Mark VI VS Yamaha YTS-23: Which sounds better to you?

"People say Selmer is just a convenience, it's a standard response due to the mystique of the brand. However, Yamaha has shown much more beauty and brightness in sound. I prefer Yamaha."

Yes the difference in sounds is very little.
You are using same Mouthpiece and Reed I hope.
Now it’s to be seen that the key mechanism are smooth and would last how long in life.

Mark Vi has that small edge in sound

I am so amazing that both saxophone sound so good. Just a little different, at certain speed. I guess the Yamaha sound brighter. In fact I own a YTS 23 and Selmer seriers 2 tenor. Both are my favour.

Personally, I prefer the sound of your Mark VI, as someone who loves jazz, but does not play the saxophone. It seems to have a softer attack, and a smoother, rounder tone. The action of the keys does seem to be relatively louder, though (not sure if keys are louder or horn is quieter).

On the practical side, I don't care what saxophone Coltrane used. It's the music. And I would take the Yamaha, if I could get it cheap enough (since I don't play, but want to learn, and am a major cheapskate).

The scales happened to be most useful for comparing tones, because it was non-musical and switched rapidly from one sax to the next (quickly switching back and forth over the exact same notes, is the key).

Where was the YTS23 made? Reason I ask is because I found one to purchase but it's made in China, not Japan.

I actually like the Yamaha better, surprisingly 😮

All tenor saxophones sound the same as long as they are in fully order. The sound comes from the mouthpiece, the reed and the player.

The Yamaha...hands down. The sound is fuller, rounder and slightly brighter.

I've played a YTS 62 for the last 6 years, along with another lad who played V1. To be honest ,onlookers found no difference whatsoever. I've also played the V1, but found the YTs easier to play. They are both fantastic machines so its really down to the player and individuel opinion.

For me the Yamaha was much brighter and very obviously so just in the first one or two samples. I like the warmth of the Selmer for jazz and the brighter and harsher sound of the Yamaha for jazz/funk/fusion. A lot would also depend on the venue if live and the mix if recorded. And of course you can colour the tone of both saxes by changing the mouthpiece. I'd buy the new Yamaha.

The Yamaha 23 punches so far above it's own weight. The 23 simply has a little more edge and projection while the Mark VI is definitely a warmer tone but, I doubt most people would hear that difference. I owned a couple of 23s and still play a 1981 Yamaha YTS-62 and a 1991 YTS-32 as well as a big bore Elkhart which is pretty much a Selmer Mark VII.

Yamaha don't have nothing to envidiate to Selmer. In my situation only Im playing 2 years and hope play like you on future mr Hellen. Kind regards from CHILE
Many thanks

I’ve owned several mark VI horns over the years some are great and I’ve had some that were too difficult for intonation. Hell the were out of tune, no matter who played it.
The Japanese horn were so consistently lively. I love them. The German sax was too heavy for me with a more muscular sound but too heavy and different center of balance for me. I won’t go near a China horn but the Taiwan horns have promise I’m not that experienced on those.

I liked them both the selmer is more fat, rich, creamy and pronounced more deep all threw the horn. But the Yamaha and the Yanagasawa are beautiful also.

I prefer the yts 23

The Selmer is superior in my opinion, but the Yamaha is not bad at all. The Selmer has a more even tone throughout the entire instrument range, whereas the Yamaha generally sounds like its pitched higher throughout the range.
The Selmer also has a more smooth transition into the higher octaves where the Yamaha seems to blow out unexpectedly before settling.
Then again, it assumes you play each instrument identically the same with the same comfort level which is probably impossible for a human to do.

Selmer by a 100 miles.

Selmer has been invented pretty much for jazz. It has a very pleasant tone. YTS-23 is better for pop music provided that you used the same mouthpiece and read. It is also louder.

Did you find Altissimo to be dependable and accessible on the YTS 23?