the alto sax was made in Indonesia especially pasuruan east Java . I am proud to work there and provide quality products and pleasure to all of you. Thank you! Terima kasih
Indinesian people are great. I am from the orher side of the world and I had work with sone of them, and all are: very friendly, good actitude, hard workers and very smarts. 👍
Man that takes me back to 1984. My dad bought me my Yamaha YAS-23 (made in Japan). I still have it and I started lessons again. Improving well. I love it. Don’t know if I’ll ever get another saxophone. I’d love a tenor and a curved soprano.
This is the horn I´ve started with. A mere 6 weeks ago...I´m totally in love with it (here hoping my wife doesn´t read this :D ). I will say, though, that my cork wasn´t as gentle as Jay´s example. It needed some proper grease to be able to get the mouthpiece in. Fulfilling my life goal of learning to play the sax has been one of the best and more rewarding things I´ve ever done. As such it deserved a proper instrument, and this one certainly is.
I still have mine (made in Japan) from when I was in 6th grade, and I’m 26 now (you can do the math). Only had it repaired once and for being a student sax and this many years old it still sounds really good!
I agree that Yamaha saxophones are great for beginning players. They are well built, keys work nicely, low maintenance. But many serious players, even amateurs like me, will eventually want to get a professional level sax for the improved tone. I switched to Selmer and bought a second-hand alto and also a tenor, from music shops where they have been checked over. For about double the cost of a new Yamaha alto, I got an excellent quality Selmer which I have played and enjoyed for the past 13 years.
greg sco i feel stupid aha. Ive been playing a little over a year now, but i still enjoy watching advanced levels. I can play like 3 two octave scales and thats bassically the only thing “impressive”
I still have my starter alto. Recently bought a soprano sax off of amazon. Haven’t played in ten years after high school graduation, but is coming back to me at least!
My school is starting band next year, and my sax is a Yamaha YAS-280 (like the one in the video) and it is so good to play, nic e sounds and overall is really good.
I've had my YAS-280 for 3 months. It took the place of a 1970's YAS-23 which was also a very nice horn with maybe a slightly mellower sound while the YAS-280 seems a bit brighter. The YAS-280 has an F# key which is nice to have. It also has a very nice case as shown in the video. The G# key can get sticky but that's easy to fix. I only wish its tone was a bit mellower, but I still like it a lot.
I have never played an instrument in my life, I'm 61, but the sax has always been my favorite. It's on my bucket list, albeit, I don't think I have developed that part of the brain. I just bought a used, only used for one year, Yamaha Advantage alto sax. Hopefully I get started and keep going. Seems incredibly hard to play. My dream is to learn this so I can buy a King Super 20 tenor sax like Dick Parry used on Dark Side of the Moon.
I’m still playing the YAS25 (precursor to the 280) that I learnt on and that I’ve now had for 28 years. I’m not a pro by any stretch of the imagination, but I am an enthusiastic amateur and I love this sax - great quality, great tone and it’ll last. The only thing I’ve changed is the mouthpiece.
You and me both! I loved and still love sax since I was a kid. I got hooked by its design and later, it’s sound. My oldest daughter loves it too. I told her, “If you like it; great. But, you don’t have to like it because of me.” She likes playing the old classics.
Great video, thank you so much! I decided to get myself one of these after viewing your video. It arrived yesterday. Great horn! Straight out of the box.
Exactly what i needed to know...i have a young player who thru pandemic, home from school, went from a novice learner to mimicking Charley Parker and John Coltrane. With some help from private lessons, he is now the first chair sax in 9th grade of his HS marching band. Its time to move him off of the starter horn that we bought him at age 9 to this...I'd love to get him a YAZ480, but this one will do. If he plays in college, a YAZ 480 will be his graduation gift.
I could hear a bit of difference when you changed your mouthpiece but any beginner could go very far with this horn. After 20 years of having my student model yamaha, I was shocked to find out how well I played it after just pulling it out on a whim after having not played it because I was using my SA80II in all my work. Blessings dude keep the good stuff coming.
waiting the courier to deliver it for my son ... he plays clasic quitar 3 years now and wanted and a sax too... 🙂 thanks for the detailed videos and comparisons... there was very helpfull to deside whitch one to buy.
Oh man does that take me back. I still have my Yamaha YAS-23 student saxophone that my parents bought me in the 6th grade and, much to their dismay considering how much it cost, abandoned after two years. Its in surprisingly good shape considering how little respect I had for things back then. It even still has the bright green streak of corrosion inside the bell from when I ate a bag of sour patch kids right before band class and my super-acidic spit tried to eat through the brass.
That case is a far cry from the plywood hard case my student Yamaha came in! way back in 1988. Now I've got two Yamaha student models and a Conn from the 1920/30's I got from a college professor. I was equally impressed by the
I’m in band at my school and I play a yamaha alto sax 😌 I do have a c⭐️ mouth piece and a different padded neck strap and in my class we use 3’s for our reeds
I bought this sax (from the link provided of course) based solely on your review, Jay. I love your videos. Thank you so much. I'm finding so much enjoyment learning a new instrument.
Hello Sir, I used to play the saxophone but stop because my sax got damaged. I don't have funds to fix or get a new one. I really love the saxophone and will like to go back to it. I don't mind if I can get one of ur very old or cheap saxophones for me to make do with. Thanks in Anticipation.
I bought a new Sax 6 months ago so the video played on anyways but I kind of tuned it out like the voice from a Charlie Brown Peanuts movie when a parent or teacher talks...wa wawa wa wa wa....then you started playing....WOW !...what a wonderful sound....Thanks Jay what you are we may become...well not really but maybe somewhere within sight of you
Very good video. I bought a yamaha saxophone for my daughter. She had a Yamaha Yas 25 but it was not her saxophone. It was the harmonie's saxo. She was playing 3 years with it. But now, she will integrating the conservatory. I hope it's a good investition. Thank you very much. Now, i will see other videos of your chain, because my husband is a beginner saxophoniste, and i want to offer him a saxophone for christmas but i haven't lots of monney for buying two Yamaha Yas 280. Perhaps i will find a sax less expansive made in china for him i hope it's make the job. I'll follow your advices for find the better.
Fantastic video. My kid has a YAS-23 and it’s excellent. This one is now all gold lacquer and I spy a high F# key also. Single post construction probably makes the horn slightly lighter in weight for kids too. And that case itself is a good value - solid, big accessory compartment and outside pocket, AND backpack straps. That alone is worth good money.
Yamaha make real work horses. I've had my YTS23 Tenor since the early 80's, been literally around the world with it and play it every week and it's still going strong. Have only had it in the shop for overhaul once. Would love to get a new Yamaha alto!
I have quite a few professional Conns, Bueschers, and have had some very nice Selmers come and go. My alto of choice, that I refuse to part with, is a YAS-21. Regarding playability, I haven't noticed a difference between Yamaha's first student sax vs their most current ones. The Indonesian horns do seem to be using a lower grade felt as keywork bumpers. The result is a horn that will spring a few minor leaks after a year or two of player saliva hitting it. No big deal, as a tech can fix the issue very quickly. I have a few students who had this very issue. I just quickly knocked out the felt bumpers and replaced them with cork. I know that Yamaha changed some leveraging of keys throughout the years, but the change is more of something you can see rather than something you can feel. The new pinky keys, on both hands, are cut a little differently. Once again, this is something that's easier to see than it is to feel.
I've a YAS21. Bought it used from the US. It's probably 4 decades old. Been with me for the past 7 years. Excellent warm tone and beautiful key action.
Love your videos... Love them short and full of practicality and purpose... You don't waste time talking your way through the video; if you are improvising and not planning or following a script, it doesn't shows. Thanks,
I've had few YAS's 23 (older version of the student level) and they were all good experiences. All of them used, bought usually from kids that grew up and gave up on the instrument, so I need to do few repairs, but the deals were amazingly good. Some I resold in here, and some I sent to my home country where they worth a fortune. Not rare to see Brazilians professional level players, mainly in military bands, playing those YAS 23's. Tunewise, I have a YAS 62, that has a beautiful sound, but I think I have a f*d neck that is sharp in some areas, flat in other areas. It's tuning nightmare that I'm just happy to be around +/- 15%. The 23's and my tenor 52, are like clock precision.
Hello Sir, I used to play the saxophone but stop because my sax got damaged. I don't have funds to fix or get a new one. I really love the saxophone and will like to go back to it. I don't mind if I can get one of ur very old or very cheap saxophones for me to make do with. Thanks in Anticipation.
Getting this sax on Thursday I am so excited can hardly breath considering being cryogenically frozen to skip tomorrow this video gave me a better idea of what instrument I’m getting
Used Yamaha student altos are running $350 to $500 here in the middle of the USA. I picked up a very nice used P.Mauriat alto, complete with abalone touches, in playable condition - got a deal - and so far, so good. It's already been to the tech - one new pad, some corks and felts replaced, a handful re-seated, regulation, &c. Big band rehearsals start up again in two and a half weeks. I'll probably keep it.
Thanks for good explanation! I plan to buy that model tomorrow after starting playing Sax since 6 weeks ago! Greetings from Germany near Airport Frankfurt!
cool sax. i just a yas 23 in mint condition for $600. it looks like someone got the horn and threw it in the closet for 10 years. i also enrolled in your classes. i played the sax for 6 years as a teenager. my instructor played the trumpet. lol. thank you so much for your curriculum. it's a lifetime journey when it comes to the sax. i only wish i had online classes back then. thanks again. the support i am getting after buying the online bundle is amazing.
the jean paul tenor is amazing, it is as well if not better construction than yamaha, the tone is not as bright, its smooth. the only draw back any repair work, harder to do, becasue they are not as readily available as yamaha, but hopefully that changes. cause i got one, and just wow, im new to sax, but played trumpet for 11 years, and the tone sounds better than my trumpet. i used to take the peoples saxes, and mess around on them, and i was able to get clear notes out on my first try, had a few sweeks, but now i have to find out where all the notes are, and start playing, and practicing.
@@GarbageKnight A lot of the tone is the mouthpiece too ... notice the student mouthpiece made the sax sound just smooth and nice, which is a good thing for a student, and the guy's favorite mouthpiece added a "sizzle" to the sound.
Thanks for a useful review. Just ordered my own to take up alto playing after a 30 years' break. You sound good with both mouthpieces. The Meyer sound is more solid. But the Yamaha has a sligthtly "can-like" edge to it that I find very charming when you blow it.
Some of the B roll is of the YAS-480. The 280 does not have the rocker mechanism on the left pinky cluster as shown at 10:51. The correct B roll is at 11:03.
Thank you for your videos! I think the YAS280 is not as good as when it was made in Japan ... First, I think, and some of my colleagues agree, that the 2nd octave D and E is pretty flat and the YAS280 metal is a little bit thinner. However, it is one of the best saxophones for beginners. It's quite expensive, but as you said - over the years it will not lose its value if you take care of it ... For comparison-5 years ago the local music school bought 4 new saxophones - 2 YAS280 and 2 Trevor James 3722G. Only after 5 years of playing, it is amazing how big the difference is in the build quality. TJ has a lot of problems like some corcks are detached, some screws are loose and the key noise is annoying. For YAS280 - No problem at all. Nothing! So .. I truly recommend the YAS280 as a good saxophone and, as you said, not only for beginners but also for more experienced players.
I may be one of the few people in the world who’s never played a Yamaha student model. I’ve been playing my Keilwerth student model for years and i always liked the sound i had compared to everyone else with a yamaha. Interesting to hear a professional review it
I also played on the YAS25- I am 37 and started in 5th grade. In Middle School we would literally sling the hard suit-case style cases across the floor like bowling balls and the case would smash into other instruments in the storage room. LIke everyday after band class from 6th to 8th grade. Then it sat around in the basement for a decade. I took it up again in my twenties. In 2021, I played Nana Mouskouri on it almost daily. Only the low C key wouldn't play. I tried to sell it at a Sax Shop. They weren't interested, even for 200 euro, it was in such bad shape. But it still played really well. I professor bought it from me for like 240 euro, said he was gonna repair it.... that instrument was well built. I am pretty sure I dropped it a few times too, it was banged up like mad and still retained some value in the end and was entirely playable with a beautiful sound all the way through. I did however not play it constantly over 30 years, it spent a lot of time in its suitcase unopened.
I happily own 280 alto for 4 years, wonderful sax, I upgraded the mouthpiece to a 5m Vandoren v16s vandoren Java red size 2, my set up works well. As the man said unless you’re a really really good player, you do not need another sax. Just get a Tenor 280, gray stuff. Very good honest review 5 star.
Always enjoy your videos Jay I know your a Yana fan, but it’s nice to hear about some Yamahas Couldn’t afford to go back to Selmer very happy with YAS-62, mine is a 2011 so made in Japan, but knowing that a Yamaha student not made in Japan passes your inspection is really impressive of Yamaha.
U can buy the new SeleS by Prologue alto mouthpiece. Has a little bit price difference on yamaha 4c but its a good alternative. Of course its a selmer mouthpiece its kinda like 59 dollas but it does have a ligature and cap
About 30 years after I quit playing my alto sax, I got a YAS-01 Q Class Sax and started playing again. After playing with it for 10 years now, I absolutely love it. Definitely have got my monies worth out of it. Looking to get another Yamaha sax that will allow me to play more altisimo notes. I'm certainly sold on Yamaha saxes.
Lucky I bought a Yamaha YAS-280 to start my sax journey then.....:) Jeez you can ring some sexy sounds out of any instrument Jay! Would like to hear what the Selmer C* sounds like on that, I have this mouthpiece for my YAS-280 and noticed the difference in tone straight away. Especially with a 2.0 reed, for a beginner like me. Thanks for the review, always love your work and knowledge. You set the standard for me to follow.
I bought a Saxophone from the Chinese brand Muslady - it was the cheapest I could get in Vietnam, about 300 USD. My teacher offered me to buy it straight away, because he loved the quality of it and I am also having a lot of fun with it.
I say Jay that was a very interesting clip. I have a student Yamaha, model As-100 that I bought 3rd hand in 2014. I have had complements on how nice the sound is. I’m not sure what year this was made. Cheers John
@@bettersax ....I have an excellent video btw. Just had to say, that. Also, I would like to say in a related subject: Thank you sooooo much for teaching me saxophone hygiene! Other teachers never bring up the subject. Now I am meticulous and clean. Thanks Jay! Glad to be one of your students!
I’ve been playing Sax for about six years, and my first Horn was a yas-23 that I bought at a thrift store for 100 bucks. Best sax deal I ever made, and I’ve only ever had to replace one pad on it and I the only repair it’s ever needed. Older though, probably 1980s. I now play on a Yas-62 IIII (4).
BlueStar TheCommunist Estella BS200 Lacquer E Flat Baritone Saxophone www.amazon.com/dp/B0741GDMQR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_kFEzDbBR9E7R6 this is the cheapest one on amazon. Mendini also has one that is like $250 more expensive
I'd like to see that as well. Suggestions are the Thomann TBS-150 for 1.598 € or the Sakkusu from sax.co.uk priced at £1,299.00. They should both be proper models...
Thanks for the really useful review Jay. I'm currently about to treat myself to a new saxophone and the YAS - 280 is right up there on my list. The one thing that is holding me off going for one is the issue of sticking pads. You mentioned it in your review and I've seen other mentions online too. I'd be grateful if you can reassure me regarding this as the last thing I want to do is spend £800 on a saxophone that may cause me some problems. Maybe others out there who have the same model can give their opinions too. The other saxophone that I'm considering is the Elkhart Deluxe which also seems to get good reviews. Thanks for all the videos that you make that I'm finding really helpful and keep up the good work.
I'm still playing the same YAS-280 referenced in an earlier message from years ago. I haven't changed the pads and find they actually stick less frequently now than when they were brand new. Not an issue for me. The only issues I have are that the little plastic tubing around the octave key rod has become worn. Same with the cork at the very tip of the neck. Neither issue seems to affect the playability. I do wonder about the comment in the video that he's using a #4 reed. Wow! I don't even much like using a #3. I still use a 2.5. Should I try to up my reed hardness game? What would that do for my sound?
@@bettersax Every bit of advice you've given has helped me Jay, and I appreciate that. Even though I already knew some of the stuff, just hearing things like "if you're not using a metronome, you're doing it wrong" keeps one from "perfecting" mistakes (it's always harder to undo errors than to start slow and accurately).
That’s what I spent overhauling my King Super 20. I would enjoy trying the Yamaha to compare with my King. The Yamaha case wins hands down. For most people spending more is just buying bragging rights.
I want you to review the Thomann Handmade Alto MK IV. It's a gorgeous sax and the reviews on their site are stellar but I trust your assessment the most.
Very interesting, as always. There's something strange going on with the Yamaha student saxes. Most of the world has the YAS-280. The US has the YAS-26, but no 280. (Australia, oddly, seems to have both.) The YAS-26 usually has nickel keywork, the YAS-280 doesn't. And the 280 has one or two more keys. Not a lot of difference there. But in the US, the YAS-26 is very expensive; online distributors list it for just shy of $2200US. In the US, Yamaha has sold a LOT of saxophones. So it dominates the used market. More than half the altos I see sold used on eBay, Craigslist, or local dealers seem to be the YAS-23, the obvious predecessor of the 26. There are so many that the prices are very low. You can buy them all day for $300, maybe $600 if you're determined to spend money. Most seem to be in excellent shape, the 20 series are about as sturdy as a brass instrument can be, and they're not old enough to have spent a couple of decades slowly corroding out in the garage. I snagged a 1998 specimen on Craigslist in almost new condition for $100, and had a prominent Boston-area repairman fiddle with the adjusting screws for another $20. That was a rare deal, but there's little reason to buy a new $200 Chinese instrument when a Yamaha alto is so inexpensive. (Sopranos and baritones are much rarer, though, and there's the place for the Chinese cheapos to really shine.)
You can get the 280 horns in the states as well. the link in my description will take you to Amazon.com which sells them. There are other dealers selling them in the US as well. As I understand, this horn was designed for the EU/Japan markets.
I am still on my YAS-275 I bought ages ago, actually at I.K. Gottfried. This store is phenomenal! I am really unsure if I need to upgrade to like the YAS-480. But lacking the money, I continuing with my current horn a good while more :)
Interesting video. When I bought my first alto sax I tried both the Yamaha 280 and 480. I personally didn’t get the response or click with the 280 and much preferred the 480. Survived me a good 4 years until I got my bronze yani 😍
Better Sax .... I'm wanting to purchase any old tenor mouthpieces you might be willing to get rid of. I'm just getting over 2 Strokes, a heart attack, and five major operations on my chest. my old mouthpiece is in very bad shape it doesn't seal at all. my wife, had to leave work for a few years in order to take care of me so we got very behind on our bills. I had to pawn my horn to pay the bills. But I get it back on the 30th of August just a few days away, I'm so excited. music is what kept me going thinking that one day I would be able to play again.
I asked the question from what’s better(Jean-Paul vs Yamaha). Thanks for answering my question!! Don’t know if it was by coincidence. Keep making these videos!!👍🏼🎷
Ragdasin i have bought reeds there :p i was there last friday on my holiday in Denmark. Was watching this review today and was cool to see they mention this shop. Didnt knew it was so famous.
I have mentioned on comments on your videos before that I have the Yamaha YAS-280. I found, that its well made, and while the sound is quite good and tunes easily, I would have prefered slightly more color in the sound that something like the Trevor James SR EVO alto that costs just a little more has, but its a great saxophone as is the included 4C mouthpiece. I also had the exact same issue with the pads sticking out of the box. I read a comment somewhere that the pads have a plastic coating on them, which could make them prone to sticking. When I got it, I used Yamaha Powder paper on all the pads and that fixed the sticking at the time and works more or less most times after. The only downside to the octave mechanism on the YAS-280 is that it can't take the Yamaha professional necks in the same way the YAS-480 can because it doesn't stick out as far as it does on their intermediate and professional saxophones. Oh and at 10:50 that first shot isn't the YAS-280 the front F isn't like that, nor does the G# key have a pearl in it.
You have two options in getting one of the Yamaha pro necks to fit the 280. The first is to extend the stem with a piece of surgical tubing. The second option is to carefully bend the octave key of the neck to accommodate the shorter stem. I use a V1 neck on my YAS-21, and used the second option. If you don't feel comfortable bending the key, take it to a tech and they can do it for you.
the alto sax was made in Indonesia especially pasuruan east Java .
I am proud to work there and provide quality products and pleasure to all of you. Thank you! Terima kasih
Good looks moh
Thank you very much for sharing this. Now I know that there is more than Made in Indonesia when I play my YTS 280S. Keep on that good work. I love it!
Proud to be Indonesia
Indinesian people are great. I am from the orher side of the world and I had work with sone of them, and all are: very friendly, good actitude, hard workers and very smarts. 👍
@@aliakbarfirasi bisa ke yamaha musik store
Man that takes me back to 1984. My dad bought me my Yamaha YAS-23 (made in Japan). I still have it and I started lessons again. Improving well. I love it. Don’t know if I’ll ever get another saxophone. I’d love a tenor and a curved soprano.
This is the horn I´ve started with. A mere 6 weeks ago...I´m totally in love with it (here hoping my wife doesn´t read this :D ). I will say, though, that my cork wasn´t as gentle as Jay´s example. It needed some proper grease to be able to get the mouthpiece in. Fulfilling my life goal of learning to play the sax has been one of the best and more rewarding things I´ve ever done. As such it deserved a proper instrument, and this one certainly is.
Same here.
Bought mine about a month ago.
I still have mine (made in Japan) from when I was in 6th grade, and I’m 26 now (you can do the math). Only had it repaired once and for being a student sax and this many years old it still sounds really good!
Great review. When you put on your mouthpiece the sound just hit me so sweetly. Thanks Jay, I always enjoy learning from you.
I have played alto sax for almost 2 years now at my schools band. so my parents are going to buy me this and your video helped so much!!!!!
That's so cool I'm just starting
@@csmagic1242 yah its a little ahrd at first
Ys
Ah ive actually played for about 5 years and u should totally stick with it
@@colettehuynh8613 Switch To Baritone Or A Larger Saxophone.
I agree that Yamaha saxophones are great for beginning players. They are well built, keys work nicely, low maintenance. But many serious players, even amateurs like me, will eventually want to get a professional level sax for the improved tone. I switched to Selmer and bought a second-hand alto and also a tenor, from music shops where they have been checked over. For about double the cost of a new Yamaha alto, I got an excellent quality Selmer which I have played and enjoyed for the past 13 years.
greg sco i feel stupid aha. Ive been playing a little over a year now, but i still enjoy watching advanced levels. I can play like 3 two octave scales and thats bassically the only thing “impressive”
I still have my starter alto. Recently bought a soprano sax off of amazon. Haven’t played in ten years after high school graduation, but is coming back to me at least!
U may have to do some maintenance
This is absolutely the video I need. I am from Denmark and just considering ordering from I.K. Gottfried.
tell them I sent you.
@@bettersax The sax is now in my hands and being played :)
@@GreenLasse How is the practice going? Looking to get a sax from I.K Gotfried aswell (Living in Denmark).
My school is starting band next year, and my sax is a Yamaha YAS-280 (like the one in the video) and it is so good to play, nic e sounds and overall is really good.
I've had my YAS-280 for 3 months. It took the place of a 1970's YAS-23 which was also a very nice horn with maybe a slightly mellower sound while the YAS-280 seems a bit brighter. The YAS-280 has an F# key which is nice to have. It also has a very nice case as shown in the video. The G# key can get sticky but that's easy to fix. I only wish its tone was a bit mellower, but I still like it a lot.
I have yas 275 for 7years now excellent horn indeed
I'm still on my student model horn, it's a yas-200AD it's a pretty good horn. I am hoping to upgrade my horn sometime next year
played on the yts-300ad for two years. excellent horn. wish i wouldve kept it for marching band...no way im marching with my custom z
@@thomasjohnson395 they are great horns perfect for beginners and for marching band.
Thanks for the review. I totally agree that sax could span an entire career.
No reason that horn won't last someone a lifetime...
@@bettersax It sounds like Selmer Reference 54.
I have never played an instrument in my life, I'm 61, but the sax has always been my favorite. It's on my bucket list, albeit, I don't think I have developed that part of the brain. I just bought a used, only used for one year, Yamaha Advantage alto sax. Hopefully I get started and keep going. Seems incredibly hard to play. My dream is to learn this so I can buy a King Super 20 tenor sax like Dick Parry used on Dark Side of the Moon.
I’m still playing the YAS25 (precursor to the 280) that I learnt on and that I’ve now had for 28 years. I’m not a pro by any stretch of the imagination, but I am an enthusiastic amateur and I love this sax - great quality, great tone and it’ll last. The only thing I’ve changed is the mouthpiece.
If you’ve been playing for 28 years then your a pro
I play the Yamaha Yas 25 🤣 , the next sax is the Yamaha Yas 280 .🤗🎷
You and me both! I loved and still love sax since I was a kid. I got hooked by its design and later, it’s sound. My oldest daughter loves it too. I told her, “If you like it; great. But, you don’t have to like it because of me.” She likes playing the old classics.
Great video, thank you so much! I decided to get myself one of these after viewing your video. It arrived yesterday. Great horn! Straight out of the box.
Exactly what i needed to know...i have a young player who thru pandemic, home from school, went from a novice learner to mimicking Charley Parker and John Coltrane. With some help from private lessons, he is now the first chair sax in 9th grade of his HS marching band. Its time to move him off of the starter horn that we bought him at age 9 to this...I'd love to get him a YAZ480, but this one will do. If he plays in college, a YAZ 480 will be his graduation gift.
wonderful video Sir, i love your content.
I could hear a bit of difference when you changed your mouthpiece but any beginner could go very far with this horn. After 20 years of having my student model yamaha, I was shocked to find out how well I played it after just pulling it out on a whim after having not played it because I was using my SA80II in all my work. Blessings dude keep the good stuff coming.
waiting the courier to deliver it for my son ... he plays clasic quitar 3 years now and wanted and a sax too... 🙂 thanks for the detailed videos and comparisons... there was very helpfull to deside whitch one to buy.
So happy i bought this as my first sax. Even before jay released this helpful review 😊
Me too
Oh man does that take me back. I still have my Yamaha YAS-23 student saxophone that my parents bought me in the 6th grade and, much to their dismay considering how much it cost, abandoned after two years. Its in surprisingly good shape considering how little respect I had for things back then. It even still has the bright green streak of corrosion inside the bell from when I ate a bag of sour patch kids right before band class and my super-acidic spit tried to eat through the brass.
That case is a far cry from the plywood hard case my student Yamaha came in! way back in 1988. Now I've got two Yamaha student models and a Conn from the 1920/30's I got from a college professor. I was equally impressed by the
yeah they are about the same quality over all.
@@bettersax How come the YAS280 Alto Sax still a student horn? The quality of the sounds is truly professional and more better than YAS 62.
I’m in band at my school and I play a yamaha alto sax 😌
I do have a c⭐️ mouth piece and a different padded neck strap and in my class we use 3’s for our reeds
Kai Wood wait everyone uses the same reeds lol I would die😂
I bought this sax (from the link provided of course) based solely on your review, Jay. I love your videos. Thank you so much. I'm finding so much enjoyment learning a new instrument.
Hello Sir, I used to play the saxophone but stop because my sax got damaged. I don't have funds to fix or get a new one. I really love the saxophone and will like to go back to it. I don't mind if I can get one of ur very old or cheap saxophones for me to make do with. Thanks in Anticipation.
Please share the link.
@@phumziletshabalala6757 It's right up there under the video. Looks like this Yamaha YAS-280 Alto Saxophone - geni.us/tMna
I bought a new Sax 6 months ago so the video played on anyways but I kind of tuned it out like the voice from a Charlie Brown Peanuts movie when a parent or teacher talks...wa wawa wa wa wa....then you started playing....WOW !...what a wonderful sound....Thanks Jay what you are we may become...well not really but maybe somewhere within sight of you
I just got a Jupiter artist series tenor sax that’s about 7 years old and It’s beautiful quality. Sound and design!
Great horn, like the best!
Very good video. I bought a yamaha saxophone for my daughter. She had a Yamaha Yas 25 but it was not her saxophone. It was the harmonie's saxo. She was playing 3 years with it. But now, she will integrating the conservatory. I hope it's a good investition. Thank you very much. Now, i will see other videos of your chain, because my husband is a beginner saxophoniste, and i want to offer him a saxophone for christmas but i haven't lots of monney for buying two Yamaha Yas 280. Perhaps i will find a sax less expansive made in china for him i hope it's make the job. I'll follow your advices for find the better.
I love music so much and I’m a woodwind even if I want to play brass and I love all your videos, so on behalf of the people I wanna say thank you
I love that key guard kind of like the 61 man what a difference in that Meyer sound
yeah mouthpiece makes it sound like a pro horn.
Fantastic video. My kid has a YAS-23 and it’s excellent. This one is now all gold lacquer and I spy a high F# key also. Single post construction probably makes the horn slightly lighter in weight for kids too. And that case itself is a good value - solid, big accessory compartment and outside pocket, AND backpack straps. That alone is worth good money.
Yamaha make real work horses. I've had my YTS23 Tenor since the early 80's, been literally around the world with it and play it every week and it's still going strong. Have only had it in the shop for overhaul once. Would love to get a new Yamaha alto!
sundogstudio1 I hear you! I still have my YAS 23 that I got in the 80s, too. I still love that horn. I paid US$ 700.
No reason why these horns wouldn't easily last a lifetime.
Wow! What a difference with the mouthpieces. I use a Meyer 6, and I can definitely tell the difference; especially with my YAS 23.
I have quite a few professional Conns, Bueschers, and have had some very nice Selmers come and go. My alto of choice, that I refuse to part with, is a YAS-21. Regarding playability, I haven't noticed a difference between Yamaha's first student sax vs their most current ones.
The Indonesian horns do seem to be using a lower grade felt as keywork bumpers. The result is a horn that will spring a few minor leaks after a year or two of player saliva hitting it. No big deal, as a tech can fix the issue very quickly. I have a few students who had this very issue. I just quickly knocked out the felt bumpers and replaced them with cork.
I know that Yamaha changed some leveraging of keys throughout the years, but the change is more of something you can see rather than something you can feel. The new pinky keys, on both hands, are cut a little differently. Once again, this is something that's easier to see than it is to feel.
I've a YAS21. Bought it used from the US. It's probably 4 decades old. Been with me for the past 7 years. Excellent warm tone and beautiful key action.
Nice plug for the Gottfried store! I bought my one and only saxophone at their shop. It is surely worth a visit.
best sax shop ever.
Love your videos... Love them short and full of practicality and purpose... You don't waste time talking your way through the video; if you are improvising and not planning or following a script, it doesn't shows.
Thanks,
sometimes it's very scripted, sometimes it's more improvised. this one had no script...
I've had few YAS's 23 (older version of the student level) and they were all good experiences. All of them used, bought usually from kids that grew up and gave up on the instrument, so I need to do few repairs, but the deals were amazingly good. Some I resold in here, and some I sent to my home country where they worth a fortune. Not rare to see Brazilians professional level players, mainly in military bands, playing those YAS 23's.
Tunewise, I have a YAS 62, that has a beautiful sound, but I think I have a f*d neck that is sharp in some areas, flat in other areas. It's tuning nightmare that I'm just happy to be around +/- 15%. The 23's and my tenor 52, are like clock precision.
Hello Sir, I used to play the saxophone but stop because my sax got damaged. I don't have funds to fix or get a new one. I really love the saxophone and will like to go back to it. I don't mind if I can get one of ur very old or very cheap saxophones for me to make do with. Thanks in Anticipation.
Getting this sax on Thursday I am so excited can hardly breath considering being cryogenically frozen to skip tomorrow this video gave me a better idea of what instrument I’m getting
Used Yamaha student altos are running $350 to $500 here in the middle of the USA. I picked up a very nice used P.Mauriat alto, complete with abalone touches, in playable condition - got a deal - and so far, so good. It's already been to the tech - one new pad, some corks and felts replaced, a handful re-seated, regulation, &c. Big band rehearsals start up again in two and a half weeks. I'll probably keep it.
yeah they can be a very good deal used.
Not in SoCal. High resale.
So you live in France, have worked in Denmark, and have an American accent. That’s awesome.
He's an American
Thanks for good explanation! I plan to buy that model tomorrow after starting playing Sax since 6 weeks ago! Greetings from Germany near Airport Frankfurt!
cool sax. i just a yas 23 in mint condition for $600. it looks like someone got the horn and threw it in the closet for 10 years. i also enrolled in your classes. i played the sax for 6 years as a teenager. my instructor played the trumpet. lol. thank you so much for your curriculum. it's a lifetime journey when it comes to the sax. i only wish i had online classes back then. thanks again. the support i am getting after buying the online bundle is amazing.
Loving your "amazon influencer page", cant wait for your recommendations on tenor saxophones!!
Thanks! here's the link if anyone wants to visit: www.amazon.com/shop/bettersax
the jean paul tenor is amazing, it is as well if not better construction than yamaha, the tone is not as bright, its smooth. the only draw back any repair work, harder to do, becasue they are not as readily available as yamaha, but hopefully that changes. cause i got one, and just wow, im new to sax, but played trumpet for 11 years, and the tone sounds better than my trumpet. i used to take the peoples saxes, and mess around on them, and i was able to get clear notes out on my first try, had a few sweeks, but now i have to find out where all the notes are, and start playing, and practicing.
@@GarbageKnight A lot of the tone is the mouthpiece too ... notice the student mouthpiece made the sax sound just smooth and nice, which is a good thing for a student, and the guy's favorite mouthpiece added a "sizzle" to the sound.
@@bettersax What size is your mouthpiece.Please explain which size is most open/closed
@@bettersax Excellent thank you
im a beginner and these vids are great
The low C#, B, Bb key guard reminds me of the YAS-61. The YAS-280 appears to be a nice horn!
very nice horn.
Just got mine and I love her
Thanks for a useful review. Just ordered my own to take up alto playing after a 30 years' break. You sound good with both mouthpieces. The Meyer sound is more solid. But the Yamaha has a sligthtly "can-like" edge to it that I find very charming when you blow it.
Excellent video. Thank you Sgt. Malarkey
Some of the B roll is of the YAS-480. The 280 does not have the rocker mechanism on the left pinky cluster as shown at 10:51. The correct B roll is at 11:03.
I am planning to buy a used yas 280 and your video has been very useful. Thank you so much.
All my saxes are Yamahas. Only played barys that are different brads. Can’t stop loving Yamahas
Thank you for your videos!
I think the YAS280 is not as good as when it was made in Japan ...
First, I think, and some of my colleagues agree, that the 2nd octave D and E is pretty flat and the YAS280 metal is a little bit thinner.
However, it is one of the best saxophones for beginners. It's quite expensive, but as you said - over the years it will not lose its value if you take care of it ...
For comparison-5 years ago the local music school bought 4 new saxophones - 2 YAS280 and 2 Trevor James 3722G. Only after 5 years of playing, it is amazing how big the difference is in the build quality. TJ has a lot of problems like some corcks are detached, some screws are loose and the key noise is annoying.
For YAS280 - No problem at all. Nothing!
So .. I truly recommend the YAS280 as a good saxophone and, as you said, not only for beginners but also for more experienced players.
Always fair and honest! Love your work!!!! Rocket 🚀
thanks
Just bought mine. Awesome review! Helped me to make decision. Thanks!
I may be one of the few people in the world who’s never played a Yamaha student model. I’ve been playing my Keilwerth student model for years and i always liked the sound i had compared to everyone else with a yamaha. Interesting to hear a professional review it
I also played on the YAS25- I am 37 and started in 5th grade. In Middle School we would literally sling the hard suit-case style cases across the floor like bowling balls and the case would smash into other instruments in the storage room. LIke everyday after band class from 6th to 8th grade. Then it sat around in the basement for a decade. I took it up again in my twenties. In 2021, I played Nana Mouskouri on it almost daily. Only the low C key wouldn't play. I tried to sell it at a Sax Shop. They weren't interested, even for 200 euro, it was in such bad shape. But it still played really well. I professor bought it from me for like 240 euro, said he was gonna repair it.... that instrument was well built. I am pretty sure I dropped it a few times too, it was banged up like mad and still retained some value in the end and was entirely playable with a beautiful sound all the way through. I did however not play it constantly over 30 years, it spent a lot of time in its suitcase unopened.
I happily own 280 alto for 4 years, wonderful sax, I upgraded the mouthpiece to a 5m Vandoren v16s vandoren Java red size 2, my set up works well. As the man said unless you’re a really really good player, you do not need another sax. Just get a Tenor 280, gray stuff. Very good honest review 5 star.
11:55 for the spit drip. Excuse me, "condensation" drip.
; )
Haha
Gawd-daym why'd I have to look at that!
I Thought I was seeing things lol
was considering second hand before i saw that lollll not anymore specially in these covid times.
Thanks. Liked your sound on the stock mouthpiece better...jmo..enjoyed !
I love the way Meyer mouthpiece sounds compared to 4C. Wow!! Can you tell us the mouth opening and the reed strength please? Thanks, Jay.
Always enjoy your videos Jay I know your a Yana fan, but it’s nice to hear about some Yamahas Couldn’t afford to go back to Selmer very happy with YAS-62, mine is a 2011 so made in Japan, but knowing that a Yamaha student not made in Japan passes your inspection is really impressive of Yamaha.
...and what a difference the mouthpiece makes. I will be using a vandoren V5 A25.
4C was really narrow. Your favorite mouth piece was a different universe. Like, a real instrument. Vivid, timbre, character. Thank you.
Norbert Vossiek a nice mouthpiece and reed setup is so vital to the sound
U can buy the new SeleS by Prologue alto mouthpiece. Has a little bit price difference on yamaha 4c but its a good alternative. Of course its a selmer mouthpiece its kinda like 59 dollas but it does have a ligature and cap
I got it and is extremly good
About 30 years after I quit playing my alto sax, I got a YAS-01 Q Class Sax and started playing again. After playing with it for 10 years now, I absolutely love it. Definitely have got my monies worth out of it. Looking to get another Yamaha sax that will allow me to play more altisimo notes. I'm certainly sold on Yamaha saxes.
Lucky I bought a Yamaha YAS-280 to start my sax journey then.....:) Jeez you can ring some sexy sounds out of any instrument Jay! Would like to hear what the Selmer C* sounds like on that, I have this mouthpiece for my YAS-280 and noticed the difference in tone straight away. Especially with a 2.0 reed, for a beginner like me. Thanks for the review, always love your work and knowledge. You set the standard for me to follow.
thanks Chris
Jay at 10:50 , this is not the YAS280, but another sax. I recognize my sticky G# hahaha but then after this is the YAS280 :)
Cheers
Mohamed Lamouri it is YAS-62 I believe
Thanks for pointing this out OOPS! that was footage of the Jean Paul AS-400 that I put in there by mistake. Well spotted!!!
Hehe eye of the tiger! Thanks a lot for this excellent review :)
Lol i noticed its Jean Paul AS-400 because of the Front F Key because the Yamaha's is pearl
I bought a Saxophone from the Chinese brand Muslady - it was the cheapest I could get in Vietnam, about 300 USD. My teacher offered me to buy it straight away, because he loved the quality of it and I am also having a lot of fun with it.
I say Jay that was a very interesting clip. I have a student Yamaha, model As-100 that I bought 3rd hand in 2014. I have had complements on how nice the sound is. I’m not sure what year this was made. Cheers John
thanks
Jay, I love how the spit ran out as you tipped up the sax… just shows that you really played that baby hard and not just for show. lol
😆
thanks for your demo, great playing
WHAT, NO WHITE GLOVES???????????
Lol
Its because its a japanese sax...
HKH From PH r/whooosh
@@高宇中 yeah. But i can understand. Why theres no gloves even it was made and checked in China
Palpa- Meme if you’re gonna r/woooosh someone, spell it right
diggin' the drool, that drips out at 11:56, nice gob.
nice attention to detail and watching till the end...
@@bettersax ....I have an excellent video btw. Just had to say, that. Also, I would like to say in a related subject: Thank you sooooo much for teaching me saxophone hygiene! Other teachers never bring up the subject. Now I am meticulous and clean. Thanks Jay! Glad to be one of your students!
I’ve been playing Sax for about six years, and my first Horn was a yas-23 that I bought at a thrift store for 100 bucks. Best sax deal I ever made, and I’ve only ever had to replace one pad on it and I the only repair it’s ever needed. Older though, probably 1980s. I now play on a Yas-62 IIII (4).
I'm in my early-mid 30s and have been deciding on what sax to start with. I think this just might be the one.
Can you make a video of the cheapest bari sax and do a comparison
I want to pull the trigger on one, but keep holding out in hopes Better Sax we'll do a review of one.
theres no cheap baris anwhere ;-;
BlueStar TheCommunist Estella BS200 Lacquer E Flat Baritone Saxophone www.amazon.com/dp/B0741GDMQR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_kFEzDbBR9E7R6 this is the cheapest one on amazon. Mendini also has one that is like $250 more expensive
@@bluestarthecommunist5175 the cheapest is 1000 dollars which is cheap for baris but still pricey ;>;
I'd like to see that as well. Suggestions are the Thomann TBS-150 for 1.598 € or the Sakkusu from sax.co.uk priced at £1,299.00. They should both be proper models...
Thanks for the really useful review Jay. I'm currently about to treat myself to a new saxophone and the YAS - 280 is right up there on my list.
The one thing that is holding me off going for one is the issue of sticking pads. You mentioned it in your review and I've seen other mentions online too. I'd be grateful if you can reassure me regarding this as the last thing I want to do is spend £800 on a saxophone that may cause me some problems. Maybe others out there who have the same model can give their opinions too.
The other saxophone that I'm considering is the Elkhart Deluxe which also seems to get good reviews.
Thanks for all the videos that you make that I'm finding really helpful and keep up the good work.
I'm still playing the same YAS-280 referenced in an earlier message from years ago. I haven't changed the pads and find they actually stick less frequently now than when they were brand new. Not an issue for me. The only issues I have are that the little plastic tubing around the octave key rod has become worn. Same with the cork at the very tip of the neck. Neither issue seems to affect the playability. I do wonder about the comment in the video that he's using a #4 reed. Wow! I don't even much like using a #3. I still use a 2.5. Should I try to up my reed hardness game? What would that do for my sound?
I'm a simple man, i see new BetterSax videos, i press like.
I wait a bit, but I always end up hitting the like button anyway, lol.
Good man. Thanks for the likes!
Always important to watch the entire video as well...
@@bettersax Every bit of advice you've given has helped me Jay, and I appreciate that. Even though I already knew some of the stuff, just hearing things like "if you're not using a metronome, you're doing it wrong" keeps one from "perfecting" mistakes (it's always harder to undo errors than to start slow and accurately).
That’s what I spent overhauling my King Super 20. I would enjoy trying the Yamaha to compare with my King. The Yamaha case wins hands down. For most people spending more is just buying bragging rights.
true
Hi Jay, thanks for this session. Am looking for a Saxophone so it was very helpful information
Sounds like an excellent value. I wonder how my circa 1987 YAS 23 ( that I’ve had since new) would compare? Comments from anyone?
Well I learned on my original American made Bundy, not a Bundy II. I like it and it still works great.
The best saxophone ❤❤love it
I want you to review the Thomann Handmade Alto MK IV.
It's a gorgeous sax and the reviews on their site are stellar but I trust your assessment the most.
Very interesting, as always.
There's something strange going on with the Yamaha student saxes. Most of the world has the YAS-280. The US has the YAS-26, but no 280. (Australia, oddly, seems to have both.) The YAS-26 usually has nickel keywork, the YAS-280 doesn't. And the 280 has one or two more keys. Not a lot of difference there. But in the US, the YAS-26 is very expensive; online distributors list it for just shy of $2200US.
In the US, Yamaha has sold a LOT of saxophones. So it dominates the used market. More than half the altos I see sold used on eBay, Craigslist, or local dealers seem to be the YAS-23, the obvious predecessor of the 26. There are so many that the prices are very low. You can buy them all day for $300, maybe $600 if you're determined to spend money. Most seem to be in excellent shape, the 20 series are about as sturdy as a brass instrument can be, and they're not old enough to have spent a couple of decades slowly corroding out in the garage. I snagged a 1998 specimen on Craigslist in almost new condition for $100, and had a prominent Boston-area repairman fiddle with the adjusting screws for another $20. That was a rare deal, but there's little reason to buy a new $200 Chinese instrument when a Yamaha alto is so inexpensive. (Sopranos and baritones are much rarer, though, and there's the place for the Chinese cheapos to really shine.)
You can get the 280 horns in the states as well. the link in my description will take you to Amazon.com which sells them. There are other dealers selling them in the US as well. As I understand, this horn was designed for the EU/Japan markets.
For 2200 get yourself a conn or buescher
For $2200 buy a used Yanagisawa! My 1980 A880 was $1600, then I added an A9937 neck for another $400!
Great review- I would have liked to hear a few riffs in the lower register to help me assess the sound.
I am still on my YAS-275 I bought ages ago, actually at I.K. Gottfried. This store is phenomenal! I am really unsure if I need to upgrade to like the YAS-480. But lacking the money, I continuing with my current horn a good while more :)
Thank you for sharing Jay 🎶🎶🎶🎷😎✌🏽
NO GLOVES ! NICE! 😀 seriously, it sounds better with your mouthpiece.
Interesting video. When I bought my first alto sax I tried both the Yamaha 280 and 480. I personally didn’t get the response or click with the 280 and much preferred the 480. Survived me a good 4 years until I got my bronze yani 😍
I suggest our students the Jupiter 500 or 700 series. This instruments have improved so well and sound better than Yamaha.......👍🎷✔️🔝
Love the videos. Getting a saxaphone for Christmas.
congrats.
Thank you I was wondering which one to buy
So glad I found your channel. Like and subscribed. Your very informative, knowledgeable, and down to earth.
I'm glad you found it as well.
Better Sax .. I'm looking forward to taking online lessons from you! I was wondering do you ever sell your old mouthpieces?
Better Sax .... I'm wanting to purchase any old tenor mouthpieces you might be willing to get rid of. I'm just getting over 2 Strokes, a heart attack, and five major operations on my chest. my old mouthpiece is in very bad shape it doesn't seal at all. my wife, had to leave work for a few years in order to take care of me so we got very behind on our bills. I had to pawn my horn to pay the bills. But I get it back on the 30th of August just a few days away, I'm so excited. music is what kept me going thinking that one day I would be able to play again.
I asked the question from what’s better(Jean-Paul vs Yamaha). Thanks for answering my question!! Don’t know if it was by coincidence. Keep making these videos!!👍🏼🎷
What was the response? I just bought the Jean-Paul AS400 for my son who is starting band this month.
He did not responded my question in words but I got my answer out of this video about what he thinks about it.
I am going to make a separate video comparing those instruments. JP is better when you consider price.
I bought my 280 in gottfried Copenhagen:))
Ragdasin I've bought my two Selmers there 😁
Ragdasin i have bought reeds there :p i was there last friday on my holiday in Denmark. Was watching this review today and was cool to see they mention this shop. Didnt knew it was so famous.
@@Foodgeek Wow, thats crazy
@@rienbutter yeah, I didn't know either, but its pretty cool:))
dude, you gotta check out a rovner mouth piece with the super low cut interior, works so darned nice, can't believe they quit making them :(
I’m playing that same NY Meyer on alto now too. Great feeling and sounding mpc.
I have mentioned on comments on your videos before that I have the Yamaha YAS-280. I found, that its well made, and while the sound is quite good and tunes easily, I would have prefered slightly more color in the sound that something like the Trevor James SR EVO alto that costs just a little more has, but its a great saxophone as is the included 4C mouthpiece.
I also had the exact same issue with the pads sticking out of the box. I read a comment somewhere that the pads have a plastic coating on them, which could make them prone to sticking. When I got it, I used Yamaha Powder paper on all the pads and that fixed the sticking at the time and works more or less most times after.
The only downside to the octave mechanism on the YAS-280 is that it can't take the Yamaha professional necks in the same way the YAS-480 can because it doesn't stick out as far as it does on their intermediate and professional saxophones. Oh and at 10:50 that first shot isn't the YAS-280 the front F isn't like that, nor does the G# key have a pearl in it.
You have two options in getting one of the Yamaha pro necks to fit the 280. The first is to extend the stem with a piece of surgical tubing. The second option is to carefully bend the octave key of the neck to accommodate the shorter stem. I use a V1 neck on my YAS-21, and used the second option. If you don't feel comfortable bending the key, take it to a tech and they can do it for you.
YAS280 rocks ^^ thank you Jay!
thank you