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Yamaha YDS-120 - Digital Saxophone
Product Information
The new Yamaha YDS-120 Digital Saxophone is the latest arrival from Yamaha in their electronic wind instrument range. Designed to be a simple and intuitive way into Saxophone playing, this Digital Saxophone allows you to play anywhere at any time whilst enjoying the same tonal diversity and feel of an acoustic instrument.
It could be used as a first instrument for any player, even from a young age. Alternatively current players may appreciate the digital nature of it allowing them to practice using headphones but with a standard acoustic Saxophone key layout.
What is the Yamaha YDS-120 Digital Saxophone?
The Yamaha YDS-120 is the ‘smaller’ sibling of the YDS-150 which was Yamaha's first Digital Saxophone. This YDS-120 is lighter (it doesn't have the brass bell) and more affordable but still takes advantage of all the digital technologies on its ‘bigger’ sibling. It features 56 different in-built digital voices for the Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones. There are also additional voices such as flute, shakuhachi and various other electronic instruments. In total this combines to offer 73 voices in total.
It features the same key layout as a ‘normal’ acoustic Yamaha Saxophone. This means if you decide to move on to an acoustic instrument it would be a smooth transition for your fingers/hands. The mouthpiece on the Yamaha YDS-120 is a highly responsive breath sensor, as opposed to a synthetic type reed as found on the YDS-150. This makes it more immediately playable for all newcomers and its very flexible for those who already play a wind instrument. It senses the strength (pressure) of your breath allowing you to control the tonal flexibility of the instrument as you play.
Benefits of Yamaha Digital Acoustics
Yamaha teamed up with professional performers to sample the authentic sounds of Yamaha acoustic Saxophones from Soprano down to Baritone in whole tone steps. This ensures you can enjoy a natural sound throughout the range.
Being a digital instrument the YDS-120 comes equipped with an auxiliary input terminal for connecting devices such as smartphones, allowing you to connect to an external audio source (the sound must be output from the headphone jack).
There is also a dedicated Yamaha YDS Controller App which enhances the performance of this Digital Saxophone. It includes instrument settings, sound editing functionality and expands the range of sound creation. You can make detailed settings intuitively and visually from the app, a process which cannot be done on the instrument alone.
To use the app, you will need to connect your smart device to the YDS-120 using a USB cable and Lightning USB adapter for iPhone / iPad or OTG cable for Android.
Yamaha YDS-120 Technical Specs
- 15-step volume adjustment
- Headphone terminal, Aux in jack
- 73 voices, including 56 for Saxophone
- Same key layout as acoustic Saxophone
- Breath sensor mouthpiece (removable to clean)
- Dedicated YDS app available
- Use with a USB power source or with batteries (4xAAA - not supplied)
Try this Instrument In Store
We have a variety of testing environments instore for customers to experience and enjoy. Our range of testing rooms are available to pre-book and we can even reserve stock in advance so if you're making a jouney to see us we can be prepared to make it a special experience for you.
Need Help with this item?
Our specialist trained staff are able to help you. Please contact us or call us on 01628 630800
Yamaha YDS-120 - Digital Saxophone Reviews
Great sounding instrument. Easy to play. The only down fall is it runs on 4 AAA batteries which don't last very long even duracell.
I am travelling for the next 4 weeks and will not have access to my saxophones. I’ve been using my YDS120 for 2 weeks and really like it. It is simple to use, independently or with my iPad. I have used the iPad to play along with youtube backing tracks and provide a metronome for practice. I had an issues with a USB-C to Aux cable but had success using a Lightening to Aux cable. It is not a real saxophone, but it is a very good practice tool. It is awesome, particularly when you consider the price. P.S. the YDS120 will fit into carry-on luggage if you place it diagonally across a standard carry on bag.
My son is absolutely delighted with his digital saxophone. He's been learning the alto saxophone for about 2 years and while he will still continue with that, he definitely enjoys playing this much more!
I bought it to quietly practice acoustic sax and for that it is perfect. I'm really happy I bought it. The key layout is perfect. The sounds are fine. No one's going to think you're playing a brass sax. Now I'll moan about all the things that will be better with the next version. It is definitely made to a budget- you don't get a sling or any cables, which struck me as pretty stingy for a £345 instrument. It connects via a mini usb, which is also odd, as everyone else is moving to usb c. There's no bluetooth but you can get round that. Connecting to the app needs another adaptor. They're about £12 on Amazon or probably £70 from apple (I have no idea). To connect to GarageBand you need to download a piano driver and turn off some security settings. That seemed pretty dodgy but it does work as a midi controller. I've yet to get that to work on iPad. All in all, great practice instrument, not cheap to buy but pretty basic when you open the box. I think it looks pretty cool. And I practice twice as much as I did.
Great instrument, only down side is that no leads are included, but Dawkes music helped me and advused.
I needed to be able to practise the saxophone without disturbing others and this instrument ticks this box perfectly. The sound through the sax's own speakers is as expected, somewhat tinny and electronic. However, through the headphones and external speakers it is really quite impressive. The tenor sax in particular sounds great to my ears as do not possess an acoustic version. It really is an amazing piece of kit and my only worry for the future is how long it will last due to its plastic parts and the moisture that inevitably passes through it. Another useful feature is that I am able to play in tenor sax mode using the same music as my wife on the b flat clarinet. No need for any transposition. I've also found that in battery mode the batteries soon run out of power so using an external power source is to be recommended. Apparently, there is not a great difference between this model (120) and the (150). Thank you Yamaha for creating the 120 and lowering the price quite considerably!
The YDS-120 is disappointing in that it automatically plays vibrato from the built-in speaker and there is no way to disable it. The notes sometimes fail be produced
The supplier responded:Dear customer, I'm sorry to hear that you're not getting on well with the YDS-120. We can certainly pass your information to our contact at Yamaha to hopefully resolve this or we do also sell the YDS-150 if you would prefer to try that? Kind regards, Kasey Stone - Dawkes Sales
Superb piece of kit for a beginner or extended practice opportunities for better players!
Good sounds, especially via headphones, interface and amplifier. Handles well, and allows me to now practice and record privately, without distressing the neighbours. Gotta be honest, I love it.
Excellent price.. the cheapest... Very fast delivery... Will use again. Easy to play, Haven't managed to find a usb cable to connect to the app yet, but have downloaded it.
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Dawkes Music & Windcraft Ltd are a globally recognised UK based Music Industry company that have expert staff who specialise in products, performance, teaching and repairing in the brass and woodwind sector.
