Advice on buying a soprano saxophone

[bettieangel]

I need to buy a soprano saxophone for my son. He has been playing alto saxophone for two years. Suggestions were Yamaha YSS475 and Yanagisawa intermediate (not sure which number). They also said the Yanagisawa S991 being top over the Selmer III 53 series. Anyone had experience with different ones? Is one harder to play than other? Should I go with higher line or not?

[JfW]

No one I know really considers anything Yanagisawa makes as an 'Intermediate' level horn. Intermediates/Step Ups are in my opinion, a waste of time when 'Pro' level instruments generally cost relatively little more.

You are probably thinking of the Yanagisawa S901 which is a budget-pro type of model.

[SuiZen]

Yamaha and Yani are good choices, and also consider the Antigua. I'd go with the Yani over the YSS475, but it's decent if price is a factor.

http://saxontheweb.myforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=3363

Bill

[Dave Dolson]

Bettieangel: Is one harder to play than the other? That question cannot be answered . . . they are both good sopranos (Yanagisawa and Yamaha). Some of us prefer Yanagisawa and others prefer Yamahas. So much depends on the individual player, his particular mouthpiece/reed set-up, and the individual instrument the player is testing. Each saxophone has its own variables - you could line up 100 Yamahas and 100 Yangiasawas and never reach any valid conclusion about which is the better brand.

I once owned a Selmer Serie III sop and when I bought a new Yanagisawa S992 (the bronze straight soprano), I sold the Serie III. This is NOT statistically significant; it is but one experience.

However, for serious work, I play a vintage (late '20's) Buescher True-Tone. I'm not suggesting that you buy your son a vintage horn - he'd probably be laughed out of his school band - until he played it for them. But, I wouldn't get too hung up over the never-ending controversy over Yanagisawa vs. Yamaha vs. Selmer, either. Get him a good soprano and let him deal with it. DAVE

[Buster]

The golden rule when buying a soprano is spend as much as you can afford unless you come across a bargain on a pro horn. You can often get a decent sound from student model altos or tenors but because of the tuning problems with sopranos they need to be precision made rather than churned out. For what it's worth I have a Yanagisawa. You just have to pick up the 901 and look at the build quality compared to "student" models to see this is a pro model.

[Quijote]

If money is not the factor buy Yanagisawa, because intonation of their sops is superior to Yamaha's horns.

[DaveKessler]

I agree that if money is not the factor, the Yani's are the BEST way to go regardless of the skill level of the player.

But if price is a concern, then do read up on the Antigua threads on the board. I have had several people buy them from me and compare them directly up against the Yamaha YSS475 and take the Antigua every time.

[Howlin]

I have owned only two sopranos - a Yanagisawa Elimona,which had easy keywork and great tone and my present horn a MkVI which has slightly less agile keywork, but a richness of tone not often found in modern saxophones. If picking between Yam and Yan at similar price/feature level I would go for the Yanagisawa for the resale value. More important is that your son should like the keywork and tone of the horn and as you will be spending a significant amount get his teacher/tech to have a look at it PRE-purchase.

[bettieangel]

As if I weren't confused enough on the soprano sax, now all I hear is DON'T BUY ONE! He won't be allowed to play it at school. Our church orchestra rarely uses one. Sooooooooo, I am clueless. He says he will play it anyway for enjoyment, but I am in total confusion. I had no idea it was such a problem. Also, there is nowhere here to try one out or anything. So tell me, oh faithful soprano players........waste of money or not to get one?

[SuiZen]

You can get one to three, e.g., different makes/models, from Woodwind&Brasswind for a 45 day trial. If you decide not to buy, you are out the cost of shipping.

http://www.wwbw.com/brand/?d=9&dd=954727704&sd=954727781&b=57

Bill

[oppai]

I witheld pursuing the soprano sax until 8 years after I started on the alto. It is a more difficult to sax to play in tune than the larger alto or tenor, amongst several other factors.

However if your son is genuinely interested in the soprano and is willing to learn, then by all mean he should go ahead- regardless of whether he's allowed to play it in school or if the orchestra caters for soprano.


Personally I own and play a Yanagisawa s991 - a great soprano sax. The only negative experience I have with it is that the lacquering was somewhat cheesy soon after I bought it brand new, but most people who own one never had such problem.

[George]

In terms of the "Don't buy one" comment:

Most school based orchestra/band programs do not like the students to play a soprano. This was the case when I was in high school and after I had graduated and become a more accomplished player I kept in touch with my director. A few years ago we had a conversation regarding students and soprano saxophones. The main reasons my directors wouldn't allow students to play a soprano had to do with the fact that most "average" students could not keep a soprano in tune, much less get a decent tone. Granted, there are exceptions and your band director/church may have different reasons.

[Dave Dolson]

Buy - buy - BUY! No one here told you not to - we all encourage you to do so. The soprano is a wonderful horn - I've played one (actually many) since I was in high school (late '50's).

True, I did not play it in band, but then again I wasn't IN the band. I played in a private Dixieland combo from the beginning of my playing career.

My daughter played alto and soprano in her award-winning high school band and there were soprano parts for her. I have a photo of her playing it at a high school band festival at Disneyland. She STILL plays it (at age 40), along with alto, flute and piano (mostly for her church). Even if your son doesn't play it in church or at school, they are SO neat that if he wants to play it, he should have one - for life. DAVE

[benjamin1979]

buy the yani man. better intonation and tone.

[Dr G]

[b]As if I weren't confused enough...

By all means, buy something! Given the short amount of time your son has been playing, have you considered upgrading his alto sax rather than buying a soprano? Granted, a lot of us here own soprano saxes, some own many, a few even play them well.

If I had to make the decision, I'd opt for having one really good horn rather than two (or more) so-so instruments. If a person doesn't have good horns to play as their skills progress, there may come the dreadful day when they just give up because, however hard they work, they progress no further.

But sops sure are fun... and they are a lot safer than motorcycles. :roll:

[Billy The Fish]

Hey if he is committed, and wants one, and you are prepared to buy him one, go for it !

I love my soprano. I may sound like I am beating angry cats with a wet sock when I play it, but I enjoy it and that's what counts :D . I have absolutely no regrets about buying mine to supplement my main horn (a tenor), but it is certainly more difficult to play in tune. As long as that won't frustrate your son, I am sure he will love it. He can play the alto in the school band, and the soprano for pure enjoyment. After all, for most of us, it is the enjoyment that is the important. If we don't have that, why do we do it ?

If it counts for anything, I have a Yamaha YSS-475, and like it very much. It fit well with my price range, and is a good early intermediate horn (it is not simply a student horn) at a nice price. I cannot compare it with the Yana sop as I haven't played one, but I have played yani altos and tenors and they are great horns too (although for altos and tenors I sit firmly in the Selmer camp....for now :wink: ). The yanis are a little better than the yamaha equivalents in my view (the YTS and YAS 475s), at a little higher price. You pay your money and take your choice as the saying goes.

Billy The Fish

Billy The Fish

[3saxes]

Buy a Yani! I have owned Selmers, Keilwerth, and hands down the Yani is the best soprano I have played or owned. I own an S9930 and have an SC9937 on order for October delivery. I wouldn't suggest the silver series for your son, but the S991 or S992 (Bronze) are excellent alternatives as well.