Yanagisawa Alto Saxophone A-WO10 – Gold Lacquer

$6,695.00

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Description

The upgraded replacement for the highly regarded A991 series, this AWO10 brass model is the instrument for the accomplished player. It delivers a superb tonal range thanks to a re-engineered bore and toneholes, and re-sourced and redesigned core brass material. This model also has many upgraded features exclusive to the WO series such as newly designed Front F Keys, Ride Side Keys and Right Pinky Key.

Specs

Key: Eb
Range: Low Bb to High F#
Body: Brass
Bow: Brass
Bell: Brass
Keys: Brass
Finish: Lacquered
Neck: Brass
Neck Type: Detachable Neck
Case: Fabric Covered, Woodshell case with outer pocket and Backstraps

Features

Double Arm
Using double arms on the Bell Keys, helps to keep the tone holes fully sealed by removing the chances of twisting or distortion of the tone hole cup. This in turn helps ensure reliable performance and tonal integrity.

Balanced Tri-Point Brace
The bell and body are firmly linked by a three-point, balanced brace which ensures structural resiliance and firm resonance, even when fortissimo is sought.

Metal Adjustable
The buffers used on the bell keys are metal – and therefore offer increased longevity and accuracy over plastic – and are fully adjustable. This means the aperture of the bell toneholes are within your control.

WO Series Bore and Tone Holes
In Yanagisawa’s desire to constantly innovate, all new WO series saxophones have a newly engineered bore and toneholes. This helps achieve a smoother blow and even more precise intonation.

WO Series Brass Material
The WO series saxophones benefit from a newly designed, newly engineered and specially sourced brass material for improved sound and sonority.

C# – Bb – B Rocking Key
The C#, Bb and B keys are all connected via a rocking / see-saw mechanism. This is a unique Yanagisawa feature and ensures the easiest transition between these pitches.

WO10 / WO20 Style Hand Engraved
Yanagisawa WO10 and WO20 series saxophones now feature a uniquely styled, hand engraved pattern.

F-Auxiliary Key
This mechanism fitted to the F-Aux key ensures a proper seal of the pads when playing in the low ranges of the saxophone.

WO Series Redesigned front F Key
The Front F key on WO series saxophones has been redesigned to further improve the ease of fingering.

White Shell Lining
A player’s fingers will rest comfortably in the indented white shell keys. The white shell also enhances the beauty of the instrument while also preventing the player’s fingers from slipping during technical passages.

Rib Mounted
This is an enhanced design with the keys mounted to a rib plate which in turn is mounted to the body. This not only gives added strength to the keywork, but has the added benefit of improved resonance and tonal stability.

Ebonite Mouthpieces
Ebonite mouthpieces are favoured for their warm tone and ability to fit into an ensemble seamlessly. However, as players discover their own voice, switching to another style of mouthpiece can open up a whole world of new tonal possibilities. Metal mouthpieces are often favoured by Jazz players or soloists who need to stand out from the crowd.

Underslung
An underslung octave mechanism is considered to have a much quicker, more responsive action. It is also a more complex and expensive system to manufacture. So underslung octave keys are to be found on saxophones from the 991 / AWO10 series upwards.

Fluororesin Non-Stick Mechanism
As standard octave key mechanisms can get sticky over time, Yanagisawa’s flouroresin, non-stick coating ensures a reliable action with no stickiness.

Metal Reflectors
Metal reflectors are an improvement upon the standard plastic reflectors, and they add clarity to the tone and improve playing response across the whole dynamic range.

Air Tight Waterproof Pad
Yanagisawa’s superb waterproof pad is totally air tight which allows complete confidence in the instrument’s tonal integrity, plus the waterproof material offers a greatly extended pad life.

WO Series Palm Key Plate
Previously only available on the 99* series saxophones, the WO Series’ addition of the palm key plate delivers high range resonance, acoustic depth, added projection and added tonal stability.

Pointed Pivot Screws
Special pointed pivot screws are used in all centre arms on Yanagisawa saxophones. These screws precisely maintain the stability of the centre arms, and help achieve a very high precision action.

WO Series Right Pinky Key
The angle of the Right ‘Pinky’ key on WO series saxophones has been improved to give a smoother fingering feel.

WO Series Right Side Key
The Right side key levers on WO series saxophones now has additional feet for a better touch. This affects the Bb, C and E.

Blue Steel Springs
Blue Steel Spring are better than stainless steel – as used on most other saxes – as they hold tension more effectively, and therefore enhance the key action.

Additional information

Model

A-WO10

Brand

Yanagisawa

Yanagisawa has become known for their reputation for high quality and hand craftsmanship. The family legacy dates back to 1893 with Tokutaro Yanagisawa repairing woodwind instruments in Japan for military band members. In 1921, the first factory was established for making trumpets and cornets. During this time, Tokutaro would mentor young instrument makers including Kouichi Muramatsu, who would eventually build the famed Muramatsu flute company.

In 1951, Takutaro’s son Takanobu followed in his father’s footsteps to build his first prototype saxophone. During the 60’s and 70’s, Yanagisawa developed and built new models of saxophones including the model B-6 bari saxophone and the S-6 soprano saxophone, the first ever of their type to be built in Japan.

Since 1969, Yanagisawa has become most well known for their innovations in soprano and sopranino saxophones. The first sopranino SN-6 ever built in 1972 now belongs to Sonny Rollins. In 1985, the company released the S-880, the first soprano saxophone with a detachable neck. In 1990, this innovation continued with the S-990, the first saxophone to have a high G key.

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