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Yani T901, good horn?

19K views 23 replies 22 participants last post by  Pete Kelly  
#1 ·
Well at the moment im mainly an alto player, but i do play tenor as well. Im currently on a rather old and quite frankly broken yani that is loaned from the county music service and im keen to buy my own tenor. I was looking at the T901 as an option. Good horn or not? Bare in mind im grade 8 on multiple instruments and do regular gigs so I really need a decent sax.
 
#2 ·
The T901 is a great horn value. Yanagisawa only makes pro level horns and the T901 is all that. I've used one for several years with no problems. I did get a bronze neck to compliment mine. It gives me a little more subdued and spread sound.
 
#21 ·
Since this old thread has been resurrected, I'd better keep myself honest. My T901 is now backup. I prefer my 1936 10M, which has an upper register the T901, or I suspect any modern sax, can't equal.
 
#9 ·
I actually just play tested a new T901 vs a new T991 (both lacquer) yesterday (along with my trusty Martin for comparison).

There are some noticeable ergo improvements on the 991, I thought, especially the placement of the low Eflat key. Also, the 991 is heavier and feels much more solid.

The biggest difference for me was the consistency of the tone quality moving from the lower register to the second register: the 901 has a nice big bottom end, but seems to lose it a bit in the second octave. The 991 was nice and big throughout.

Factory set up was great on both, BTW.

Worth 2Gs more? I guess that's impossible to answer, but I would have a very hard time dropping $2500 on the 901 after playing the 991.


Rory
 
#16 ·
Worth 2Gs more? I guess that's impossible to answer, but I would have a very hard time dropping $2500 on the 901 after playing the 991.
I have no idea where you guys are shopping. T991s from wwbw, sam ash, and other places like that are $3329. I got mine new from Kessler for $2895. I believe a T901 is $2200 or so there.
 
#10 ·
Hey Hey,

I can't recommend the T901 enough, great great horn that feels better each time I play it. I do want to try other necks as well as the high-end does seem to thin a bit, but really that could be just be my playing.

Good luck.
 
#13 ·
i thought the only made saxes...
or am i misinterpreting this?
 
#14 ·
I purchased a brand new T901 for about $2000 about a month ago. Until then my experience with Yanagisawa had been my prior ownership of a A992 alto. That horn had the best keywork of *any* horn I've played and I have owned modern altos made by all the big four. I loved holding this horn and just keying notes. However, I went through almost a dozen mouthpieces trying to find one that would give me the tone and response I desired to no avail. I don't think this was me, because even when I listen to some professionals playing the A992 I dislike their tone as well. There is just some quality of the A992 sound that is unique but that doesn't agree with me. This is why I recently purchased a Selmer Serie III and I am now very comfortable with the kind of tone and response I get. Unfortunately, the Serie III does not have the ergonomics of the Yani -- at least for my hands. The positioning of its right hand side keys is too low so my neutral hand position naturally falls on the high E key. On the Yani, my neutral position is on the side C key which allows me to keep my fingers closer to the keys especially on the side Bb.

Okay, getting back to the T901. I'm primarily an alto player. I've never put too much time on the tenor because I've never liked my sound. However, with the T901, a Vandoren V16 T7 HR mouthpiece, Optimum lig and a Legere 2.25 reed, I am getting a big kick out of playing this horn. It is the best tenor + setup I have ever played. It has a big bottom end and with my setup altissimo sings. This horn plays so well, I'm starting to wonder if my A992 was just a dud or poorly setup? While the T901 has just the right resistance and response, the A992 was too resistant and had a slow response. Is it possible that Yani's ribbed construction of the 991/992 negatively affect its response? Or, was it the bronze? Would I like and A901 or A902 better than the A992 I owned? Would I find a different response in the A991 or are Yani's tenors just that much better than their altos?
 
#15 ·
Okay, getting back to T901. I'm primarily an alto player. I've never put too much time on the tenor because I've never liked my sound. However, with the T901, a Vandoren V16 T7 HR mouthpiece, Optimum lig and a Legere 2.25 reed, I am getting a big kick out of playing this horn. It is the best tenor + setup I have ever played. It has a big bottom end and with my setup altissimo sings. This horn plays so well, I'm starting to wonder if my A992 was just a dud or poorly setup? While the T901 has just the right resistance and response, the A992 was too resistant and had a slow response. Is it possible that Yani's ribbed construction of the 991/992 negatively affect its response? Would I like and A901 or A902 better than the A992 I owned? Or, was it the bronze? Would I find a different response in the A991 or are Yanis tenors just that much better than their altos?
JoAnn -
Glad you found a setup that speaks well [for you] on your T901 !

I've read a lot of accounts here; mostly favorable about the 992 Alto,
but that doesn't mean that everyone will find them to their particular liking.

With that said, I have a T902 and it is one of the best tenors I've played
new or vintage, and I use to have a nice little stable of classic tenors, but
recently had to thin the herd, as they say. :(

I can't say the non-ribbed contruction makes the difference or even that
the Bronze is without question doing the trick, but this tenor is excellent
and gives me exactly what I want.

That said, I have my eye on a 902 alto as my next purchase, and would
want to try it before trying a 992, based on my experience with the tenor
equivalent.

I would like to try the 901s in tenor and alto also, because they may in
fact be just fine .. hard to know for sure without trying 'em .

I had a T880 and that was a great one also, and the 880 alto was the first
Yani I tried; about 7,8(?) yrs ago - can't remember exactly .
 
#17 ·
I could'nt agree more with Jacoeid. The best place to buy Yanagisawa horns is at KesslerMusic.com. I have bought three horns from them so far. They have the best prices and offer the best service hands down. Dave and his Dad are the nicest people and will never steer you the wrong direction. I have done business with Prowinds, Sam Ash, USA Horn. KesslerMusic is the best. The T901 will not leave you wanting. It is a top pro horn all the way. You can play it for life and won't have to be switching horns later down the road. EricM
 
#23 ·
I had a Yani A901 for a while. It was a fantastic playing horn!!! I really loved it!! But, I had an opportunity to make money on it and I did.

However, it felt lighter, cheaper than my other horns. Even my wife commented on the 'cheap' feel.