Lacquer

Showing all 29 results

  • Buescher Aristocrat 140 Alto Original Lacquer Very Good Condition

    $ 950

    Great deal on a clean, original lacquer, original pads Buescher 140 alto saxophone. This horn has its original snaps and spuds intact, and is a repad shy of being a VERY good player. Minimal wear, minimal past repairs, neck in good shape. This is a clean one that will be an easy repad job for someone. These are among the most undervalued vintage horns right now!

  • Conn 26M VIII Connqueror Alto Original Lacquer Excellent! 292445

    $ 3,550

    This is a beautiful example of a rare Conn Connqueror 26M Alto saxophone with original lacquer and VIII stamp. The Connqueror is the most mechanically sophisticated saxophone that Conn ever made. It is a pre-war 6M body tube and neck, with all new keywork design, extra engraving, and solid silver on all the key touches that are not pearl. The ‘permadjust’ system is the big development on the Connqueror altos. You can read about that on Matt Stohrer’s website, or watch his repairman’s overview of the 26M on Youtube. This one has its bits and bobs intact, and is in very good condition. It just got overhauled before I bought it, so the pads are all new!  Cosmetically, this horn is just great, with only some minor lacquer wear. It has to be one of the nicest 26M Connqueror altos out there. Definitely the nicest one for sale currently, and priced very reasonably. I really like this one.

    Only one available!

  • Sold Out

    Conn Early 6M Alto Saxophone 250425

    This is about the 150th Conn 6M made. (The first is #250243, and they made other voices in between that one and 250425.) If you know this site, you’ll know that I especially like these early 6Ms. They play wider and wilder than the also-great-later 6M’s, but they still have the super slick keywork that makes 6M’s great. So it’s kind of a sweet spot if you want great keywork and a big sound. This one needs an overhaul, and it has a few dings, but it’s going to be a superb alto with a little care put into it. Or talk to me about getting it including a fresh overhaul, which I can have done to my picky standards in a couple of weeks’ time.

  • Sold Out

    Holton Stratodyne 234 Alto Good Condition with Old Pads 242174

    $ 1,200

  • Ishimori Wood Stone New Vintage Alto Saxophone WSA-VL with F# Dark Lacquer NEW

    $ 4,300

    One avalable now and it has had the GetASax new horn checkup after shipping here from Ishimori, and is ready to ship right out!!

    This is the highly sought-after Ishimori Wood Stone ‘New Vintage’ alto saxophone available. The model is WSA-VL with high F#. It has dark, cognac colored lacquer and beautiful hand engraving, the among the most elaborate of any modern saxophone. Effortless player. Hard to emphasize how effortless. Completely effortless low register, low Bb pops out like any other note. Altissimo is easy. Tuning is great. The tone is sort of Selmer-ish but punchier like a King Super 20. But it’s not either of those. It’s its own thing – the New Vintage alto.  Easy to play delicately and softly with plenty of saturation and projection. Action is low, fast, and snappy. Great for jazz, concert, ballads– really anything. I’m impressed! Here’s our first demo video:

  • Ishimori Wood Stone New Vintage Tenor Saxophone WST-VL with F# Dark Lacquer NEW

    $ 4,700

    One available now! 

    See below for some sound samples and an unboxing video.

    This is a highly-desirable Ishimori Wood Stone New Vintage tenor saxophone. This one is in beautiful Dark Lacquer (Vintage Lacquer, they call it, or VL for short).

    Ishimori New Vintage tenors play so effortlessly, they sell themselves. Every time one comes in the shop, it sells almost immediately. I have one in stock coming next week. Get it now!

    See below for some sound samples on a range of mouthpieces, and an unboxing video.

  • Keilwerth SX-90 Black Nickel Tenor Near Mint Early Version Good Pads 103682

    $ 4,850

    This is the nicest early Keilwerth tenor I’ve seen, and it also has pads that are almost new, and has no damage or past repairs at all. This is the desirable early version that is what Grover Washington Jr. also played. These tenors are GREAT for smooth jazz, because they have a big, fat upper register that sounds really good with a bright mouthpiece. The whole horn seems like it’s asking to be a solo instrument or cut through a band.

    Pair it with something projecting like a Guardala, Berg, Dukoff, or any of the modern pieces that are made for projection, and you’ll have an instant pro sound. Or play a vintage jazz piece on it and it sounds almost like a Conn but with comfortable, modern ergnomics. The black nickel ones are by far the most popular, and always go fast.

    This one is pretty much unbeatable.

    Only one available!

  • King SilverSonic Alto Original Lacquer Mint Freshly Overhauled 448357

    $ 6,500

  • King Super 20 Alto 415046 Original Lacquer Very Good Condition

    $ 3,650

    Nice clean King Super 20 Alto Saxophone ‘Series IV’ from 1965,  meaning it’s a late Cleveland one with the more modern keywork style. That’s good if you want a King Super 20 tone with minimal keywork compromises. This has the solid silver single socket neck. This sax has its original pads, which are 57 years old, so plan on an overhaul. Enough of my customers want a less expensive Super 20 that I’m leaving this one original pads for the moment. Almost every other King on the site is overhauled, so check those out if you want one that is a turnkey purchase.

    Only one available!

  • Sold Out

    King Super 20 Alto Series III Original Lacquer Very Good Condition 376523

    $ 4,950

    On hold Oct 2022. Great King Super 20 alto that is also on the affordable side for one of the best vintages. This is 376523, double socket, solid silver neck, engraved bell keys, underslung octave key, but the more modern style pinky keys and a tone that is more like the ‘full pearls’ Super 20’s. This horn just got a full, top shelf overhaul with Pisoni italian leather pads and nice reusable slightly domed, metal resonators. It feels brand new under the fingers, and it is still in excellent original cosmetic condition. Only one available! $4950 incl the overhaul, which is about what you’d pay for a Yamaha, and this is much better and holds its value better too.

  • King Super 20 Tenor 1947 Full Pearls Original Lacquer Good Pads 290165

    $ 5,850

    This is a beautiful original lacquer King Super 20 tenor saxophone from 1947. It has the light ‘coca-cola’ lacquer that these almost always have in the 290k range. The pads are in excellent condition and almost new. These late 40’s Kings are wonderful players. Big, dark, spread, powerful tone with lots of projection. The neck has the matching serial to the body. It’s kind of amazing to me that you can still buy an original King Super 20 tenor with a good overhaul and full pearls, solid silver neck, and full pearls on all the side and palm keys for this kind of a price. Heavily marketed Taiwanese horns are priced in the same range.

  • Sold Out

    Martin Centennial Alto Saxophone Committee II and III Transitional Model Rare! 142319

    $ 1,550

    Insanely low price (not my decision) on this gorgeous Martin Centennial Alto saxophone. (This is on consignment and the owner wants me to move it quickly!) The lacquer has aged to a dark honey color and looks great. Having no other Centennial altos around to compare to, I’m not willing to commit to this being original lacquer, but it might be. I don’t see signs of buffing, and if it were a Comm II, then it would look correct to be original. So maybe it is? The Centennial celebrates 100 years since the invention of the saxophone. It appears briefly between the Committee II and the Committee III (The Martin Alto) models, and it has features of both models. You can easily spot some guards and key shapes that remind you of the Comm II, while the main design chiefly anticipates the Commitee III in design and tone. If you want a The Martin Alto, but you want one that is cooler, super-early, darker than average, and rarer and more collectible, this is it!

    The tone is warm, powerful, round, and full. The ‘carrying power’ (as Martin calls it in old ads) is a main plus of this model. It sings out with absolutely no resistance to blasting over a section or a band. You can do the west coast dry jazz tone like Art Pepper, or you can blast like the SNL sax players if you want to. The intonation is remarkably good. The ergonomics are also surprisingly good.  It’s hard to beat this horn for the money. It even plays well on the existing mix of pads, and doesn’t need an overhaul right out of the case like most of these.

    Only one available!

  • Martin Magna Alto Original Lacquer Excellent Condition 206422

    $ 2,650

    Beautiful original lacquer Martin Magna Committee III Alto Saxophone. It has no dents or dings and is in absolutely gorgeous condition. The Magna is the most desirable Martin saxophone, because of the rarity and some cosmetic and mechanical features that set it above the rest. These include the fancy engraving, and nickel keys and cross accents on neck and bell, and keyguards. This Martin Magna Alto has original pads, so it hasn’t been messed with, just lightly played. It’s ready for new pads and its next 60 years of playing. Maybe you can be a part of that! These altos have such a beautiful tone (think Art Pepper), which is warm, dry, full, and powerful. Medium between bright and dark, with plenty of what Martin called ‘carrying power’ and we call ‘projection’ to spare, no matter how much you want to push it. These sound better with really bright mouthpieces than almost any other saxophone, if that’s your thing. But they sound great with something like an MC Gregory Model A like Pepper used. This is as nice an example of a Magna as you are likely to find! I’m getting the thumb hook screw sorted out by the way. Only one available!

  • Martin Music Man Alto Original Lacquer Gorgeous! 208891

    $ 2,150

    Gorgeous original lacquer Martin Music Man alto saxophone. This is one of my favorite The Martin Alto Committee III’s ever, and is being sold from my personal collection. It was in another collection for many decades before I got it, and it has been cared for very well over the years. The pads aren’t bad, but it’s not freshly overhauled either. It plays well on them. I’d play it for a while and save up for an overhaul before too long, if you want to unlock the full potential.

    The Official Music Man model was made to commemorate the runaway hit musical ‘The Music Man’ about a traveling band instrument salesman. (I’m sure you know it.) These are a lot like a regular Comm III, “The Martin Alto” but have some extra engraving and the adjustable neck octave key stoppers like a Magna. They will always be more desirable and collectible than a regular The Martin Alto, but they have the same power, projection, and dark, complex tone. These horns are built to last, and came with 50 year warranties when new. Some of them are just leaving their warranty coverage now, which is hilarious. Only one available!

  • Selmer Balanced Action Alto Saxophone Excellent Condition Original Overhauled 24352

    $ 7,500

    This is a SUPER nice example of one of my favorite saxophones – the Selmer Balanced Action! This has to be one of the nicest Balanced Action altos around at the moment, as there are not many 80 year old saxophones that have original finish and still look remotely this good. If you’ve been looking for a gorgeous vintage Selmer that has a warm tone, you would be hard pressed to do better than this! The Selmer Balanced Action is the saxophone whose keywork became the basis for all modern saxophones. So if you want something that has the most warm and spread tone, but that has modern keywork, then the Balanced Action is probably your best overall option. They are sweet, lyrical players, but with the recognizable Selmer ‘French’ core tone that people look for in a Selmer as well. This is the kind of horn that makes it easy to elicit compliments from listeners on what a pleasant tone you have on sax. It’s not really a screamer or paint peeler. More of a beautiful tone than an earth shattering one. That said, you can play loudly on it as well. This Balanced Action had a recent overhaul done in California, and it feels good under the fingers on nearly new pads that are sealing well and just checked up to make sure they’re perfect. You don’t need to budget for an overhaul or any kind of restoration. Just buy it and play it. Easy! And there’s no other saxophone with more beautiful lacquer and engraving. As I write this, I can feel the urge to just keep it! But I do have to buy AND sell saxophones in order to stay in business. If your business is something else, then you should just buy this one and keep it. It will certainly continue to hold its value and go up in value over time. There are very few nicer examples of this superlative model of vintage Selmer.

    Only one available!

  • Selmer Balanced Action Tenor 24461 Relacquered Freshly Overhauled Great Price

    $ 6,450

  • Selmer Mark VI Alto 1969 Original Lacquer Excellent Condition 171207

    $ 7,000

    This is a near time capsule Selmer Mark VI alto with beautiful honey gold lacquer. It’s all original including original pads still sealing surprisingly well. You’d be hard pressed to find a cleaner Selmer Mark VI Alto saxophone than this. It comes in a very sturdy original case as well. Only one available!

  • Selmer Mark VI Alto 1974 Original Lacquer American Engraved Very Good Condition 234127

    $ 4,950

    Beautiful original lacquer Selmer Mark VI Alto in very good condition. This alto also still plays quite well on its mostly original factory pad setup. It has a resoldered keyguard foot on low C on one side, and that’s the only repair. The neck is in great shape, and I don’t see any damage anywhere. Plan on a repad soon, but you’re looking at a beautiful original VI alto for Yamaha type of money. That’s a great deal!

  • Selmer Mark VI Sopranino 5-digit RARE Original Lacquer Excellent! 98569

    $ 8,250

    This is an incredibly rare 5-digit Selmer Mark VI Sopranino saxophone. Serial 98569, close to Coltrane’s famous VI soprano. Original lacquer at about 98% intact; extremely clean condition with no damage and no past repairs. Original case is great as well. I may have this significantly underpriced. A 5-digit Mark VI soprano of this serial would sell much higher. In any case, it’s the ultimate sopranino saxophone. This is the only 5-digit sopranino I’ve had in the history of GetASax, so there is most certainly only one available!

  • Selmer Mark VI Tenor Worn Original Lacquer 1967 140547 Great Deal!

    $ 6,750

    This is a chance to get a worn original VI from 1967 with older pads for a bargain price (for a VI). This vintage of Mark VI tenor tends to have a TON of projection and power. The tone is medium between bright and dark –  not super dark, not super bright and thin. Depending on mouthpiece, you can take it in lots of directions. This was owned by the same guy for the past several decades. He played it a lot because it plays well. It still plays well, and just got tuned up. It’s time for a fresh overhaul on it, in my opinion, so if you like the worn look on a Selmer, and you want it original lacquer, and you want to be able to afford to overhaul it your way, but not be into it for too much money, then that’s what this is.

    Only one available!

  • Selmer Radio Improved Alto Original Lacquer, Recent Overhaul 19276

    $ 4,950

    If you read around on here a bit, you’ll see that I love Selmers from the 1930’s and the Radio Improved in particular. This one has most of its original lacquer intact, and is in quite good condition. it is also in great playing condition with a recent overhaul done by Jack Finucane (from a couple of years or so ago before he stopped doing overhauls), and feels nice and snappy under the fingers. The pads look a little funny in photos – that’s because of some powder from Yamaha powder paper that is on the leather. But the pads themselves are in excellent condition and are nearly new. The resonators look like a Reso-Tech set made to match the vintage Selmer Tonex resos, but slightly oversized, and very slightly domed. They are a good match for the horn, and they almost look like vintage Selmer resonators. It didn’t get played much after overhaul, as the owner is in a military band and plays a modern horn most of the time for work. It’s on consignment now, and I think it’ll likely sell quickly.

    The tone of a Radio Improved alto is the reason to buy it. It’s like a Selmer blended with a Conn almost- delicate lyrical core that reminds me of an SBA, but with a wider, warmer, more spread feel like a Conn. The keywork is not modern. This is before the ‘Balanced Action’ keywork improvements, so you will have to get used to the left hand pinky keys if you haven’t played a vintage horn before. If you have, then it’s no problem. I barely notice keywork differences anymore after playing all the different styles out there. This one is more comfortable than most, and I like the direct action bell key mechanism.

    The original lacquer is in beautiful shape and looks great – deep honey gold. The only spot that isn’t original lacquer (and you’d have to really look closely to tell this) is at the neck receiver, where it looks like Jack had to resolder the neck receiver and then mix up some matching lacquer to over spray there. The only way to tell is that there’s just a little sign of overspray of the new lacquer on top of the original lacquer just below the receiver. That resolder often needs to be done on a 30’s Selmer to make the neck receiver strong again after 80+ years of use. (It was done on my personal RI, so I specially look for it). These horns are very uncommon, and this one is nicer than the great majority of RI’s out there. Only 1140 RI altos were made, and this is probably in the top 10% of those.

    Only one available!

     

  • Selmer Reference 36 Tenor Near Mint Amazing Plus Fresh Overhaul! 689809

    $ 7,250

    If you’ve never played a properly overhauled Selmer Reference 36, then you really have probably never played one. They are fantastic instruments, once all the factory pad work is removed and replaced with a good high-end overhaul. We used Pisoni Italian leather pads and reusable slightly domed brass resonators, which is the best combination I know for these. Now this horn is just amazing and effortless to play. If you want a Selmer with some body, instant response, super easy low register, and modern keywork, this is it! Based on the Supreme altos I’ve gotten in, Selmer has done nothing to improve its factory setup, so the new Selmers still need a lot of work when you get them new. This is a chance to get a near mint example of a Ref 36 that has already had everything fixed permanently and that just plays how it should.

  • Selmer SBA Alto Original Lacquer Recent High End Overhaul Gorgeous 51347

    $ 7,500

    Amazing original lacquer Selmer SBA alto with a recent high-end overhaul. It plays great! This is about as nice an example as you are likely to find. It has a medium dark, smoky tone that fills a room with ease. The core is lyrical and delicate, making this a great do-it-all alto for either classical or jazz. Just switch your mouthpiece out! The scale is nice and even. Intonation is quite good as well. No resolders, no dents, no dings. It’s one of the most beautiful ones around.

    It comes with a nearly new BAM Classic alto case that fits it perfectly, and that is protective for shipping.

    Only one available!

  • Sold Out

    Yamaha YTS-62III Professional Tenor Saxophone Brand NEW with Warranty and Pro Setup

    $ 3,798

    The YTS-62III Tenor saxophone from Yamaha is the go-to, top recommended first professional tenor from most teachers and band directors I have talked to over the years. Again and again online, someone asks something like, “We want to get our daughter/son a good saxophone. Our budget is around $3750. What should we get?” The most common answer is basically always a Yamaha 62 tenor. Why? It just works. It’s a professional horn that is extremely reliable and made in Japan, with excellent build quality, great intonation, and a top quality factory setup. You can use virtually any mouthpiece on it, and it will still tune well. That lets you take the (admittedly rather vanilla) tone in myriad directions. Yamaha is a conservative company, and their crowd pleaser YTS-62III tenor saxophone is meant to get the job done without over-determining the tone. It’s clear, medium bright, and round. Not too loud and in your face, not very dark or too bright. Not very smoky or complex. But you can add most of that back in with a well-chosen mouthpiece.

    It’s hard to keep these horns in stock, as Yamaha has been backordered on them for a long time. I have some more coming in pretty soon (Maybe June 2022) These come with a new horn checkup before they go to you, meaning my (experienced/skilled/picky) repairman makes sure that the horn plays like it should. Often there are 2 or three little tweaks that take the horn from good to great, and that’s actually a big added value to you to have us do that before you get it. Most of the differerces between new horns of the same model at a store are due to the lack of a good new horn checkup.

  • Yanagisawa AWO1 Professional Alto Saxophone New + Setup – Fantastic Deal! A901

    $ 3,150

    One available now!

    New in the plastic Yanagisawa AWO1 Alto saxophone. This is probably the best deal overall in a modern alto period. This horn just got checked out post shipping and is ready to play its very best right out of the case when you get it. It’s completely mint, with factory box and paperwork etc. You won’t find a better playing Yanagisawa AWO1 Alto Saxophone, nor will you find a better price. I have an extremely limited number of these that I can offer you at this sale price. Good luck to the few people who are able to jump on this amazing deal!

    If you’re wondering, the AWO1 is the brass version of Yanagisawa’s professional alto. This is the new name of what used to be the A901 model. It has a more open and vibrating feel than the heavier-built AWO10 (which is also a fantastic alto, but more expensive). My first good alto was one of these. If you want the best alto for the money, that would be the Yanagisawa AWO1. And when you go to re-sell it, you can get most to all of your money back, which is the opposite of most new saxophones.

    Any questions, feel free to ask!

  • Sold Out

    Yanagisawa AWO10 Elite Professional Alto Saxophone Brand New Fantastic Deal! A991

    $ 3,950

    Mint, unplayed, new in the plastic Yanagisawa AWO10 Alto saxophone. This is probably the best deal on this saxophone that you will find anywhere.  The AWO10 (formerly called A991) is Yanagisawa’s top of the line saxophone, made of solid brass, like most saxophones (as distinguished from their bronze and silver options that are significantly more expensive.)  This AWO10 just got checked out post shipping and is ready to play its very best right out of the case when you get it. It’s completely mint, with factory box and paperwork etc. You won’t find a better playing Yanagisawa AWO10, nor will you find a better price. I have an extremely limited number of these that I can offer you at this sale price. Good luck to the few people who are able to jump on this amazing deal!

    If you’re wondering, the AWO10 is the brass version of Yanagisawa’s top line professional alto. This is the new name of what used to be the A991 model. It has sturdier ‘ribbed construction’ and double arms on the bell keys, to distinguish it from its extremely similar but less expensive sibling, the AWO1 (A901). The Yanagisawa AWO10 also has the underslung neck octave key mechanism and fancy hand engraving. I love how the neck octave key looks and works. My first good alto was a Yanagisawa, and I never would have needed to upgrade from it. The tone is medium bright, clear, and round, with a crisp projection to it. With a classical mouthpiece, it darkens up beautifully while still shimmering. For jazz, it’s a natural lead alto with a brighter mouthpiece, like the GS New York or many others. The intonation is excellent. Keywork is super comfortable. The build quality that Yanagisawa offers is the best of any saxophone, and yet the price is lower than many of its competitors. That’s why Yanagisawa is SO popular among pro sax players, and why its saxophones are often back ordered with long waits. Here’s your chance to grab one at a SUPER price that is all setup and ready to go for many years making beautiful music dependably. It’s the Lexus of modern saxophones, and it just makes playing effortless.

    Any questions, feel free to ask!

  • Sold Out

    Yanagisawa AWO2 Solid Bronze Alto Saxophone Brand New + Setup! A902

    $ 3,750

    ONE available Nov 2022, and it plays REALLY well.

    Brand new, unplayed, in the plastic Yanagisawa AWO2 Alto saxophone. This is probably the best deal overall in a modern alto period. This horn just got checked out post shipping and is ready to play its very best right out of the case when you get it. It’s completely mint, with factory box and paperwork etc. You won’t find a better playing Yanagisawa AWO2, nor will you find a better price. I have an extremely limited number of these that I can offer you at this sale price. Good luck to the few people who are able to jump on this amazing deal!

    If you’re wondering, the WO2 is the bronze version of Yanagisawa’s professional alto. This is the new name of what used to be the A902 model. It has a more open and vibrating feel than the heavier-built AWO20 (which is also a fantastic alto, but more expensive). My first good alto was one of these. And the solid bronze adds more depth and complexity to the tone – kind of a thick heart to the core of the tone. It’s quite easy to hear once you get used to it and play the different Yanagisawa saxophones. The AWO2 (A902) and AWO20 (A992) are my favorites, closely followed by AWO1 (A901) and AWO10 (A991) (same horns but in brass instead of bronze).

    Any questions, feel free to ask!

  • Sold Out

    Yanagisawa AWO20 Solid Bronze Alto Saxophone Brand New Fantastic Deal! A992

    $ 4,675

    One available now Sept 23, 2022

    Mint, unplayed, new in the plastic Yanagisawa AWO20 Alto saxophone. This is probably the best deal on this saxophone that you will find anywhere.  The AWO20 (formerly called A992) is the best horn that Yanagisawa makes in my opinion (I prefer it to the solid silver ones.) This AWO20 just got checked out post shipping and is ready to play its very best right out of the case when you get it. It’s completely mint, with factory box and paperwork etc. You won’t find a better playing Yanagisawa AWO2o, nor will you find a better price. I have an extremely limited number of these that I can offer you at this sale price. Good luck to the few people who are able to jump on this amazing deal!

    If you’re wondering, the WO20 is the bronze version of Yanagisawa’s top line professional alto. This is the new name of what used to be the A992 model. It has sturdier ‘ribbed construction’ and double arms on the bell keys, to distinguish it from its extremely similar but less expensive sibling, the AWO2 (A902). The Yanagisawa AWO20 also has the underslung neck octave key mechanism and fancy hand engraving. I love how the neck octave key looks and works. My first good alto was a Yanagisawa, and I never would have needed to upgrade from it. The solid bronze adds more depth and complexity to the tone compared to brass – kind of a thick heart to the core of the tone. It’s quite easy to hear once you get used to it and play the different Yanagisawa saxophones. The AWO2 (A902) and AWO20 (A992) are my favorites, closely followed by AWO1 (A901) and AWO10 (A991) (same horns but in brass instead of bronze, and a little less expensive).

    Any questions, feel free to ask!

  • Yanagisawa SWO2 Solid Bronze Professional Soprano Saxophone New! + Setup

    $ 3,950

    One just in!!

    This is a new Yanagisawa SWO2 Soprano saxophone in solid bronze. The one piece solid bronze Yanagisawa SWO-2 soprano is one of my favorite modern soprano saxophones of all. It has a noticeably darker, more complex tone than the SWO1, so to me, it’s worth the extra money to spring for the bronze on soprano. The one piece design means no neck socket to leak, and the horn resonates beautifully under your fingers when you play. It tunes beautifully as well. The keywork feels great under the fingers – dry and snappy. Yanagisawa has the best build quality of any modern saxophone, and it shows. Plus I get all new Yanagisawa saxophones checked out pre-sale by one of my excellent repairmen, so that any tiny improvements that will take it from good to great are done before you get it. This is a surprisingly big deal, and something you want to have done, regardless of where you happen to buy a new saxophone. A couple of tiny, smart fixes often take an already good horn into the exceptional category.

    If you’ve been thinking of getting a soprano, then Yanagisawa is really a great choice. These are precision instruments that are built to last and that sound beautiful. They work with a wide range of mouthpieces (Selmer sopranos are more ‘mouthpiece picky’), which is nice because you can shape the tone with mouthpiece choice a LOT.

    I have an extremely limited availability of these Yanagisawa saxophones, but ONE SWO2 is currently available as of November 2022. Whoever gets it will be one lucky saxophonist!