Yanagisawa Wind Instruments
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Yanagisawa Wind Instruments is a Japanese woodwind company known for its range of student, intermediate and professional grade saxophones. Along with Yamaha they are one of the leading manufacturers of saxophones in Japan.
A family company, they started production in 1896 but became more widely known after the release in 1954 of the T3 silver-plated tenor saxophone. This was followed in 1956 by the A3, their first alto saxophone. Their first solid silver saxophone was produced in 1972. The company currently manufactures sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones.
The company is notable for making saxophones from materials other than the standard brass i.e. phosphor bronze and solid silver, and combinations thereof. For example, Yanagisawa's professional range of alto saxophones, includes the following instruments:
- A991 - made entirely from solid brass
- A991S - same as A991, but plated with silver
- A992 - made entirely from phosphor bronze
- A992PG - same as A992, but plated with "pink gold" (80% gold and 20% silver)
- A9930 - solid silver crook and body with solid brass bell and bow
- A9932J - solid silver crook and bell with phosphor bronze body and bow
- A9933 - solid silver crook and bell with solid brass body and bow
- A9937 - solid silver crook, body, bow and bell
The range of possible combinations is increased by the fact that it is possible to buy a brass, silver, or bronze crook from Yanagisawa and fit it to any of the eight instruments listed above e.g. adding a solid silver crook to the A991S or A992, or a bronze crook to the A991 etc.
Professional saxophonists performing on Yanagisawa instruments include Gary Bartz, Plas Johnson (known for his tenor sax on the "The Pink Panther Theme"), Steve Slagle, Peter King, Vincent Herring and Antonio Hart.
