What is the best tenor saxophone? In this blog I’m comparing the Yanagisawa TWO10 with this $10,000 solid silver and bronze Yanagisawa 9932.
I’m looking for a new saxophone, so I want to know – what is the best tenor saxophone?
I’m going to be testing:
- Sound
- Mechanism
- Intonation
- Altissimo
I’m going to play both saxophones in four different styles to see how they compare.
What is the best tenor saxophone on the market?
I’m looking for a replacement for my Dave Guardala tenor saxophone, that I’ve had for over 20 years and played in thousands of shows all over the world.
My Sax School students often ask me how to choose the right saxophone for them.
One of our Sax School members, Martin, has a huge collection of saxophones. He’s loaned me a bunch of tenor saxophones to test.
The best tenor saxophone for you
When you’re choosing a saxophone you’re looking for one that will suit you as a player.
I’m looking for a sax that is really versatile that can perform in loads of different styles.
The Yanagisawa TWO10
This is regarded as one of the best tenor saxophones on the market at the moment.
I did play a Yanagisawa professional soprano saxophone years ago when I was doing a lot of classical and symphony playing. At that time I wasn’t that convinced about Yanagisawa for a tenor saxophone. So, I am really excited to try these two out and see how they perform.
This saxophone is like a Ferrari!
Mechanism
This mechanism is the most amazing I have ever felt. Within a minute of picking it up I was amazed by how fast I could move. This saxophone is like a Ferrari!
This means that when I’m playing anything technical or fast, it’s easier because I’m not having to work so hard with my fingers.
Comparing the two Yanagisawa saxophones, the mechanism on both is amazing, but on the newer, TWO10 saxophone it’s much smoother and faster.
Sound
Playing over the last few days and listening back to some recordings I’ve made, the sound on the TWO10 is great and really versatile.
When I first picked it up the sound seemed to be very precise, and more classical in style. But as I got more familiar with it I’ve found I can push it in lots of different directions, and I can be confident in my intonation and my technique because of the way the sax is designed. It’s super-versatile.
The 9932 Silver and Bronze has sound that is really focussed and consistent. This made it really natural and easy for me to move over my whole range. When I listen back to recordings, the sound is much warmer and wider than the sound for the TWO10. I can really notice the difference.
Can you hear a difference in the recording?
Altissimo
The altissimo on both saxophones is amazing and gives you loads of confidence in the high range. The overtones are really good as well. I actually think the silver bronze is better than the TWO10 in this respect but this could be down to how this particular sax is set up.
Intonation
This tuning on both these saxophones is really predictable and consistent. This is great for your confidence as a player though you still need to be aware of any variations in the way you play different notes. Some people may prefer those little quirks that some brands of saxophone have, but I like the consistency of these across the range.
Cost
This is where these two saxophones really differ.
The TWO10 is around £3300 in the UK, or about $4500 US.
The Silver and Bronze 9932 is around £8000 or around $10,000 US – more than double the cost!
It’s beautifully finished, but is it worth the extra money? See what you think when I play them both!
I’m playing 4 different pieces from our Sax School lesson library, on both these saxophones.
- Ben Webster – I Got it Bad
- Wilton Felder Street Life solo
- Sam Butera – Buona Sera solo
- Rimsky-Korsakov – Flight of the Bumblebee
I’m using the same mouthpiece throughout – a Theo Wanne Slant Sig Size 8 Hard Rubber and a Légère Signature 2.5 Reed. I’m using the same microphone and audio interface and I’m not using any effects on the recording either.
Can you hear a difference?
My Verdict: Sound
I love the TWO10 – it sounds great and it’s versatile.
For me, there’s a warmth to the sound of the 9932 that I really like. It opens up lots of possibilities for me in different playing styles – whether that’s commercial smooth jazz, classical, or a jazz standard.
Is it worth the cost?
For me, my dream saxophone would be the TWO10, in the finish of the 9932. So, it would have the updated mechanism of the TWO10, and the silver and bronze finish of the 9932. That would give me the fantastic sound, as well as the updated mechanism.
But, if you find a 9932 Silver and Bronze on the used market and it’s within your budget I would grab it! It’s an outstanding saxophone.
I’ve got some amazing saxophones in my studio just now, but when I walk in, it’s the 9932 that I want to pick up and play.
But, I still haven’t decided which saxophone I will go for!
If you’re thinking of changing your saxophone, check out my other videos where I’m reviewing some other great saxes.