[mi000ke]

So the brand new Z has been sitting here in plastic for the past few weeks while I resolved some issues with the seller. That done, I finally got to play it for about 30 minutes on Saturday, took it to a gig on Sunday, practiced on it Monday and Tues, and took it to band practice yesterday. So after about 10 hours or so of playing on it (while my VI lies weeping in its case), here are my impressions.

Pro:
It's lighter than my VI
It has a beautiful focused core sound
less resistance that my VI - I can play softer and subtone much easier - but the volume is there when needed
I especially love the low register on it - the notes just ooze out vs. the VI
The ergos are amazing, although I am still getting used to the key placement
The action is also superb, as is the intonation.

Con:
The sound does seem to lack a little character vs my VI, but that may be just a matter of learning how to play the Z
It seems much less solidly built than the VI, especially the key work. I am expecting a lot more visits to the tech vs. my VI which just seems to go forever between tune-ups and oil changes.
Sticky keys - I searched here and found that a lot of people have had this problem. A brand new sax, and the bis, G#, C# are already sticking so much that the sax was almost useless at practice on Wed. So the horn will already cost me a visit to the tech. I never had a key stick on my VI (or my other yamis) , and I do nothing special at all.
Leakage - I am getting way more water coming out of the top of the horn than I do with the VI (maybe the shape of the neck?)

Net opinion so far - I love this sax, and after I get it adjusted by my tech I will be hard pressed to figure out when to play my VI.

 

[hgiles]

I tend to think people see 'evenness of scale' as 'lacking in character'. And evenness of tuning, refinement of ergos, balance of weight etc... Play it a while and you'll start to see what i mean.

The 82z is quite sturdily built. It only 'feels' light and deft. Enjoy it!

 

[Dr G]

Sounds like the Mk VI needs a trip to the tech as well.

 

[Stephen Howard]

Try a bit of cigarette lighter fluid on the pads - Yamaha pads can be sticky from new.

The water thing is just how the water tracks down the bore. It may change once you get a bit of grime down it (as you will, in time).


Regards,

 

[mi000ke]

Sounds like the Mk VI needs a trip to the tech as well.

You're probably right about that - just as soon as I get the Z up and running. Meanwhile the VI goes to a gig tonight.

 

[Borganiboy]

The Z is a special horn in my book.They sing.

 

[Jazztenor87]

My tech installed a roo pad on my 82z's sticky C# and it fixed it just fine.

 

[CONN-hunter]

hmmm, getting tempted to try one specially for the superb keywork.

Yamaha, back to the roots.

 

[Borganiboy]

hmmm, getting tempted to try one specially for the superb keywork.

Yamaha, back to the roots.

I said this many times here but for my hands yamaha cant be touched for ergonomics.There so fast,slick and comfy and build is fantastic.The Z is there finest hour for me.I had a bunch of z's and i will get another for sure.

 

[CONN-hunter]

I said this many times here but for my hands yamaha cant be touched for ergonomics.There so fast,slick and comfy and build is fantastic.The Z is there finest hour for me.I had a bunch of z's and i will get another for sure.

and the supposed "lack of character doesn't disturb you?

 

[mi000ke]

and the supposed "lack of character doesn't disturb you?

I assume you mean the sax....

 

[mi000ke]

BTW, I have been playing the 82z exclusively the past 6 weeks or so, and still find the ergos to be sweet, and the sound is starting to approach my VI, except I find the highs to be a bit fatter than the VI (which I like) but the lows to be a bit thinner. Keys still sticking but I'm wiping the G# and bis after playing and it's not quite as bad as before. Also , Dr. G was of course correct - I brought the VI to my tech and there were lots of leaks and loose stuff, so can't wait to get that one back as well. And while I certainly lack character, it does not seem to be affecting the sound of the Z too much.

 

[Borganiboy]

and the supposed "lack of character doesn't disturb you?

You must mean the player lacking character.Any top flight pro horn is great with there own vibe and character.Its just which 1 feels right to you.Selmer have that french core thing going on.Yamaha have everthing going on,great Consistent horns,great sound,free easy blower,huge projection,great intonation,the best ergonomics,top build and did i mention that great Z character.Well for me.Each to there own likes but there so so many have jumped on Z wagon for the above reasons.Yanagisawa are also amazing horns but i dont get away much with there tenors.I still think there great but we like what we like.As for the character thing thats another 1 of them silly myth things i think.Alot of people who just play selmer think the world ends there.Selmer do have a special thing but the other top horns have there own thing also.

 

[stormott77]

BTW, I have been playing the 82z exclusively the past 6 weeks or so, and still find the ergos to be sweet, and the sound is starting to approach my VI, except I find the highs to be a bit fatter than the VI (which I like) but the lows to be a bit thinner. Keys still sticking but I'm wiping the G# and bis after playing and it's not quite as bad as before. Also , Dr. G was of course correct - I brought the VI to my tech and there were lots of leaks and loose stuff, so can't wait to get that one back as well. And while I certainly lack character, it does not seem to be affecting the sound of the Z too much.

I played 3 VIs against one Z the other day. They had a similar vibe. The Z had a more compact sound and brighter sound. There were a lot of mids and highs in the sound. The VIs had all that and then a lot more lows. The Z had a nice core to it just like the VI.

 

[Borganiboy]

I played 3 VIs against one Z the other day. They had a similar vibe. The Z had a more compact sound and brighter sound. There were a lot of mids and highs in the sound. The VIs had all that and then a lot more lows. The Z had a nice core to it just like the VI.

As many think the Z is the new modern MKVI.i think so also.

 

[JazzFox]

Back in the fall of 2008, whilst trying out every tenor that PM Woodwind had to offer, looking for "my" horn, I tried a killer Yamaha 82Z. It was a killer horn, and I could have had it brand new for less than what ended up being my '75 VI. I got down to those two. I played them side by side and in front of a few different people and got opinions. They were close. Hell, ergonomically speaking, they were the same horn, I swear it.
In the end though, the VI just had something more to it. The Yamaha sounded similar to it, but seemed like it was lacking that special something that the VI had. Now, maybe the 82Z just needed a good break in (I just thought of that now), but I am happy with my selection and my VI continues to be a strong performer. Still, had I not played the '75 VI, I might have left that day with the Yamaha. They surely are killer horns.

 

[Wagspdx]

I've got a yts-62 that leaks in the same spot as yours. Kinda annoying, keys get slick. 10 years old so I doubt if it will stop doing it. Still, its a really nice horn, great intonation and ergos. I recently changed to a Warburton mpc that makes my old Martin sound really nice and I find I'm not playing the Yam as much now. Still, Yamahas are nice horns at a decent price.

 

[Bill C]

try rubbing a little old english lemon oil on the pads.

 

[Borganiboy]

I said this many times here but for my hands yamaha cant be touched for ergonomics.There so fast,slick and comfy and build is fantastic.The Z is there finest hour for me.I had a bunch of z's and i will get another for sure.

Well i did get another Z,my last silver plate Z is back with me.

 

[EsbSpecial]

I got a chance to blow on a three or so year old Z over the weekend. That is one hell of a horn. My 61 stood up to it pretty well, my 10m made them both cry for their mommy, but the Z was a solid horn. They just...work. Simple, intuitave keywork.