
Yanagisawa AWO20 Elite Bronze Alto Sax
Handmade in Japan – Replaced A992
Yanagisawa makes the highest quality professional saxophones on the market today! They are a specialty manufacturer of professional handmade saxophones. They are a small factory blending old world craftsmanship with modern design and performance. The Yanagisawa AWO20 is a flat out amazing saxophone!
The Yanagisawa WO Series
Released in 2014 on the altos, the new WO Series saxophones represent the first major redesign of the Yanagisawa alto sax in over 20 years! Building on the outstanding platform of the A9 series, the new WO Series improve on the excellence of Yanagisawa! Impeccable intonation & build quality are a staple of the Yanagisawa line. The WO series bore has been further refined for a richer tone with several enhancements to the mechanical purity that is Yanagisawa!
The Elite Series replaces the A99x Series. The Yanagisawa AWO20 features ribbed body construction for a richer, more complex tone. The new WO Series bore will redefine what players expect from a professional alto saxophone. With the Yanagisawa AWO20, no longer will players feel they have to sacrifice tone in favor of response & intonation. For more detailed information on the changes in the WO Series from the previous A9 based models, please check out Dave Kessler’s blog post by clicking here.
The Yanagisawa AWO20 features all of the standard Yanagisawa A99x series mechanical improvements such as:
- Connected C#-B roller
- Underslung octave mechanism
- Double arm construction on the Low C & B keys
The Yanagisawa AWO20 further builds on A99x platform with a new front F key design, new right hand side keys and a redesigned right hand pinky cluster. A new case and engraving pattern have also been added.
Additional Information
Why Bronze?
Bronze gives the saxophone a very unique tone. Bronze is a heavier alloy compared to brass. Standard brass is an alloy comprised of Copper & Zinc, with about 70% of that alloy being copper. Bronze is an alloy that consists of Copper & Tin but with around 88-90% of it being copper. The copper is the primary focus here as it adds more mass to the alloy. The use of bronze helps give the Yanagisawa AWO20 a richer, lush tone compared to the brass equivalent model (AWO10). The bronze can be a hair more resistant though, which can be a negative thing, especially for the classical player. This is due to the Yanagisawa AWO20 combining the heavier alloy with the heavier ribbed construction. Together, this adds a lot of mass to the horn that needs to be vibrated by the player. The more mass, the richer the tone but it also increases the overall playing resistance.
Generally, we recommend the Yanagisawa AWO20 more for the jazz player who loves to push in to their horn when playing. It is an absolute favorite for the Mark VI player who wants a modern Yanagisawa due to the intonation, build quality & reliability. This setup prefers power and mouthpieces that give more projection. When paired with a classical mouthpiece, it can feel a bit hesitant and even sluggish for the player. When played properly, the WO20 produces a sound that is lush in tonal warmth!
Professional Setup
Every horn we send out to a customer is not released from us unless it has been completely setup in our shop first. This is because the setup on the horn is of the utmost importance! Sometimes, a saxophone (regardless of who the manufacturer) comes in needing 20 minutes of adjustments and then the very next one can require 2 hours! So if you were to get 5 of the same model right out of the box, they will all play different. This leads players to believe that they are “good” or “bad” saxes. The reality is that the one that was the best out of the 5 was likely the one that needed the least amount of work and the “bad” sax was the one that needed 2 hours worth of adjustments!
Once the same 5 saxophones are properly regulated and adjusted to perfection, they become near identical saxophones. Even the pickiest of players would be challenged to pick a true “favorite” horn. However, since most stores do not or even can not perform this setup, the player never knows this and is simply relying on the luck of the draw. This is why we perform our setup (in our www.SaxophoneRepairs.com ProShop) on them before delivering your new sax to you. You trust us with your purchase and we want to make sure that you are rewarded by giving you your ideal saxophone setup flawlessly!
Bore | New WO Series Professional Bore |
Body Material | Bronze, Gold Lacquered |
Body Construction | Fully Ribbed Body Construction |
Country of Manufacture | Handmade in Japan |
Octave Mechanism | Underslung Octave Mechanism |
Pads | Premium Leather with Domed Metal Resonators |
Mouthpiece | Yanagisawa Classical Model AC140 |
Case | New Deluxe Case |
Financing Available

18 Month, 0% Interest Financing!
Purchase your new Yanagisawa AWO20 from Kessler & Sons using First Mutual Finance and receive special 18 Month, 0% Interest Financing!
Click Here for more information on financing program details and to apply!
18 Month, 0% Financing Option Available on New Instrument at Advertised New Price Only. Full details on financing page.
Does not apply towards Store Used Demos or Used Instruments. Demos and Used models can still be financed under standard terms.
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