Changing the finish of a saxophone does more than merely alter its appearance; the color and resonance of the sound are also affected. All Yamaha saxes feature a beautiful and highly durable gold lacquer finish. But with the Custom saxes, other finish options are also available. The following chart will help you create a sax that's just perfect for you.





Model Finish Options
All Yamaha Saxes Silver-plate
All Custom Saxes Silver-plate Gold-plate Black lacquer
Z Saxes (YAS-82Z, YTS-82Z) Silver-plate Gold-plate Black lacquer Unlacquered*

*Unlacquered Finish
The Z saxes can be special-ordered with an unlacquered finish for pure tonal resonance and responsive playability. The surface of the sax will soon discolor from exposure to air, and also from contact with the hands and fingers—due to the acidity of the skin. The discoloration, which will be most noticeable at the skin contact points, will not affect the sound or playability of the sax, though we strongly recommend that you wipe the sax off with a clean soft rag after handling and playing in order to prevent any pitting of the surfaces.