Authorised Yanagisawa Dealer in Perth
Yanagisawa is a specialist Japanese saxophone maker renowned for producing soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones with exceptional quality, consistency and craftsmanship.
Tempest Music is proud to be an official Yanagisawa dealer in Western Australia, giving WA saxophonists access to an extensive range of Yanagisawa instruments, together with specialist advice and the opportunity to play-test and compare them in our Perth music store.
At Tempest Music, Yanagisawa consistently impresses us. We particularly value the brand for its excellent intonation, evenness across the registers, responsive and ergonomic keywork, exceptional build quality and distinctive sound.
Players can experience these qualities for themselves by comparing Yanagisawa with other leading saxophone brands and finding the instrument that best suits their own sound concept.
About Yanagisawa Saxophones
Yanagisawa’s history in Japanese woodwind manufacture dates back to 1894, with the company producing its first saxophone in 1951.
What makes Yanagisawa particularly interesting is its focus. The company has concentrated its expertise on the design and manufacture of saxophones, continually refining their acoustics, mechanics and construction.
Today, Yanagisawa produces soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones and is highly regarded by serious and professional saxophonists around the world.
Yanagisawa Design and Craftsmanship
One of the things that distinguishes Yanagisawa is the remarkable attention given to both the acoustical and mechanical aspects of the saxophone.
Intonation and Evenness
In our experience, one of Yanagisawa’s greatest strengths is its excellent intonation and even response across the registers.
The transition from one register to another feels particularly consistent, allowing the player to concentrate on developing their sound and musical expression rather than compensating for inconsistencies in the instrument.
Keywork and Ergonomics
Yanagisawa’s attention to detail is equally apparent in its keywork.
The mechanisms feel precise, responsive and natural under the fingers, with careful attention given to key positioning and ergonomics.
This is one of those qualities that is difficult to appreciate from specifications alone but can become immediately apparent when a Yanagisawa is played alongside other saxophones.
Exceptional Build Quality
Yanagisawa has an outstanding reputation for the quality and consistency of its manufacturing.
The precision of the mechanism, quality of the materials and attention to finishing are evident throughout the instrument. For us, this consistency is one of the strongest reasons Yanagisawa has earned such a respected position among serious saxophonists.
Yanagisawa Saxophones for Every Musician
We recommend Yanagisawa because we genuinely believe in the quality of the instruments.
Their combination of excellent intonation, even response, precise and ergonomic keywork, exceptional build quality and distinctive sound makes Yanagisawa one of the standout saxophone makers in our range.
There is also an impressive consistency across the entire saxophone family. Whether playing a soprano, alto, tenor or baritone, Yanagisawa’s attention to acoustical and mechanical detail is evident.
At Tempest Music, we will assist you to compare suitable Yanagisawa instruments with other leading brands within your budget, allowing you to experience the differences and find the saxophone that best suits you.
Below are just a few of the most popular Yanagisawa saxophones. Please view our Saxophones page for all products.
The Yanagisawa Range
The Yanagisawa WO Series
The Yanagisawa WO Series gives players a choice of instruments with different playing and tonal characteristics while retaining the craftsmanship associated with the brand.
An especially interesting feature of the range is the use of different body materials, including brass, bronze and, at the highest level, silver.
These materials give players the opportunity to explore different tonal colours, response and playing characteristics within the Yanagisawa family.
This is an area where play-testing becomes particularly valuable. Rather than assuming one material or model will be the best choice, players can experience the differences and decide which instrument most naturally complements their own sound concept.
Yanagisawa Alto Saxophones
Yanagisawa alto saxophones are particularly impressive for their combination of even response, accurate intonation, tonal flexibility and beautifully engineered keywork.
The breadth of the range allows advancing and professional alto players to explore different tonal characteristics while retaining the consistency and quality for which Yanagisawa is known.
At Tempest Music, players can compare Yanagisawa altos with other leading advanced alto saxophones in our Perth showroom.
Yanagisawa Tenor Saxophones
Yanagisawa tenor saxophones combine the company’s characteristic engineering with excellent resonance, projection, response and tonal balance.
For experienced tenor players, comparing different instruments can reveal considerable differences in tonal colour and playing character.
At Tempest Music, you can compare Yanagisawa with other leading advanced tenor saxophones, allowing your own playing and sound concept to guide your final choice.
Yanagisawa Soprano Saxophones
Yanagisawa has an especially strong reputation for its soprano saxophones.
The brand’s strengths in intonation, evenness and responsive keywork are particularly valuable on soprano, where these aspects of an instrument can make a significant difference to the player.
Our range gives soprano players the opportunity to compare different Yanagisawa instruments as well as other leading soprano saxophone brands.
Yanagisawa Baritone Saxophones
Yanagisawa applies the same attention to acoustical design, intonation and craftsmanship to its baritone saxophones.
On an instrument as large and mechanically complex as the baritone, thoughtful keywork and ergonomics become especially important.
For players making a significant investment in a baritone saxophone, having the opportunity to play-test and compare instruments is invaluable. Our Perth showroom allows players to experience Yanagisawa alongside other leading baritone saxophones.
Why Choose Tempest for Yanagisawa Saxophones?
As an official Yanagisawa dealer in Perth, we offer an extensive selection of Yanagisawa soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones from our Perth showroom.
Whether you’re progressing to your first advanced saxophone or searching for a professional instrument, our experienced team can guide you through the Yanagisawa range and help you compare suitable instruments.
Come in and play Yanagisawa for yourself. Experience the sound, response, intonation and keywork, compare it with other leading saxophones, and discover the instrument that best allows you to create your own sound.
Play-Test & Compare
At Tempest Music, you can play-test the actual Yanagisawa saxophones available, compare them with each other and with other leading brands, and take the time to make your own musical decision.
Find Your Ideal Match
Specifications, materials and reputation can help narrow the choices, but they cannot tell you which saxophone will work best for an individual player. Even two instruments of the same make and model can have subtle differences in sound and response.
Expert Advice & No Pressure
Our knowledgeable team will answer your questions, explain the differences between models and help you make an informed choice. There's no pressure to buy – just friendly, personalised advice and time to find the right saxophone for you.
Flexible Payment Options
Make your next musical investment more manageable with our flexible payment options. Speak with our team to explore the available options.
Meet Our Team
Since 1979, we’ve been helping musicians find their perfect instrument through expert advice and a genuine passion for music. Meet our friendly, knowledgeable team, here to share our experience and help you every stage of your musical journey.
Fran
Mike
Emily
Try Yanagisawa Instruments in Person
We invite you to visit our Como showroom and experience the Yanagisawa range at leisure.
Play-test and compare different models, receive expert guidance and find the instrument that best suits your playing style, goals and budget.
Your Yanagisawa Saxophone is Waiting to Be Played
The right saxophone isn’t the one that’s best on paper; it’s the one that feels right when you play it.
We encourage you to take your time play-testing different models in our Perth showroom.
FAQ
Are Yanagisawa Saxophones Good?
Yes. Yanagisawa is one of the world’s highly regarded specialist saxophone makers and is known for producing instruments with excellent intonation, refined keywork, consistent response and a beautifully balanced sound.
At Tempest Music, we particularly value the consistency of Yanagisawa saxophones. They are designed for serious players who want an instrument that responds evenly throughout the range and gives them the flexibility to develop their own sound.
Where Are Yanagisawa Saxophones Made?
Yanagisawa saxophones are made in Japan.
Unlike companies that manufacture a broad range of musical instruments, Yanagisawa specialises in saxophones. That specialisation is an important part of the brand’s reputation for quality craftsmanship, consistency and attention to detail.
What Makes Yanagisawa Saxophones Different?
One of Yanagisawa’s greatest strengths is its specialisation in saxophone design and manufacture.
The instruments are known for their precise keywork, excellent intonation and even response across the registers. They also offer the player considerable tonal flexibility rather than forcing the instrument towards one particular type of sound.
For us, that combination of meticulous engineering and musical freedom is one of the things that makes Yanagisawa particularly interesting to play.
Are Yanagisawa Saxophones Suitable for Professional Players?
Yes. Yanagisawa produces professional-level saxophones used by advanced and professional musicians around the world.
At this level, choosing a saxophone becomes very personal. Sound, resistance, projection, response and the feel of the keywork all matter.
We therefore recommend play-testing rather than choosing from specifications alone.
What Is the Difference Between Yanagisawa Bronze and Brass Saxophones?
Yanagisawa offers saxophones made from different body materials, including traditional brass and bronze on selected models.
The material can contribute to differences in the instrument’s tonal character and playing response, but it should not be considered in isolation. The player, instrument design and individual saxophone all contribute to the final result.
The best way to understand the difference is to play the instruments side by side.
Is Yanagisawa Better Than Yamaha or Selmer Paris?
Yanagisawa, Yamaha and Selmer Paris all make highly respected professional saxophones, but they have different playing characteristics and distinctive voices.
We don’t believe a professional saxophone should be selected simply because one brand is considered more prestigious than another.
Compare suitable instruments within your budget and listen to what happens when you play them. The best saxophone is the one that allows you to produce the sound you’re looking for most easily.
Which Yanagisawa Saxophone Should I Choose?
Start with the type of saxophone you need, your playing level and your budget. Then compare appropriate models rather than assuming the most expensive instrument will automatically be the best one for you.
Differences in response, resistance, tonal colour, projection and keywork can become quite apparent when several instruments are played side by side.
Through a guided comparison, players are often surprised by how clear their preference becomes.
Should I Play-Test a Yanagisawa Before Buying?
Yes. We strongly recommend it.
Specifications can explain how a Yanagisawa is constructed, but they cannot tell you how that particular saxophone will respond to you.
Every musician is searching for their own sound. Play-testing allows you to compare the response, tonal character and feel of different instruments and decide which one makes producing your sound easiest.
Where Can I Try Yanagisawa Saxophones in Perth?
Yanagisawa saxophones can be play-tested at Tempest Music in Como, Perth.
Tempest Music is an official Yanagisawa dealer in Western Australia, giving players the opportunity to experience Yanagisawa instruments and compare them with other leading saxophone brands before choosing.
Our team can help narrow the selection according to your playing level, musical goals, sound preference and budget.
