YTS 23 replaces Selmer Mark VI

33977 Views 119 Replies 65 Participants Last post by SaxyJ, Nov 22, 2007

Bodhi

Discussion Starter · Jan 20, 2007

Yep, I replaced my Selmer Mark VI tenor with a Yamaha YTS 23 tenor......and couldn't be happier. Sounds better to me and the action is just fine. The VI was rated pretty highly by the local repair shop too!!

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Chris Peryagh

· #21 · Jan 22, 2007

Deezie said:
I have to admit that the best tenor I ever had was a rented student model yamaha. I liked it better than the 62-II even. Can't figure out why the 62-II was worse, but it was.

You don't half make some 'U' turns! Remember how you said not too long ago:

"I have experianced that this [playing sharp] is a quite common problem across the board with Yamaha's, that's why I won't ever purchase one. Not to be sarcastic or anything but it means your Bari is just broken in, the way Yamaha's really play."

So what gives? You either like them, or you don't.

Make your mind up!

johnvs

· #22 · Jan 22, 2007

Bodhi said:
Yep, I replaced my Selmer Mark VI tenor with a Yamaha YTS 23 tenor......and couldn't be happier. Sounds better to me and the action is just fine. The VI was rated pretty highly by the local repair shop too!!

I'm sure there are some lousy MVI around.
Think you've got one of them.

thehighend

· #23 · Jan 22, 2007

johnvs said:
I'm sure there are some lousy MVI around.
Think you've got one of them.

LOL. I think it's hilarious how the folks with Selmeritis say "You must have got a bad one" whenever another make beats a Selmer (especially a VI). Yet, when a Selmer wins out over another sax, the reason is of course that the Selmer is intrinsically better (couldn't be that the other sax was "a bad one"!).

Here's another hypothesis: the VI was "a normal one," and the Yamaha was "a good one."

Nefertiti

· #24 · Jan 22, 2007

I played a students YAS-23 once and it was killer. I try all my students horns to make sure they are working fine and I've played hundreds of YAS-23's. This one was awesome. They were renting it and I told the Mom if she ever quits not to return it but sell it to me. She ended up quitting and returned it anyways. I had to go out and buy a Selmer Reference 54 to get in the same league as that Yamaha and I still don't know if it's as good since I can't play them side by side. If it plays and you dig it good for you!

tjontheroad

· #25 · Jan 22, 2007

SuperDave said:
Now that we have proof that a 23 is better than a VI, the prices are going to skyrocket!

Yeah, can anyone tell me what YTS23 serial numbers are the ones made with post war metals? Bodhi must have one of those! Very desirable... Oh wait... They'll all made with post war metals :twisted:

rispoli

· #26 · Jan 22, 2007 (Edited)

thehighend said:
LOL. I think it's hilarious how the folks with Selmeritis say "You must have got a bad one" whenever another make beats a Selmer (especially a VI). Yet, when a Selmer wins out over another sax, the reason is of course that the Selmer is intrinsically better (couldn't be that the other sax was "a bad one"!).

Here's another hypothesis: the VI was "a normal one," and the Yamaha was "a good one."

Ok but also consider that here he's talking of the Yamaha entry-level, student-grade model vs. the model that also nowadays most pros continue to prefer to other models....

I have no problems to believe he sincerely thinks so but I think it's normal to react with some questions.
Think to an ebay auction in which the seller states "Selling this beautiful YTS23: I sold my MVI when I got this because I thought it plays better".
Wouldn't you think "Well.... whatever! He has to sell it somehow...." or something like that?

I personally had played both side by side during a training session with a colleague and thought the difference was immense, even more than the price difference would say. He thought so too, by the way, but who knows: probably the name of the VI played its role. Certainly a blind test would have been better...

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Joe Jazz

· #27 · Jan 22, 2007

perhaps a deaf test would have been better?:twisted:

rispoli

· #28 · Jan 22, 2007 (Edited)

Joe Jazz said:
perhaps a deaf test would have been better?:twisted:

How about a braindead test?
I might have done it already

gary

· #29 · Jan 22, 2007

A coupl'a weeks ago I bought a YAS 23 for my daughter; used from a pawn shop and for less than $400.00; doesn't even have an F# key- and the thing wails. I had just bought a Selmer Serie II alto and when I brought the Yamaha home, I had so much fun with it, I played it for the next two days while my new Selmer languished in its case.

Now, I can tell the difference between the two and I wouldn't trade the Selmer for the Yamaha but...the Selmer at 7 times the cost does not give anywhere near seven times an improvement. I could take that YAS 23 out on any gig I do and be comfortable doing it.

BayviewSax

· #30 · Jan 23, 2007

Deezie said:
Why pay the ridiculous prices MK VI's costs when they truly aren't worth that much, only their name and fancy is. The modern day technology has caught up with the MK VI and once a lot more people realize that, they'll save themselves a ton of money and perhaps will be allowed to buy more than one sax because of it.

Chow

Hmmm... I had several new horns, then I bought a VI... not even close. But then, I'm sure that's probably all in my head. I just couldn't be happy without spending several Gs on a horn. Or it could be that the VI has its reputation for a reason. Interesting that the people putting the VI down rarely actually own one. As for the YTS-23, let me know how the corks and pads hold up.

Bodhi

Discussion Starter · #31 · Jan 23, 2007

Cool Posts

Pretty cool posts everyone. Keys and Pads holding out just fine. Alot of pads have been replaced before I got it. As I said the Mark VI was a very, very good horn with the techs have had their hands on many and actually one plays a Bundy Special tenor the other a Pan American and the other....a Mark VI all great Jazz players. I also forgot to mention the YTS 23 I got is a beautiful UGLY horn something like the horn that looks like it was in the Great Chicago fire of 1871 or an Inderbinen http://www.inderbinen.com/ Post ON!!

Martin Williams

· #32 · Jan 23, 2007

I hear ya Bodhi, I sold a 10M out to play a Yamaha 52 tenor!

stevesklar

· #33 · Jan 23, 2007

years ago I sold my Couf Superba 2 ... and in the interim got a Vito (Yam 23). It was a nice full sounding horn .. nice and powerful too. But i since moved on to a 875, CB, Couf Superba 1 and i'm settled on a Selmer mk VII.

Though the Vito certainly would be a great backup - i like the darker lacquer better than the bright lacquered 23 .. scientifically the darker lacquer gives the horn a darker, more complex ..... visual appearance.

Bodhi

Discussion Starter · #34 · Jan 23, 2007

English Beat

Stevesklar, Yeah I had a Mark VII too, that with a Lawton 6 years ago. I can still hear that sound on a gig when we opened for The English Beat.

Bodhi

Discussion Starter · #35 · Jan 23, 2007

Next Move

The next thing is to sell the Florida Otto Link STM 7* and replace it with a Stock link.......

saxplayr2000

· #36 · Jan 23, 2007

All Great Horns

I own a YAS-875EX, a YAS-61 and a YAS-21. While I'm infatuated with the 875EX, they are ALL great horns, solid, good intonation, wonderful tone (although I'll take some credit for that). I bought the 61 new about 35 years ago (Ser# 2XXX - I still have the receipt somewhere) and it is still wonderful! I wouldn't hesitate to play any of them on any gig.

Joe Jazz

· #37 · Jan 23, 2007

I'm waiting for Yamaha to buy out LASAX, so they can come out with a YAS875EXLAX! That will be the ulitimate pooper-scooper of saxophones!:shock:

divisi

· #38 · Jan 23, 2007

Deezie said:
I have to admit that the best tenor I ever had was a rented student model yamaha. I liked it better than the 62-II even. Can't figure out why the 62-II was worse, but it was.

Wow what a contradiction to your remarks in this thread.
http://www.saxontheweb.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=51422

stevesklar

· #39 · Jan 25, 2007

Joe Jazz said:
I'm waiting for Yamaha to buy out LASAX, so they can come out with a YAS875EXLAX! That will be the ulitimate pooper-scooper of saxophones!:shock:

someone needs to lock Joejazz up ... i'm glad he doesn't make sax accessories .. might be quite weird

bt017

· #40 · Jan 25, 2007

Crazy Yamahas, my cents

Just wanted to say that I had a similar experience to Nefertiti. However, I am playing on a conn10M. Anyways, I stuck my freddie gregory on my student's Yamaha bottom of the line student tenor (it was brand new) and the thing wailed for me. EVEN action from top to bottom and the altissimo stuff popped right out for me. Great control way up there. I loved it. WEIRD! HOWEVER, I was talking to the repair guy at our store and he said it would probably be impossible to keep that thing in adjustment for too long. I dunno. Also, it had a HUGE HUGE sound and possibily bigger than my 10M's sounds which is what they're known for. MAN, I think that yamaha would be a good choice for a student or semi-pro.

To hell with what people say, if you sound good on it, and you're comforatble playing it, play it!

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