Yanagisawa SWO10 "Elite" Soprano Saxophone

Yanagisawa SWO10 Elite Soprano Saxophone

The Pinnacle of Soprano Craftsmanship

The SWO10 is Yanagisawa's flagship soprano saxophone — the Elite model that sits at the top of the WO Series lineup and sets the standard for what a professional soprano can be. Replacing the renowned S-991, the SWO10 Elite Professional series soprano saxophone is fully ribbed and continues to be crafted entirely by hand in Japan. The WO Series features an all-new bore and reworked tone holes to produce an overall darker tone throughout the range.

The Elite Difference

The SWO10 sits a step above the SWO1 in the Yanagisawa soprano lineup, and the differences are significant. As Yanagisawa's flagship soprano, the SWO10 extends the range of the SWO1 from high F# to high G, and includes both a straight and curved neck to meet the varied musical requirements of performers. Its fully ribbed body construction delivers a richer, more complex tone with added resonance and depth.

Yanagisawa Elite models deliver a moderate level of resistance, allowing players to discover a truly effortless sound with immense depth and flexibility for all performance settings.

Sound & Response

The SWO10 delivers a superb tonal range with an unmistakably darker quality, benefiting from the WO Series re-engineered bore and tone holes, and re-sourced and redesigned core brass material. Equipped with new necks in both curved and straight designs, the SWO10 offers a playing experience that can be adjusted to fit the individual's needs. 

Key Mechanism & Ergonomics

The SWO10 shares the full suite of WO Series keywork refinements, each designed to maximize speed, comfort, and consistency.

Redesigned Front F & Side Keys: The front F key has been redesigned for a better feel, with additional feet under the right side key levers (B, C, and high E) for improved touch and response.

Teflon Octave Mechanism — Both ends of the octave key axis are Teflon-coated to ensure smooth, reliable operation, even after years of heavy playing.

C# – Bb Rocking Key: The C# and Bb keys feature a rocking table/seesaw mechanism that allows for optimal speed and fluidity between notes.

White Shell Key Touches — Indented mother-of-pearl key touches provide a natural fit and feel under the hand, and are less slippery than plastic.

Metal Thumb Rest & Hook — The metal thumb rest and hook contribute to a more consistent tonal range while adding to the instrument's overall resonance and stability.

Construction Highlights

Fully Ribbed Body — Ribbed construction provides added durability and an overall warmer, richer sound — a feature that distinguishes the Elite Series from the standard WO models.

Dual Neck Design — The SWO10 ships with both a straight and a curved neck, giving players the flexibility to adapt to any playing situation or musical context.

Extended Range to High G — The keywork extends to high G, providing a broader palette for advanced players and ensemble performers.

Metal Resonators — Metal resonators are an improvement from the standard plastic, adding clarity to the tone and improving playing response across the whole dynamic range.

Waterproof Air-Tight Pads — Yanagisawa's waterproof pads are totally airtight, providing complete confidence in the instrument's tonal integrity, while the waterproof material offers a greatly extended pad life.

Metal Adjustable Bell Key Buffers — The bell key buffers are metal for increased longevity and accuracy, and are fully adjustable, putting the aperture of the bell tone holes within the player's control.

Hand-Engraved Bell — Each Yanagisawa saxophone is hand-engraved by highly skilled craftsmen, lending the SWO10 a distinctive, artisanal character.

Who Is It For?

The SWO10 is designed for the player who refuses to compromise. Whether performing in a classical ensemble, leading a jazz group, or recording in the studio, this instrument rewards the player in all aspects.

If you are ready to experience the full depth of what a Yanagisawa soprano can do, the SWO10 Elite is the answer — darker in tone, richer in resonance, and broader in range than any soprano saxophone in its class.