Rob shines again with his Yanagisawa 901 alto

On a drizzly Thursday afternoon, our workshop was filled with the warm sounds of a sax that—despite its shortcomings—still possessed a certain magic. The owner? Rob , a passionate and virtuoso saxophonist from Alphen aan den Rijn who has conquered many a music stage with his unparalleled musicality. His instrument? A Yanagisawa 901 alto , a sax that has faithfully accompanied him for years, but due to an unfortunate fall, could no longer perform at full power.

Damage with serious consequences

The story began a few years ago, when Rob's beloved sax fell off a stand while loading the sound equipment. It seemed minor at first, but if you listened closely, you could hear the difference. The low octave opening —a crucial component for a properly functioning mechanism—was damaged. Rob, being the handy and resourceful one he is, managed to repair the opening himself quite nicely with an ingenious gluing technique. And yes, it worked… to a certain extent.

But as temporary solutions go, over time the instrument started leaking more and more. The sounds became less crisp, the response slowed, and the joy of playing gradually faded. Time for a proper overhaul, and that's where we came in.

Handcrafted restoration with an eye for detail

When Rob came to us with his Yanagisawa, we immediately saw: this is a sax with history—and potential. A well-built instrument like this deserves nothing less than a top-notch restoration. We began with a thorough inspection of the action and tone holes, after which we expertly repaired the broken lower octave opening. No more gluing tricks, but a structural repair that restored the original design to its former glory.

But it didn't stop there. Rob opted to have his sax completely overhauled right away. All the pads were replaced with premium Pisoni pads , which not only provide a better seal but also a fuller, richer sound. We realigned the action, checked the springs, and hand-tuned the entire sax. In short: it plays like new again—or better.

Ready to pop

And then the moment arrived. Rob picked up his Yanagisawa again, placed the mouthpiece on the neck, took a breath, and played the first notes. What followed was goosebumps. Not just for us, but especially for Rob himself. His smile spoke volumes. "He's playing just as I remember him," he said, "but actually even better."

With his restored instrument, Rob is ready to once again amaze his audiences. Whether it's jazz clubs, weddings, corporate events, or intimate performances in the living room: Rob brings atmosphere, class, and above all, musicianship of the highest caliber.

Booking a musician? Rob makes it a party.

For anyone looking for live music with character : Rob is available for performances! He plays with passion, shines on stage, and knows how to transform any party into an unforgettable experience. Whether you enjoy sultry jazz, rousing funk, or a romantic saxophone interlude—Rob will bring the magic.

Want to book Rob or learn more about his performances? Contact him via this link , our webshop, or leave a message using the contact form .

🎷 At specialsax.nl, musicians are our priority. Whether you're looking for a tune-up, an upgrade, or a new sax: your sound is our passion.