WWBW prices on new Yamaha models

[pknight]

I received a WWBW sale catalog yesterday, and there is a full-page of the new Yamaha saxes. Price info is below:

YAS62II (lacquer): $1696
YTS62II (lacquer): $1796
Silver add $100 for 62II

YAS82Z (lacquer): $2196
YTS82Z (lacquer): $2546
Unlacquered (Cool!) add $100, silver or black add $200 for Custom Z

YAS875EX: (lacquer): $2496
YTS875EX: (lacquer): $2796 (This price was misprinted in the catalog, so I called and got the correct price.)
Silver or black add $200 for the Custom EX

They don't have all of these in stock now, but these are the prices they will be selling them for.

[Sax on the Beach]

The price for some of those may even be a little less if you call and ask over the phone. I ordered a YTS-62IIS over the phone for $1849, about $50 less than the price in the catalog and posted on the net. Now if it'll just get here from Japan, I'll be in business!!! :lol:

[Morry]

Ok, this was unbelievable...I just went to the WWBW site, and checked their closeout outlet. They listed the 875 Customs (old model), so I took a look. They showed a B-stock lacquer (slight scratches, etc.) for a little over $2600. They also show a Closeout model (brand new, just reduced because it is discontinued) for a bit over $2500. Then, lo and behold, there is a black lacquer 875B (brand new Closeout also) for $1999. Well, the last one I had I paid $3400 for, so I bought it right there on the site.

I wonder if this was a typo of some sort. I've never seen the 875B ANYWHERE for less than $2000. This must have been the last one, because it disappeared from their closeout list after I bought it. I also wonder what my recourse will be if they come back and say it was a mistake on the site?

[Sax on the Beach]

I think that would be their problem, Morry, and that they would have to honor their advertised price. Lucky you!
SOTB :shock:

[Morry]

My order status shows "Shipping", so I hope it's gonna work out. I guess this means I have a YTS-61 for sale...

[kindofblue]

Morry, I'd be interested to hear your opinions on the 875B (when you get it) vs. your 61. I have an older 61, but have never tried the Customs, 82Z, 62, etc.. I play a Selmer Ref36 neck on it with great results, but I have the stock neck as well.

curt_allenATyahooDOTcom

[Morry]

I had an 875B before and loved it, with one exception. It had a little too much stuffiness in D2 that caused a real timbre difference in D2 and E2 that I didn't like. It was a leak/pad height issue, but I never got it resolved adequately. I sold the horn for financial reasons a while back.

I really like the 61 I bought recently, but it is a little free-blowing for me as an alto player (with respiratory problems). It has a bigger sound to it, though, when played by my repair guy who is 70-year old killer player.

To be honest, I really loved the 62 I had back in the early 80's, and kept it for 10 years. I'd love to have it back. I was going to buy a new 62, but this 875B was only $100 more, and I should recoup that on resale, if I decide to.

[Jim S]

Morry - I ordered the black 875 from WWBW early last week. I was like you...I couldn't believe it! Anyway, it's the real deal. It arrived today and is a fantastic horn. I still can't believe they offered that horn for $1999. It is brand new and like other customs I've tried, it plays excellently right out of the case. I played it for about 4 hours today and I am on cloud nine. The action is smooth, the sound is warm and full (a little darker than the lacquer 875s I tried earlier this month...but not too much). The intonation is spot-on and there isn't a blemish on it. All I can say is WOW!!! I've heard some negative things about WWBW but my experience with them was great. Hopefully your as please with your 875 as I am mine. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!

[Morry]

Jim - that is great news. I haven't received any shipping info by email yet, so I'm still apprehensive, but I'm glad it wasn't a typo. Apparently, I got the last one, because the item immediately disappeared from the outlet listing after my order.

I'm glad you like your new arrival. I think they are fantastically made horns, and the solid feel they have in your hands can't be overstated. What mouthpiece are you using? I was switching back and forth between a Ponzol II-V-I and a Barone metal Jazz, finally settling on the Barone.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

[Jim S]

Morry - I'm playing on a Selmer S90 and am currently looking for a jazz piece. I had a long playing layoff (20 years-since high school) and picked the sax up about a year and a half ago. Been steadily working on all the fun stuff (scales, long tones, standards, etc) and building my chops up. Anyway, I'm looking for a piece with a .090 tip opening and am leaning toward buying a new link or meyers and having it refaced...but still not sure yet.

I was also apprehensive, it just seemed too good to be true. I initially asked WWBW to email me the shipping info but ended up calling the customer service dept and got it over the phone. LOL with your order...hope all goes smooth.

[Morry]

Jim, I too am coming back from a layoff. After playing steadily from age 12 to 35 or so, I put the horn down to pursue other interests. After feeling really down after my Mom's death, I realized that I needed something creative and life-affirming to be involved with. So, I picked up the horns again after 7 years, and am playing just for the love of it. I'd like to be involved in some organized gigs again, but I'm enjoying just taking lessons and listening to myself play.

I'm a bit obsessive-compulsive by nature, so I have a hard time keeping myself from trying to acquire every horn I find.

I think I'll call customer service myself tomorrow.

[Joe Jazz]

Morry & Jim-

Geez, wish I'd noticed that deal! Even on closeout WW&BW usually wants a lot more than $1,999 for those horns. For example, they have the 855B on closeout now for $3099! On the older customs they're asking for more (high 2's)than the newer models. You lucky dogs!

[Morry]

Well, my order still says "shipping", not "shipped", so I'm not out of the woods yet. Jim, on the other hand, has his bargain Custom in his possession. I hope it shows up...

[Joe Jazz]

Morry,

I'm going to come to Birmingham and hang out on your street. When the UPS guy shows up, I'll be wearing my Morry disguise! By the way, WW&BW does have disclaimers about not being responsible for typos I understand........

[Morry]

Yeah, I saw the disclaimer, but I would think that applies to accidentally posting the wrong price. If they posted the right price, took my order, but then didn't have any, that almost comes under the heading of bait and switch. I've never had any trouble with WWBW though, so we'll see.

[Joe Jazz]

Morry,

I checked the WW&BW outlet and they list the 875B alto at $2,699, while limited quantities last. So, I guess they figured out they'd underpriced them. Let me know if you get yours....

[Morry]

I got the shipping confirmation email from WW&BW, with a FedEx tracking number, so I guess the 875B tenor is on its way.

[Morry]

Joe, if you wanted the 875B alto, I would give them a call and say "I just talked to a 2 guys on this forum who got the tenor for $1999, and I'd like the alto if you'll match that price". Who knows? It might work.

[SaxyAcoustician]

Morry, you got an 875B TENOR for $2000??? I thought you were talking alto this whole time!!! Lucky guy you are! :o

Jim S, that goes for you too, right?

[Joe Jazz]

Yes, I also thought they had been talking altos earlier....
Morry, I don't want a black lacquer 875 or 855 alto that badly, because I have a silver(my favorite finish) Custom Z alto on order. If I had found a new black laquer 875 or 855 I would have probably jumped on it because of the great deal, and cancelled the Z. As for tenor, I'm happy with my silver Yamaha 62 that I've had for the last few years. Enjoy your new sax at a steal!

[Morry]

Joe, please post your impressions when the Z arrives. I had actually been planning on a new 62II or a Z, but couldn't pass up the deal. Depending on what neck ships with my 875B, I may be ordering a new gold plated G1.

[Joe Jazz]

Morry,

The silver Z is not due to get here till December, but I think it may arrive in September(it took 6 months to get my silver 62 tenor). I had asked about a gold-plated Z alto, WW&BW said it would be $7,700 believe it or not. I think suggested retail is $8,000! Saxboy said Eric Marienthal bought the first silver Z alto available, lucky dog!

[Jim S]

Saxy - Yep it's a tenor. :D

Morry - My 875B has an M-1 neck. Do you have a source for G1 necks? I've looked around a little but haven't been able to find a retailer that's carrying them.

[Morry]

JimS, no I don't, but I going to try and talk my local Yamaha retailer into getting one so I can try it. The 875B I had before had the M1 neck also. If I can get my hands on one, I'll let you know.

[Sax on the Beach]

Joe Jazz-

Did you order your Silver 62II from WWBW? I've been waiting a month now for mine to arrive in Indiana from Japan, they told me that Yamaha pushed back their export date a month. I'm counting the hours until I call them next week...

SOTB

[Morry]

Well, my 875B arrived today. It appears brand new and never played. I don't think there has ever been a mouthpiece on the cork. Just like the 875B I had before, C2, D2 and E2 are very stuffy. Now, I know this is common to most all horns to some degree, but the 62 that I had years earlier never seemed to have a noticeable problem. Even playing C2 using the right hand side key is stuffy, and that is usually the work around fingering for the problem.

I have some questions for someone more skilled than myself...

Does the bore difference in the 875 cause the stuffiness to be more pronounced?

Is it an embouchure problem? My chops were better back then, but I wouldn't think there would be that much of a difference.

Is one type of mouthpiece more succeptable to this problem than other kinds? I've tried a Link STM 6, a Ponzol II-V-I .100, and a Barone Metal Jazz 6*. I'm gonna borrow and try a Yanigasawa metal 7 tomorrow.

I'm thinking about ordering a 62II to try side by side, then return the one I don't like.

[SaxyAcoustician]

Hi Morry.

Did you try a softer reed? I have found that Yamaha Customs require an adjustment in the reed strength towards the softer side. Although they tend to be a tad "stuffy" they shouldn't be THAT stuffy.

[Morry]

Yeah, in fact that's just what I was doing. I took a razor blade to a 3-1/2 I was playing and removed some thickness. Much better now! I think I may just have to really put some time into this horn before I'll know if I want to keep it or not. Unfortunately, WWBW won't have a 62II in stock in time for me to A-B compare them.

One thing that is strange...I've never had much luck with altissimo, but it just pops out of this horn. In fact, I'm having a hard time keeping F#3 from jumping the octave.

I'll be interested to see what difference the smaller bore Yani mpc makes tomorrow.

[Joe Jazz]

Sax on the Beach-

I ordered my silver Custom Z alto(not 62II)from WW&BW, yes. I've done a lot of business with them over the years and have not had any major problems........

[Morry]

Man, I really want to try a Z tenor, but I couldn't pass up this 875B deal. I guess if I find a Z I like later, maybe I can get most of my $1999 back.

[Jim S]

Morry - As you know I'm looking for a jazz piece for my custom. I tried a small chambered Dukoff yetserday and I liked the brightness of the piece. All notes really popped out, especially the high notes...but D2 was stuffy. The S90 I have now causes NO stuffiness on D2 at all. Maybe the piece doesn't project enough to notice but I switched between the two pieces a number of times and the differences for D2 are drastic. I want to try an number of different pieces (chamber sizes, facing lengths, tip openings) and see how they effect D2. It will be interesting to see what pieces work best. Neither of the mouth pieces listed above had C2 or E2 problems on my horn.

[Morry]

I also ordered a YTS-62II from USA Horn to compare with this 875B. I played an old model 62 for years and loved it. I want to try them side by side, and swap necks, trying the G1 on the 875B before I decide.

However, today I went to my local retailer and tried a Keilwerth SX90R for the first time. I may be in LOVE!!! I put that Yani metal 7 on it and, man, that is one powerful horn. As soon as the 62II gets here, I'm taking the Yamahas down there, and try them all in a room together.

Decisions...decisions.