Yamaha YDS-150 Digital Saxophone

The YDS-150 was designed to be a saxophone that would allow anyone to experience the joy of performing, anytime, anywhere. The ground-breaking new wind instrument retains the full expressiveness of the saxophone, yet unlike an acoustic saxophone it can be as quiet as you want, making it more convenient and easier to play.

Volume control over a range of fifteen levels lets you play freely, without worrying about the place or time. The instrument can be played quietly at night, and with a set of headphones on, you can apply an ambient reverb and thoroughly immerse yourself in your performance.

The YDS-150 lets you instantly change the tonality, range, and timbre of each of the saxophone types—soprano, alto, tenor or baritone. Moreover, each of these saxophone types have different saxophone Voices that correspond to various playing techniques and musical genres, from vibrato playing and jazz to classical music. In total, the YDS-150 has 73 instrument sounds, with 56 saxophone Voices, and many others—letting you perform authentically in virtually any music genre.

The Yamaha unique Integrated Bell Acoustic System gives you the best of both worlds - high-quality digital sound with the tactile feeling of an acoustic wind instrument. This new, advanced system consists of a speaker unit and enclosure, acoustic pipe, and a real brass bell. The YDS-150 responds to your breath from the mouthpiece, and digitally creates sound that drives the speaker, causing the brass bell to resonate. In fact, the entire instrument resonates with the sound, and that vibration comes back to you. The result is an instrument that breathes, moves and vibrates along with your playing, giving you the realistic feeling of an acoustic saxophone with the comprehensive capabilities of a digital instrument.

Sound can be produced by simply blowing into the mouthpiece, while volume and tone can be carefully modulated using the intensity of the breath, resulting in a wind instrument which can cater to the expressive needs of both beginners and experienced players alike.