Characteristics of pre-900 Tenors

[Fred]

I've got a "Martin" tenor sax marketed by Leblanc and made by Yanagisawa back in the late 70's (I think). Unlike the similar "Martin" alto I have, there is no marking as to which Yanagisawa model it actually is. Does anyone know for sure what model went into these saxes, or does anyone know of any pictorial or verbal guides to identifying older pre-900 tenors?

BTW: The tenor does not have an underslung octave mechanism like the alto does.

[Fred]

OK - it would appear that nobody knows for sure on this one.

Plan B - Can anyone provide the name or contact information for a person you believe to be knowledgable about older Yani's? I have contacted (emailed) Leblanc with the same request (Plan A and Plan B), but thus far no response. I've decided not to hold my breath. And I believe Yanagisawa is a privately held company - I can't even find a website or get the name of anyone to contact there. Have we really gotten to the point that what transpired in the 70's and 80's is so far in the past that all that information is lost? Hope not . . . :roll:

[heinz]

Hi,

this guy appears to be selling an early 70s yana tenor:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2515755177&category=23 298

I play a 800 tenor which was built in the 80s. The intonation is not as perfect as with the 900 or 901 (but still above average) and the sound is a bit more brighter.
You can tell the difference from the serial numbers and from minor changes of the keys - there is no "slide" (?) for b/b-flat/c#.

Please excuse my disgraceful use of english ;-)

Heinz

[Fred]

Heinz, there is NOTHING disgraceful about your English. The world community has my respect in their ability to communicate in more than one language. I wish that I could do as well as you do.

My pre-900 has the rollers on LH table, and the serial number is 11791XXX. Because it was sold as a Martin, it doesn't give the Yana model number. Do you know the difference between an 800 and an 880? My tenor must have been made around the same time my alto was, and the alto is actually marked 880 even though it has Martin on the bell.

Thanks for your response. This topic was getting pretty lonely. :D

[heinz]

Hi Fred,

thanks a lot for the compliment about my language 8)

You can tell the year of production of a 70s yana from the serial numbers. 1179... sounds very much like a yana number of an instrument built in 1979. In that case it is a pre-800/880s tenor because they changed serial numbers with the introduction of that series in the early 80s. My 800 tenor has a serial number with fewer digits beginning 122... indicating that it is a 800 series. It gives no model number, which is normal because yanagisawa starting engraving model numbers only with the 900/901 series in the 1990s.

As with the difference between the 800 and 880 I think that the 880 series was sold under the tradename "elimona" which was engraved into the instrument. But I am not sure about this as I have never seen one.
Its a pity yanagisawa give no information about their older instruments at their homepage.
They are very good instruments, if you ask me...

Heinz

[Fred]

I agree, Heinz . . . I wish Yanagisawa provided more information. Also, the Yana's aren't yet "vintage" so the vintage sites don't have anything to offer either.

One thing though . . . my Yanagisawa "Martin" alto is marked "880", and I've seen some Yana's marked "5" (for the A-5 or T-5). Just goes to show how badly we need Yanagisawa to help out with the whole story.

Thanks again!

[ReedSplitterRev]

I found this brief Yanagisawa history page as I was researching my 880 tenor... http://www.bandm.co.uk/YanagInfo.htm .
Not all the 880's are Elimona's (mine is not), although I do not know what the differences are. The 880 seems to be the precursor to the 990, same double arm on low C etc.

If it means anything, I feel these are great horns. My sax tech echo's this opinion and keeps convincing me to keep it and not replace it as there is nothing in its price range that can compete with it. Pretty cool.

I'm looking for an 880 soprano to go along along with my tenor.

[alonwolman]

I used to own a 70's Yanigasawa tenor, just like yours, without any model number or description, just a simple engraving and a serial number. It was a great horn with a sweet sound. I got it in perfect condition. I played it a lot as a beginner tenor player, and I really loved it. I was told it's body is shaped like a cross between a Super 20 and Mark Vi. One problem with it though, was, though, it had weaker metal and had a tendency to bend or scratch.

Alon

[Patkingcole]

I'm trying to figure out what model of Yanagisawa I have. The horn is engraved Martin, but the neck says Yanagisawa and also the body above the serial number. The body looks most like an 880 with ribbed construction, double arms on the low C and C#, has fine pin type mechanisms on the side Bb, side C, and octave key. Other things appear more like an 800, like a conventional neck piece (not underslung), and slightly lighter in weight than the 880. Also the left pinky cluster is not as well contructed as the 880 ... the low Bb does not rock. The horn plays great and seems a little brighter sounding than the 880. The serial number is 78500093 if that helps.

Thanks

P King

[Fred]

Interesting question. Did you recently purchase the tenor off ebay? I saw one like that recently and was equally confused. The 78 in the sn probably dates it to 1978 - too early for an 880. Did Yani make a T6 tenor? I've never seen one - A6's yes, but never a T6. My Martin Yani is from 79 and it doesn't have double armed keys - probably an 800.

[Patkingcole]

Thanks Fred,

The sax is an alto, but your answer would apply in either case I think. The person I bought it from said they bought it new in 1985. Its a mystery I guess. Its a really fine horn, but it's strange that it is so finely constructed everywhere except the left little finger cluster. It's not bad it's just not as good as the other Yani pinky clusters.

Thanks,

P King

[Fred]

I assume there aren't any other markings that would betray a model number. Sometimes prior to the 800 series, the model number was a single digit (4, 5, or 6).

I have two Yani Martins: an alto clearly marked 880 (00102XXX) made in 1980 according to published serial number charts. I also have a tenor with no model number markings at all (11791XXX) which I assume was made in 1979 because it seems to follow the Yani numbering scheme for that era. I have seen Yani vary their numbering or the sequence of numbers (put the year in a different position) in stencils though.

My alto has all the normal 880 features; the tenor doesn't have double arms or an underslung octave mechanism. I ASSUME the tenor is an 800, but I really don't know. It's frustrating, I know, to not be able to find out these things for sure (at least not easily). However, it could be worse. I have yet to see one of these saxes that didn't play well. It could have been some other brand and been both a dud and a mystery! :lol:

[lensax]

I have done some research and have found that the majority of the horns produced between 78-84 are infact T500s and not T800s. Not sure if there is any discernible difference between these two horns. I think it could be a marketing thing like Yamaha which marketed the YAS/YTS32 in Asia-Pac and YAS/YTS52 in Nth America.