Yanagisawa TWO20-UL Unlacquered Elite Series Tenor Sax

TWO2 vs. TWO20
The primary difference is in the weight of the construction. The TWO2 uses “Single Post to Body” construction whereas the TWO20 uses a heavier “Ribbed Body” construction. What this translates to is that the posts that suspend the keys up from the body are individually soldered directly to the body tube on the TWO2. On the ribbed body TWO20, large groups of posts are first silver soldered on to a brass plate, or “rib”, and then that entire rib is soldered on to the body tube.

The end result is that the body tubes of the TWO2 have less weight attached to them and this give quicker response. The heavier construction TWO20 has a thicker “core” to its sound due to the extra weight, but it also requires more effort and power from the player in order to get quick response. For more advanced players, the TWO20 is the more complex tone and the overall more versatile saxophone.

Neither is truly “better” than the other but rather depends on the player. The TWO2 is the least resistant and easiest of the two models to play. So especially for student musicians & hobby players, the TWO2 offers an exceptional combination of performance, quality and price value. The TWO20 offers a thicker resistance that Selmer players like. There are of course other keywork differences in the TWO20 (mentioned in description tab) but the core difference between the horns is the construction.

The Warmth of Bronze!
Bronze gives the saxophone a very unique tone. Bronze is a heavier alloy compared to brass. Standard brass is an alloy comprised of Copper & Zinc, with about 70% of that alloy being copper. Bronze is an alloy that consists of Copper & Tin but with around 88-90% of it being copper. The copper is the primary focus here as it adds more mass to the alloy. The use of bronze helps give the TWO20 a richer, lush tone compared to the brass equivalent model (TWO10). The bronze can be a hair more resistant though, which can be a negative thing, especially for the classical player. This is due to the WO20 combining the heavier alloy with the heavier ribbed construction. Together, this adds a lot of mass to the horn that needs to be vibrated by the player. The more mass, the richer the tone but it also increases the overall playing resistance.

Generally, we recommend the TWO20 more for the jazz player who loves to push in to their horn when playing. It is an absolute favorite for the Mark VI player who wants a modern Yanagisawa due to the intonation, build quality & reliability. This setup prefers power and mouthpieces that give more projection. When paired with a classical mouthpiece, it can feel a bit hesitant and even sluggish for the player. When played properly, the TWO20 produces a sound that is lush in tonal warmth!

Professional Setup
Every horn we send out to a customer is not released from us unless it has been completely setup in our shop first. This is because the setup on the horn is of the utmost importance! Sometimes, a saxophone (regardless of who the manufacturer) comes in needing 20 minutes of adjustments and then the very next one can require 2 hours! So if you were to get 5 of the same model right out of the box, they will all play different. This leads players to believe that they are “good” or “bad” saxes. The reality is that the one that was the best out of the 5 was likely the one that needed the least amount of work and the “bad” sax was the one that needed 2 hours worth of adjustments!

Once the same 5 saxophones are properly regulated and adjusted to perfection, they become near identical saxophones. Even the pickiest of players would be challenged to pick a true “favorite” horn. However, since most stores do not or even can not perform this setup, the player never knows this and is simply relying on the luck of the draw. This is why we perform our setup (in our www.SaxophoneRepairs.com ProShop) on them before delivering your new sax to you. You trust us with your purchase and we want to make sure that you are rewarded by giving you your ideal saxophone setup flawlessly!