Yanagisawa’s Exceptional SWO10 Elite Soprano Sax
Ergonomic and sonic perfection
Professional saxophones should emphasize the individuality of the player, enhancing the myriad of playing techniques, from embouchure to fingering, that collectively produce your inimitable sound and define who you are as an artist. Yanagisawa S series instruments represent the apotheosis of modern soprano sax design. As accessible as it is exceptional, the Yanagisawa SWO10 Elite is an ideal professional soprano saxophone. In your hands, you will find the SWO10 feels just right; while its straight-neck, 2-piece design delivers a supremely comfortable playing experience across its full range, which extends to high G. Sonically, you’ll be rewarded with a sweet, warm, tone and strong projection, making this horn ideal for classical, jazz, and other genres.
A design as beautiful as it is masterful
Whether you’re finessing an adagio line or firing off a flurry of notes, you’ll appreciate the fluid, synergistic response of this superb saxophone as your fingertips savor the luxurious feel of its key elegant touches, which are concavely shaped for a more natural finger fi. They’re surfaced with genuine mother-of-pearl, which looks amazing and wicks away moisture more effectively than commonly used plastic — something you’ll definitely appreciate toward the end of a long set under hot stage lights. More utilitarian, but nevertheless performance critical, are the metal thumb hook and the brass thumb rest, which are designed to make minimal point contact with the body to enhance resonance while allowing for smoother response and optimized tonal balance. From its flawless keywork to its delicate hand engraving and the gentle flare of its hand-hammered bell, the SWO10 Elite is testimony to the unparalleled quality of Yanagisawa craftsmanship.
Well-designed mechanisms working together harmoniously
With a complex instrument like a saxophone, many mechanisms have to work together harmoniously to deliver superior tone, ergonomics, and versatility. To that end, the SWO10 incorporates exclusive Yanagisawa innovations such as a Fluororesin-sleeved octave rocker, which eliminates extraneous motion with rounded rocker ends and a Fluororesin coating on the receiving sleeves they contact. This high-tech, non-stick coating delivers reliable action without the excessive stickiness buildup over time that plagues standard octave key mechanisms. As soon as your fingers alight on the keys, another thing you’ll notice is the innovative seesaw linkage between the C# and Bb table keys, which enables faster, smoother fingering technique; while an additional proprietary slider mechanism further facilitates fluid finger transitions between these notes.
Enhanced performance, precision, and reliability
Even under the hood, the SWO10 Elite is packed with Yanagisawa innovations that enhance performance and long-term durability. A hidden advantage of the SWO10 is its pointed pivot screws, which increase precision and reliability by ensuring an accurate fit for the center arms and hinge rods. The SWO10’s sealed, waterproof pads provide a leak-free, airtight fit while facilitating balanced action and extended service life. For faster action and better control over challenging passages, Yanagisawa uses blue-steel needle springs — the professional standard for durable, perfectly tensioned keywork. This punctilious attention to detail results in a masterful instrument that will go the distance in your career and advance your ongoing development as an artist.
Handcrafted in Japan
Based in Tokyo, the Yanagisawa Wind Instrument Company is a boutique shop specializing in one product: handmade professional saxophones designed to exceed the expectations of the most demanding players. Combining old-world craftsmanship with cutting-edge design and performance features, Yanagisawa instruments are among the highest-quality professional saxophones available today. If you’re a saxophonist looking to upgrade to a world-class professional instrument, you can feel confident in your step up to Yanagisawa quality.
Yanagisawa SWO10 Professional Soprano Saxophone Features:
- Straight-neck, 2-piece design, handcrafted from premium brass
- Ergonomically optimized keywork
- High-F# and G keys
- Fluororesin-sleeved octave rocker
- Seesaw C#–Bb table key linkage
- Blue-steel needle springs
- Pointed pivot screws
- Metal thumb hook and rest
- Sealed, waterproof pads
- Genuine mother-of-pearl key touches
- Elegant hand engraving
- Ebonite mouthpiece, ligature, strap, cork grease, microfiber cloth, and case included
Why Buy From Marshall Music
At Marshall Music, we’re all passionate and highly experienced musicians that love what we do. Family run and family owned for over 35 years, we stock a huge variety of the very best brands in the world of musical instruments, music technology, professional audio and accessories. At Marshall Music, you’ll get the right advice – exactly what you need to make the best possible purchasing decision. We’ll do all we can to make sure you get the right thing at the right price as efficiently as possible – leaving you with a smile on your face!
