Yanagisawa Wind Instruments
Encyclopedia
Yanagisawa Wind Instruments is a Japanese woodwind company known for its range of professional grade saxophone
s. Along with Yamaha
they are one of the leading manufacturers of saxophones in Japan
.
A family company, they started production in 1896 but became more widely known after the release in 1954 of their T3 silver-plated tenor saxophone
. This was followed in 1956 by the A3, their first alto saxophone
. The T3 model Tenor and the A3 model Alto were based on a Martin Committee
design and later models were based more on a Selmer Mark VI
design. There has been continuous development of their saxophone technology ever since. Their first solid silver saxophone was produced in 1972 and instruments made from phosphor bronze
began to be produced in 1992. The company currently manufactures sopranino
, soprano
, alto
, tenor
and baritone
saxophones.
The company is notable for making saxophones from materials other than the standard brass
, i.e., phosphor bronze
and solid silver
, and combinations thereof. For example, as of 2009, Yanagisawa's range of alto saxophones featured the following instruments:
The permutations are increased by the fact that it is possible to buy a solid brass, silver, or bronze crook from Yanagisawa and fit it to any of the nine instruments listed above e.g. adding a solid silver crook to the A991 or A992, or a phosphor bronze crook to the A991, A9932J or A9937 etc.
Professional saxophonists performing on Yanagisawa instruments include Gary Bartz
, Jay Beckenstein
, Plas Johnson
, Ed Wynne, Steve Slagle
, Peter King, Vincent Herring
, Snake Davis
and Antonio Hart
.
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s. Along with Yamaha
Yamaha (manufacturer)
is a multinational corporation and conglomerate based in Japan with a wide range of products and services, predominantly musical instruments, electronics, motorcycles and power sports equipment.-History:...
they are one of the leading manufacturers of saxophones in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
A family company, they started production in 1896 but became more widely known after the release in 1954 of their T3 silver-plated tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
. This was followed in 1956 by the A3, their first alto saxophone
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
. The T3 model Tenor and the A3 model Alto were based on a Martin Committee
Martin Committee
The Martin Committee was a line of band instruments, including trumpets, cornets, fluegelhorns, trombones, and saxophones. The name originated in the mid-1930s and was used until 2007...
design and later models were based more on a Selmer Mark VI
Selmer Mark VI
The Selmer Mark VI is a professional model saxophone that is generally considered the Selmer Company's finest saxophone. Although tastes in saxophones differ the Mk VI design is universally regarded as one of the best saxophone models ever produced by any manufacturer...
design. There has been continuous development of their saxophone technology ever since. Their first solid silver saxophone was produced in 1972 and instruments made from phosphor bronze
Phosphor bronze
Phosphor bronze is an alloy of copper with 3.5 to 10% of tin and a significant phosphorus content of up to 1%. The phosphorus is added as deoxidizing agent during melting....
began to be produced in 1992. The company currently manufactures sopranino
Sopranino saxophone
The sopranino saxophone is one of the smallest members of the saxophone family. A sopranino saxophone is tuned in the key of E, and sounds an octave above the alto saxophone. This saxophone has a sweet sound and although the sopranino is one of the least common of the saxophones in regular use...
, soprano
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
, alto
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
, tenor
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
and baritone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
saxophones.
The company is notable for making saxophones from materials other than the standard brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
, i.e., phosphor bronze
Phosphor bronze
Phosphor bronze is an alloy of copper with 3.5 to 10% of tin and a significant phosphorus content of up to 1%. The phosphorus is added as deoxidizing agent during melting....
and solid silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, and combinations thereof. For example, as of 2009, Yanagisawa's range of alto saxophones featured the following instruments:
- A901 - made entirely from solid brassBrassBrass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
- A902 - made entirely from solid phosphor bronzePhosphor bronzePhosphor bronze is an alloy of copper with 3.5 to 10% of tin and a significant phosphorus content of up to 1%. The phosphorus is added as deoxidizing agent during melting....
(except keywork, which is brass) - A991 - made entirely from solid brassBrassBrass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
(underslung neck) - A991U - made entirely from solid brassBrassBrass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
(underslung neck - unlacquered) - A991S - same as A991, but plated with silverSilverSilver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
- A991B - same as A991, but coated with black lacquer
- A992 - made entirely from solid phosphor bronzePhosphor bronzePhosphor bronze is an alloy of copper with 3.5 to 10% of tin and a significant phosphorus content of up to 1%. The phosphorus is added as deoxidizing agent during melting....
(except keywork, which is brass) - A992PG - same as A992, but plated with "pink gold" (80% goldGoldGold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and 20% silver) - A9930 - solid silver crook and body with solid brass bell and bow
- A9932J - solid silver crook and bell, solid phosphor bronze body and bow (designed exclusively for jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, so no 'lyre' socket) - A9933 - solid silver neck and bell; solid brass body, bow and crook
- A9937 - solid silver crook, body, bow and bell
The permutations are increased by the fact that it is possible to buy a solid brass, silver, or bronze crook from Yanagisawa and fit it to any of the nine instruments listed above e.g. adding a solid silver crook to the A991 or A992, or a phosphor bronze crook to the A991, A9932J or A9937 etc.
Professional saxophonists performing on Yanagisawa instruments include Gary Bartz
Gary Bartz
Gary Bartz is an American alto and soprano saxophonist and clarinetist.Bartz graduated from the Baltimore City College high school and The Juilliard School...
, Jay Beckenstein
Jay Beckenstein
Jay B. Beckenstein is a saxophone player, smooth jazz artist and together with Jeremy Wall founded Spyro Gyra...
, Plas Johnson
Plas Johnson
Plas John Johnson Jr. is an American soul-jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist, probably most familiar as the lead on Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther Theme"....
, Ed Wynne, Steve Slagle
Steve Slagle
Steve Slagle is an American jazz saxophonist.Slagle was born in Los Angeles and grew up in suburban Philadelphia. he received a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. He came to New York in 1976, playing with Machito and his Afro-Cuban orchestra, and played successively with Ray Barretto,...
, Peter King, Vincent Herring
Vincent Herring
Vincent Herring is an American jazz hard bop and post-bop saxophonist and flautist.-Biography:Herring's formal musical education began at age 11, when he started playing saxophone in school bands and studying privately at Dean Frederick's School Of Music in Vallejo, California...
, Snake Davis
Snake Davis
Snake Davis is a session musician who has played with some of the worlds biggest artists. In the 1980s he fronted York band Zoot and the Roots....
and Antonio Hart
Antonio Hart
Antonio Hart is a jazz alto saxophonist. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, studied with Andy McGhee at Berklee College of Music, and has a master's degree from Queens College, City University of New York. His initial training was classical, but he switched to jazz in college...
.