Yanagisawa B-880 Low A Baritone Saxophone, Near Mint

Description

1986 Yangaisawa B-880 baritone saxophone, s/n 134933. This was Yanagisawa's top of the line professional horn from the 1980's. It's keyed to a low A, which is a must for many baritone players needing the extra range. I acquired this horn from its longtime owner who kept the sax in immaculate condition. You're not likely to find a baritone from this vintage in better shape than this one. The sax comes in its original case, which is in excellent condition. The previous owner added wooden low A and palm key risers which look and feel great.
My tech just serviced the horn prior to sale so the pads are sealing well. The horn plays effortlessly down to low A. Most of the pads have been replaced recently, so this horn will provide its next owner with years of playing before it needs additional servicing.
My personal baritone is a purple label Yamaha 62 from around this same vintage. I love both of these horns. They are quite similar in feel and response, but the Yani has a bit more richness and finesse through its entire range (the 62 is a bit more direct and bright). One thing that both of these horns got right was the low A key placement. Unlike a Selmer, which places the low A key directly below the octave key (at about 4:00 on a clock), the low A key is positioned opposite of the octave key (around the 8:00 position). This allows your thumb to pivot between each key instead of having to lift to go back and forth. It's a more natural, intuitive placement in my opinion.