Yanagisawa AWO33 Alto Saxophone

SOLID SILVER NECK & BELL - BRASS BODY & BOW

AWO33 - Elite Model. The upgraded replacement for the highly regarded A9933 model, this AWO33 silver/brass model offers a beautiful blend of a sterling silver body and neck, and a lacquered brass bow and bell. This exciting combination gives a remarkable tone that balances the tonal purity of sterling silver with the famed brightness of brass. An instrument for the accomplished player, it delivers a superb tonal range and also benefits from the WO series re-engineered bore and toneholes, and re-sourced and redesigned core brass material. This model also has many upgraded features exclusive to the WO series such as newly designed Front F Keys, Ride Side Keys and Right Pinky Key.

Key: Eb
Range: Low Bb to High F#
Body: Brass
Bow: Brass
Bell: Solid Silver
Keys: Brass
Finish: Lacquered
Neck: Solid Silver
Neck Type: Detachable Neck
Case: Fabric Covered, Woodshell case with outer pocket and Backstraps

Specifications:

BELL ARM KEYS

Double Arm

Using double arms on the Bell Keys, helps to keep the tone holes fully sealed by removing the chances of twisting or distortion of the tone hole cup. This in turn helps ensure reliable performance and tonal integrity.

BELL BRACE

Balanced Tri-Point Brace

The bell and body are firmly linked by a three-point, balanced brace which ensures structural resiliance and firm resonance, even when fortissimo is sought.

BELL KEY BUFFER

Metal Adjustable

The buffers used on the bell keys are metal – and therefore offer increased longevity and accuracy over plastic – and are fully adjustable. This means the aperture of the bell toneholes are within your control.

BORE AND TONE HOLES

WO Series Bore and Tone Holes

In Yanagisawa’s desire to constantly innovate, all new WO series saxophones have a newly engineered bore and toneholes. This helps achieve a smoother blow and even more precise intonation.

BRASS / MATERIAL

WO Series Brass Material

The WO series saxophones benefit from a newly designed, newly engineered and specially sourced brass material for improved sound and sonority.

C# – BB – B KEYS

C# – Bb – B Rocking Key

The C#, Bb and B keys are all connected via a rocking / see-saw mechanism. This is a unique Yanagisawa feature and ensures the easiest transition between these pitches.

ENGRAVING

WO30 / WO37 Style Hand Engraved

Yanagisawa WO30 and WO37 series saxophones now feature a uniquely styled, hand engraved pattern.

F AUXILIARY KEY

F-Auxiliary Key

This mechanism fitted to the F-Aux key ensures a proper seal of the pads when playing in the low ranges of the saxophone.

FRONT F KEY

WO Series Redesigned front F Key

The Front F key on WO series saxophones has been redesigned to further improve the ease of fingering.

KEY DECORATION

White Shell Lining

A player’s fingers will rest comfortably in the indented white shell keys. The white shell also enhances the beauty of the instrument while also preventing the player’s fingers from slipping during technical passages.

KEY WORK MOUNTING

Rib Mounted

This is an enhanced design with the keys mounted to a rib plate which in turn is mounted to the body. This not only gives added strength to the keywork, but has the added benefit of improved resonance and tonal stability.

MOUTHPIECE

Ebonite Mouthpieces

Ebonite mouthpieces are favoured for their warm tone and ability to fit into an ensemble seamlessly. However, as players discover their own voice, switching to another style of mouthpiece can open up a whole world of new tonal possibilities. Metal mouthpieces are often favoured by Jazz players or soloists who need to stand out from the crowd.

OCTAVE KEY TYPE

Underslung

An underslung octave mechanism is considered to have a much quicker, more responsive action. It is also a more complex and expensive system to manufacture. So underslung octave keys are to be found on saxophones from the 991 / AWO10 series upwards.

OCTAVE SYSTEM

Fluororesin Non-Stick Mechanism

As standard octave key mechanisms can get sticky over time, Yanagisawa’s flouroresin, non-stick coating ensures a reliable action with no stickiness.

PAD REFLECTOR

Metal Reflectors

Metal reflectors are an improvement upon the standard plastic reflectors, and they add clarity to the tone and improve playing response across the whole dynamic range.

PAD TYPE

Air Tight Waterproof Pad

Yanagisawa’s superb waterproof pad is totally air tight which allows complete confidence in the instrument’s tonal integrity, plus the waterproof material offers a greatly extended pad life.

PALM KEY PLATE

WO Series Palm Key Plate

Previously only available on the 99* series saxophones, the WO Series’ addition of the palm key plate delivers high range resonance, acoustic depth, added projection and added tonal stability.

PIVOT SCREWS

Pointed Pivot Screws

Special pointed pivot screws are used in all centre arms on Yanagisawa saxophones. These screws precisely maintain the stability of the centre arms, and help achieve a very high precision action.

RIGHT PINKY KEY

WO Series Right Pinky Key

The angle of the Right ‘Pinky’ key on WO series saxophones has been improved to give a smoother fingering feel.

RIGHT SIDE KEY

WO Series Right Side Key

The Right side key levers on WO series saxophones now has additional feet for a better touch. This affects the Bb, C and E.

SPRING TYPE

Blue Steel Springs

Blue Steel Spring are better than stainless steel – as used on most other saxes – as they hold tension more effectively, and therefore enhance the key action.

Information

Since their founding in 1896 Yanagisawa has held true to a singular passion: handcrafting the world’s finest saxophones unrivalled in both tone and ease of play. Yanagisawa’s superb ergonomic key-work is second to none and has earned the loyalty and respect of professionals the world over.

Whether you are looking for a high quality student saxophone or a top-level professional instrument, Yanagisawa’s handcrafted, Japanese-made saxophones will deliver the finest playing experience.

The very latest addition to the Yanagisawa range is the new WO series of Alto Saxophones. Both the WO ‘Professional’ and WO ‘Elite’ models illustrate the desire to continually improve what is already a world-leading design. With a number of newly refined key types designed for enhanced playing comfort; a unique palm key plate for broad register resonance; and a special neck plate for focussing the tone, Yanagisawa WO series Alto Saxophones are once again redefining true instrumental brilliance.

Yanagisawa saxophones are the choice of numerous top-level artists across the world including: Antonio Hart, Marshall McDonald, Tommy Smith, Snake Davis, The Lovely Laura and Jess Gillam.