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Hey all,

I just picked myself up a new YFB-822S and I'm more than pleased with it. I know many of you don't enjoy the Yammies but I'm often impressed with the consistancy of their instruments (from horn to horn) and the quality of their workmanship. It's been the quality of sound that many (I've seen Doc comment-thus the subject) of us on this forum don't particularly favour. I'd have to agree with the bland sound when a funnel shaped mouthpiece is used. I just happened to try this horn out with a PT-65, a more German style/bowl-shaped mouthpiece and I was knocked out by the difference.

I used the 822 for the first time in a quintet rehearsal two nights ago and I can't believe how little effort it took to alter the colour of the sound and blend with the group. The clarity was excellent, although I've been using a 4/4 Nirschl in quintet for years and that's what I've been used to.

All in all, I'm ecstatic with the purchase and look forward to my first solo application with the new axe.

Have you tried a more bowl-shaped mouthpiece with a Yammie Doc? If not, give it a try and it might offer a similar experience.

[quote="Tony E"]
I certainly wouldn’t want to be a party to stirring up the old “Yamahas are blandâ€

I've found that a couple of Yamahas I've played (one of them being brand new) have poor workmanship in the valve area, specifically in those nylon/plastic valve guides. They guide seemed to get stuck at the top of the casing or something... and I was quite disappointed given how overpriced most of the Yamaha models are (it's something I would expect of Kalison or Cerveny, certainly not Yamaha).

I was just up the road at Brasswind last Saturday, and Roger was helping a potential customer make the final cut between an 822 and the MW 2141. The paying customer and the tire-kicker (me) stood half way down the room and listened to the A/B/A/B performance. (BTW, Roger can really play a tuba....)

We both prefered the sound of the 822. Just a bit more mellow and "singing", compared with the slightly "edgier" sound of the 2141. Roger was using a bowl-shaped mpc (maybe a TU23? -- not sure) and got a great sound out of that horn.

He followed that up with an A/B comparison between the 822 and the 281 Firebird F. As you would suspect, it was apples and oranges -- two completely different voices. I always thought I would prefer the sound of the rotary F hands down, but I was even more impressed with the 822. Very nice sounding horn indeed.

I've heard there are a couple of intonation quirks on it, however, so I'm curious to know how the scale works out on yours. In general, Yamaha's seem to be much better than many or most others. I think it's the high C# (one ledger line up) that's supposed to be one challenge with that horn. (I don't know how often I need to play that note, however....)

Enjoy!

quinterbourne wrote:I've found that a couple of Yamahas I've played (one of them being brand new) have poor workmanship in the valve area, specifically in those nylon/plastic valve guides. They guide seemed to get stuck at the top of the casing or something... and I was quite disappointed given how overpriced most of the Yamaha models are (it's something I would expect of Kalison or Cerveny, certainly not Yamaha).

The Yamaha valves have a very tight tolerance so in the first several months, it's a good idea to oil very often with a thin oil and clean out that guck in the bottom caps. There are trade-offs when it comes to their choice of valve guides. The guides are very inexpensive and easily changed by even us laymen. And should you have trouble still... Yamaha is the only company with a 5 year manufacturer's warranty. They'll make it all better and but quick.


Doc,

Great to hear from you. I looked back at my original post and hoped you wouldn't take offense that I used your name in the subject!
Oh! And let me know if you do try a Yammie with a more Germanic mouthpiece. I'd love to hear your results... even if they're contrary to my own!

Steve,

I'm certainly glad you posted that last message! Especially about the Firebird! I was THIS close to picking up one of those and it was nice to see someone else agreeing with my own observations. And sorry I didn't end up buying your horn!

Wow! We really ARE family! I don't remember seeing you at the last reunion, but you've just described it!