Yamaha YTS-52

[Tenorsaxer]

I recently got a YTS-52 in good condition. I am going into highschool and I am going to use it for everything. Marching, Symphonic, Jazz, Pep. Maybe even some small gigs if i can get any.

Is this a good horn to play in college? By that time thought I will probably just get a mark VI or a selmver series III. I do plan on playing gigs with it, what size I do not know.

Is it a satisfactory solo horn for high school, college, pro gigs?

thanks.

[Storamin]

I recently got a YTS-52 in good condition. I am going into highschool and I am going to use it for everything. Marching, Symphonic, Jazz, Pep. Maybe even some small gigs if i can get any.

Is this a good horn to play in college? By that time thought I will probably just get a mark VI or a selmver series III. I do plan on playing gigs with it, what size I do not know.

Is it a satisfactory solo horn for high school, college, pro gigs?

thanks.
Don't march it. I marched my YAS-52 for 2 years and utterly regret it. You want to keep that baby in prime condition. March on a student horn of your own or the schools.
As for being satisfactory, more than yes. That horn will take you through high for sure. College, too I believe.

[Tenorsaxer]

Wow, thanks a lot Storamin.

[Morry]

I marched for 3 years of high school with a brand new YAS-61, and kept it in mint condition. It can be done, but you have to be very careful, and protective of your horn.

[Carlos Morales]

YAMAHA TENOR SAX 62 - MINT CONDITION!

Email for pictures...

Carlos
camorales63@hotmail.com

[Dan000892]

Before I start my actual post, I'm going to have a mini rant...

DAMN IT! Everywhere I go: OVERPRICED YAMAHA YTS62 NEW!!!!! That isn't even remotely relevant in this post! I can *almost* understand the post where a guy was looking for a horn under $2000, but here... where a guy is asking if he'll need to upgrade from a YTS-52 in a year! :evil: BLARRRGGGHHH!!!!


Ok, anyway.... a YTS-52 is a good horn, but not great. It'll last you through high school, but you'll want to upgrade for college. I took my (school's) 52 marching and had no problems with it. I wiped it before stowing it in my case and was careful (Gotta watch out for freshman flute players... they have no idea what they're doing...but I digress). You'll probably want to get a jazz mouthpiece since the stock one is pretty closed.

I went from a YTS-52 freshman (high school) year, to an old Conn (16M?), to a Mark VI (only for one gig :cry:), and then to a YTS-62 for freshman year of college. The 52 is not a pro horn, but it'll (probably) last you til college.

[Storamin]

If you are good, the horn will take you through college.

[Dan000892]

Well apparently Storamin and I don't quite see eye to eye on this one... but at least it's agreed that it will take you through high school.

In the event that you want to upgrade for college, you should be able to resell it for a good price... after all it is a good intermediate horn and its reputation in not likely to change.

[Tenorsaxer]

I have started to do some research and I think that I will buy a reference 54 in a year or two. The horn looks and apparently sounds quite nice. The keywork etc etc. is good supposedley and I would like to check one out.

[Dan000892]

Sounds like you have a plan... just remember to check out a variety of horns before you buy... you may find something you like more, even without the Selmer name, that costs less. Best of luck.

[super20dan]

the 52 may not be labeled a pro horn but shure plays like one. i say this is the best tenor sax for the money in the world. it can hold it own and surpass many full fledged pro horns. i wouldnt hesitate to use one on any gig but dont own one.

[clem]

I certainly agree. A couple of years ago I needed a tenor to take a gig I was offered (I had been on one of my "retirements") and found a 52 w/no dents and good lacquer for $900 at a pawn shop. We settled for $800 and that horn played beautifully for about a year. Then I traded it in on a mint 62 and got my $800 back. The keywork on the two horns is identical, but the posts on the 62 are mounted on ribs, which makes it a slightly heavier horn I've also heard that the brass is a bit different too. The only things I didn't like about the 52 was the plain bell and the yellow color. It seemed to play slightly brighter too. Should be a killer if you're in a marching band.

[saxofunk]

Hey there - I'm new to this forum but not a new sax player (16+ years). Not making any money on sax, but I was a music major and still play out 3-4 times/week. I saw this thread, and figured I'd add my .02 in case someone wants to know.

I have had a YTS52 since 89, purchased new from WW & BW. Right out of the box, it was a decent horn, I used it through college (and did NOT march it). It got me through without problems. I took it in for an overhaul - got the tone holes leveled, new pads, corks, etc... since then it is a screamer. I firmly believe that the 52 has the potential - in the hands of a good tech - to be a great, professional quality horn. It is my main horn to this day.

[rollen]

The 52 is an outstading horn. Especially considering the fact that you can probably sell it in a few year for what you paid for it, if not more. That being said, to make it a really great horn, simply get an upgraded neck. You will be pleasantly suprised for the small investment of a new neck how good that 52 can really sound. Not that they don't sound good stock, the neck upgrade just pushes it up a notch.

If at all possible, use something else for marching.

[Morry]

The Yamaha 52 or Yani 901 are both great horns and great values. It would be hard to get more bang for the buck than either of those. My advice is always "buy the very best horn you can possibly afford". You will never regret having had a quality horn to advance with.

[hodges1]

my advice: don't march with a good horn. while you are out on the field, in a marching band, whether you have a bundy, or a selmer series III in your hand, it will not make a difference. it is different than being in the concert or jazz band. you want a cheap horn for marching band that you don't mind exposing to the elements, ie rain, cold weather, bumping into a bleacher, possible accident, etc. don't take a 52 out there. that is such a shame to risk doing damage to. they are not very cheap anymore. back in my high school days, you could buy a new one for only $600-$700 new, and back then that was a lot of money for those. i wouldn't take mine out on the field. i took my old cleveland out on the field. go on ebay and pick yourself up a used bundy or something for almost very little and use that for marching band. you will thank me later for this advice.

[Media Lint]

Ah, I remember the time we all went on a band trip to Canada and marched all around niagara falls with not only the river water spraying us but a plethora of lawn sprinklers .... oh the humidity! Or the time we marched for the spring parade ... in upstate new york ... in the snow. Winter wasn't quite finished, evidently. Or that time we marched at half time in the rain at an epic football game. Epic, only because we probably had a chance of winning for the first time in years. We lost the game, and probably a good chunk of the instrument maintenance budget. Nah, marching band is a quick death for any instrument.

[GaryLee]

I bought a new Bundy tenor when I was in high school for $400. I passed on a new MK-VI for $750. (We are talking 1968) At the time I didn't appreciate the value of the VI, and after all it was just for marching band anyway. My Mom would have bought me the VI but I didn't want her to spend the extra money.

In addition to High School marching band, I was in a youth band. I marched in many parades, performed at the Calgary Canada Stampead and other rodeos (very dusty), the Seattle Sea Fair (rain) and did a competitive field show tour in the the midwest (rain, humidity and mosquitoes). The Bundy held up pretty well, some minor dents and scratches but no major problems. I even did a few casual gigs on it but after my freshman year in college I dropped my music major to become an engineer and it sat in the closet for 25+ years. I few years ago I started playing again and traveled with the Bundy to the United Kingdom with a community band.

Even if you use the Yamaha in marching band by taking reasonable care it should serve you well through college. Buying a backup horn seems pointless in your case since a decent one would cost almost as much as an overhaul of the 52. Unless a horn gets run over by a truck it can be overhauled, dents removed and pads replaced. If necessary have the 52 overhauled when you graduate from high school.

Others may not agree but even if you had a Yamaha Custom or other pro horn I would give you the same advice. If I had bought the MkVI in high school I could have overhauled it for less than the cost of the used SA80-II that I recently bought to replace the Bundy. In todays market a VI in comparable condition to my Bundy would be worth $$$.

If you decide on a musical carrer after college you may want to upgrade and keep the 52 as a backup. If music becomes a hobby or a side job then you may find the 52 is enough horm for your needs. In either case you have a great horn to play today. Enjoy it!