Yamaha YCB 661


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Posted by Ian Easton on November 27, 2001 at 08:33:46:

The continuing saga of my instrument purchase (feel free to skip to the next paragraph, where I get to the point!):

I am interested in buying a small CC for jazz gigs, and would like a rotary horn. I recieved some great advice on piggies, but the general consensus was that they are so variable that I'd be mad to buy without test driving first. Fair enough, but that's where the problem starts: as being in Western Australia (and reticent to travel, what with the current international problems) there isn't much for me to try first.

So, I'm now wondering if a Yamaha YCB-661 might be more appropriate, (BBC has one) and would like to know how consistent these horns are.

Other questions:

-what are its playing characteristics? I'm familiar with the Yamaha 321
(but that's probably like comparing apples and oranges!): how is the
intonation, response, tone colour, projection of this particular horn?

-Ergonomics: From the pictures in my old Yamaha catalogue it seems the
lead-pipe is wrapped close to the bell. I've played Besson 983s and
found that the mouthpiece is so close to the bell that the instrument
needs to be held at 45 degrees to allow for left eye vision! Valve
placement and action (I've been researching Cerveny piggies, and I'm told the
valves are low-set, requiring a long depression stroke).

-what would be a fair price for this horn?

Thank you for reading, and for any advice you may have,

Ian Easton


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