavy duty any working or busy amatuer player will even inadvertantly give it. A very dollar wise investment in the long run given the high cost nature of the repairs the others need down the road just to keep them well regulated.No matter how careful you try to be with a bari, the very nature of it's size makes it more prone to getting whacked around, just on the chair of the player on your right, that alone is a constant event not to mention trying to balance your bari, bass clar, alto sax and bag full of stands while just getting from your parking spot into the theatre or concert hall without banging around the bari.. the 991 stands up to it all while the others do not fare as well..If you can do it get the higher model or you may bemoan your choice in the future. good luck Brian
Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 15th 2:14 PM Brian ... thanks so much for your input. Yeah, I think the 991 is the way to go. I haven't heard from Musique-et-art yet (I sent a second, more in-depth email, so they would know I'm a serious buyer), but their online price looks really good (assuming I need to take out the VAT), depending on what they charge for shipping. (My other top choice would be Saxofoonwinkel at this point.) The only thing confusing the issue at this point is that I noticed the Yamaha YBS62 is slightly cheaper than the Yani 991 at Musique-et-art -- something I hadn't expected. Do you have direct experience with both horns, Brian? My repair tech thinks the 62 is the best bari out there (and he's a bari player), but I don't know that he's had much contact with the Yani baris. (I'll double check a previous thread, to see if my question is answered there.)
MusicMan User ID: 0464054	Feb 15th 3:26 PM I playtested both (YBS-62 & B991) before buying my Selmer, Anne. The Yani was a more complex sounding horn. The Yamaha was mechanically very good, but just didn't have the warmth and character of sound that the Yani or Selmer had. Of course, this is purely subjective. All had great actions. Construction wise, I'd definately give the Yani the nod.
MusicMan User ID: 0464054	Feb 15th 3:31 PM Let me muddy things up a bit further (sorry). In my locale, the sax professor at the University of Kentucky is Miles Osland, who also is a Selmer Artist and Clinician. He is co-director of the Kentucky Repretory Jazz Orchestra and plays a Series III alto. His wife, Lisa, plays bari alongside him in that group. She is a great bari player. Guess what she plays....nope, not a Selmer, but a YBS-62. I know it's a difficult thing to do...I just did it myself and had to travel a lot to do it, but there is no substitute for playtesting as many horns as possible.
Bootman User ID: 9495963	Feb 15th 3:32 PM I tested both out not so long ago and again yesterday. I bought a 5 digit serial Low A Baritone instead. There was no contest, in the low A stakes this particular Selmer blew the others away. All when compare d to my Chu Baritone fell well short. I only bought the Low A because of an occassional need for such a horn. I would bring the Conn as number one horn because it is louder, has a bigger sound and smokes all comers.
Bootman User ID: 9495963	Feb 15th 3:34 PM If I was buying a new Baritone then it would be a Keilwerth because big sound, lots of power is what is required with a Baritone. It is a very physical horn to play, but what fun...........barup................barup......
jjgold User ID: 0262034	Feb 15th 4:59 PM Anne...the site I gave you is not Saxfoonwinkel it is Saxcompany which is a different outfit altogether!
Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 15th 7:55 PM OOps ... thanks jjgold ... I confused "saxshop.nl" with "saxcompany.nl" ... thanks for setting me straight!! I'll check with saxcompany too!
Anne User ID: 9976863	Feb 22nd 9:18 AM I ordered yesterday from Saxofoonwinkel (www.saxshop.nl) ... the Yani B991. I'll report more on my decision later, especially after receiving it! Saxofoonwinkel's price was only slightly more than Musique-et-art, and Musiktreffpunkt (although the latter only quoted on a slower shipping method), but they were MUCH more helpful and forthcoming in answering questions I had in the process of making my choice. I also think their website is an excellent resource for sax buyers. I just went with my gut feeling ... based on all the positive things I've read about them on SOTW, and based on the email correspondence I've had with them.