Yamaha YAS-23

About the Yamaha YAS-23

The YAS-23's yellow brass neck, body and bell under clear-baked epoxy lacquer, combined with power-forged (rather than cast) keys, gave beginning players a more durable instrument than many budget alternatives of its era. An adjustable thumb rest and tapered pivot keys reduce mechanical resistance, while leather pads with wool felt and a Front F auxiliary key match specification details found on Yamaha's higher-tier saxophones scaled down to student level.

Now discontinued and succeeded by Yamaha's current student models, the YAS-23 remains a genuinely capable used purchase specifically because it was made in Japan during an era when Yamaha's student and professional instruments shared more manufacturing overlap - a reputation for quality that keeps YAS-23 examples circulating actively on the used market decades after production ended.

Where to buy

• Reverb 709 EUR Best price View details

No platform selected – pick at least one above.

Some links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Sound character of the Yamaha YAS-23

A discontinued all-brass Japanese student alto, the YAS-23's simpler construction - no special alloy or annealing - gives a more direct, brighter tone than Yamaha's professional-tier altos, while remaining valued used for its solid, durable core.

Technical data for the Yamaha YAS-23

Price history for the Yamaha YAS-23

Cheapest seen: 709 EUR  ·  Most expensive seen: 709 EUR

The history of the Yamaha YAS-23

The YAS-23 served as Yamaha's core student alto before being succeeded by later beginner models, and remains sought after used for its Japanese manufacturing quality.