Yanagisawa’s Exceptional AWO20 Elite Alto 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 WO20 series instruments represent the apotheosis of modern saxophone design. As accessible as it is exceptional, the Yanagisawa AWO20 Elite is an ideal professional alto saxophone. In your hands, you will find the AWO20 feels just right. Whether you’re finessing an adagio line or firing off a volley of notes, you’ll appreciate the fluid, synergistic response of this superb horn as your fingertips savor the luxurious feel of its elegant genuine mother-of-pearl key touches. Sonically, you’ll be rewarded with a commanding tone and strong projection, making this horn ideal for jazz, classical, and any other genre.
The benefits of ribbed body construction
Yanagisawa’s Elite models feature fully ribbed construction. Integrating the multiple key posts into a single plate — as opposed to soldering them directly to the body of the saxophone — ribbed construction gives the tube higher mass (and hence, more rigidity and durability), and requires somewhat more effort from the player. While added mass implies a slightly heavier instrument, it pays back dividends in the form of increased tonal depth and richness. Ribbed construction makes the horn blow with moderate resistance while delivering a solid fundamental with rich tonal color. For experienced intermediate and pro saxophonists with a more developed embouchure and sound concept, it’s a definite advantage. Although ribbed construction typically presents a slightly increased initial resistance, it effectively gives you another level of resonance — an extra “gear,” if you will — to blow through for additional dynamic range and expression. Simply put, you can push your Yanagisawa AWO20 further, and it will go exactly where you want it to go.
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 AWO20 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 incorporates a proprietary slider mechanism to enable faster, smoother fingering technique.
Enhanced performance, precision, and reliability
Even under the hood, the AWO20 Elite alto is packed with Yanagisawa innovations that enhance performance and long-term durability. A hidden advantage of the AWO20 is its pointed pivot screws, which increase precision and reliability by ensuring an accurate fit for the center arms and hinge rods. The AWO20’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.
A design as beautiful as it is masterful
Aside from its delicately hand-engraved bell, other readily apparent high-end features of the Yanagisawa AWO20 Elite alto include its key touches, which are concavely shaped for a more natural finger fit. They’re surfaced with genuine mother-of-pearl, which not only looks amazing; it 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.
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 AWO20 Elite Professional Alto Saxophone Features:
- Premium bronze body tubing
- Ergonomically optimized keywork
- High F# key
- Metal thumb hook and brass thumb rest
- Fluororesin-sleeved octave rocker
- Seesaw C#–Bb table key linkages with proprietary slider mechanism
- Adjustable vibration-damping bar
- Blue-steel needle springs
- Pointed pivot screws
- Sealed, waterproof pads
- Indented mother-of-pearl key touches
- Dual arms prevent larger key cups from twisting
- Tri-point bell-bow brace
- Elegant hand engraving
- Ebonite mouthpiece, ligature, strap, cork grease, microfiber cloth, and case included
- Handcrafted in Japan
Tech Specs
- Key:Eb
- Level:Professional
- Finish:Clear Lacquer
- Auxillary Keys:High F#
- Body Material:Bronze
- Bell Decoration:Engraved
- Key Buttons:Mother-of-pearl
- Springs:Blued Steel Needle
- Pads:Sealed
- Mouthpiece:Included
- Thumb Hook:Metal
- Thumb Rest:Brass
- Case/Gig Bag:Included
- Manufacturer Part Number:AW020
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