High F# or No High F# on an 82z tenor

Scott, I had a Z about three or four years ago, UL with the F# key and now I have a UL w/out. I haven't A/B'd the two side-by-side. All I can tell you is that the one I have now is an excellent sax. I do not know if there's a great difference, but I am playing this sax better than I played the other (notice the wording ).

F#

Thanks Gary.

I went to a clinic deal with Jeff Coffin, the sax player with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, among others. Nice guy and a monster player. He's now a Yamaha endorsing artist and is playing an early prototype of the unlacquered 82z. The high F# on his had been removed and closed up.

Scott

...well then, why don't ~I~ play like Jeff Coffin?

The guy is scary man. I've hear a lot of very good sax players, including some big names. He is one of the best I've heard.

And, he has a killer goatee. We all know, the longer your goatee, the better you play sax.

Steve P

Jeff is a killer player.

Regarding the Z tenors, I've played both. My personal view & experience is that each sax, yes even among Yamaha's, differs slightly in personality & character. Some will say that having no high F# makes a difference, however, I don't find that to be my experience. Each horn differs. In fact, I find an even bigger difference among the necks than whether or not the horn has the F# or not.

I'm playing a very special Silver Z with the F# and it kills every Z I've played and I've played several. It outplays my 65 MK VI.

Scott Ramminger said:

Thanks Gary.

I went to a clinic deal with Jeff Coffin, the sax player with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, among others. Nice guy and a monster player. He's now a Yamaha endorsing artist and is playing an early prototype of the unlacquered 82z. The high F# on his had been removed and closed up.

Scott

Click to expand...

Just curious, did they actually remove the tonehole chimney and patch the whole in the horn, or did they just remove the keywork and cap the tonehole?

I play tested a lacquered 82Z, no high F#, against an UL J.C. 82Z with high F# and found them to be significantly different in the altissimo range. The no high F# felt and sounded superior to me.
Here's a photo of Jeff C. Playing his neutered high F# horn with DMB: https://flic.kr/p/3577525970

I would love to get rid of it but it makes G3 a total breeze.