Finishes…  What difference can the finish on a saxophone make to its performance?  Many people are attracted to the shiny properties of a silver instrument or the ‘cool look’ of a black lacquered saxophone; but how will this difference in appearance ultimately change the tone you create or the music you play?  I compared the four finishes offered by Yamaha’s 82Z range (alto) to try and fathom out how a look can translate into a sound.
(To confirm my findings I later tested Selmer & Yanagisawa saxes and came to the same conclusions).

Yamaha 82Z ALTO Standard Brass:  As a ‘control’ instrument for this comparative study, the 82Z is a professional horn sitting right at the top of the Yamaha range.  The type of instrument that inspires confidence in a performer - it feels reliable, has good all round intonation as well as light and responsive key work.  With the standard brass finish, the tone is pure and sweet, producing everything you would expect from a saxophone of this calibre.

Yamaha 82Z ALTO Silver Plated:  Now - this is exactly the same instrument (that has been silver plated) – so apart from the look - how does it differ?

The first impressions you get (particularly if you have never blown into a silver instrument before) is that this is a very different beast indeed.  Everything is brighter, louder and (depending on your technique) harder to control.  The air moves through the silver plating much quicker than the brass – and has a far richer harmonic content.  There is a particular quality to the sound of silver that has a character all of its own and many people choose to imitate its richness (in part) by using a silver neck on an otherwise brass instrument. 

NB.  The sound of silver is typically a very rich and powerful contemporary one, so it is probably best advised to play before you purchase – if you were thinking that the difference would be purely aesthetic. Don't underestimate the extra cleaning!

Yamaha 82Z ALTO Black Lacquer:  Again this is exactly the same instrument – with a different finish and a dramatically different sound.  In direct contrast to the silver, the thicker black lacquer finish is acting as a dampener on the vibration of air through metal.  This results in a slightly less than bright timbre and a more controlled (even compressed sounding) projection.  Reminiscent of a vintage instrument this finish typically suits a husky, smoky type of sound, but can also perform with great percussive power at the bottom end. 

NB.  Due to the nature of this extra lacquer, these instruments can feel slightly more resistance at first, especially to those still developing their breath control.  However, in achieving a healthy air -stream you will, most probably hear the benefit of a far richer and broader tone.