Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

I have been playing saxophone for over 30 years. I picked up my first baritone in high school. It was a Yamaha and fell in love with the instrument. In college, again I played a loaner Yamaha baritone. Finally, after settling down in Rochester, I joined a couple jazz groups and ended up borrowing a 1920's Conn for a year or two. It had a wonderful sound. I eventually decided it was time to buy my own and stuck with the YBS-52. I have had this particular horn for about 5 years now. I have absolutely no regrets given I am not a pro. The horn sounds great, has a nice dark tone, is in tune top to bottom, is responsive, and easy to play whether playing a light jazz tune or honking' on some funk. I did go out and get an Otto Link metal mouthpiece, 7*. I use a Vandoren 2.5 reed. I replaced the heavier case with a slightly more manageable ProTec softcase. I would love to try a YBS-62 some day, but given my evaluation, I am in no rush. For the money, this horn is *Awesome*!

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

I play primarily alto and tenor (Selmer), and wanted a good bari for occasional use, so that called for a modest price and a horn that is easy to play. The Yamaha 52 has a good sound, although not quite as rich as the Selmer Series II. The intonation is a little better than the Selmer, and the Yamaha is easier to play, especially when going after the low A. Consider upgrading to a better mouthpiece; I use a Selmer S90, and it gives me a fuller, less edgy sound than the Yamaha piece. The Yamaha case is quite heavy, so I use a Pro Tech and reduced the horn+case weight by 8 lbs. If you don't throw the horn around, the light weight case will give adequate protection.

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

I play this model because it's the only one my school will provide, and overall it's a decent sax, but happens to have a weird intonation since the lower register will be sharp and the upper flat.

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

This year, I began playing Bari Sax for my band director, who needed one for the marching band. I switched from my Conn Tenor Sax to this one which he had purchased just a year earlier. This Saxophone is very good. I can play the low notes with ease (much to Mr. Lane's liking). I can play low notes in the music where they obviously thought I would be better off going high.Had minor problems with it not too long ago, mainly from being bumped and jostled around. A dent, two bent keys, and some pads were fixed, I believe. This is a very heavy Saxophone, and really takes some getting used to if you play it in Marching Band.Very, Very cool!

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

I played this horn in high skool for 4 yrs, it's been great, for concert and jazz, you get that low fat sound that a bari should have

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

I started playing tenor 12 years ago and started on bari 2 years ago. I decided on the YBS52 after talking with a WWBW specialist about 18 months ago. This instrument is an absolute joy. It plays in-tune over the entire range of the instrument and instantly responds from soft sub-tones to fortissimo. The stock mouthpiece that came with the instrument was a little weak for the groups that I play in, but refacing it produced a full, rich sound suitable for orchestral and quartet pieces. With a jazz mouthpiece, it really adds punch to big-band and jazz groups.

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

For the money this is THE best bari you can buy, hands down. You have to spend 2 grand more to get anything better and it's not all that much better, at least not to justify 2000 extra dollars! I play it in a professional sax quartet. Nice even scale, great intonation even at extreme dynamics, great tone quality...it is a very EASY bari to play, and I've played a bunch, old and newer Selmers, old Kings, Conns, etc.

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

I first started playing this sax about a year ago, in jazz band. It was the first bari horn that I had ever played, and I loved it. The button placement is perfect, and it's really good for marching band (it's heavy enough to take the punishment that comes from marching.)

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

this is a great horn for both jazz and concert bands, nice tone very vibrant, hits the low notes great,

Comments about Yamaha YBS-52 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone:

While I played this bari sax I felt completely relaxed, as the notes seemed to flow out of the wonderful brass bell. I found the low A very easy to function, as well as all the higher keys, such as F, or F#. I highly recommend this instrument and for a price this low, I would buy one for all my friends if they were musical fans also.