etc. And that after eighteen months of normal operation... .. Too bad Yamaha saxophones are equiped with poor quality pads. Whether a student beginner, or an advanced player needing a doubling instrument, the 280 series saxes offer surprisingly high quality features at a student model price. Before I begin, I just like to reitrate that my reviews as always are devoid of a lot of technical details, especially when the majority of my audience are hobbyists and beginners, and I don't like to confuse them with all these details since their main interest is deciding on what saxophone to buy, its general qualityand how much they would have to pay. The pad of the high E is completely shot and is replaced. Along with stunning intonation, the Yamaha 280 also features very easy and flawless production of sound. Yamaha is a well-known, trustworthy brand, however, and that carries with it some allure. The only giveaway that it's not is the lack of engraving on it. Many pads were already hardened and rather rough, just as cheap Chinese pads. Light-weight and ergonomically designed, it is easy to hold and to play. Initially the sax looked fine. Since then, they have developed a range of instruments to suit every level of player. This is … The first Yamaha saxophones arrived in 1967. The keywork, as always along with all the higher end saxophones in my opinion was always the best in the business. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Hi. The Yamaha YAS-280 is the successor of the YAS-275. About this key : the flat spring of the key is way too large and poorly finished..... After a complete cleaning the sax is assembled again. The sound is smooth and bright, easy tuning. I am not in favor of felt with a sticky side that release quickly. Initial inspection of the pads was a direct hit: all pads at the top were dried out and contaminated. These features on the instrument are therefore very suitable for children. Simple and effective. Although priced higher due to Yamaha’s world-leading product design, the YAMAHA YAS-280 alto saxophone is good enough for professionals and presents a great value purchase. I even played one of my favorite classical pieces for the sax, The Old Castle from Pictures At An Exhibition by Mussorgsky, and even though I was using a Meyer with a synthetic reed, still got that smooth classical tone from it. My Nikon camera stuff is made in China but works great. Having played many 23's and a fair number of 26's over the years, I expected this incarnation to have the same bright but focused tone and the same solid keywork as is typical of Yamaha saxophones in general. The sax can now be tested extensively and plays smoothly. They offer a characteristically bright saxophone sound with excellent intonation and some surprisingly high quality features for an entry-level instrument. So Yamaha YAS-280, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the … Gis and low Eb pad were completely black and clogged. The Yamaha YAS-280 student alto saxophone comes with a case, gold lacquer finish, a high F# key, and a front F auxiliary key.. Yamaha YAS-280 Set Thomann CTW-10 Clip-on Tuner + Thomann Music Stand Aluminium Black + Yamaha YAS-280 Alto Sax + Millenium SA-1 Alto Saxophone Stand + DAddario Woodwinds Reed Guard small blue + Thomann Single Head 1x 8 Led Light Yamaha is the largest manufacturer of musical instruments in the world. While we think all five of the saxophones we reviewed above would be a good starting instrument for beginners, the YAMAHA YAS-280 Saxophone is our top pick. Also, as I said before, these saxophones are also very capable of being played professionally as well. That was also observed directly; many pads were sticky and delayed the action of the sax. The same conclusion applies for the YAS-23 and YAS-25. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for YAMAHA YAS-280 Saxophones Student Alto saxophones at Amazon.com. Just the feel of the keys before I even blew my first note told me that it was going to be responsive and quick. Additional Information Model : [YAS280] Price : AU $2,249.00 AU $1,749.00-+ While they are more expensive than other student horns, the advantages are again, build quality, reliability and durability and the best resale value of any student saxophone. Review alto saxophone Yamaha YAS-280. The Yamaha YAS-280 saxophone offers a perfect start for students. That"s obviously because of labor costs.... Ok: let's continue with this sax. This alto sax was received by MRO saxophones early April 2015. Nothing wrong with it.... On the neck, the octve key opens way too far, the thumb control is not adjusted properly. The Yamaha YAS280 is generally regarded as one of the best student horns on the market. Presumably, these flakes come from the sax body (which is always cleaned by the customer with a wiper cord). The materials used in its making is first class. They are relatively light-weight and ergonomically shaped and are easy to hold and play. The problem with the low register is due to the malfunction on the Cis key. Fro… This is one that will never disappoint. This is the entry-model (study sax) Yamaha and is widely used by students. Tone holes look good; lacquer inside the tone holes is good too but they are full of tiny laquer flakes. They offer a characteristically bright saxophone sound with excellent intonation and some surprisingly high quality features for an entry-level instrument. With the 280 series, Yamaha has raised the bar on student saxophones head and shoulders above the rest of the field. One thing I always found with all Yamaha saxophones is that the keys always responded to the touch with speed and accuracy, and when you pressed that key with whatever amount of pressure you put on it, was solid and snapped into place. No dent in sight, and almost no scratches. Yamaha YAS-280 Set Thomann CTW-10 Clip-on Tuner + Thomann Music Stand Aluminium Black + Yamaha YAS-280 Alto Sax + Millenium SA-1 Alto Saxophone Stand + DAddario Woodwinds Reed Guard small blue + Thomann Single Head 1x 8 Led Light https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/brochure/7/1152257/W252R3_saxophones_eu.pdf. I'm shocked by the flexibility of the material of the key. Again, when I played the tenor part to Ravel's Bolero, even with a jazz mouthpiece, still got a smooth classical tone from it. No other issues, the assembly is progressing well, it's an easy sax to work on. I solved it by mounting a piece of heat shrink tubing over the existing mechanism (standard solution). I warmed up playing long tones chromatically, then do a ballad, my favorite always being My One and Only Love and a slow blues. The 280 saxophones provide beginners with a reliable instrument to start playing on. For more information I include the link to a PDF of their European/Japanese catalog. Yamaha uses his good name to build a rather low-costing sax and sell it for a lot of money. Yes, Yamaha had to move production to China and Taiwan but many different things are made there now due to cost. Moreover, its body is rust resistant and corrosion free. The oil has already become quite thick and sluggish after eighteen months, so we removed all oil and applied new oil with the correct thickness during assembly. Yamaha states in their catalog that these horns have a bright tone, and in a way they do, but this had a tonal richness and depth I never recall in the 23's and 26's. The keywork (operation) is modern and very comfortable. The 280 saxophones provide beginners with a reliable instrument to start playing on. "Music teacher very pleased with quality of sound from instrument.. Would highly recommend." Missed opportunity for Yamaha (number one ....). The Yamaha YAS-280 is the successor of the YAS-275. In addition to looking great, this option also sounds amazing. The factory-included mouth piece should be thown directly into the trash can: invest in a good mouthpiece like a Selmer C *. The key here is the company name and how they do quality checks. As I said before, I believe from experience that Yamaha's keywork is the best in the business. There can be no question that Yamaha has always from top to bottom built them with the highest quality of craftsmanship and materials and that all of their saxophones will provide many years of reliable music making. It fits in my hands comfortably and is tunig rather well (except the middle D, which is too high). Cisco Systems has routers made in Taiwan and China and they work great. If there is something musical to be made, then it is quite likely that Yamaha will make it. Prima! It will give you that sound you have heard on albums that brought you to want to play this beautiful instrument. With some minor technical adjustments and a good mouthpiece this sax plays much better as the standard factory settings. The Yamaha YAS-280 is about as nice as you can get for less than $2,000, and if you're looking to spend less but still take home a highly durable and precision-manufactured instrument, the Yamaha YAS-23 might be right for you. This is an attractive option with a bright and shiny gold lacquer finish. Sound is homogeneous and very nice, a bit flat: the typical Yamaha sound. Many horns, electronics etc. The sax is equipped with a high-Fis key. Little slack on the axles; thoughtful design of Yamaha. For a significantly smaller amount of money you can buy a good occasion YAS-23 (or YAS-275) that has been completely overhauled and will do just as well for the young student. Yamaha Alto Saxophone (YAS-280) is built and designed with absolute precision. They applied a weaker alloy on the YAS-280 to save on material costs; that is obvious. Also included is a Yamaha 4C mouthpiece, cap, ligature, external cleaning cloth, cork grease and sample reed. However, a lot of dust between the valves work, and a lot of dried water marks on keywork and body. This was even more evidence of wear during disassembly of the sax and accurate inspection of each individual key. They offer a characteristically bright saxophone sound with excellent intonation and some surprisingly high quality features for an entry-level instrument. It's very well suitable for children. I found it at various places so I replaced it by tech cork. It comes with a pre-sale setup. I always prefer hearing tonal characteristics first, whereas so many players immediately play fast scales up and down, play altissimo notes until my ears ring and split and never really spend the time to hear the more subtle aspects of the horn. The precursor (YAS-275) is better build and will last longer. brand : YamahaType : YAS-280Serial number : L12865 (Made in Indonesia)Bought new : december 2013Reseller price (april 2015) : 979 euroReview date: 9th april 2015. The Yamaha YAS-280 Eb Alto Saxophone is one of the most sought-after student instruments on the market. Keywork finish is generally good; also the laquer looks fine. They offer a characteristically bright saxophone sound with excellent intonation and some surprisingly high quality features for an entry-level instrument. This time all the parts are yellow brass, and the horn now has a gold lacquer finish and looking like a professional horn. Aside from the higher cost of the 23's and 26's, I am sure one of the things that may have swayed some to not get them was the lack of this key. Here is another thing that makes these saxophones really stand out. As for my readers in the US and Canada, if this model interests you, you can go to Sax Co. UK and they ship internationally. Here are student horns that have a versatility along with a quality that really no other saxophone in their class can match. The first thing that is the same as in previous incarnations of this line is the build quality. I just got a very good deal in both YAS-275 and YAS-280, but the prices gap are pretty steep, around 200€ lower … Review: Yamaha YAS-280 Alto and YTS-280 Tenor Saxophones Europe/Japan YAS-280 Alto Saxophone. Yamaha is a leading player in the musical instrument industry. They offer a characteristically bright saxophone sound with excellent intonation and some surprisingly high quality features for an entry-level instrument. They also produce some of the world’s best. Too bad this sax suffers from this high spring tension! What is also new is that they now offer both alto and tenor models with silver plate. The Yamaha YAS-280 comes in a hard fabric covered case with built in backpack straps, shoulder strap options and a large external storage pocket. So now Yamaha allows the student to play a wider range than before like any professional horn. Not only has the design of the YAS-280 been optimised, but many technical details have also been fundamentally revised. Pad on low Cis does not fit on tonehole and wobbles. The same for working musicians or semi-professionals who are good players, but still are on a budget while still needing a good, reliable instrument to make their living or extra income with. The point screws are factory sealed, so I do that also. No flubbed notes because of loose keywork. As for the students, they can now have a sax that can take them from their first baby steps to even a professional level if they go that far, without having to invest in a more expensive horn later if they choose. Do they have a very big gap or difference in sound quality overall? After disassembly the body is inspected. I rate this as not just a great saxophone on its own, but hands down the best student saxophone, period! Just one touch is enough to make the whole sax unplayable, and through the thin soldering it can break off easily.- No imitation pearl on Gis key, as with most saxophones.- Simple (but working fine) left little finger plateau.- Cheap-looking key guards, without embellishment.- Simple pants guard, without embellishment.- Simple bumper on bottom bow.- No engraving on the bow, except Yamaha logo (thankfully not printed).- Made in Indonesia, not made in Japan. Thus, you can keep practicing this … I did not expect this from Yamaha! The other big difference is the inclusion of a high F# key, which was absent on previous versions. For getting started and even as a budget horn for … Yamaha YAS-280 Set Thomann CTW-10 Clip-on Tuner + Thomann Music Stand Aluminium Black + Yamaha YAS-280 Alto Sax + Millenium SA-1 Alto Saxophone Stand + DAddario Woodwinds Reed Guard small blue + Thomann Single Head 1x 8 Led Light On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Yamaha YAS-280 is a more popular saxophone, based on its reviews. An Ideal Student Instrument. Remember: Warranty up to the front door ...... MRO Saxophones (Germany)St. Ursula Strasse 21, 57439, Attendorn (NRW)GermanyTel : +49 15151179146Tel : +31 6 42143992. As you don’t want the beginner to have a bad experience, the saxophone has to be comfortable to hold for what might be lengths of time. Again, this can be solved rather quickly and simply, the sax is playing much better now. The advantage is that this sax remains a good value as occasion, as opposed to a cheap Chinese sax. Here's a brief summary (see the pictures): - No blue steel needle springs are used, but simple steel springs (with poor workmanship).- Solderings on the body look really thin. The YAMAHA YAS-280 is the editor’s choice for the best beginner saxophone due to the high-quality design that makes it easy for beginners to learn to play the instrument. My son’s sax teacher also highly recommended it. "Order process easy, communication excellent. The customer was not completely satisfied on the set-up, found that the sax began to loose control. The Yamaha YAS-280 beginner Sax offers a perfect introduction to the world of the saxophone. I have strong doubts about the strength of this on the long term.- Laquer on the body on the transitions is thin. The low notes down to Bb spoke easily, and for a student is one of the more difficult aspects of playing to get right. It's too bad that it's not available in the US, but then many of my readers live in countries where this model is available, so if you have a chance, you need to check them out. They look perhaps somewhat less attractive because they are occasions......For lovers of cheaper alternatives and bling-bling: see the most amazing adds on eBay. Hence the flakes ... .. Nice, but not absolutely necessary for students. Hello, want to ask you all something about these two products of Yamaha. Find information of our pianos, keyboard instruments, guitars, basses, drums, brass & woodwinds, percussion, audio & visuals, professional audio and apps. An improved mechanism from low B-C# ensures the consistent closing of the low C# key and promotes a clear response from notes in the low range of the instrument. Since these saxophones are made with the usual Yamaha build quality, reliability and durability as they always have, but now their appearance, their improved keywork with the addition of the F# key, as well as their tone,  can also be used by professionals as a back up horn, and even as their main horn, they are that good. No visible signs of damage, but this has to be restored. On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Yamaha YAS-280 is a more popular saxophone, based on its reviews. The official website of Yamaha Canada Corporation. What is striking is the poor quality of the material used for the rods (many scratches). The price however is too high for the quality delivered. At the very high end, very few can compete with them. brand : Yamaha Type : YAS-280 Serial number : L12865 (Made in Indonesia) Bought new : december 2013 Reseller price (april 2015) : 979 euro Review date: 9th april 2015. The tone hole of the low-Es and the Gis are also fine; I'm therefore wondering why the pads are completely shot.All pads are cleaned and impregnated so they can take a while. Low Cis mechanism is fine again now but the padding does not close completely. All dirt could be effortlessly removed without scratching: this sax looks new again after cleaning. It is important that the sax is properly maintained and must be handled carefully. The neck itself is just fine, though it looks all a bit cheap. The tone holes are easy to clean and they are staight. Here's what our customers say: "My son has responded very positively to this instrument and his playing, and his enthusiasm, are already improving as a result." Previous versions used nickel silver for the keys and key guards and octave key. Very solidly built of quality materials. Yamaha has provided a variety of products and services centered on sound and music. hi very informative information as im about to buy yts 280and is of great value and certainlygives confidence that profesional people gives you much appreciated. This instrument is also on the pricier side of beginner instruments. But more than that, they will make it well. Very heavy left pink plateau keys. This stylish and artistic design is also very appealing in outlook. So Yamaha YAS-280, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the $1758 Yamaha Advantage YAS-200AD, as seen on the chart below. Spring tension is on the high side. Mendini by Cecilio MAS-L – Best Cheap Alto Saxophone The 280 saxophones provide beginners with a reliable instrument to start playing on. The intonation is perfect, as you would expect from Yamaha, making it easy to get a great sound. We see more items of production saving. 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