The Custom Z, in my estimation, is Yamaha's attempt at a Selmer Mark VI similar to the Reference 54, Selmer's most recent attempt to recreate their Mark VI model saxophone from the 50s, 60s and 70s. The good news is that it has all the modern conveniences you would expect from a horn made today. The intonation is of modern design, which is more naturally in tune than most vintage horns. It has a high F# key, which many people find convenient, and it has Yamaha's modern style key work, which will feel perfectly comfortable for anyone coming from another Yamaha or similar saxophone. The bad news is that Yamaha has not managed to recreated the free-blowing resistance-free feel so important to the Mark VI and other similar vintage horns.The tone quality is similar to the Mark VI. It's focused, punchy, clear and remains even throughout the horn. The response of the horn however, though more free-blowing than many horns on the modern market, does have more back pressure or resistance than many vintage horns including the Mark VI. The Custom Z's altissimo register also feels resistant though the overtone series feels effortless and sounds beautiful in all registers of the horn.
The key work matches the rest of the Yamaha horns and feels equally as convenient as other modern key work designs. The horn's overall design conveniently allows for the traditional altissimo fingerings using the front fork F as a launching pad up through altissimo G and eventually reaching the palm keys for altissimo B through D and again for E through G above that.
Conclusion: The Yamaha Custom Z tenor is a throwback to the Mark VI that lives up to its aspirations in the sound department but is somewhat too resistant to really feel like a modern Mark VI. It will almost definitely appeal to the saxophonist who feels more at home on modern horns but wants the Mark VI sound.
Interesting Ben, thanks! My experience with a brand-new 2016 couldn't have been more different. I played it against my MKVI and several other brands. While it had a pretty, and big sound, it certainly lacked the warmth and what I describe as the lush, smoky Stan Getz sound of my Selmer Paris. Let's say it sounds more like a Trane than Stan.
ReplyDeleteBut, that, if it is a negative, was the only negative about the instrument. Intonation was perfect, it was the most free blowing instrument I've ever played, and for the first time in 40 years I could go down to slow C, B and Bb effortlessly, plus the Altissimo G just speaks with no effort. As an experiment, the sax sales pro and I switched necks between my Selmer's and the Yamaha's. It turned out that the Yamaha's octave key would not engage the Selmer's vent. With effortless voicing, I was able to play from low Bb to altissimo G without it!
Something I can't do with the Selmer.
I really believe my MKVI to be a very good example. It was handpicked by myself and my teacher after playing a half dozen other Selmers at the legendary Charles Ponte in Manhattan in 1975. Despite a devastatingly gorgeous tone however, you can with a big modern open metal mouthpiece, it's always been a bit resistant and frankly, I attributed some of this beautiful sound to that very fact. I've always worked too hard for the low range and Altissimo however.
I tried to new Selmer Paris Tanners today and found them both to be similar to mine but with poor internation. Definitely not worth double the price of this Yamaha Custom Z. I just wish the Z sounded like my Selmer in the heart of the instrument! Thanks!
Best, Warren
Warren A. Keller