Yamaha Custom YAS-855 Alto Saxophone
Yamaha Custom YAS-855, s/n 1414. When Yamaha introduced the Custom line of saxophones in the early 1990's, there were two different models; the 875 and 855. The 855 has a smaller bore than the 875 and was only made for a few years. As such, you don't see this model come up for sale all that often. This model was the first professional saxophone that my parents bought me as a young student, so there is definitely some nostalgia here.
This is a tremendous saxophone that should not be overlooked even though there have been several updates to the Custom line since this one came out. The smaller bore gives the horn a bit more resistance than the 875 model, which I really like. There's a ton of control in all dynamics, especially in the softer dynamic ranges. Ergonomically, the horn feels great and probably better in my hands than the 875EXii.
My repairman just serviced the sax prior to sale. It's playing well on an older set of pads. There is some lacquer loss from regular use, but there are no dents or resolders. The sax is set up with domed riveted metal resonators, similar in style to a Selmer Series II. The sax comes with the original M1 neck. This sax is compatible with other Yamaha Custom necks, and I find that the V1 is a great match for it. Please contact me if you're interested in upgrading the neck to a V1.
