[broosch]

can anyone tell me something about the differences be´tween the Yannis SC900 and SC990 ?

 

[Dave Dolson]

When Yanagisawa came out with the SC99X series, they moved the bell tone holes to the right side of the bell as opposed to where they used to be on the left side of the bell. This also allowed for a modern left-pinky table. DAVE

 

[broosch]

sorry, but these are the differences between SC990 and SC991 (the SC 990 has still the bell tone holes on the left side). I'm interested in the differences between SC900 and SC990 ...(and both of them have the bell keys on the left side)

 

[Dave Dolson]

Well, I was holding my SC902 in my hand just before starting this reply. It is the model that immediately preceded the SC99x series, and my SC902 has the bell tone-holes on the left side of the bell, as all curved Yanagisawas before they recently introduced the SC99X series.

A family member owns an SC992 and I've played several SC991's all of which had the bell tone-holes on the right side of the bell, and the "improved" left pinky table.

Unless I'm missing something, the SC990 (whatever that is) logically is among the newer designed curved sopranos; the SC90X series being the ones that preceded the 99X series. If you still think I am wrong, please provide a photo of an SC990. DAVE

 

[broosch]

Hi DAVE, I don't know how to attach pictures here (don't have them on a website ..)
For the altos and tenors theres the rule that the 99x are somewhat more pros than the 90x series (f.i. underslung octave vs. normal octave mechanism) but I'm not sure about the soprano series ... Bernd

 

[broosch]

just found the link to the auction - tomorrow it will be mine ;-)

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...257&ssPageName=ADME:B:BODO:DE:1#ht_499wt_1154

 

[Dave Dolson]

Okay . . . I suspect the seller has not properly identified the model number. Oh, I could be wrong, but unless someone jumps in here to correct me, I think the horn in that eBay link is an SC901 (or 902, depending on whether it is bronze or brass - looked like brass to me). The serial number is older than the one on mine (a bronze SC902, serial00238xxx). I was unable to read the language used in the auction so I don't know what the seller was claiming.

For what it is worth, I also had an SC901, but didn't need two curvies, so I sold it years ago. The one in the eBay ad is an older model than what is currently being sold new by Yanagisawa.

As far as a 99X being "more pro" than a 90X, not necessarily true, either. In sopranos, the difference between the S901 and the S991 is the dual-neck feature (and maybe hi-G keying). I have an S901 and an S992 and they look the same except for the fixed neck and the bronze body material. And they play VERY similarly.

Lastly, although the horn in the eBay ad may be a previous model, it will most likely be a terrific player AND every bit of a pro horn as are the newer 99X series with the bell tone holes on the opposite (right) side. I'm the sort of guy that would buy the newer 99X style if I thought it was a better horn - the one's I played were equal to my SC902, but not better. DAVE

 

[broosch]

Hi Dave,

I only found one other link mentioning an SC 990:

http://www.woodwindforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3427

Bernd

 

[Dave Dolson]

I fear there was some miss-information on that site you linked. There was a comment that the SC901/2 had the modern left-pinky table like the SC99X sopranos. Not true!!

The modern left-pinky table (I've seen it also called a "tilting" pinky table) came with the switch to right-side bell pads. The SC901/2 horns have the older style (referred to as "Selmer" style in that linked site) left-inky table. Like I said, I owned two and still own one.

I don't know where the model designation "SC990" comes from, other than in that linked discussion AND from the eBay auction you linked. I would hope that someone here more familiar with the fine points of Yanagisawa models could weigh in and corroborate OR correct me. But I think the horn you bought is an SC901 - and that is a good thing. DAVE

 

[LukeAndHisSax]

I have heard that there is no differences in where the holes are cut themselves. But the 990 is ribbed construction, has better pads as well as engraving and has double brace arms.

 

[Dave Dolson]

The S901/2, the S991/2, and the SC901/2 all have ribbed construction. Meaning the only differences between the S90X and the S99X are the necks and maybe the hi-G keying, as I've already posted. There is also an S981 which is just like an S991 except without the hi-G.

The SC90X series preceded the SC99X series and their differences are the placement of the bell pads and the left pinky table, as I've already posted. The earlier SC90X series has ribbed construction.

The question remains . . . what is an SC990? And, if there is such a thing, where does it fit in the S90X and S99X series? DAVE

 

[Dave Dolson]

After posting the last above, I recalled a thread in the YANAGISAWA section, but it did not discuss curved Yanagisawa sopranos, only the straight ones. There was an S990 mentioned but it was from 20 years ago (and was a straight soprano). DAVE

 

[broosch]

Hi Dave, but the SC901 was first produced starting in 1998, but the sax I m,entioned was first bought in 1995 (serial no indicates to production in 1993 or 1994), so if it's no 990 it must be a SC-900. Bernd

http://woodwindforum.com/?page_id=57

 

[broosch]

BTW The thread what's your soprano setup shows another occurence of a SC990 . Hmmm......


Gandalfe
Distinguished SOTW Member and Columnist
Forum Contributor 2010
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Re: What's your SOPRANO setup?
The four sops that I will admit to (read play in public) are (all with various mouthpiece combinations):
Yani S992
Yani SC990
Eppelsheim C sop
Conn F mezzo sop

 

[Dave Dolson]

Only one other poster has joined us in this discussion, so either no one really knows or they haven't read this thread (or I suppose, they don't care).

So here's my assessment of it . . . if there is such a thing, the SC900 was made BEFORE the SC901 because that's how Yanagisawa usually did it. It stands to reason that an SC900 would be more similar in design to the SC901 series than the SC991.

The SC991 came to market with design changes directly from the SC901 . . . changes that were viewed by many, including Yanagisawa, as improvements over the older SC901 (namely the changes that I've already described). My memory is not THAT sharp, but I paid attention when this happened and I distinctly recall that there was no SC990 - they went from the SC901 to the SC991. Unfortunately, Yanagisawa never was known for consistency in their model designations, as pointed out in the Yanagisawa section. So ALL of this is speculation on my part.

Your initial question was what was the difference between an SC900 and an SC990. I answered that as best I could. I THINK I'm correct, but who else knows?

One other thing, while my straight Yanagisawa sopranos have the model designations stamped on them (S901 and S992), neither of my curved Yanagisawa sopranos had such stampings. I know mine is an SC902 (and my SC901) because it is of bronze (the SC901 was lacquered brass) and they were of the earlier design and that's what I specified when I bought them (and which was listed on the sales receipts). But they were not marked as such. If someone claims a curved Yanagisawa is an SC990, let them clarify it here. Otherwise, I think they made a mistake in typing out the model designations. Like I've said many times, i could be wrong. For sure, the one you are buying is of the older design. DAVE

 

[pc1234]

For what it's worth, I've only ever heard of an SC901/902 and an SC991/992. The physical differences between the 90X and 99x models are as Dave Dolson described. As for sound, I own an SC991 and play in a quartet with someone who owns an SC901 and I notice no difference in the sound quality whatsoever - they're both great. Some folks just like the nifty "It looks more like a little alto!"-effect you get with the SC991.