Yanagisawa saxophones are made by a small family company in Japan that only makes professional quality saxophones, recognised as some of the finest in the world. Popular with technicians, these instruments play straight out of the box and are incredibly reliable.
The AWO2U model is the upgraded replacement for the classic A902U series. The A902 model offered a rich, broad and complex tone - the AWO2U is this and even more! The thin layer of lacquer that is added to most saxophones to prevent them from tarnishing dampens the resonance of the metal. Unlacquered saxophones such as the AWO2U are popular, as they allow the metal to resonate to its full potential. They require cleaning to keep them shiny, or you can leave them to tarnish to achieve a lovely vintage effect. Thanks to a re-engineered bore and tone holes, this instrument has an even stronger tonal core, plus many upgraded features including:
- A new re-designed front F key for a bettee feel
- Additional feet under the right side key levers (B, C and high E) for a better touch
- New pinky key angle for smoother fingering
- Exquisite new hand engraving
- An additional neck plate for tightening the sound
- New palm key plate for added high range resonance and exceptioanl tonal stability
- Teflon octave system to ensure a smooth operation every time
- A rocking table mechanism that allows for optimal speed and fluidity between the pitches of C sharp and B flat
- F auxilliary key mechanism to ensure a proper seal of the pads when playing in the low octave of the saxophone
- 'Indented' white shell keys so that a player's fingers can rest comfortably, preventing slipping during technical passages
- Pointed pivot screws which facilitate an accurate centre and precise action
- Air-tight, waterproof pads
- Blue steel springs which give the player a quick response and are more resilient than stainless steel
