Yanagisawa TWO30 Tenor Saxophone

An elite professional tenor saxophone with exceptional depth, projection and tonal flexibility

The Yanagisawa TWO30 Tenor Saxophone is a premium professional instrument designed for accomplished saxophonists who demand outstanding tonal depth, precise response and exceptional mechanical refinement. Made in Japan by Yanagisawa, one of the world's leading specialist saxophone manufacturers, the TWO30 represents the highest level of refinement within the standard WO Series range.

Combining a sterling silver body and neck with a brass bow and bell, the TWO30 produces a rich, resonant sound with impressive depth, projection and flexibility. Its carefully engineered construction is complemented by Yanagisawa's redesigned WO Series bore and tone holes, delivering a smooth blowing response and highly consistent intonation throughout the instrument's range.

The TWO30 is the successor to Yanagisawa's highly regarded T992 and is built for players who require an instrument capable of meeting the demands of professional performance. From its rib-mounted keywork and double-arm bell keys to its redesigned Front F, Right Side and Right Pinky keys, every detail has been developed with precision, reliability and playing comfort in mind.

Why we recommend the Yanagisawa TWO30

• Rich, resonant tonal character with exceptional depth, projection and flexibility.
• Sterling silver body and neck combined with a brass bow and bell for a distinctive tonal response.
• Professional Japanese craftsmanship from one of the world's most respected specialist saxophone makers.
• Re-engineered WO Series bore and tone holes for smooth response and precise intonation.
• Rib-mounted keywork for enhanced strength, stability and tonal consistency.
• Double-arm bell keys designed to support secure tone-hole sealing and mechanical reliability.
• Redesigned Front F, Right Side and Right Pinky keys for smoother, more comfortable fingering.
• C#-Bb-B rocking linkage for fast and fluid movement between key combinations.
• Waterproof pads designed to provide a reliable, airtight seal and consistent response.
• Adjustable metal bell-key buffers allow precise regulation and long-term reliability.
• Supplied with a fabric-covered wood-shell case featuring an outer pocket and backpack straps.

Who is this saxophone best suited to?

The Yanagisawa TWO30 is an excellent choice for:

• Professional saxophonists seeking a premium tenor with exceptional tonal flexibility.
• Conservatoire, music college and advanced performance students.
• Experienced players looking to move into an elite professional instrument.
• Jazz, classical, chamber, big band and contemporary performers.
• Players who value a rich, resonant sound with substantial projection and tonal depth.
• Saxophonists looking for the refinement and consistency of a Japanese-made professional tenor.

The TWO30 sits firmly in Yanagisawa's elite professional range. Its combination of sterling silver construction, carefully refined keywork and a highly responsive acoustic design makes it equally at home in demanding solo performances, ensemble playing and recording environments.

Our experience

At The Wind Section, we've spent decades helping saxophonists choose instruments that complement their playing style, experience and musical ambitions. With a professional tenor saxophone, details such as resistance, response, intonation, projection and tonal colour can have a significant impact on how an instrument feels and performs.

Yanagisawa has developed a particularly strong reputation among serious saxophonists for the precision and consistency of its instruments. The TWO30 demonstrates this approach at an especially high level, combining premium materials with carefully engineered mechanical and acoustic details.

The sterling silver construction gives the TWO30 a distinctive character, while the brass bow and bell help shape its response and projection. Combined with the refinements of the WO Series, the result is a tenor designed to give an accomplished player a broad and expressive tonal palette.

What makes the Yanagisawa TWO30 different?

One of the most distinctive aspects of the TWO30 is its sterling silver body and neck. Rather than using a conventional brass body throughout, Yanagisawa combines silver with a brass bow and bell to create an instrument with a highly individual response and tonal character.

The TWO30 also benefits from Yanagisawa's newly engineered WO Series bore and tone-hole design. This contributes to an even, smooth response and precise intonation, allowing players to move confidently between registers while maintaining control over dynamics and tonal colour.

The keywork has received extensive attention too. Rib-mounted construction provides additional support for the mechanism, while the redesigned Front F, Right Side and Right Pinky keys are intended to make fingering smoother and more natural. Yanagisawa's C#-Bb-B rocking mechanism further assists with quick, fluid transitions during technical playing.

At the bell, double-arm key construction helps maintain secure tone-hole sealing, while adjustable metal buffers allow accurate regulation. The TWO30 also incorporates waterproof pads and blue steel springs, supporting dependable key action and consistent performance.

Professional Japanese craftsmanship

Yanagisawa has specialised in saxophone manufacture for generations, with a reputation built around precision engineering, detailed craftsmanship and a highly consistent approach to instrument production. The TWO30 is a clear example of this philosophy.

Its combination of sterling silver and brass is complemented by refined mechanical features throughout the instrument. Rib-mounted keywork, pointed pivot screws, blue steel springs, adjustable metal bell-key buffers and carefully designed key mechanisms all contribute to the precise playing experience expected from a professional Yanagisawa.

The result is a tenor saxophone that feels sophisticated and responsive without compromising the tonal authority expected from a large professional instrument. Whether used for jazz, classical performance, commercial work or ensemble playing, the TWO30 gives experienced players considerable scope to shape their sound.

Technical Specifications

• Model: Yanagisawa TWO30
• Key: B♭
• Range: Low B♭ to High F♯
• Body: Sterling silver
• Bow: Brass
• Bell: Brass
• Keys: Brass
• Finish: Lacquered
• Neck: Detachable sterling silver neck
• Neck type: Detachable
• Keywork: Rib-mounted
• Bell keys: Double arm
• Pads: Air-tight waterproof pads
• Springs: Blue steel
• Engraving: Hand engraved
• High F♯ key: Yes
• Case: Fabric-covered wood-shell case with outer pocket and backpack straps
• Country of manufacture: Japan

Our verdict

The Yanagisawa TWO30 is an exceptional professional tenor saxophone for accomplished players looking for a combination of tonal depth, projection, flexibility and mechanical precision.

Its sterling silver body and neck give it a distinctive character, while the brass bow and bell, re-engineered WO Series bore and refined keywork provide the response, stability and versatility expected from a top-level professional instrument.

For players seeking a premium Japanese tenor saxophone with an expressive tonal palette and outstanding attention to detail, the TWO30 is a compelling choice. It is an instrument built not simply to meet the demands of professional playing, but to give an experienced saxophonist the control and tonal freedom to develop their own sound.