Yamaha Saxophone Serial Number Lookup

An Index to Serial Number Lists. The following is presented to assist in locating serial number lists and/or other information useful in dating Brass Instruments. Tell us, If you know of listings not presented here. File:Yamaha 62 series Alto Saxophone history - YAS-61 (1969), YAS-62 (1979), YAS-62 (1994), YAS-62II (2003), YAS-62III (2013), NAMM 2013.jpg From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository Jump to navigation Jump to search. Item model number YTS-475 Best Sellers Rank #500,215 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #1,389 in Saxophones (Musical Instruments) Date First Available December 1, 2013 Body Material Metal Musical Style World-music.

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YANIGASAWA SAXOPHONES: During the 1970′s, the 3rd and 4th digit of the serial number indicate the year of manufacture. 1972 – 127 – 127 – 12745400. The YAS-26 combines state-of-the-art production expertise with design elements of Yamaha professional and custom saxophones. The result is an entry-level instrument that delivers the response, intonation and tone needed to help developing musicians achieve success.

Woodwind Serial Number Link List

AKUSTIKSaxophones
ALEXANDRE (SELMER)ClarinetsSee also (serial number drop-down menu)
AMERICAN STANDARDAll Woodwinds
WT ARMSTRONG
ARTLEY

Flutes, Piccolos, and Clarinets
See Also

B&S

Saxophones
Research Link

E BEAUGNIER (see also Vito and Leblanc)SaxophonesNote
F BESSON

All Instruments
See Also

BOOSEY AND HAWKESNote
BUESCHERNote
Saxophones
EVETTE & SCHAEFFER, BUFFET-CRAMPON S.A.

Clarinets
OboesSee also
Saxophones

Note
BUNDY (incl. SIGNET)Note
CANNONBALL SAXOPHONESSaxophones
CLEVELAND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSAll Woodwinds
CG CONNProfessional Saxophones
COUESNONFor all instruments prior to appx. 1937, there is a grenade fruit with a number inside it stamped on the horn. That number is the year of manufacture.
CUNDY - BETTONEYFlutes, Piccolos, and Clarinets
Henry DISTINAll Instruments
DOLNETSaxophones
Peter EATON
FOXDouble-Reeds
IDA MARIA GRASSI

Saxophones
See Also

Wm. S. HAYNESFlutes and Piccolos
Wilhelm HECKELBassoons
HAMMERSCHMIDTSaxophones
HOHNERSaxophones
Frank HOLTONSaxophones
JUPITERAll Instruments
Brua C. KEEFERSaxophones and ClarinetsNote
Julius KEILWERTH (and H-COUF)SaxophonesNote
KING (HN WHITE)
KOHLERTAll InstrumentsNote
LA SAXAll Instruments
A. LAUBINDouble-Reeds
G. LEBLANCNote
LINTONOboes and Bassoons
F. LORÉE (CABART)Double-Reeds
Louis LOTFlutes
Robert MALERNE
MARIGAUX (see also SML)

Double Reeds
See Also

MARTIN BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY

Saxophones
See Also

MARTIN FRERESClarinets
See also
MONANZIFlutes
NOBLET
NORMANDYClarinets
FE OLDSAll Instruments
L. PIERRET

Saxophones
See Also

Verne Q. POWELLFlutes
G. PRUEFERClarinets
PUCHNERAll Instruments
FA REYNOLDSAll Instruments
RIGOUTATDouble-Reeds
Luis ROSSIClarinets
RUDALL & ROSEFlutes
A. SAX

All Instruments
See Also

SELMER (PARIS)

Clarinets
Saxophones

SELMER (UK/London)Clarinets
SELMER (USA)Clarinets
SML (Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire)

Saxophones (PDF)
See Also

Note
VITOSaxophonesNote
WELTKLANG
YAMAHASaxophonesNote
YANAGISAWASaxophones
JW YORK

Saxophones
See Also

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Notes

Beaugnier:

If you decided to play around with the serial numbers on http://www.doctorsax.biz/beaugnier_ser_nos.htm, note that he doesn't differentiate between the Leblanc System (two/three versions), Rationale (whichever spelling you wish) and Semi Rationale (two versions).

Boosey and Hawkes:

1. Boosey and Hawkes is a combination of the Boosey company and the Hawkes company. Hawkes produced their own instruments, for a time, and combined with Boosey in the 1930s. Boosey and Hawkes have been, since that time, sheet music producers and importers.

2. A lot of the saxophones stamped 'Boosey and Hawkes' are stencil instruments. To read more about stencils, please read my article HERE.

Keefer:

The vast majority of saxophones stamped 'Keefer' are stencils.

Buescher:

Horns stamped 'The Buescher Band Instrument Company' from the 1920's are stencils, as are the modern BU-series of horns available from Selmer, and follow different serial number charts.

Buffet-Crampon:

1. A small, but significant, percentage of all Buffet and/or Evette-Schaeffer woodwinds in the 1900-1930 range (or so) were Conn stencils and do not have Buffet serial numbers. In the 1990's, Keilwerth stenciled a saxophone for Buffet called the 'Expression' and that model has a Keilwerth serial number.

2. The modern Buffet 400 (and similar) are Asian-made and do not follow these serial number charts.

Bundy:

1. The Bundy in question here is from approximately 1950 to date. Earlier horns were a mixture of Conn and Buescher stencils.

2. For a brief time, Bundy and Bundy Special saxophones were available from Keilwerth and Dörfler & Jörka, are stamped 'Made in Germany' and do not have a Bundy serial number.

Julius Keilwerth:

Except for the ST-90 I and EX-90 I and II, the ST-90 and EX-90 were not made by Keilwerth and probably do not have Keilwerth serial numbers. For a chart of those models, see THIS.

Kohlert:

The modern Kohlert instruments are made in China or Taiwan. Their serial number format is completely different. The serial numbers listed here are for the German/Czech made instruments.

LeBlanc:

Leblanc does not give out serial number charts. If you ask them, EXCESSIVELY NICELY, about a serial number off a horn you own, they might tell you when it was made.

SML:

1. The SML A400/T400 are Asian-made stencils not made under the authority of SML and are not included in this chart.

2. Some very early SML saxophones were stencils. There are also occasional late-model stencils. For further info, click HERE.

Vito:

Vito saxophones have been made by Vito (Wisconsin), Beaugnier, Leblanc, Yamaha, Jupiter and Yanagisawa. Keep this in mind when attempting to date your instrument.

Yamaha:

These serial numbers are probably only for the Vito labeled YAS-21/23/25 stencils. However, these serials might apply to all Yamsaha instruments.

The standard info on Yamaha serial numbers is that they are not sequential and you need to contact Yamaha directly for information.


I'm always looking for more info for this chart. If you have any, please drop me a line at thesaxinfo@gmail.com.


Since 1887, when it began producing reed organs, the Yamaha Corporation in Japan (then Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd.) has grown to become the world’s largest manufacturer of a full line of musical instruments, and a leading producer of audio/visual products, semiconductors and other computer related products, sporting goods, home appliances and furniture, specialty metals, machine tools, and industrial robots.

Since Yamaha Music Foundation was established in 1966, it has generated a wide range of music activities throughout global society, including Yamaha music schools, and the Junior Original Concert. Strong commitment to promote and support music education and popularization is one of the most significant elements to distinguish Yamaha from its competitors (reference: http://www.yamaha.com/aboutyamaha.asp).

82Z, 855and 875 Pages

DETAILED HISTORY:http://www.yamaha.com/aboutyamaha.asp
CORPORATE WEBSITES:http://www.yamaha.com, http://www.global.yamaha.com, http://www.yamaha.co.jp.


Model Notation

Yamaha Drum Serial Number Lookup

Most Yamaha models are in the form of “YAS-21”. Simple: Yamaha Alto Sax – Model 21“. Below is a little chart, where “x” means “a number”.

  • 2x = Student model (21, 23, 25). 25 is identical to 23, but it has an altissimo F# key.
  • 275 = Student model. Improved version of the 2x models.
  • 32 = Intermediate model, virtually identical to 52 model.
  • 475 = Intermediate model, updated version of 52 model.
  • 52 = Intermediate model.
  • 34 = Advanced intermediate model (improved neck).
  • 575 = Advanced intermediate model (improved neck and bell).
  • 6x = Machine-made professional model (61, 62, 62II).
  • 675 = Professional soprano.
  • 82 = Custom professional.
  • 8×5 = Custom professional (855, 875).
  • YAS01M/Q/MQ: A limited edition Indonesian-made model. Student quality.
  • AD01 (Advantage): Slightly reworked model 23s for the education market.


Serial Number Information

Yamaha saxophone serial number lookup 2327976

I’m sorry; I forgot to include this on my first draft.

Yamaha serial numbers, like Yanagisawa’s, are not necessarily sequential. There are also no extant serial number charts, even for dealers. If you want to know when your Yamaha was made, the only completely accurate answer is from Yamaha, themselves. You should be able to contact them through their global website.

However, there is an extant serial number chart for the Vito 7131RK, which is the Vito-stenciled Yamaha YAS-25. This chart can give you some information.

Further, you could look at the Yamaha Parts List, as that does have some serial number ranges listed.


Errata

  • I am unaware of any Yamaha sopranino (“Eb soprano”, if you prefer) or Bb bass saxophones. They may have had a prototype at one point, but I have never seen one.
  • I may include some of the Nippon Gakki instruments if I can find them. They’re fairly uncommon, but earlier ones look like copies of various things, really late ones (like this one) are virtually identical to the Yamaha 61 horns and may actually have been built BY Yamaha before Yamaha purchased Nikkan Gakki.I also found this page, which has some shots of the Nikkan Imperial AND an MP3 of it. That’s kinda kewl.
  • “Nikkan” was also a name that was used on some early Yanagisawa brasswinds. There doesn’t appear to be any connection with these brasswinds and Yamaha.


Linkies

There are a lot of absolutely superb links to Yamaha stuff and there are some great things to be found on the Yamaha websites. I’m going to try to list some of the great linkies, below:

  • Yamaha Parts List. All the parts for each Yamaha model. Particularly beneficial if you’re trying to determine what the differences between models are. Do note that different finished parts (e.g. a silver bell as opposed to a lacquer bell) also have different part numbers.
  • Yamaha Movies. Includes a LONG factory tour (in a couple languages) and a couple LONG promo vids.
  • Yamaha Saxophone Factory Picture Tour.
  • Archived Pics. Yamaha’s authorized archival pics (some are mislabled).
  • Greg Vail’s Sax Reviews. Greg is a Yamaha clinician and he’s written some purple prose regarding the Yamahas. Again note that he’s a “Yamaha clinician.”
  • Yamaha necks. They have a few.
  • Caring for your Sax. Hey, it’s the official care guide.
  • Yamaha Podcasts. It’s got clinics and other great resources. A must check.
  • Yamaha Artists’ Pages.
  • Yamaha “What’s New?” Woodwind Pages.
  • Yamaha Canada. They have a very nice spread of all current instruments with specs.
  • Yamaha Advantage Website. Beginner info.
  • Yamaha Serial Lookup Model Year

  • Yamaha Virtual Magazines.
  • Yamaha Online Catalogs (PDFs). There are actually multiple catalogs here that list saxophones.
  • Yamaha’s Blog. Hey! They also have a WordPress Blog!
  • Pete’s Nikkan Pics. Yes, I’m tooting my own horn.
  • Yamaha Saxophone Serial Number Lookup And Price

  • The 10 Millionth Instrument. Some info about Nikkan Gakki Corp, too.
  • Originally published May 24, 2010.
    Added info about Yamaha’s blog and a link to my Nikkan pics on July 21, 2010.

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