Wait how long for a YamaYork? WRONG!

[Steve Marcus]

Stopping in to a local musical instrument store a week ago to buy a bottle of valve oil, I was met by a young, enthusiastic, new employee. After he retrieved the valve oil for me, he sprightly asked, "Is there anything else that I can get for you?"

I couldn't resist his youthful naïveté. "You're a Yamaha dealer, right?"

"Right," he confirmed.

"OK," I could hardly contain a smirk, "Could you get me a YCB-826?"

"If it's a Yamaha, sir, we can get it!" he replied. "I'll look it up."

After a moment of scanning through his list of model numbers, he smiled and reported, "Yep, that's correct, sir. We'll special order it for you. I'll call our rep and find out how long it will take."

"Don't go to any special trouble, now."

"Oh, that's OK, sir. No problem."

I didn't want to leave the clerk with a false impression, so I gently advised him, "You know, this is a pro instrument in very limited production. It has been reported that Yamaha still chooses who is well recognized and/or accomplished enough to buy one of these tubas because there is a waiting list and they build so few each year."

"That's OK, I'll find out for you. I'm sure that we can get it."

So, I had to leave the store confident that the rookie would learn his lesson about blithely offering anything that appears in the catalog.

This morning, I received a phone call from Jeff.

"Mr. Marcus, I found out that we can have a YCB-826 for you here by April."

I was a bit incredulous. "You're talking about the YamaYork CC tuba that sells for $30,000, right?"

"Well, it's $35,000. Do you still want us to order it for you?"

I told Jeff that I really appreciated his positive attitude when I had met him in the store and, admittedly, was "yanking his chain" when he offered to get anything for me. I thanked him again and told him that I knew how and where to get the word out to anyone who was seriously interested in a new YamaYork.

So, if anyone is ready to order one, I'll connect you with this Yamaha dealer who's there to serve you...!

BTW, should this post appear under TubeNet's "For Sale" listings with the subject line, "New Yamaha YCB-826--Delivery by April 2011?"

Now, if someone from Yamaha does confirm that his information is true, then business ain't what it used to be....

[Wyvern]

For those that have played a YamaYork, how do they actually compare to other 6/4's?

Jonathan "just curious!"

[Chris Olka]

I'm not proposing to speak on behalf of Yamaha Corporation in this post. However, as a Yamaha Performing Artist and owner of two YCB-826s I may be able to shed some light on this. These horns are very limited production. Last I knew there were 2-3 floating around North America between Yamaha Corporation USA and Canada. These would no doubt show up in any Yamaha inventory database that authorized dealers could search. Also, because they are issued stock numbers they will appear to be available to order. So, anyone that is a Yamaha dealer could look it up in the system and go through the process of starting an order. However, once the purchase request makes it to the top of the food chain, so to speak, the people in charge of reviewing the orders and vetting requests of this type would most likely intervene and find out more specifics before processing an order for one of these horns. As far as I know, they are still restricting the availability because of the cost to manufacture them. While I know that $35,000 seems like a lot of money for a tuba (And it is, I know because I've bought two) the expense to produce these completely handmade horns is not fully covered by the sale price. In other words, Yamaha does not make any profit on these models. The price merely offsets the cost and allows the Yamaha tuba designers to offer a Top-End professional instrument. The high price also serves to separate the serious buyer from the tire-kickers.

In the grand scheme of things, it's a reasonable price compared to bassoons, fiddles, etc. They are not for everyone and the high price tag tends to draw a lot of criticism from those who would not ever pay that much for a tuba to begin with. Also, you either like this style of horn or you don't. Many of those who don't use the price as one more reason to detract from the instrument. However, I could not be happier with both of mine and considering the amount of money I make playing them and the amount of time they sit in my lap, the price is more than fair. Of course, I'm in a small group of people that can justify the expense. I love these horns and every one of them I've played has been a great tuba. Yamaha stands behind these tubas with support from both Ateliers in Los Angeles and New York city. These repair and maintenance techs have been great to work with and are a credit to Yamaha. If I've ever had an issue they are on it right away with no excuses.

Hope this doesn't sound like a rant. I've just seen a lot of speculation and not many people with facts about the situation surrounding these tubas. I hope my post helps answer any questions people may have.

Happy Holidays!

PS, don't know why the picture shows up sideways. It's not that way on my computer or camera!
Chris Olka
Seattle Symphony
Seattle Opera

[Wyvern]

Chris, What are those black patches on the bottom bow? Something to reduce scratching? How are they attached?

While I know that $35,000 seems like a lot of money for a tuba ... the expense to produce these completely handmade horns is not fully covered by the sale price.

I was told that was also the case with my one-off handmade Neptune. Something of a promotional for the brand.

[Chris Olka]

Bloke,
not offended at all. I just wanted to put more info out there because Yamaha has so little official information out about these tubas. Sorry if it came across as a rant session. I love my 2 YamaYorks and wish that there were more opportunities for people to play them. However, I don't see that changing any time soon. The rarity of the horns is enough to irk some people. I sympathize with them. I was one of the first people to try and get Yamaha to make these as production instruments. I lobbied for years, literally! It paid off in the end but was a long process.

Neptune, they are StickyPads. Cell phone dash pads for cars. I just stick em on the bottom bow to keep the horn from moving on my leg while playing. Simple, effective way to make a horn sit upright without having to use any upper body strength. I can't even play without one now. It's the best solution for me.

Here's a linky thing: http://www.amazon.com/HandStands-1079-B ... B00008LDHV" target="_blank

Hope you all have a great holiday,
CHris Olka

[Chris Olka]

Bloke,
one more thing on the supply and demand thing...before they were producing these tubas I went to Tokyo with a $50,000 check to offer them to sell me one of the prototypes! No BS. They were surprised to say the least but politely declined. I'm glad I waited but to your point of supply and demand, I was willing to fork over the $50,000 no questions asked.

Best,
Chris

[shoedumas]

Haha that's fantastic. I'm reading this while at work at my local musical instrument store. We are also a yammy dealer, and I can't find anything in our system about the YCB826's. I would guess that we could get one if someone REALLY wanted one though. (I REALLY want one. )

[Rick Denney]

At the time the CSO York tubas were sold to the orchestra, I was (just slightly) miffed that they weren't offered for sale on the open market.

I bet they would take your offer of $122,500 very seriously.

Rick "now how much would you pay?" Denney

[Tom]

At the time the CSO York tubas were sold to the orchestra, I was (just slightly) miffed that they weren't offered for sale on the open market.

I bet they would take your offer of $122,500 very seriously.

Rick "now how much would you pay?" Denney

I'd bet that if you offered up the $1.3 millon or so they need to close up their deficit, they'd probably let you have them both. Maybe they'd even toss in a Yamaha York?

Tom "only $650,000/each" B.

[bort]

Bloke,
one more thing on the supply and demand thing...before they were producing these tubas I went to Tokyo with a $50,000 check to offer them to sell me one of the prototypes! No BS. They were surprised to say the least but politely declined. I'm glad I waited but to your point of supply and demand, I was willing to fork over the $50,000 no questions asked.

Best,
Chris

Smart move for them... you ended up on the hook for $70,000k!

[TUBAD83]

Money + Power + Connections = You can get whatever the hell you want and you don't have to wait in line..EVER

Remember folks--Waiting lists are for those without those things listed above.

JJ

[Dan Schultz]

Money + Power + Connections = You can get whatever the hell you want and you don't have to wait in line..EVER

Remember folks--Waiting lists are for those without those things listed above.

JJ

Was it that Hilton woman who said "The richer get richer and the rest pay retail"?

[SousaSaver]

Due to the low number of people who could seriously afford such a horn and would be willing to actually buy it, Yamaha probably produces these on a pre-sell, special order basis because of the high ticket price.

Could be wrong, just a guess...

[TUBAD83]

Due to the low number of people who could seriously afford such a horn and would be willing to actually buy it, Yamaha probably produces these on a pre-sell, special order basis because of the high ticket price.

Could be wrong, just a guess...

Yamaha currently selects certain players and "invites" them to purchase one of these. It is an interesting method.

They most certainly raise the bar when it comes to arrogance

My reply would be to invite them to 私のろばに接吻しなさい

[Wyvern]

But the real question is; "Is the YamaYork really better than the Nirschl and Hirsbrunner York copies and worth the extra cost?"

By making the YamaYork 'by invitation only', Yamaha have added a mystic to it.

[taipeituba]

My reply would be to invite them to 私のろばに接吻しなさい

I think you might be referring to the wrong sort of "***". Unless of course you have a donkey that likes being kissed.

[UDELBR]

My reply would be to invite them to 私のろばに接吻しなさい

No YamaYork invite for you!


(UncleBeer's invite also seems to have gotten lost...)

[The Big Ben]

But the real question is; "Is the YamaYork really better than the Nirschl and Hirsbrunner York copies and worth the extra cost?"

I suppose that's up to the individual playing the horn to decide. At the SEATEC conference last year, a Certain Orchestral Tubist Based In Seattle played a Yamayork side by side with a Nirschel York. The difference in sound was very subtile. So subtile I couldn't really tell. However, the said player was able to describe the pluses and minuses of both the instruments and describe specifically why he chose the Yamayork as his personal horn. Yamaha does not provide Yamayorks to artists for free and COTBS stated that he had owned both the Nirshel and Hirschbrunners- more than one copy of each. So, at least in that one case, it was worth more.

Considering the cost of the instruments of the fiddle players sitting in front of the brass section, Yamayorks are cheap and more plentiful than many of the instruments they play.

[Steve Marcus]

Not all manufacturers demand this (I don't know what Yamaha's policy is), but one of the qualifications of becoming a Steinway Concert Artist is that you must already own a Steinway piano.

Some manufacturers simply give their instruments to the artist in return for his/her endorsement.

Remember when the members of one well-known brass quintet were all suddenly playing Accent instruments?

[bort]

I honestly don't know what the big stink is, I don't think this is such an unusual practice for high-end luxury items. Invite only sales have been around for a very long time.

If you only made 2 or 3 things per year, at a loss, wouldn't you want them to be in what you considered to be highly deserving hands?