Yanagisawa B-W01 Professional Baritone Saxophone (Brass)

1. Design and Craftsmanship

Material and Build:

• High-Quality Brass Construction: The B-W01 is made from premium brass, known for its robust and resonant acoustic properties. This material contributes to the saxophone’s full-bodied, warm tone and ensures long-term durability.
• Clear Lacquer Finish: The saxophone typically features a clear lacquer finish, which enhances the brass’s appearance while protecting it from corrosion. This finish provides a sleek and polished look and contributes to the instrument’s overall aesthetic appeal.

2. Tone and Performance

Rich, Resonant Sound:

• Warm and Centered Tone: The B-W01 is celebrated for its rich, warm tone that remains consistent across its range. This tonal quality is ideal for professional musicians seeking a balanced and expressive sound, whether performing solo or in an ensemble setting.
• Excellent Projection: The brass construction and design allow for impressive sound projection, making the B-W01 suitable for various performance environments, from intimate settings to large concert halls.

3. Key Mechanism and Ergonomics

Enhanced Keywork:

• Responsive Action: The B-W01 features a refined key mechanism that ensures smooth action and precise control. Yanagisawa’s ergonomic keywork design enhances playability, allowing for easy transitions between notes and improved comfort during extended play sessions.
• Fluororesin-Sleeved Octave Rocker: This feature eliminates lost motion and ensures smooth octave-key action by rounding the octave rocker ends and coating the receiving sleeves with Fluororesin, reducing friction and wear.

Key Enhancements:

• C#-Bb Table Key Linkages: The seesaw linkage between the C# and Bb table keys facilitates faster and smoother fingering, which is beneficial for complex passages and technical playing.
• Adjustable Vibration-Damping Bar: This bar dampens sympathetic vibrations in the right-hand F# key, stabilizing note production in the lower register.
• Genuine Mother-of-Pearl Key Touches: The indented mother-of-pearl key touches are both visually appealing and practical, offering a natural feel and reducing slippage compared to plastic touches.

4. Structural and Aesthetic Features

Reinforced Structural Elements:

• Tri-Point Brace: The tri-point bell-bow brace ensures structural stability and rigidity, enhancing resonance even at fortissimo levels. This design contributes to the saxophone’s durability and sound quality under intense playing conditions.
• Metal Thumb Hook and Rest: Designed to minimize point contact with the body, the metal thumb hook allows for freer resonance. The brass thumb rest facilitates smoother response and improved tonal balance.

Precision and Reliability:

• Pointed Pivot Screws: Pointed pivot screws ensure exact fit and reliability of the center arms and hinge rods, enhancing the saxophone’s precision and durability.
• Sealed, Waterproof Pads: These pads provide airtight sealing for balanced, leak-free play while extending the pads’ service life through quality waterproofing.
• Needle Springs: Blued-steel needle springs offer superior elasticity compared to stainless steel, delivering faster action and better control over difficult passages.

5. Included Accessories

• Stylish Case with Backpack Straps: The B-W01 comes with a new, stylish case that includes backpack straps for convenient transportation.
• Yanagisawa Hard Rubber Mouthpiece: The saxophone is supplied with a high-quality mouthpiece designed to complement the instrument’s tonal characteristics.

Overall Impression

The Yanagisawa B-W01 Professional Baritone Saxophone represents a significant advancement in saxophone design and construction. With its rich, resonant tone, precise key mechanism, and refined structural features, it is an excellent choice for professional saxophonists. Yanagisawa’s dedication to craftsmanship and innovation ensures that the B-W01 stands out as one of the finest baritone saxophones available, offering exceptional value and performance for discerning musicians.