Sax on the Web Forum

Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Selmer saxes / Yamaha Custom or Selmer Serie III Tenor

Txnaneo
User ID: 2713794 May 4th 5:04 PM
I am getting ready to buy either a Yamaha Custom Black Lacquered tenor, a Yamaha Custom Rose-lacquered tenor or a Selmer Serie III matte finish tenor(the non-engraved one). I would welcome any comments from anyone about ease-of-play, sound quality, and reliability of either of these horns! I am a new player, but want to get a good sax to start with. I have narrowed my search down to these three. Any ideas?

Gary Markham
User ID: 9301033 May 4th 5:15 PM
How did you come to the conclusion that you wanted one of these three?

There all good, and choice of one over the other is personel preference.

Txnaneo
User ID: 2713794 May 4th 6:18 PM
I've been talking with the "Selmersaxman", Mathew Aaron. He has been very helpful in explaining features to me. I guess it will come down to which "look" I want... but I was hoping someone may have experience with them and could offer any tidbits! This is a great forum.

asdf
User ID: 0220464 May 4th 9:30 PM
This just my opinion but i think custom has little more fatter sound than sIII but brighter.

Brice B.
User ID: 9377263 May 5th 7:47 AM
The Matte III is a perfect horn I think. I played one, and it was the most free blowing horn I have ever played. I would seriously recomend the Selmer. Yamaha's have NO personality. I like The III matte better than my 54.

Txnaneo
User ID: 2713794 May 5th 8:24 AM
Brice and asdf, thanks for the input. It is a really hard choice, sight unseen.

amsterdamwinds
User ID: 0798784 May 5th 8:25 AM
Hi,
In our experience the Yamaha Custom is a more direct horn (more bright sound), whereas the Selmer sounds fatter.
During a visit to the Selmer, Factory mr. Selmer explained us that during the polishing procedure, the matte instruments are polished less extensively, so there is more metal left on the instrument.
So if you like a more direct (funky) sound, I would go for the Yamaha, if you like a more fat sound I would choose the Selmer.

You might want to check out our on line shop at:
http://www.amsterdamwinds.com

Andy
User ID: 1682844 May 20th 6:17 AM
amsterdamwinds, what about warm & rich Jazz sound? YTS or Selmer series-III?

License to Blow
User ID: 1418774 May 20th 6:40 AM
Even less buffing on the brush finish, I think the Series III is now available in Brushed finished.

Brice B. the neck on the series III is very different than the Ref 54. Did you notice the different cure / bend to it. Try a Series III on your Ref 54, I hear many like the combination, I also hear many like the Ref 54 neck on the Series III tenor too.

You many want to try other REF 54 neck on your 54

Are you still looking for a Mark Alto.
A friend of mine has a Mark 6 and he commented on how he would love a REF 54. His Mark IV is heavier than mine and has a darker tone than every M6 I every played, it is also heavier than my SML alto. I think the serial # is in the low 200ks. Laquers is a strong 95% the intonation superb.

stevew
User ID: 8868883 May 20th 6:41 AM
My advice - don't do it 'sight unseen'. I went to a good store and tried everything they had and was surprised at what I did, and didn't, like.

I heartily agree with the recommendation of the matte finish III, but that was my choice. I didn't like the Yamaha Custom myself, although I did pick up a YTS 62, thinking it WAS a custom and was astonished at how well it played.

Dr G
User ID: 0916684 May 20th 12:19 PM
A friend of mine is selling a matte finish III tenor. Approximately three years old. Extra necks (matte III and Ref 54) and mouthpieces available. Ships in the Selmer light case. Very little playing time on it - he's mostly a bari player.

Please contact me at GeoKasch@Juno.com if interested.

Roger McWilliams
User ID: 8304653 May 20th 2:35 PM
Try a few horns before buying. You will find slightly different fits to your hand and may prefer one over another for that reason. The sounds are slightly different for the same setup as others have noted here. Your choices are good. I went for the matte III tenor when making a similar choice. A good horn will give you confidence the problems are with you instead of the horn, this is helpful for a beginner. And after purchasing, have a competent tech adjust the horn for leaks, etc. just to verify the horn is ready for you.

And, unsolicited, Dr. G was straightforward to deal with when I had a transaction with him. After pricing out the new horns of interest, check the used market. Some used prices exceed good new horn prices. Some used prices are excellent buys for solid horns.

Txnaneo
User ID: 1487914 May 21st 9:43 PM
Thank you all for your responses! Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any selection of horns near where I live to actually try the ones I want to buy! And, so, being a beginner, I have scoured this forum for info on the different models and advantages/disadvantages. I have ended up buying a black lacquered Selmer III. It gets here on Thursday, and I can't wait!

3saxes
User ID: 6772333 May 22nd 9:18 PM
You can try upto 3 horns from the ww&bw, order them together and try them out at home for 30-days with a 10% downpayment. That is great if you don't have a music superstore in your town, and also if you would rather use the privacy of your own home for 30-days to try them out rather than a music store practice room for an hour or so.

Txnaneo User ID: 2713794	May 4th 5:04 PM I am getting ready to buy either a Yamaha Custom Black Lacquered tenor, a Yamaha Custom Rose-lacquered tenor or a Selmer Serie III matte finish tenor(the non-engraved one). I would welcome any comments from anyone about ease-of-play, sound quality, and reliability of either of these horns! I am a new player, but want to get a good sax to start with. I have narrowed my search down to these three. Any ideas?
Gary Markham User ID: 9301033	May 4th 5:15 PM How did you come to the conclusion that you wanted one of these three? There all good, and choice of one over the other is personel preference.
Txnaneo User ID: 2713794	May 4th 6:18 PM I've been talking with the "Selmersaxman", Mathew Aaron. He has been very helpful in explaining features to me. I guess it will come down to which "look" I want... but I was hoping someone may have experience with them and could offer any tidbits! This is a great forum.
asdf User ID: 0220464	May 4th 9:30 PM This just my opinion but i think custom has little more fatter sound than sIII but brighter.
Brice B. User ID: 9377263	May 5th 7:47 AM The Matte III is a perfect horn I think. I played one, and it was the most free blowing horn I have ever played. I would seriously recomend the Selmer. Yamaha's have NO personality. I like The III matte better than my 54.
Txnaneo User ID: 2713794	May 5th 8:24 AM Brice and asdf, thanks for the input. It is a really hard choice, sight unseen.
amsterdamwinds User ID: 0798784	May 5th 8:25 AM Hi, In our experience the Yamaha Custom is a more direct horn (more bright sound), whereas the Selmer sounds fatter. During a visit to the Selmer, Factory mr. Selmer explained us that during the polishing procedure, the matte instruments are polished less extensively, so there is more metal left on the instrument. So if you like a more direct (funky) sound, I would go for the Yamaha, if you like a more fat sound I would choose the Selmer. You might want to check out our on line shop at: http://www.amsterdamwinds.com
Andy User ID: 1682844	May 20th 6:17 AM amsterdamwinds, what about warm & rich Jazz sound? YTS or Selmer series-III?
License to Blow User ID: 1418774	May 20th 6:40 AM Even less buffing on the brush finish, I think the Series III is now available in Brushed finished. Brice B. the neck on the series III is very different than the Ref 54. Did you notice the different cure / bend to it. Try a Series III on your Ref 54, I hear many like the combination, I also hear many like the Ref 54 neck on the Series III tenor too. You many want to try other REF 54 neck on your 54 Are you still looking for a Mark Alto. A friend of mine has a Mark 6 and he commented on how he would love a REF 54. His Mark IV is heavier than mine and has a darker tone than every M6 I every played, it is also heavier than my SML alto. I think the serial # is in the low 200ks. Laquers is a strong 95% the intonation superb.
stevew User ID: 8868883	May 20th 6:41 AM My advice - don't do it 'sight unseen'. I went to a good store and tried everything they had and was surprised at what I did, and didn't, like. I heartily agree with the recommendation of the matte finish III, but that was my choice. I didn't like the Yamaha Custom myself, although I did pick up a YTS 62, thinking it WAS a custom and was astonished at how well it played.
Dr G User ID: 0916684	May 20th 12:19 PM A friend of mine is selling a matte finish III tenor. Approximately three years old. Extra necks (matte III and Ref 54) and mouthpieces available. Ships in the Selmer light case. Very little playing time on it - he's mostly a bari player. Please contact me at GeoKasch@Juno.com if interested.
Roger McWilliams User ID: 8304653	May 20th 2:35 PM Try a few horns before buying. You will find slightly different fits to your hand and may prefer one over another for that reason. The sounds are slightly different for the same setup as others have noted here. Your choices are good. I went for the matte III tenor when making a similar choice. A good horn will give you confidence the problems are with you instead of the horn, this is helpful for a beginner. And after purchasing, have a competent tech adjust the horn for leaks, etc. just to verify the horn is ready for you. And, unsolicited, Dr. G was straightforward to deal with when I had a transaction with him. After pricing out the new horns of interest, check the used market. Some used prices exceed good new horn prices. Some used prices are excellent buys for solid horns.
Txnaneo User ID: 1487914	May 21st 9:43 PM Thank you all for your responses! Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any selection of horns near where I live to actually try the ones I want to buy! And, so, being a beginner, I have scoured this forum for info on the different models and advantages/disadvantages. I have ended up buying a black lacquered Selmer III. It gets here on Thursday, and I can't wait!
3saxes User ID: 6772333	May 22nd 9:18 PM You can try upto 3 horns from the ww&bw, order them together and try them out at home for 30-days with a 10% downpayment. That is great if you don't have a music superstore in your town, and also if you would rather use the privacy of your own home for 30-days to try them out rather than a music store practice room for an hour or so.