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Yamaha professional models - history?

Author: Bill
Date: 2020-02-02 02:03

I'm familiar with French clarinet models, but I know nothing about the top-line models of Yamaha clarinets as they have appeared in the last decades (I don't even know how long Yamaha has been making professional clarinets).

Can anyone give a simple timeline of Yamaha top-quality models? Thinking I might like to get an older Yamaha. Yes, I did search archives. Thanks!

Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)

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Re: Yamaha professional models - history?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-02-02 08:53

Any older Yamaha clarinet with the model number in the 60s, 70s or 80s are their pro level instruments.

The 70 series were finished in the US for the US market and were most likely the same as the 60 series sold elsewhere.

I'm pretty sure the first pro level Yamaha clarinet was the YCL-61 (Bb - I'm not sure if they made an A clarinet version back then or what number it carried), replaced by the YCL-62 (Bb) and 65 (A), then the YCL-62II(Bb)/65II(A) which became the YCL-62IICX(Bb)/65IICX(A) and then the YCL-CX (Bb)/CX-A (A) which gained the Custom logo. They all have inset wooden tonehole chimneys.

Slight side note - the YCL-64 introduced in the '90s was a new model introduced to fill a gap in their lineup which sat in between the 34II and CX models and was in the same price range as the Buffet E13, Leblanc Esprit and Selmer Prologue. It became the YCL-650 (Bb) and for a short while, the YCL-650-A A clarinet which has been discontinued.

Above that and into the Custom range there's the YCL-82(Bb)/85(A), YCL-82II/85II, YCL-82IICS/85IICS and YCL-CS/CS-A. Added to that were the AE and SE models, then the CSV, SEV, CSG, AEV, and many others I've either forgotten about or haven't heard of. All these models have integral wooden tonehole chimneys.

This site would've been far more comprehensive and listed all the models Yamaha made as well as the years they were produced, only it's not working: https://parts-search.yamaha.co.jp/html/WIND_ENGLISH/orders/group_e.php

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Yamaha professional models - history?

Author: paulyb
Date: 2020-02-02 14:33

I think that this is the new version of that Yamaha site:

https://parts-search.yamaha.co.jp/html/WIND_ENGLISH/orders/search_result_e.php?m=&p=&k=&bc=002&mc=002_015&sc=002_015_001

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