Retired music educator here who played a one-owner Selmer Mark VI alto for 60 years. At 77 I am still a very active player. I was curious about a modern horn and with arthritis starting to affect my hands I wanted a more ergonomic sax. Reluctantly, I sold my 6 to a prominent vintage dealer for $6000 more than I originally paid for it and bought a Yani AWO10 Elite. I could not be happier! Although it is not as mellow and warm in tone, my Yani just feels so great in action and key placement and it blows much more freely with a nice full, round sound. Plus it plays better in tune…VERY even scale!😃🎷
About 20 years ago, I decided to sell my Selmer Super Action 80 Series II. I was able to play a Selmer SA 80 III (with the "harmonic" 2nd neck octave key) vs. a Yanagisawa A992. I was able to play the two horns side by side and I had invited an experienced woodwind-playing friend to listen. After much going back and forth, I found I couldn't hear or feel a significant difference between the two instruments. So, I ended up going for the Yanagisawa on the basis of price. I still play my A992 today.
I've got both, except I've got a 991 plus a 82z. None, imho are as good as either of the Selmer BA's I wished I still had. Oh, I had a MKVI once.... Right back of spanners that was. Awful thing not like my tenor or bari. I seem to be favouring the 82z more at the moment but that might change.
I always had a problem comparing saxophones but since I had an uncle in South Africa playing Selmer Mark Vi I found it amazing that he had a different rich sound than other players. That confirmed to me undisputably that he's playing the most incredible saxophone. It's so funny that when I listened to this video the Yanagisawa seemed to be brighter and already imbued with the beautiful sound and a player doesn't have to struggle to produce a beautiful sound. I have a tenor Mark Vi and a soprano but I would like to buy an alto Yanagisawa as a learning experience. Thanks.
Selmer Paris has a warmer sound which I really appreciate. To me Yanagisawa is much more crisp which i cant listen to for a long time while the Selmer I can listen all night to.
I owned the mark 6 and super action 80 series 2 and series 3. Once I tryed the Yanigisawa awo10 I was hooked at the ease of playing and less effort it took to play so I got one and love it.
Both are fine sounding horns. I own a Reference 54 Alto and the AWO20 Yani but have never tried out the Supreme. My Reference has a beautiful and what I refer to as a husky sound, dark and silky. My Yani has a wonderful tone as well, very focused and sweet with just a touch of brightness over the Selmer. Both horns are constructed by skilled craftsmen and it shows. You couldn't go wrong purchasing either instrument.
There is a lot less difference than I'd thought I would hear personally which does go show its more the player when playing the same way on both. I found the Yani had a dense big sound with noticable highs (something I have noticed with my AWO2, its just a bit less dense sounding) and the Selmer didn't sound as broad but it was darker and more rounded. While I have never played a Selmer saxophone, I love the ergonomics of Yanagisawa saxes and they are very comfortable for me even with my slightly short fingers and I like their more immediate response, which is really helpful when playing low notes.
I own a MK VI and I bought the Selmer Supreme limited edition and also the Yanigisawa AW010. I actually sold my Supreme not long after I bought it just didn't care for the way it played. I really play my Yani more than the MK VI honestly.
JIm and his crew really leveling up on the visuals. I have enjoyed my bronze yani alto, but after hearing this I need to try a Supreme. Such a gorgeous sound.
After comparing every pro model I could get my hands on, I was finally able to try a selmer supreme. I bought it same day and have not looked back. I really encourage you to try one. Everyone is different and has different preferences, but I could not beat the wonderful feel and sound of the selmer supreme on any other pro horn. That yani is still a very good horn though so don’t be too disappointed with it! I hope you get to play a supreme some day, ask around your local music stores, call them and ask if they have any supremes you could try out.
I’ve owned six Selmer Mk VI, a lovely Super Action 80 and have spent time playing about 20 other Mk VI and they varied from fantastic to terrible. I’ve owned 2 Yani saxophones and they were unbelievable in tune, easy to play, pleasantly bright, a perfect design for fingering. I enjoyed a Yamaha 62 soprano. And I played a friends Kielworth tenor built like a tank but i found it bit too heavy and had a different center of gravity. Yani stole my heart right out the box. I was shocked and in deep love with playing the Yani.
I love Yanis too! I will always be a Yanagisawa fan. I have a Yani soprano, a Yani alto, and if I had the right excuse to own 2 tenors, I would get a Yani tenor to go with my VI :)
Thank you for the video, it does tell the tale and confirmed my earlier observations. I play mostly Selmer clarinets (Bb, A, Eb, bass, metal Bb from the 30's) and Buffet Crampon on the C and basset horn; I also play / own Yamaha 875EX for alto and tenor and the Yanagisawa WO10 soprano. I did play Yamaha pro clarinet (SE) for a while and sold it off - beautiful tone but just not enough projection ("guts") after Selmer Privilege. I can confirm: Selmer, both in the clarinets and saxophones, show the tendency towards greater resistance and more focused sound with more punch and acoustic multidimensionality, if you will. Whereas Yamaha and Yanagisawa make absolutely fantastic saxophones (and clarinets - speaking of Yamaha), but, with all the unarguable tone beauty and spot-on intonation, there is a tiny bit of focus and projection found in Selmer saxophones that I find lacking in Yamis and Yanis. Given the substantial price difference between Selmer and Yamaha / Yanis (twice the price, which is a lot!), for me as a doubler (who has to own and maintain a lot of instruments) but not a saxophone specialist, the Yami and Yani give me 100% enough of what I need, I am genuinely happy with them. Might have I been like 10-12% happier with the Selmer? Probably- if I had a few extra grand to spend. I did invest in Selmer clarinets though, and never regretted that decision.
I’ve had the Tenor Selmer SAII 80 since ‘91 and I’m so comfortable with it but my buddy has the Ref 54 and it has a noticeably distinct sound I love and would likely go for it on another Tenor. I needed an Alto last year and after some research picked up the Yani AW020 and it’s been a terrific horn with a solid build, very in tune across the range and excellent projection. Very happy.
Love both horns, I play yani tenor and had a alto too however, the selmer has that mystical vibe and at the end of the day selmer wins on a re sale situation
Great review. Being a long time Yani owner (1987) I found myself having to fight my own confirmation bias. Don’t we all sort of do that? Truth is, they both sounded great. What I would really find enlightening is a 4 way comparison: Selmer Supreme alto Yanagisawa AW20 Yamaha 82Zii and the sax which I would wager that would beat them all handily... Ishimori WoodStone New Vintage alto I have an old Yanagisawa, a silver plated Yamaha 82Zii, and a silver plated Ishimori and for me there is no comparison. I would love for Ishimori to get the recognition they deserve. Am I wrong? Let me know
I’ve had the Yani 020 for a while and tried the supreme, really hoping to like it and buy it. After an hour of demo with a well set up supreme, decided hands down to stick with the Yani. Supreme is a good horn but no better than the Yani. In fact the Yani is better in some ways. I’d rather buy another yani any day.
Nice video. I know very little about sax’s, the Yanigisawa I’ve only seen online so I know nothing about that brand. Been thinking of getting a Selmer SAS711 but have not seen any reviews on it. From what I know seems like Selmer is a well known and a name brand.
I always tell students and others that my 990u has a brightness like Canonball as opposed to a cheesy smooth jazz brightness which can easily be achieved on any horn with mouthpiece and reed I 'm happy to hear someone else make that observation which I feel is spot on.
Yani’s are absolutely fantastic instruments coming from a bit of a Selmer snob. My alto is nothing pretty to look but it’s a Mark VII that I absolutely love.
Regarding this"focused" sound with the selmer, (and this observation applies to clarinets as well) If you play with a more resistant set up, and you are actually playing to people 30 meters away from you, you get a powerful sound. Whereas the yani, is conducive to a slightly less resistant set up. And/but the broad sound is really around you, where you are playing. Not many people realise this.
What a great video. I have been living with the Selmer iii series and the AWO1 now for a few weeks. I need to choose one and the selection has been really difficult. I find what you say here to be true about the horns that I have. Spring tension on my Selmer, however is much lighter (perhaps because it is 20 years old). The selmer has been my horn for 20 years. When I picked up the Yani the first thing I noticed was the spring tension. Second was the palm key placement which felt lower (vertically) than the selmer. This caused me to have to change my left hand position a little which was not a big deal but different. Third was purely cosmetic... The Selmer feels more luxurious. The lacquer seems very thick if that makes sense. No sharp edges anywhere. The Yani is already showing lacquer wear which seems common according to reviews online. Some sharp edges on the Yani too, especially the top of the palm keys. As far as how they play, yes the Yani is much more free blowing. My first thought was that this was going to be my new horn. The stiffer action made the keys pop right back in to place and, to me, made everything feel cleaner when playing scales. An immediate "jump" to the next note. The sound of the horns, to me were pretty similar. The yani has a nicer low end and the Selmer a nicer high end. So, I played the Yani for a few weeks and was ready to put my Selmer on the market. Then, I played my selmer again which I intentionally did not touch during my Yani trial. I shocked at how nice the Selmer suddenly felt. The softer key action, the touch on my hands, the palm keys, and the high end of the horn. More resistance for sure but I feel it helped me from over expressing myself. I spent a couple weeks with my Selmer and made the decision to keep it. What also helped in my decision was a couple blind tests I did with my family. They chose the Selmer. What fantastic horns they both are! If you want a perfect looking horn, shy away from the Yani until they address the lacquer issue they seem to be having right now. If you want a Selmer, look for a used iii as they are now discontinued due to the supreme. The pre jubilee models can be found "cheap" (3k to 4k) and they have the thick lacquer that has been proven (at least in my case) to not wear... like, at all. I am going to have the spring tension on my Selmer bumped up to find a happy medium between the two and then I will have my "perfect " horn..... for now :-)
Yep. That's because the YAS-875 design & construction is the perfect blend of both of these saxes. The Yamaha 875 series has the ability to perform at all levels in a fluid manner. I have played them all (pre Supreme model) and had a Selmer Mark VII as a music major in college. I hated that horn. So many intonation issues and alternate fingerings required. I cannot understand the weird thinking that some players (yes, mostly Selmer guys) have where they claim that *working hard to get the horn to perform for you* is somehow why it is a professional horn. What?? That's just insanity. The whole idea & purpose of a *pro level product* is that it is supposed to make your job easier and more efficient to do. If not, use the cheap tool. 🙄 You don't hear that from professionals in other industries say, I paid top dollar for this truck (or tool) because it is professional grade since I can't just turn the key & start it up, but have to first manually open the fuel valve, prime the fuel pump, top off the oil level due to some usual leaks, check the transmission fluid because the seal has some problems, then make sure the electrical system didn't drain my battery over night, and THEN I can turn the key to start it before I can drive. WHAT?? My 3 year old Toyota Tundra work truck works better than my brother's new Chevy. Quality does matter. His truck is currently not working, sitting in his driveway - "like a rock" (Chevy) 😁. Let's be honest. Right now in the saxophone world (and vehicles) the Japanese quality (Yamahas or Yanis -- my soprano is a Yani) is 2nd to none. My YAS & YTS 875s saxes will do everything the Selmers can & more. Mouthpiece, ligature, reed choices and player are the key with them all. Play test them ALL, and do it BLINDFOLDED. Have someone help you do it BLINDFOLDED. Take the time. Record your play tests & sound samples. Make an informed choice based on your own sound, response, feel, and individual results. Then get what fits YOUR personal highest benchmarks and *that horn* is the horn for you -- even if it is a brand you didn't originally think would be "the 1". I will eventually try the Selmer Supreme. Maybe I'll add it to my stable. Other than the price, I'm not opposed to it, but didn't have results that were good enough to buy another Selmer so far. I'm not anti-Selmer; I just can't continue the sacred journey for the holy grail of saxes from someone's closet or attic for a Selmer that actually plays like a fantasy. A few exist, but are rare. Like cars with 400,000 miles still on the road in great shape - a few, but vary rare. (Most dependable high-mileage vehicles are Japanese manufacturers anyway, just saying.) That Yani IS looking very enticing as an addition for me, if an opportunity for a deal with a Woodstone Ishimori (new vintige/VL) horn doesn't pan out. Sax UK, thank you for an excellent review. Your shop's reviews are always very professional and informative.
Some interesting thoughts there. This idea that some higher-level players prefer a natural resistance in the horn so they can mould their own sound rather just rely on the immediate response coming out of the horn is a finely balanced argument. The point you make about ‘pro level product…supposed to make your job easier and more efficient to do’ makes perfect sense and I agree with this. When it comes down to it I think there has to be an acceptable range of ‘resistance’ and I would put both of these brands into this range - just that Yani is at the easier end of it and Selmer is at the other end. I don’t think there’s a huge amount in it. There are other brands out there with different spec to the design - for example Rampone - that require a greater physical effort overall and these instruments, for me, sit beyond this range. But back to the two saxes in question, I think one deceptive factor is that the sound of the Selmer is not as ‘coloured’ and broad compared to the Yani so one gets the impression that it is somehow more resistant, whereas it is actually more about how you hear the sound - and when I play the Selmer I feel a defined ‘core’ in the sound that can lead to that impression, but when it comes down to it there are just different tonal characteristics going on. Cheers, Jim
@@JunkMailBoxStuff mmm.. not friend, don' t agree! Japanese saxes like Yam and Yani probably has the best mechanic.. and a great sound... but not the best. The best sound is by Selmer. Aand the Japanesse cars are one of the best in the world, yes.. but not the best. The best cars are Germans without doubts!
@@HonestSaxSound-unEdited- Should I trade out one of my current inventory for a Keilwerth? I tried the Shadow & wasn't won over. Same with the SX & it was oddly picky about mouthpiece choice. I wonder if rounded toneholes really make that much difference. 🤷♂️ P.S. - Had a 1982 Mercedes 240D when I lived in Lörrach, W. Germany. Solid vehicle, but nothing like my '79 Datsun 280ZX. Yes, apples to oranges -
Nice video. While entirely subjective, I much prefer Yanagisawa with one exception. I think the Yani bis key sucks when rolling from a B to B flat. Even with that, though, I like Yani's much more than Selmers.
This is a bit out of topic but would you consider making a video of the differences between the different versions of the Supreme? Showing the different lacquers and comparing their sounds...I'm considering buying a Supreme but cannot find all the different lacquers in the shops to compare them myself. Only tried the standard, silver and black one so far. In the internet I cannot find any comparing video...
I'm saving up now for my first alto saxophone, how much should I spend on my first saxophone? And what brand , mouthpieces would work best? Thanks for the video!
Love the video quality here. Minute difference between the horns sounds, prefer the "modern" feel of Yani's personally. Curious on the mouthpiece and reed used?
Definitely not Yani because it doesn't seem to be very free blowing like a Yamaha Professional or a Rampone & Cazzani, handmade in the foothills of a Italian Alps! I've personally been playing a YTS 61, Yamahas initial Professional model Tenor Sax, since 1974! I'm retiring my 61 for a new 62III and also an R&C Two Voices Tenor Sax and cannot wait to receive the new saxes soon
I have a suprème DGL and love it ! I would rather compare it to a WO30, than a bronze WO2O. I specially love the sound and the tone quality of the suprème. Somehow the yani does not have this sound. They are both very good saxes nevertheless. Grtz
The Selmer has a more focused sound that is darker via more fundamentals and less overtones, and the Yani is just the opposite--brighter sound with more overtones...
Yanagisawa is a very robust saxophone , I have 4 of them , used them for few years .... Selmer is still holds the place ...both top saxophones , but selmer is very expensive and now beyond the reach of many good players ...where as yanagisawa is affordable and gives rewards for it's price ...
I would point out most people that are over the moon about the Mark 6 have also coincidently bought 6 of them... Not because all 6 were in incredible and they collect them, but because it took 6 tries to find one they loved..... Its a weird obsession, if you had to buy 6 of the same model car to get one that worked properly for you, you wouldnt buy that car....
Good morning Dragon Lord .Your take on the Mark Vl is spot on. You actually made me laugh . For years l realised Selmers are overratedand overpriced horns.
Never dug a Yanagisawa. I have their Mark VI soprano copy which is okay. Just pales in comparison to a YSS-62. I tired their new ones as well and I am staying with Yamaha. I've sold the tenor and Baritone I got. This is the first time I heard that Yanagisawa is leading. When I went to Japan, more people used Yamaha and Selmer. I thing they are leading in terms of price.
Good morning bro l live in Guyana South America. Watching these videos is very important to me as one of the few professional musicians in this small country . I intend to upgrade my horns that's the main reason l watch these videos but telling us one horn is a few thousand pounds less than the other is disgusting. Please in future just tell us the price God bless Jay Metcalf and Dr Wally Wallace they always do.
The matt finish is a quite thick layer of lacquer, which also changes a lot. I have ref. 54 tenor with taken off lacquer and it plays much better than one I tried with the matt finish.
You are quite wrong . I’ve owned 2 matte lacquered Serie III alto’s and that matte lacq wears off at the touch points fast and the part(s) becomes shiny .
I looked it up online and ref. 54 has different matt finish than SA80III. It is called vintage finish. Also the horn I played was 20+- years old and heavily played every day and there were almost no signs of the lacquer wearing off. I think it could make a difference. The Selmer supreme looks like it had vintage finish too.
Selmer Supremes tried a few no impressed at all also don’t understand why they are so expensive price and quality doesn’t match … bought an amazing Yani Alto AWO33 model with sterling silver neck and bell a dream horn
I have forgotten Selmers after early 60th. Don't think they have good price/quality of production figures. Yanis are always done of high quality and they last forever ( saw many rasted Selmers). Also the widest range to choose from. Sound quality is 70% of sax player. But of course SBA and early mkVI, are great. One thing, early mkVII are hugely underrated, those who bought them for nothing then, not now,are very lucky and they know this!
It’s like talking about wine…. Can’t go Wrong with all three including Yamaha I love my Buescher Top Hat and Cane. Feels like playing history. 70 year old horn
I gather that presently there is no full bodied sounding saxophone the manufacturing of this type ceased in the late thirties. I have no way of checking this out and it is of no great concern. As one who has no interest in any special particular name instrument, could you please inform me of a true full bodied sounding tenor saxophone. Also the price of this instrument if indeed such exists and if you ship to India. Thank you.
Both sound really good for you but I suspect your set up has something to do with it. For me it is hard to hear a yani with so much presence like this one and I thought it would be my favorite of the 2....until you played the Selmer. Much more color, texture and richness. I hear players love how Yanis feel under the fingers but they all lack something to me as a listener. I would not part ways with my Mark vi 143xxx but I would definitely pay the extra $$ if my choices were one of these 2. I am curious about the mouthpiece and reed.
Thanks for your thoughts. The mouthpiece is a Meyer 7M (refaced) plus D'addario Select 3S Filed reeds. Yes, I really felt the extra 'presence' in the Selmer sound and that's what personally moved me. Jim
Really great comparison. However: whomever does the closed captions needs to be fired. Sema or the butchered Yani spellings really? Don't these people do any research?
Selmer much more pleasing warm and round and confident tone, while Yani sounds much more whining and insecure, and every now and then that expresses itself as the player sounding "newbie" even if they are not, as obviously in this cae..
I've played both of these OVERPRICED Saxes against my personal choice, Yamaha Professional Tenor 62, and both Yanigisawa and Selmer both came up severely lacking!!! I have played my Yamaha Professional Tenor for over 45 years and I will never buy either of those brands because they simply do not have the ease and playability and the tonal resonance and response that the YTS 82Z has!!!
Yanagisawa is a deception saxophone, at the beginning its sound is interesting and you try to study it, but then you realize that this is a mistake for a lot of money. Selmer is much better, the same varnish is needed for comparison, otherwise the comparison is muddy. Selmer sounds in any music, and Yanagisawa can't do that.
@@JustiaFiat I had Yanagisawa, it was terrible, a constant struggle with sound. It's a strange sound. When I changed it to a yamaha, I became happy, but the yamaha is very bright but much better, it's a saxophone, yanagisawa is a fake saxophone.
@@TWO20 This is my experience, I was very disappointed. Yanagisawa is a good saxophone for people who are tired of normal sound, if you want something strange, suffer with sound and problems, then Ynagisawa is an excellent choice. I am writing this to warn other people against bad purchases. I would be very glad if someone had warned me earlier.
Retired music educator here who played a one-owner Selmer Mark VI alto for 60 years. At 77 I am still a very active player. I was curious about a modern horn and with arthritis starting to affect my hands I wanted a more ergonomic sax. Reluctantly, I sold my 6 to a prominent vintage dealer for $6000 more than I originally paid for it and bought a Yani AWO10 Elite. I could not be happier! Although it is not as mellow and warm in tone, my Yani just feels so great in action and key placement and it blows much more freely with a nice full, round sound. Plus it plays better in tune…VERY even scale!😃🎷
And it doesn't rust away like those Selmer saxophones, which have the quality of a 1970s Citroën 2CV.
I’m a Yanagisawa guy all the way.
I’ve got the aw01
In the future I do want a mk VI tenor though
I've got a t991
About 20 years ago, I decided to sell my Selmer Super Action 80 Series II. I was able to play a Selmer SA 80 III (with the "harmonic" 2nd neck octave key) vs. a Yanagisawa A992. I was able to play the two horns side by side and I had invited an experienced woodwind-playing friend to listen. After much going back and forth, I found I couldn't hear or feel a significant difference between the two instruments. So, I ended up going for the Yanagisawa on the basis of price. I still play my A992 today.
I've got both, except I've got a 991 plus a 82z. None, imho are as good as either of the Selmer BA's I wished I still had. Oh, I had a MKVI once.... Right back of spanners that was. Awful thing not like my tenor or bari. I seem to be favouring the 82z more at the moment but that might change.
I always had a problem comparing saxophones but since I had an uncle in South Africa playing Selmer Mark Vi I found it amazing that he had a different rich sound than other players. That confirmed to me undisputably that he's playing the most incredible saxophone. It's so funny that when I listened to this video the Yanagisawa seemed to be brighter and already imbued with the beautiful sound and a player doesn't have to struggle to produce a beautiful sound. I have a tenor Mark Vi and a soprano but I would like to buy an alto Yanagisawa as a learning experience. Thanks.
Wow the Selmer sounds much more smooth and has a rounded tone. Beautiful.
I would buy Yanagisawa. Thank you
personally I am a Yamaha fan. Have owned a YAS 61 since 1978. Easy blawing and easy to keep in tune plus fast action
Selmer Paris has a warmer sound which I really appreciate. To me Yanagisawa is much more crisp which i cant listen to for a long time while the Selmer I can listen all night to.
I owned the mark 6 and super action 80 series 2 and series 3. Once I tryed the Yanigisawa awo10 I was hooked at the ease of playing and less effort it took to play so I got one and love it.
Both are fine sounding horns. I own a Reference 54 Alto and the AWO20 Yani but have never tried out the Supreme. My Reference has a beautiful and what I refer to as a husky sound, dark and silky. My Yani has a wonderful tone as well, very focused and sweet with just a touch of brightness over the Selmer. Both horns are constructed by skilled craftsmen and it shows. You couldn't go wrong purchasing either instrument.
Richard, I like your description of your Reference - 'husky, dark and silky resonates with me! Jim
I Test played once a Ref54 alto Hummingbird model...oh man. What a Nice sweet Sound.
Only having played for about 10 years now, and I find the Yanagigsawa very easy to play
I think I preferred the Yanagisawa.
In terms of the Tone.
There is a lot less difference than I'd thought I would hear personally which does go show its more the player when playing the same way on both. I found the Yani had a dense big sound with noticable highs (something I have noticed with my AWO2, its just a bit less dense sounding) and the Selmer didn't sound as broad but it was darker and more rounded. While I have never played a Selmer saxophone, I love the ergonomics of Yanagisawa saxes and they are very comfortable for me even with my slightly short fingers and I like their more immediate response, which is really helpful when playing low notes.
A good summary of events there, Dave. Cheers, Jim
SUPREME🎷は余韻がありますね♪
１音１音、キレの良いフィニッシュを感じます😍
マイサックス🎷がYanagisawa A-992 なので♪
I own a MK VI and I bought the Selmer Supreme limited edition and also the Yanigisawa AW010. I actually sold my Supreme not long after I bought it just didn't care for the way it played. I really play my Yani more than the MK VI honestly.
Did you not like the supreme? Does yani have a better sound? I recently purchased supreme , so waiting for it to arrive. Aw02 i returned.
@@op14435 i personally didn’t like the supreme I love the aw010
@mkwd28 interesting. I tried the aw02 and returned it. Going to try the supreme.
Same here for tenor. Cannonball Albright special for alto
@@op14435 how is your Supreme working out? I love mine! Best sax on the market! Best tuning, ergos and sound!
JIm and his crew really leveling up on the visuals. I have enjoyed my bronze yani alto, but after hearing this I need to try a Supreme. Such a gorgeous sound.
After comparing every pro model I could get my hands on, I was finally able to try a selmer supreme. I bought it same day and have not looked back. I really encourage you to try one. Everyone is different and has different preferences, but I could not beat the wonderful feel and sound of the selmer supreme on any other pro horn. That yani is still a very good horn though so don’t be too disappointed with it! I hope you get to play a supreme some day, ask around your local music stores, call them and ask if they have any supremes you could try out.
Many thanks!
Never mind the difference, you play fantastically. Thanks
I sensed the Yani played more freely and the Selmer, by comparrison, more stifled.
I’ve owned six Selmer Mk VI, a lovely Super Action 80 and have spent time playing about 20 other Mk VI and they varied from fantastic to terrible. I’ve owned 2 Yani saxophones and they were unbelievable in tune, easy to play, pleasantly bright, a perfect design for fingering. I enjoyed a Yamaha 62 soprano. And I played a friends Kielworth tenor built like a tank but i found it bit too heavy and had a different center of gravity. Yani stole my heart right out the box. I was shocked and in deep love with playing the Yani.
I love Yanis too! I will always be a Yanagisawa fan. I have a Yani soprano, a Yani alto, and if I had the right excuse to own 2 tenors, I would get a Yani tenor to go with my VI :)
Thank you for the video, it does tell the tale and confirmed my earlier observations. I play mostly Selmer clarinets (Bb, A, Eb, bass, metal Bb from the 30's) and Buffet Crampon on the C and basset horn; I also play / own Yamaha 875EX for alto and tenor and the Yanagisawa WO10 soprano. I did play Yamaha pro clarinet (SE) for a while and sold it off - beautiful tone but just not enough projection ("guts") after Selmer Privilege. I can confirm: Selmer, both in the clarinets and saxophones, show the tendency towards greater resistance and more focused sound with more punch and acoustic multidimensionality, if you will. Whereas Yamaha and Yanagisawa make absolutely fantastic saxophones (and clarinets - speaking of Yamaha), but, with all the unarguable tone beauty and spot-on intonation, there is a tiny bit of focus and projection found in Selmer saxophones that I find lacking in Yamis and Yanis. Given the substantial price difference between Selmer and Yamaha / Yanis (twice the price, which is a lot!), for me as a doubler (who has to own and maintain a lot of instruments) but not a saxophone specialist, the Yami and Yani give me 100% enough of what I need, I am genuinely happy with them. Might have I been like 10-12% happier with the Selmer? Probably- if I had a few extra grand to spend. I did invest in Selmer clarinets though, and never regretted that decision.
I’ve had the Tenor Selmer SAII 80 since ‘91 and I’m so comfortable with it but my buddy has the Ref 54 and it has a noticeably distinct sound I love and would likely go for it on another Tenor. I needed an Alto last year and after some research picked up the Yani AW020 and it’s been a terrific horn with a solid build, very in tune across the range and excellent projection. Very happy.
Love both horns, I play yani tenor and had a alto too however, the selmer has that mystical vibe and at the end of the day selmer wins on a re sale situation
I grew up with selmer. My father has soprano alto tenor and baritone. He gave me a C melody to play in my school band.
Very smooth presentation of both, good job! Thanks
Great review. Being a long time Yani owner (1987) I found myself having to fight my own confirmation bias. Don’t we all sort of do that? Truth is, they both sounded great.
What I would really find enlightening is a 4 way comparison:
Selmer Supreme alto
Yanagisawa AW20
Yamaha 82Zii
and the sax which I would wager that would beat them all handily...
Ishimori WoodStone New Vintage alto
I have an old Yanagisawa, a silver plated Yamaha 82Zii, and a silver plated Ishimori and for me there is no comparison. I would love for Ishimori to get the recognition they deserve.
Am I wrong? Let me know
Yanagisawa forever!
I’ve had the Yani 020 for a while and tried the supreme, really hoping to like it and buy it. After an hour of demo with a well set up supreme, decided hands down to stick with the Yani. Supreme is a good horn but no better than the Yani. In fact the Yani is better in some ways. I’d rather buy another yani any day.
Nice video. I know very little about sax’s, the Yanigisawa I’ve only seen online so I know nothing about that brand. Been thinking of getting a Selmer SAS711 but have not seen any reviews on it. From what I know seems like Selmer is a well known and a name brand.
Selmer.. ever!!
Specially SA 80 ll.. blackedition.. sounds incredible and unique!!
Yeah, the Yani sounds more like Canonball Adderley. The Selmer sounds more like Paul Desmond.
I always tell students and others that my 990u has a brightness like Canonball as opposed to a cheesy smooth jazz brightness which can easily be achieved on any horn with mouthpiece and reed I 'm happy to hear someone else make that observation which I feel is spot on.
Thank you
You just answered an actual question
I think that our grand children may get a little more for the Selmer if the trends stay the same
They sound great. Another great comparison vid. The Finish on the seller is amazing. Thank you
Thanks Martin
Yani’s are absolutely fantastic instruments coming from a bit of a Selmer snob. My alto is nothing pretty to look but it’s a Mark VII that I absolutely love.
Excellent video - thank you - full of useful guidance. As you say, some of the choice is personal feeling but it's great to hear your commments.
Love the selmer! I hava a selmer series 2!!
In last videos you are focused to altos. Would you again do some tests of tenors pls?
Sounds like a plan!
Own and play the Yani AW02 and love it . . . as with all Saxophones the mouthpiece and reed have as much to do with the sound as anything.
Regarding this"focused" sound with the selmer, (and this observation applies to clarinets as well) If you play with a more resistant set up, and you are actually playing to people 30 meters away from you, you get a powerful sound.
Whereas the yani, is conducive to a slightly less resistant set up. And/but the broad sound is really around you, where you are playing. Not many people realise this.
What a great video. I have been living with the Selmer iii series and the AWO1 now for a few weeks. I need to choose one and the selection has been really difficult. I find what you say here to be true about the horns that I have. Spring tension on my Selmer, however is much lighter (perhaps because it is 20 years old). The selmer has been my horn for 20 years. When I picked up the Yani the first thing I noticed was the spring tension. Second was the palm key placement which felt lower (vertically) than the selmer. This caused me to have to change my left hand position a little which was not a big deal but different. Third was purely cosmetic... The Selmer feels more luxurious. The lacquer seems very thick if that makes sense. No sharp edges anywhere. The Yani is already showing lacquer wear which seems common according to reviews online. Some sharp edges on the Yani too, especially the top of the palm keys. As far as how they play, yes the Yani is much more free blowing. My first thought was that this was going to be my new horn. The stiffer action made the keys pop right back in to place and, to me, made everything feel cleaner when playing scales. An immediate "jump" to the next note. The sound of the horns, to me were pretty similar. The yani has a nicer low end and the Selmer a nicer high end. So, I played the Yani for a few weeks and was ready to put my Selmer on the market. Then, I played my selmer again which I intentionally did not touch during my Yani trial. I shocked at how nice the Selmer suddenly felt. The softer key action, the touch on my hands, the palm keys, and the high end of the horn. More resistance for sure but I feel it helped me from over expressing myself. I spent a couple weeks with my Selmer and made the decision to keep it. What also helped in my decision was a couple blind tests I did with my family. They chose the Selmer. What fantastic horns they both are! If you want a perfect looking horn, shy away from the Yani until they address the lacquer issue they seem to be having right now. If you want a Selmer, look for a used iii as they are now discontinued due to the supreme. The pre jubilee models can be found "cheap" (3k to 4k) and they have the thick lacquer that has been proven (at least in my case) to not wear... like, at all. I am going to have the spring tension on my Selmer bumped up to find a happy medium between the two and then I will have my "perfect " horn..... for now :-)
I'm surprised the Yamaha 875 EX isn't in there!?????
Yep.
That's because the YAS-875 design & construction is the perfect blend of both of these saxes. The Yamaha 875 series has the ability to perform at all levels in a fluid manner.
I have played them all (pre Supreme model) and had a Selmer Mark VII as a music major in college. I hated that horn. So many intonation issues and alternate fingerings required.
I cannot understand the weird thinking that some players (yes, mostly Selmer guys) have where they claim that *working hard to get the horn to perform for you* is somehow why it is a professional horn. What?? That's just insanity. The whole idea & purpose of a *pro level product* is that it is supposed to make your job easier and more efficient to do. If not, use the cheap tool. 🙄
You don't hear that from professionals in other industries say, I paid top dollar for this truck (or tool) because it is professional grade since I can't just turn the key & start it up, but have to first manually open the fuel valve, prime the fuel pump, top off the oil level due to some usual leaks, check the transmission fluid because the seal has some problems, then make sure the electrical system didn't drain my battery over night, and THEN I can turn the key to start it before I can drive. WHAT?? My 3 year old Toyota Tundra work truck works better than my brother's new Chevy. Quality does matter. His truck is currently not working, sitting in his driveway - "like a rock" (Chevy) 😁.
Let's be honest. Right now in the saxophone world (and vehicles) the Japanese quality (Yamahas or Yanis -- my soprano is a Yani) is 2nd to none. My YAS & YTS 875s saxes will do everything the Selmers can & more. Mouthpiece, ligature, reed choices and player are the key with them all.
Play test them ALL, and do it BLINDFOLDED. Have someone help you do it BLINDFOLDED. Take the time. Record your play tests & sound samples. Make an informed choice based on your own sound, response, feel, and individual results. Then get what fits YOUR personal highest benchmarks and *that horn* is the horn for you -- even if it is a brand you didn't originally think would be "the 1".
I will eventually try the Selmer Supreme. Maybe I'll add it to my stable. Other than the price, I'm not opposed to it, but didn't have results that were good enough to buy another Selmer so far. I'm not anti-Selmer; I just can't continue the sacred journey for the holy grail of saxes from someone's closet or attic for a Selmer that actually plays like a fantasy. A few exist, but are rare. Like cars with 400,000 miles still on the road in great shape - a few, but vary rare. (Most dependable high-mileage vehicles are Japanese manufacturers anyway, just saying.)
That Yani IS looking very enticing as an addition for me, if an opportunity for a deal with a Woodstone Ishimori (new vintige/VL) horn doesn't pan out.
Sax UK, thank you for an excellent review. Your shop's reviews are always very professional and informative.
Some interesting thoughts there.
This idea that some higher-level players prefer a natural resistance in the horn so they can mould their own sound rather just rely on the immediate response coming out of the horn is a finely balanced argument. The point you make about ‘pro level product…supposed to make your job easier and more efficient to do’ makes perfect sense and I agree with this. When it comes down to it I think there has to be an acceptable range of ‘resistance’ and I would put both of these brands into this range - just that Yani is at the easier end of it and Selmer is at the other end. I don’t think there’s a huge amount in it. There are other brands out there with different spec to the design - for example Rampone - that require a greater physical effort overall and these instruments, for me, sit beyond this range. But back to the two saxes in question, I think one deceptive factor is that the sound of the Selmer is not as ‘coloured’ and broad compared to the Yani so one gets the impression that it is somehow more resistant, whereas it is actually more about how you hear the sound - and when I play the Selmer I feel a defined ‘core’ in the sound that can lead to that impression, but when it comes down to it there are just different tonal characteristics going on.
Cheers, Jim
@@JunkMailBoxStuff mmm.. not friend, don' t agree! Japanese saxes like Yam and Yani probably has the best mechanic.. and a great sound... but not the best. The best sound is by Selmer.
Aand the Japanesse cars are one of the best in the world, yes.. but not the best.
The best cars are Germans without doubts!
@@HonestSaxSound-unEdited- Should I trade out one of my current inventory for a Keilwerth?
I tried the Shadow & wasn't won over. Same with the SX & it was oddly picky about mouthpiece choice. I wonder if rounded toneholes really make that much difference. 🤷♂️
P.S. - Had a 1982 Mercedes 240D when I lived in Lörrach, W. Germany. Solid vehicle, but nothing like my '79 Datsun 280ZX. Yes, apples to oranges -
@@HonestSaxSound-unEdited- Selmer is French, not German buddy.
Nice video. While entirely subjective, I much prefer Yanagisawa with one exception. I think the Yani bis key sucks when rolling from a B to B flat. Even with that, though, I like Yani's much more than Selmers.
Thank you for this great comparison! Both amazing horns, just very different styles. Cheers!
I like the immediate shouting-like response of the Yanagisawa in low and high registers.
I would guess that an intonation comparison would go to the Selmer
This is a bit out of topic but would you consider making a video of the differences between the different versions of the Supreme? Showing the different lacquers and comparing their sounds...I'm considering buying a Supreme but cannot find all the different lacquers in the shops to compare them myself. Only tried the standard, silver and black one so far. In the internet I cannot find any comparing video...
I'm saving up now for my first alto saxophone, how much should I spend on my first saxophone? And what brand , mouthpieces would work best? Thanks for the video!
The Selmer sound wins for me i play a SA 80 11 alto more difficult intonation than others but worth it on sound quality im not a Yani fan .
Selmer all the way!!
Love the video quality here. Minute difference between the horns sounds, prefer the "modern" feel of Yani's personally. Curious on the mouthpiece and reed used?
Thanks! Mouthpiece is a refaced Meyer 7M and reed is D'addario SJ Filed
Definitely not Yani because it doesn't seem to be very free blowing like a Yamaha Professional or a Rampone & Cazzani, handmade in the foothills of a Italian Alps! I've personally been playing a YTS 61, Yamahas initial Professional model Tenor Sax, since 1974! I'm retiring my 61 for a new 62III and also an R&C Two Voices Tenor Sax and cannot wait to receive the new saxes soon
I have a suprème DGL and love it ! I would rather compare it to a WO30, than a bronze WO2O. I specially love the sound and the tone quality of the suprème. Somehow the yani does not have this sound. They are both very good saxes nevertheless. Grtz
Hows your supreme holding up so far? You regret buying it or no?
@@op14435 no issues with the mechanics. I do not regret it. But there are a lot of good saxes less expensive.
My English is not the best but.. I would like to ask something. Can someone tell me where is that sax store placed?
Good reviews 👍.... would like a test with an Adolphe Sax horn, this is a revived traditional Belgian brand, I'm curious...
The Selmer has a more focused sound that is darker via more fundamentals and less overtones, and the Yani is just the opposite--brighter sound with more overtones...
Yanagisawa 🙌🏻
Can't go wrong with Yani!
SUPREME!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏
Yanagisawa 👏👏👏👏👏👏
@@lucasax78mark vi 😮😊😊😊
I`m a Selmer guy but I choose the Yani alto
I have played my Yanagisawa for over 10 years. And the keys have worn in.
Yanagisawa is a very robust saxophone , I have 4 of them , used them for few years ....
Selmer is still holds the place ...both top saxophones , but selmer is very expensive and now beyond the reach of many good players ...where as yanagisawa is affordable and gives rewards for it's price ...
Why , is the camera 📷 moving while he's talking 🤔
私は柳澤の音の方が好みです。I Like Sound Is Yanagisawa
Why?
Very nice video! How do these two compare to the Yamaha 82z?
I guess that's a video for another day - I wanted to pin down Yani against Selmer first as these are literally our two most popular saxes.
what is the name of the piece you played while testing?
I would point out most people that are over the moon about the Mark 6 have also coincidently bought 6 of them... Not because all 6 were in incredible and they collect them, but because it took 6 tries to find one they loved..... Its a weird obsession, if you had to buy 6 of the same model car to get one that worked properly for you, you wouldnt buy that car....
Ive heard incredible things about the supreme however, and that quality is far and above what the mark 6s were.
Good morning Dragon Lord .Your take on the Mark Vl is spot on. You actually made me laugh . For years l realised Selmers are overratedand overpriced horns.
I wish they added the Yamaha 82ZII in the mix.
Selmer Supreme without a doubt
Can someone please tell me what the man is playing in the comparisons? ( song name?)
Mouthpiece and reed?
Refaced Meyer 7M and D'addario SJ 3S Filed
What are the pieces he's playing!?
Never dug a Yanagisawa. I have their Mark VI soprano copy which is okay. Just pales in comparison to a YSS-62. I tired their new ones as well and I am staying with Yamaha. I've sold the tenor and Baritone I got. This is the first time I heard that Yanagisawa is leading. When I went to Japan, more people used Yamaha and Selmer. I thing they are leading in terms of price.
Selmer is pricing themselves out of the market!
ヤナギサワの方が太くて前にでる音色👍
Good morning bro l live in Guyana South America. Watching these videos is very important to me as one of the few professional musicians in this small country . I intend to upgrade my horns that's the main reason l watch these videos but telling us one horn is a few thousand pounds less than the other is disgusting. Please in future just tell us the price God bless Jay Metcalf and Dr Wally Wallace they always do.
Tenho um muito bom
The matt finish is a quite thick layer of lacquer, which also changes a lot. I have ref. 54 tenor with taken off lacquer and it plays much better than one I tried with the matt finish.
You are quite wrong . I’ve owned 2 matte lacquered Serie III alto’s and that matte lacq wears off at the touch points fast and the part(s) becomes shiny .
I looked it up online and ref. 54 has different matt finish than SA80III. It is called vintage finish. Also the horn I played was 20+- years old and heavily played every day and there were almost no signs of the lacquer wearing off. I think it could make a difference. The Selmer supreme looks like it had vintage finish too.
@@bxsoup The matte finish horns do play darker though. I am a tech and have played many many serie III SAT serie II satb serie 54 AT I agree with Petr
Yamaha. Yanagisawa
Selmer Supremes tried a few no impressed at all also don’t understand why they are so expensive price and quality doesn’t match … bought an amazing Yani Alto AWO33 model with sterling silver neck and bell a dream horn
I have forgotten Selmers after early 60th. Don't think they have good price/quality of production figures. Yanis are always done of high quality and they last forever ( saw many rasted Selmers). Also the widest range to choose from. Sound quality is 70% of sax player. But of course SBA and early mkVI, are great. One thing, early mkVII are hugely underrated, those who bought them for nothing then, not now,are very lucky and they know this!
It’s like talking about wine….
Can’t go Wrong with all three including Yamaha
I love my Buescher Top Hat and Cane. Feels like playing history. 70 year old horn
They're both beautiful, but I don't see a need to move from my P. Mauriat. Every saxophone is a singer in the right hands if you ask me
Well said👍👍👍
Why Selmer are more expensive than Yanagisawa ?
People are willing to spend more for that brand name, that's it
@@johnm3844 Indeed… but Yany is better
and the Yany is way cheaper then the supreme selmer
Selmer es mejor, pero es cuestion de gustos
Yanagisawa
I gather that presently there is no full bodied sounding saxophone the manufacturing of this type ceased in the late thirties. I have no way of checking this out and it is of no great concern. As one who has no interest in any special particular name instrument, could you please inform me of a true full bodied sounding tenor saxophone. Also the price of this instrument if indeed such exists and if you ship to India. Thank you.
P encurtar conversa, ficaria cm os dois e ponto final..
😅the yani is the best of the best.
Both sound really good for you but I suspect your set up has something to do with it. For me it is hard to hear a yani with so much presence like this one and I thought it would be my favorite of the 2....until you played the Selmer. Much more color, texture and richness. I hear players love how Yanis feel under the fingers but they all lack something to me as a listener. I would not part ways with my Mark vi 143xxx but I would definitely pay the extra $$ if my choices were one of these 2. I am curious about the mouthpiece and reed.
Thanks for your thoughts. The mouthpiece is a Meyer 7M (refaced) plus D'addario Select 3S Filed reeds. Yes, I really felt the extra 'presence' in the Selmer sound and that's what personally moved me. Jim
Me sitting here, being a vintage conn devotee.
Really great comparison. However: whomever does the closed captions needs to be fired. Sema or the butchered Yani spellings really? Don't these people do any research?
Selmer much more pleasing warm and round and confident tone, while Yani sounds much more whining and insecure, and every now and then that expresses itself as the player sounding "newbie" even if they are not, as obviously in this cae..
The difference: 3000$
😻 ƤＲＯ𝓂Ｏ𝕤ᗰ
VI and nothing else matters....
They sound the same.
I've played both of these OVERPRICED Saxes against my personal choice, Yamaha Professional Tenor 62, and both Yanigisawa and Selmer both came up severely lacking!!! I have played my Yamaha Professional Tenor for over 45 years and I will never buy either of those brands because they simply do not have the ease and playability and the tonal resonance and response that the YTS 82Z has!!!
They don't call them Yamahahahaha's for nothing hahaha😮😅😂
Yanagisawa is a deception saxophone, at the beginning its sound is interesting and you try to study it, but then you realize that this is a mistake for a lot of money. Selmer is much better, the same varnish is needed for comparison, otherwise the comparison is muddy. Selmer sounds in any music, and Yanagisawa can't do that.
Complete Bullshit. Yanagisawa produce probably the most refined instruments nowadays. Selmer lives from its past name and charges big money for that.
@@JustiaFiat I had Yanagisawa, it was terrible, a constant struggle with sound. It's a strange sound. When I changed it to a yamaha, I became happy, but the yamaha is very bright but much better, it's a saxophone, yanagisawa is a fake saxophone.
How much did selmer pay you to say that lol
@@TWO20 This is my experience, I was very disappointed. Yanagisawa is a good saxophone for people who are tired of normal sound, if you want something strange, suffer with sound and problems, then Ynagisawa is an excellent choice. I am writing this to warn other people against bad purchases. I would be very glad if someone had warned me earlier.
@@TWO20 I also like the Conn saxophone, it's a great sound and a Brilhart mouthpiece, maybe I'll buy a Conn 6m