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Yamaha’s Flagship Custom EX Alto Sax





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In the decades since their introduction, Yamaha’s flagship Custom EX saxophones have assumed their rightful place in the pantheon of top-tier professional instruments. Building on the success of its predecessor, the YAS-875EXII alto saxophone was developed in collaboration with esteemed pro saxophonists and incorporates a series of evolutionary changes that add up to a significant advancement in saxophone design. The YAS-875EXII has everything you would expect from a professional saxophone, including a 1-piece bell, hand engraving, mother-of-pearl key touches, and of course, a high F# key. Yamaha has optimized the key layout ergonomics for confident fingering. They’ve also updated the size and placement of the toneholes, which ensures superior intonation, improves low-register response, and promotes consistent resistance throughout the entire range of the instrument. These and other enhancements give you full artistic freedom in a saxophone that faithfully delivers your musical message with an opulent, refined, and richly expressive voice. And thanks to Yamaha’s high-quality Japanese manufacturing and quality control, you can be assured that your YAS-875EXII Custom EX will go the distance throughout your career and expedite your growth as an artist.





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Impeccable ergonomics and responsive mechanisms





Whether you’re playing an adagio line or firing off a flurry of notes, you’ll appreciate the fluid, synergistic response of this superb saxophone as your fingers glide along the elegant mother-of-pearl key touches. The YAS-875EXII features a redesigned ergonomic key layout that includes changes to the front F key shape and mechanism, as well as a repositioning of the left-hand palm and table keys and right-hand side and pinky keys. Along with Yamaha’s precision spring action, these updates facilitate economy of motion and confident fingering during challenging passages. In the design phase, Yamaha’s highly skilled artisans explored different techniques for crafting the bottom bow. After exhaustive experimentation, they determined that reducing the diameter of the low C and D toneholes and an application of Yamaha’s proprietary acoustic annealing process enhanced low-note playability and equalized resistance throughout the instrument’s range.





Hand-hammered 1-piece bell with delicate engravings





When revising the YAS-875EXII for the mark II edition, Yamaha examined the construction techniques used to produce sought-after vintage instruments, leading to a significant performance-enhancing upgrade. The YAS-875EXII now features a 1-piece bell, which, like the body and neck, is hand hammered by Yamaha’s expert craftspeople. The 1-piece bell provides focused and impactful bass tones, offering saxophonists unprecedented ease in the low register. Plus, the bell features graceful hand engraving with a delicate floral design that accentuates the instrument’s natural beauty and evokes Yamaha’s tradition of old-world craftsmanship.





V1 neck: free-blowing design with wide bore taper





Yamaha outfitted the YAS-875EXII alto saxophone with their V1 neck ? a top choice among experienced and professional saxophonists. The V1 neck offers Yamaha’s widest bore taper and delivers the most flexible tone. With its free-blowing design, the V1 gives you total control over the dynamics and timbral variation of your Custom EX. Growling, raspy, breathy, or sweet ? the V1 neck allows you to explore the full voice of your instrument, and you can push it as hard as you want with the confidence you’ll be rewarded with a commanding sound. To complement the V1 neck, Yamaha has included their redesigned custom Ebonite 4CM mouthpiece. The baffle and other areas of internal chamber have been reshaped for increased projection and optimal tone. The tip shape has also been modified for additional comfort and embouchure control.





Yamaha saxophones: designed and built for artists





In 1967, Yamaha debuted their first saxophones: the YAS-1 alto and the YTS-1 tenor. Both found favor in the sax player community. In fact, jazz great John Coltrane, who built his reputation on the tenor and soprano, played the prototype YAS-1 gifted him by Yamaha extensively during his 1966 tour of Japan. In 1972, Yamaha partnered with renowned classical saxophonist Dr. Eugene Rousseau to develop a new line of professional-class saxophones. After arduous years of prototyping, testing, and revisions, Yamaha introduced the fruits of their labor: the YAS-62 alto, the YTS-62 tenor, and the YSS-62 soprano. Designed with three guiding principles in mind ? superior acoustics, top-notch mechanisms, and artistic feel ? the 62 series saxophones represented a milestone for Yamaha, setting the company on the path to becoming one of the world’s most-respected saxophone makers. Today, Yamaha continues to adhere to the principles established during the creation of the original 62 series nearly a half century ago, providing saxophonists with fine instruments to inspire their artistry and meet their technical demands. Sweetwater is proud to offer you Yamaha’s distinguished saxophone line, which offers outstanding value at every level, from student models to sophisticated professional saxophones heard in premier venues and concert halls around the globe.





A solid investment in your musical future





The YAS-875EXII was developed with input from preeminent classical saxophonists Nobuya Sugawa, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, and Otis Murphy, so one might assume that the instrument excels in that genre ? and indeed, it does. Its rich, expansive sound is right at home in the context of a Jacques Ibert saxophone concerto. But in reality, there’s no such thing as a “classical” or “jazz” saxophone, and you’ll find pro players in all genres who rely on the YAS-875EXII as their main alto. Versatility is one of the attributes of a great professional saxophone, and the YAS-875EXII is a stellar example, providing a primed canvas for forging your signature sound. Saxophonists who play both classical and jazz, for instance, can choose an appropriate mouthpiece and reed ? or even a specialized neck ? to customize their Custom EX for the music at hand. However you set it up, this is an impeccably designed and crafted professional horn that sounds incredible, is comfortable to play, and continuously evolves along with you on your musical journey. Open up a world of new musical possibilities with the Yamaha YAS-875EXII Custom EX.





Yamaha YAS-875EXII Custom EX Professional Alto Saxophone Features:


Eb alto saxophone with brass body and 1-piece bell


Reduced-diameter low C and D toneholes and acoustic annealing for enhanced low-note playability


Tonehole size/position optimization for outstanding intonation


V1 neck with wide bore taper


Professional neck tenon receiver


Revised key layout with optimized ergonomics


Mother-of-pearl key buttons


High F#, front F auxiliary keys


Adjustable thumb hook


Hard steel needle springs


Elegant “Lily” hand engraving design


Redesigned Ebonite mouthpiece included


Quality crafted in Japan


Included rucksack-style semi-hard case