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Premium Mechanisms
Yanagisawa pride themselves on exceptional build quality. This is why all of their instruments are hand built by experienced artisans in Japan. Small details like coating the octave mechanism in flouroresin to ensure the action is reliable without sticking, to redesigning the front F key for ease of fingering all come together to produce this magnificent instrument.
To help even more with reliability, the buffers used on the bell keys are metal. These fully adjustable metal buffers increase longevity and accuracy compared to plastic buffers. This means the aperture of the bell tone holes are within your control.
To ensure you can play efficiently and effectively, the C# and Bb keys have a rocking table/see-saw mechanism. This mechanism guarantees the easiest transition between these pitches. All of the centre arms on all Yanagisawa saxophones use special pointed pivot screws. These screws precisely maintain the stability of the centre arms and help achieve an exact action.
Top Quality Materials
Yanagisawa have redesigned the saxophone's materials to improve the sound of the instrument. The AWO2U alto sax benefits from a newly designed, newly engineered and specially sourced bronze material for improved sound and sonority. To link the bell and body together, Yanagisawa uses a balanced tri-point brace. The balanced brace ensure structural resilience and firm resonance, even during the loudest fortissimo.
To help minimise any negative resonance, Yanagisawa has designed the thumb rest and hook to be mounted to the body by only four small points of contact. Plus, as the thumb rest is made of brass, it permits a more consistent tonal range.
Unlike similarly priced saxophones, the AWO2U uses metal reflectors instead of plastic. These add clarity and improve the response across the entire dynamic range. And once combined with the airtight waterproof pads, you can perform in confidence knowing that the intonation is going to be rock solid.
Attention to Detail
The main reason that musicians choose Yanagisawa is the amount of effort they put into the attention to detail. On the bell of the AWO2U, you will find uniquely styled engraving which has been meticulously done by the Yanagisawa artisans in Japan. Even the key tops they use are made from white shell to prevent your fingers from slipping, even during technical passages.
Everything You Need
When you receive your new saxophone, you will notice that it comes with a few extra accessories. The included case has a hard wood shell which is then covered in fabric for a smart aesthetic. On the outside of the case you will find two handles, padded backpack straps which can be removed, and a large accessory pocket - perfect for all of your sheet music and manuscript. The inside is lined with a soft touch material, and has even more space for accessories. As well as a case, you will also receive a Yanagisawa ebonite mouthpiece and ligature so you can get started straight away.
Looking after your Yanagisawa sax
With everyone needing to use hand sanitiser much more these days, some people are concerned about maintaining hygiene without damaging their saxophones. Yanagisawa have conducted research into how you can sanitise your hands as well as your instrument without doing any harm. The results have found that Ethanol based disinfectants and sanitisers are the best choice, with 100 Ethanol chemicals causing almost no change in the finishes of the saxes. Whereas, Chlorine-based products caused significant damage, resulting in tarnished metal or loosened lacquer.
There are other tips to remember as well as the type of disinfectant. Make sure never to spray disinfectant directly onto your sax, instead use a soft cloth to wipe the body and metal mouthpiece. Then use a separate, dry cloth to wipe it again thoroughly to remove all residue. You should also make sure your hands are dry after sanitising before touching your instrument and never use heat, like steam or hot water, for cleaning. Don't use chlorine or ethanol-based antiseptics on Ebonite mouthpieces or SIXS ligatures.
Relax with a 3-year extended warranty and 30 day money back guarantee
You can relax knowing your new sax is covered. Gear4Music provides a 30 day money back guarantee as standard so you can check everything works for you. Then, with a 3-year extended warranty on Yanagisawa saxophones you can see how confident we are in the quality of this brand. You'll be looked after throughout this time if any manufacturing issues come up so you can focus on enjoying the music.
Specifications
- Key: Eb
- Range: Low Bb to High F#
- Body: Bronze
- Bow: Bronze
- Bell: Bronze
- Keys: Brass
- Finish: Unlacquered
- Neck: Bronze
- Neck Type: Detachable Neck
- Included Accessories: Fabric Covered Woodshell Case + Yanagisawa Branded Ebonite Mouthpiece and Ligature
Unlacquered instruments
Please note: all unlacquered Yanagisawa saxophones leave the factory with a highly polished finish that is visually similar to that of a standard lacquered instrument. Over time, the body of the saxophone will develop an aged look, which will eventually show the raw brass of the horn. This completely natural process starts as soon as the saxophone leaves the factory and makes contact with air, which may explain why your saxophone has small signs of ageing on it when you receive it. If you are looking for a shiny, polished instrument, then we do not advise that you purchase an unlacquered instrument. However, if you're looking to achieve that genuinely vintage and superb finish (similar to the instruments used by Snake Davis'), then we highly recommend unlacquered instruments.
