[Hyronious]

I'm looking to upgrade from my YAS-275 after 5ish years of playing, and while looking around, found a Yamaha 82Z Copy Alto Saxophone available for a bit under $700 USD. (I live in New Zealand, $800 NZD) Having been looking at saxes more towards the $2000+ price range (I'm confident that I will keep playing for years, so am prepared to make a good investment) this seems pretty cheap for a good Yamaha.

From what I've seen in the last 30 minutes researching it, the 82Z is an excellent sax, so I was just wondering how the copy would sound?

It is on auction now, finishing before I will have a chance to try it out, but I might be able to get the seller to hold it for me if it doesn't sell, so I can try it out.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if I don't reply quickly after this, I may be away from the computer for a day or two.

EDIT: One more thing, it is a Black Nickel finish, no idea if that makes a difference to the tone or value. Looks pretty cool though :mrgreen:

 

[Pete Thomas]

A copy of a yamaha may be absolutely nothing whatsoever as good as an actual Yamaha, or sound anything like iot. Is it a (1) brand that purports to be an exact copy, or (2) is it a counterfeit with the Yamaha brand on it.

If (1) it might be OK or it might be crap. If (2), steer well clear of it.

 

[Nevillesax]

Ehh...they all say they're a copy of a yamaha or Selmer...hard to imagine its gonna be any better than your Yammy. Be good to try though.
I tell you what though...don't know whereabouts in NZ you are, there's a couple interesting horns on Trademe at the moment...2 King Zephyr Altos...not cheap but the one in ChCh looks very pretty...relacquer maybe?
You could keep an eye on the MKVI but that has some time left to pick up $.
The one I would look at trying is the Dorfla & Jorka Stencil in Auck http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-inst...-instruments/Saxophones/auction-392386499.htm
If it is a good one, all worked up, playing well and the intonation is ok...well the sound is probably gonna make your Yamaha pee it's pants.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

What you'll probably find with the Chinese Yamaha 62 copies are poor materials used, poor build quality and poor reliability. Tuning may be suspect at best, but don't expect it to play like or better than an 82Z or a 275.

 

[hgiles]

Yeah, I saw an ad for a vacuum this morning that said:

"It swivels, just like a Dyson!"
"...doesn't lose suction, just like a Dyson!"
"...filters the air, just like a Dyson!"
.
.
.... "just like a Dyson."

All I know now is I want a Dyson and can't even remember the name of the other vaccuum.

 

[Fltenor]

Ask yourself this question. Is a copy (not the real deal) of an 82 Z really an "upgrade" to what you have?

 

[Ribeiro]

I'd stay far away from copies... There are other options out there! Just keep looking. I recently upgraded from a Student model from Buffet and got a Yamaha 62 with only 3 years e mint condition for half the pprice of a new one...

 

[Pete Thomas]

And would buy a copy of a BMW?

 

[Hyronious]

Thanks for the response guys!

Seeing as I won't have a chance to try it out before I pay I've decided to pass on the copy.

Also won't be around a computer for about a week starting in about an hour, so I'm not taking too close a look at trademe again until I get back.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

Also won't be around a computer for about a week starting in about an hour, so I'm not taking too close a look at trademe again until I get back.

It's a 'pick a name, any name and we'll lazer etch it on for you' one. One factory producing identical (within reason) instruments with countless brandnames!