First off, I want to salute the Epinions crew for FINALLY enabling saxophones, clarinets and related items as reviewable products.
When a player starts out, it’s appropriate for them to learn playing skills and instrument care on a beginner instrument, whether purchased or rented. The beginner quality instruments are sturdy, relatively easy to play, with adequate sound quality. However, better instruments can have better sound quality and projection, better intonation and more efficient mechanisms that are more comfortable for the fingers and require less effort to execute.
Once a student has played for a few years and is developing, then the student might need a better quality instrument. New professional models can cost around $4,000. There is a class of intermediate saxophones with improved mechanisms and sound relative to the beginning horns. Of this class, the Yamaha 62II is the best value in its price range on alto and tenor sax, by FAR. The street price on the tenor sax model is around $2,400.
The 62IIs I’ve heard have a very rich and full sound. Clearly better than lesser instruments. I’ve found them to be very free blowing and project well. Some have sounded as good as new top line pro models. A couple of the ones I’ve played were ALMOST as good as my vintage Selmer.
Also, the 62IIs have pro style key mechanisms. Placement of the finger keys is more comfortable, particularly in the playing position of the wrists, and the pinky keys on each side are much easier to use than beginner models. The palm keys (highest notes) also have more comfortable placements than beginner models. The instrument is keyed from low Bb to high F#, a little more than 2 ½ octaves.
The standard mouthpiece for these instruments is a Yamaha 4C, a quality classical mouthpiece. Jazz players might want to try different ones.
Intonation on these has generally been very good, although there have been variations. I have not encountered any of these yet on which the intonation was worse than workable. Players can influence intonation through developing their blowing mechanism and through ear training. Please see my
Improve Your Intonation epinion for details.
The 62IIs enjoy some acceptance among working professionals, even though Yamaha has a more expensive line of professional instruments.
As is the case with all new instruments, even professional ones, the buyer should try several models and several units within the same model, as there are variations. It also helps to have someone listen to the trial because the instrument can sound dramatically different to an audience than to the player.
I’m not against mail ordering instruments from a dealer you can trust, with a right of return. However, it really is better to try the instruments in person and try several of them.
On balance, the Yamaha 62II is an outstanding value and I can give it 5*
If any reader has any specific questions they would like me to answer, contact me through my member page.
Thanks for reading. God bless!
I have a CD available from my web site, www.jazzobsession.com Please check it out! I have a sample playing on my member page.
Please check out some of my other epinions pertaining to music education:
How to get your child started on an instrument
How to find the right music teacher for you or your child
Rent or buy your child’s first instrument
How to buy a decent musical instrument on Ebay
Improve Your Intonation
Ear Training I - Beginning and Intermediate Players
Ear Training II - Prelude to Improvisation
Ear Training III: Time to Learn Tunes and PLAY
My worst gig
Putting a Jazz Band Together
Being a one man band for fun and profit
I compose the way I play
What music has helped me learn about myself
Fast fingers are important
How I help my students learn new music
I learned about a lot more than music from my music teachers
Ode to my Selmer Saxophones
