Gandalfe
08-20-2004, 08:41 PM
History, I gave my son my Yanagisawa 901 curved soprano for his Yanagisawa 990 baritone that he, believe it or not, doesn’t like. I guess I was feeling guilty about taking the bari even though I paid for it. (Don't feel sad for my son, I also gave him a Yamaha 82Z and a Gary Sugal tenor, both of which he gigs with now.) My son prefers and wants a straight soprano. I have a soprano solo to play in an upcoming concert and my son and Yana is in Provo. I’m in Seattle.
1. Dealing with Dave Kessler was easy. He is knowledgeable and doesn't try to sell you a Caddie when you want a Chevy. I got Dave's last black Antigua winds soprano for a very nice price. And he sent me a Morgan Pro Tone 5* mouthpiece and lig too. The horn came with a nice case and was playable immediately. I think I've paid less to Dave direct and with the mouthpiece than I would have if I'd bought from him through E-bay and without the mouthpiece thrown in.
2. This sop has two necks and I glommed onto the bent immediately. I tried my Otto Link Super Tone 5* and the Morgan that Dave recommended. The Morgan was much easier to get a nice full sound from. The sax plays well from low Bb to D3. Everything above that can be played but is difficult for me. (This wasn't true on my Yanagisawa 901 curved sop.) As I put more time into practicing playing gets easier. I really like this horn.
3. I had a friend play the horn. He has a $300 cheapie sop and he now wants my sax. :lol: The form factor is also a draw as it fits on our sax stands. I don’t have a solution for the curved Yana sop yet.
So I have decided NOT to trade this sax to my son to get my Yanagisawa back. The notes above D3 are coming easier, especially after I read that post on SOTW about lifting the sop to free up the reed on your lower lip. And my wife sez the sound on the Antigua Winds instrument is much nicer than when I played the Yana. Go figure.
1. Dealing with Dave Kessler was easy. He is knowledgeable and doesn't try to sell you a Caddie when you want a Chevy. I got Dave's last black Antigua winds soprano for a very nice price. And he sent me a Morgan Pro Tone 5* mouthpiece and lig too. The horn came with a nice case and was playable immediately. I think I've paid less to Dave direct and with the mouthpiece than I would have if I'd bought from him through E-bay and without the mouthpiece thrown in.
2. This sop has two necks and I glommed onto the bent immediately. I tried my Otto Link Super Tone 5* and the Morgan that Dave recommended. The Morgan was much easier to get a nice full sound from. The sax plays well from low Bb to D3. Everything above that can be played but is difficult for me. (This wasn't true on my Yanagisawa 901 curved sop.) As I put more time into practicing playing gets easier. I really like this horn.
3. I had a friend play the horn. He has a $300 cheapie sop and he now wants my sax. :lol: The form factor is also a draw as it fits on our sax stands. I don’t have a solution for the curved Yana sop yet.
So I have decided NOT to trade this sax to my son to get my Yanagisawa back. The notes above D3 are coming easier, especially after I read that post on SOTW about lifting the sop to free up the reed on your lower lip. And my wife sez the sound on the Antigua Winds instrument is much nicer than when I played the Yana. Go figure.