| I had been thinking about changing my tenor sax for a | | | | expectations. I had no hesitation in going ahead with a |
| while. I had bought my bronze Yanagasawa T992 | | | | trade-in purchase. |
| about five years ago after trying all the professional | | | | Coincidentally, I had seen this exact sax being played |
| level tenors on the market at the time. My | | | | on stage at the Sage, Gateshead only days before in |
| Yanagasawa served me really well. It went with me all | | | | the 'Back to Basie' big band. When I saw it close to |
| through my music degree and numerous band | | | | and played it myself I immediately fell in love with it. |
| performances spanning all the genres from jazz to an | | | | The beautiful yet unusual antique finish is so cleverly |
| on tour rock and roll show. I now play (mainly tenor, but | | | | done, but most importantly the Reference 54 delivers |
| also baritone sax and flute) in one of the North East's | | | | a full strong fat sound at the lower end, it has fantastic |
| top function bands. Working with such a great band of | | | | key action and allows me to play sub-tones with a |
| musicians I wanted to check the market again to | | | | quality I had never been able to achieve before. The |
| make absolutely sure that my instrument was making | | | | precision of the sax's action also decreases the |
| the best possible sound. | | | | likelihood of tuning issues at a gig. The band I work in |
| When I need to research saxophones I visit the Sax | | | | has an extremely broad repertoire and requires me to |
| Emporium, Newcastle upon Tyne. The proprietor, John | | | | play a range of timbres and harmonics to create |
| Silvester has excellent specialist knowledge and there | | | | different moods. From deep creamy textures to |
| is always a good range of new and used instruments | | | | rasping tones and gravely sounds this sax has it all and |
| to try. I played all the professional level tenor | | | | it is just great to play on. Oh, and there's a bonus - a |
| saxophones new and used, including the latest | | | | great case which even has a business card holder on |
| Yanagasawa and Selmer models. Although the Mk6 | | | | the front! |
| and Reference 36 Selmer models and the | | | | If you can afford to make the investment, this tenor |
| Yanagasawa were good, the Selmer Reference 54 | | | | sax is a must to try for any professional. |
| really stood out from the rest and far exceeded my | | | | |