I got my Yamaha YAS 62 in 2002 and I bought it from saxophones.co.uk. It was the cheapest pro horn by far and I've dreamed of having one since I was a kid. The charactestic distinguishing feautuure of this horn is the bar (i don't know what it is technically called) that covers the Bb, B, C, and C# keys instead of skipping over the C key like on most horns. I think this is beautiful and makes the horn unique.

I think the Yamaha has a very free and bright sound from the lower to the upper. The action is soft and very non-resistant. Some horns boast of having balanced action, but I don't really see that on the Yamaha. The keys don't "push back" at you and that's the way I like it. The engraving on the bell is absolute beautiful with flowers and so forth. I've had the horn for 4 years haven't had to take it to the shop once. This is truly a players horn. By that, I mean, the horn doesn't play you. In other words you don't need a body made out of silver (like the Yani) or a bigger bore (like the Kielwerth) or a epic reputation (like the Selmer Mark VI) to play your horn. You just need a horn with great tone and you can do the rest.

I should mention that my instructor has a Mark VI. He played his Selmer Mark IV and then played my Yamaha. My instructor, who is a professional sax player, said that they sounded and felt almost the same as far as intonation quality and response goes. That's a huge compliment for a sax, don't you think?

I am an amateur, but I am in the prime of my (non-musical) career and finally have enough money that I could afford to upgrade to the Yamaha YAS 62 from from my Bundy student model. I got the YAS-62 because it is the last sax I will ever need -- it produces a nice sound and has good action, but is far less expensive than a Selmer. I am satisfied overall, but a little disappointed at how sharp the upper register is. I noticed it when I bought the horn and ascribed it to the fact that my old horn had the opposite problem, and I am sure that I was compensating the wrong way and a pro without my bad habits would have less of an intonation problem than I do. However, I think the intonation problem is not entirely mine, and that Yamaha needs to make it a little better.

Amazing, it has a great tone and out of the 15 different ALTO saxophones I've played the Yamaha YAS 62 is flying ahead in first place. I have played saxophones by Oddessy, Yaniswaga, and even Selmer! The Yamaha Yas-62 beats the lot. I have small, stubby fingers and Yamaha is a great make for easy to reach keys.