Yanagisawa sopranos have long been the go-to instrument for all saxophonists regardless of any prior brand loyalty they may have. The Yanagisawa Soprano has doubtless become the reference instrument. The 991 (brass) and 992 (bronze) series are the next step up for the pro-player. With a superb, upgraded set of features including fully rib-mounted keywork and supplied with interchangeable straight and curved necks, an even higher level of tonal integrity is within reach.
Key: Bb
Range: Low Bb to High G
Body: Brass
Bow: Brass
Bell: Brass
Keys: Brass
Finish: Lacquered
Neck: Brass
Neck Type: Straight and Curved Necks Included
Case: Leatherette Covered, Woodshell
Bell Arm KeysSingle Arm |
Bore and Tone HolesYanagisawa Standard |
Brass / MaterialYanagisawa Standard |
C# - Bb - B KeysC# - Bb - B Rocking Key |
EngravingHand Engraved |
Front F KeyYanagisawa Standard |
Key DecorationWhite Shell Lining |
Key Work MountingRib Mounted |
MouthpieceEbonite Mouthpieces |
Octave Key TypeUnderslung |
Octave SystemFluororesin Non-Stick Mechanism |
Pad ReflectorPlastic Reflectors |
Pad TypeAir Tight Waterproof Pad |
Palm Key PlatePalm Key PlateThe palm key plate delivers high range resonance, acoustic depth, added projection and added tonal stability. |
Pivot ScrewsPointed Pivot Screws |
Right Pinky KeyYanagisawa Standard |
Right Side KeyYanagisawa Standard |
Spring TypeBlue Steel Springs |
"Still getting the feel of it as its a first soprano, the feel and tone is fantastic and i also love the mouthpiece supplied May be looking to change my other sax's now!"
"tremendous, easy to play with superb action"
"It is a great horn. I am enjoying everything about it. A Yanagisawa mouthpiece is part of the setup and it is works quite well, it has a tip opening of 7.
Very happy with my purchase!"
"Fantastic!"
"Great tuning and intonation"
"I am thrilled to own the S991 curved sax. My first choice was the 992u but it was out of stock. I already own a s991 straight soprano. The sax settled very nicely when I held it for the first time. I used the stock mouthpiece and med soft La Voz reed. Fell in love with the sound immediately. It did not take me long to decide to purchase this beauty. Thank you Yanagisawa for making great saxophones. Thank sax.co.uk at Hampstead Road (Michael Brown) for the great service. "
"Beautifully constructed, not my usual as I am a tenor player but it plays very well."
"Lovely tone. Very responsive keys. Low notes eg b flat easy to play."
Yanagisawa's single arms used on the bell keys are extremely strong and have proved reliable for many years. Higher-End models can benefit from double arm bell keys. 
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. 
Each Yanagisawa saxophone is hand engraved by highly skilled craftsmen. 
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.
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 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. 
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. 
As standard octave key mechanisms can get sticky over time, Yanagisawa's flouroresin, non-stick coating ensures a reliable action with no stickiness. 
Plastic reflectors fitted to the underside of the pads help the sound to project appropriately. 
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.
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. 
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.