Dave Dolson: Un-lacquered Yana alto

[MB-913]

Dave

I saw you have many posts here and I considering you've good experience for Yana horn. I'm using their A-901 alto and interested to upgrade my alto in the coming next few months. Have you ever test or heard anything about their Un-lacquered A-991 and A-992 ? These Un-lacquered will be my choice.

I've heard the Un-lacquered YAS-82Z sound much better than difference with their lacquered model. I believe Un-lacquered finished will influenced the sound to a certain degree. However, I prefer Yana more for alto.

All the information I can get now is http://www.saxophones.co.uk/index2.html

[Dave Dolson]

MB-913: Sorry - I have no experience with unlacquered saxophones, unless silver-plated horns are unlacquered (and I'm not sure whether they are or are not lacquered). I've owned a Yamaha silver-plated sop (YSS62S) and a Serie III silver-plated sop and I don't think either of those were lacquered. They had completely different tonal qualities (the Selmer being superior to my ears).

My old Buescher True Tones are silver-plated and the best one (and my best soprano ever) appears to have a lacquer coating over the matte-silver plating. My TT alto in matte-silver plating appears to have no lacquer - and it plays great (the best alto I've played).

Frankly, I don't know if my bronze Yanas are lacquered or not. The finish is nice on all of them (three models) and has not deteriorated. All of my Yanas sound great, too. DAVE

[T.S.]

Dave-

I've played both the lacquered and unlacquered 82z's alto and tenor. I find the unlaquered to have a dark, centered, but warm core to it. The lacquered models I tried were much brighter and contemporary sounding using exactly the same MP and reed (STM Florida 9* Link on tenor, and Rover metal #9D on alto)-I was surprised at how drastic the difference in sound was. Both are great, but it depends on what you're looking for. I prefer the unlacquered, though I wonder how much of a pain the lack of finish woul be in the long run.
I've not seen the unlacquered 991's or 2's, but I love the 992 and would imagine it to sound even more beautiful.

[DaveKessler]

Just to chime in on one point:

The standard Brass and Bronze Yani models are both lacquered. The Silver Plated models do not have lacquer over top the silver.

We also have not had un-lacquered Yani model before so have no clue how they are.

[MB-913]

Just to chime in on one point:

The standard Brass and Bronze Yani models are both lacquered. The Silver Plated models do not have lacquer over top the silver.

We also have not had un-lacquered Yani model before so have no clue how they are.



Now, the un-lacquered is ready at saxophone.co.uhk :

http://www.saxophones.co.uk/index2.html

How does it look & compare with teh UL-YAS-82Z you think ?