Yamaha YTS-23 Tenor Sax
Reviewed in 2026 by Jared Burchfield
Introduction: The Yamaha YTS-23 was my first tenor sax purchase and the second saxophone I ever purchased after my King Cleveland 613. I bought this saxophone in 2021 for $500 which was a great deal then and is still a great deal now for this fine instrument. This instrument has been my choice tenor sax for years and has played in everything from concert band to classical sax to big band, and every one of my recordings involving a tenor sax currently out there involve this instrument. I got this instrument in great shape with a newer set of pads on it, only needing a few small adjustments and a new neck cork to get it fully playing.
General Information: The Yamaha YTS-23 was one of the first student tenor saxophones produced by Yamaha and was sold as their cheapest entry level tenor saxophone. Its production is hard to date because Yamaha does not publish serial number lists, but catalogs on saxophone.org help me to infer that the production ran from approximately the 1970s until the late 1990s when it was succeeded by the Yamaha YTS-26 as the entry level student tenor saxophone and later the YTS-280 and YTS-200ADII, all three of which are still in production according to the Yamaha website. The YTS-23 however is not produced today. The instrument pictured above was likely made towards the end of the YTS-23 production run, given its smaller logo and “established in 1887” stamping. Both of these markings are absent on older YTS-23 saxophones, as the older variants bare a larger Yamaha logo without the crossed tuning fork design that has become synonymous with Yamaha instruments and the brand in general. The pictured instrument has a lacquered body, nickel plated keys, no high F# key, and features leather pads with plastic resonators which as I understand is a fairly standard configuration for these instruments.
Playability and Tuning: Having played a Yamaha YTS-23 in the past before owning this saxophone, I kind of already knew what to expect from this instrument. The instrument has a great full sound and has a pretty high ceiling for volume and projection, especially when paired with a good mouthpiece such as my JodyJazz HR. It is easy blowing, responsive, and can go from a soft warm piano to a screaming fortissimo with minimal effort, all while still holding its tone and tuning in check. Intonation is great on this saxophone, and I would expect nothing less from a Yamaha. Everything on the instrument is dialed in within a few cents, and even the commonly out of tune areas on the tenor sax such as a sharp middle D and E, and sharp palm keys all seem to be minimized even more on this saxophone. The only real intonation issues I experience sometimes on this saxophone are a flat side Bb and a sharp G both with and without octave key that take a little more work then usual to lip down to pitch. However, these two issues are the only tuning issues I have experienced with this saxophone and even these are small and easy to work around. I have always been impressed with how refined Yamaha’s student saxophones are, and just how well they play in tune. I think I can sum up this instrument’s playability by simply saying that it is very easy to play and it almost plays itself.
Construction and Build Quality: The lacquered body and nickel plated keys both seem to have held up well over the years and all of it seems to be made of very good quality materials. The plating on the keys has worn some with the age of the saxophone, and I have noticed in general that Yamaha saxophone and clarinet nickel plate seems to wear quickly. I don’t know if this instrument was a marching instrument before I got it, but given the excellent condition of the body lacquer I would say that it probably wasn’t and the plating has just worn out quickly. I have seen other student saxophones from this time period with much better looking plating and I have to wonder if Yamaha’s plating just wears faster or if this instrument just wasn’t wiped down as often as it should have been. A minor point to be sure, but still a point worth noting as this is not the only Yamaha 23 I have seen with similar looking wear on the keys. The keywork on this instrument follows the typical layout of a modern tenor saxophone, other than omitting the high F# key which is typical of most entry student saxophones especially in this time period. I personally have never understood the need for the high F# key, as you can just as easily play a perfectly good altissimo F# using the standard altissimo fingerings, and I really don’t like relying on a key that isn’t present on all saxophones. It could be useful for trills or something I guess, but I have never owned a saxophone with a high F# and I don’t feel like I am missing much. The keywork on this saxophone is well placed for small hands, and is very responsive compared to other student saxophones. The only really sluggish and somewhat weak feeling key is the LH G# key occasionally, but that could be an adjustment issue or weak spring on my specific instrument. There are some clunky mechanisms such as the LH pinky table, which is pretty clunky and noisy even with all of the corks in place. Though a little noisy in spots, the keywork feels good under the fingers and is more then fine for most playing situations of both student and professional nature. I also really appreciate the metal adjustment screws on many of the keys in place of corks as these make setting the instrument up much easier then having to sand or fit a new cork, and you don’t have to worry about the screws compressing over time like cork can. I also like that the screws are metal and not nylon like the Bundy II tenor saxes of the era. Nylon parts strip and break easily over time, and I am pleased that Yamaha used metal screws on this saxophone. Overall, build quality and construction are great, and this instrument has certainly stayed together well for me with few issues to report.
Case: This instrument came with its factory case and though it is worn from years of use, the case is great overall. The case holds the saxophone securely with little movement, and has cutouts for the neck and mouthpiece so that they are not bouncing around freely in the case unlike many Selmer Bundy products of the time which had an open storage area where the neck and mouthpiece just laid. I am glad to see Yamaha take the time and spend the money to design a good case to hold their excellent instrument. The case also has a huge storage area in which I have stored a variety of items including a saxophone stand. Yes, I store a folded up Hercules tenor sax stand with clarinet pegs in here on a regular basis. It is really that big! All of this space comes with a downside though, and that is the weight and size of this large wood case. It is bulky and can be quite annoying to carry a long distance, especially with the terrible handle that digs into your hand while you carry it. The handle is made of wrapped metal, and over time the wrapping comes off and the metal digs into your hand. Why not just mold a plastic handle? Though large and a bit awkward to carry, the case is quite solid. It holds all kinds of equipment and at least the latches work correctly and stay shut.
Conclusion: The Yamaha YTS-23 is an excellent modern student tenor saxophone that is well made and plays much better then you would expect from an entry level student saxophone. Though the keywork is a little clunky in some areas, the instrument sounds great and plays in tune almost perfectly. It handles any playing situation from beginning band to professional gigs and university level playing with ease, and this instrument has never held me back musically or technically nor has it ever broken or failed in a way that could not be easily and quickly repaired. It holds its adjustment well and just keeps right on going for years and years. I have enjoyed recording, gigging, and practicing with my old YTS-23 and though I have been mocked by repair techs and others for playing this student instrument in professional settings, I wouldn’t have it any other way. This Japanese made instrument is like an old Japanese car, it just keeps on going and never wants to die while delivering excellent and consistent results every time. Sure, it may not be the most refined, but it is always reliable and always gets the job done well. Yamaha instruments are the most consistent instruments I have ever played, and I always say that I have never played a bad Yamaha even when they are beat up and poorly maintained. This instrument lives up to that, and I intend to keep this instrument playing for years to come. I absolutely recommend the Yamaha YTS-23 for beginners and seasoned players alike, and I would say they are more than worth overhauling and repairing. And believe me, I will not hesitate to show up to a pro gig with this instrument, because I know it will more than handle it with consistent excellence.