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Yamaha YVS-100 Venova Casual Wind Instrument - White
Price:
$89.88
Free shipping
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30 days returns. Buyer pays for return shipping. If you use an eBay shipping label, it will be deducted from your refund amount.
Condition:
Sheet Music.
- Buy It NowYamaha YVS-100 Venova Casual Wind Instrument
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About this product
Product Identifiers
BrandYamaha
MPNYVS100
UPC0889025114073
eBay Product ID (ePID)2186731029
Product Key Features
TypeSoprano
InstrumentRecorder
Dimensions
Weight3lbs.
Additional Product Features
Skill LevelBeginner
All listings for this product
Ratings and Reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Sep 07, 2017Top favorable review
Limited but fun
The most important thing to understand about the Venova is that it is not meant to be a "serious" instrument. It's "casual" not only in the sense of being durable and portable, but also musically. It's described as having "recorder fingering", which it does, sort of. But some of the notes not on the C major scale are impossible to produce using recorder fingerings alone. Specifically, Bb, Ab, and Gb are about 80% embouchure and 20% fingering. That is, the recorder fingerings won't produce these notes. At best, they'll give you somewhat less than a quarter tone lower than the unflatted note. To produce the actual pitch you want you need to bend the rest of the way using embouchure. This is doable but challenging. On the whole, the pitch on the Venova is very unstable, requiring a lot of embouchure to play in tune, even the notes of the C major scale. This isn't entirely surprising given the short length of the instrument. A C soprano sax would be a challenge too. But the limited effect of the recorder cross-fingerings will be a disappointment to many, so be prepared for that. And be prepared to need a lot of embouchure tension to play the high notes in tune. High B and C are a challenge to produce at all, although I'm still experimenting with reeds. Low Db and Eb are keyed notes, so no problem with intonation there. Bottom line: It's a fun but casual instrument with some limitations. Don't expect a concert-quality instrument and you won't be disappointed. And expect to have to work with it for a while to play in tune. And you'll probably want to try some cane reeds as alternatives to the plastic reed supplied.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- May 27, 2020Top critical review
Looks good, plays terribly.
The plastic reed is too stiff and neither my alto sax or b flat clarinet reeds fit well enough to use it. This is certainly not for beginners. The sound I am able to produce sounds like when I was 12 and learning to play ( I'm 65 now). The hype on the reviews I believe are misleading. I could not produce anything close to the you tube review from Yamaha. A big disappointment, was hoping this would travel. It will probably sit in my closet. Not worth the money.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Feb 26, 2020
LIGHT AND PORTABLE. NOT EASY TO PLAY BUT IS EASY TO LEARN
This is a little deceiving instrument, first of all it is very well constructed with high quality materials. Then comes the hard part it is not easy to play even when they say its fingerings are like a recorder’s it is an entirely different instrument however after practicing hard it starts to give you better and better sounds. Advice buy some fine reeds for soprano saxophone (2.5) and it will improve notably the quality of sound and make it easier on the player. It is highly portable, water resistant, sounds beautifully and is NOT EASY to play but with some practice is NOT HARD TO LEARN.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Jan 02, 2019
A lot of instrument for less than $100
My 15 YO son loves playing it, he's already playing theme from Star Wars on it after a few days of experimenting on & off, however, we made the mistake of buying an Alto Sax reed for it which did not fit (too big), apparently you need a Soprano Sax reed, we bought a package of about ten reeds at a local music store for $25.. The Yamaha unit comes with a synthetic reed included, which is not very good.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Apr 17, 2018
Absurdly Out of Tune
I *really* want to love the the Yamaha Venova... but I just can't. Sure, it's easy to play, very portable, immensely sturdy, etc. However, it's also shockingly out of tune with itself. Virtually every note requires serious "lipping" to bend into tune. If they manage to fix that in the next revision I'll happily give it a shot but, as is, it's downright painful to listen to.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Nov 20, 2019
I'm having fun with my Venova
I'm not a pro so unless you have a powerful embouchure it will take you a while to get used to the instrument. It took a little while but after a few months I'm beginning to get the hang of it. I'm having fun with my Venova after I replaced the plastic reed that came with it because I could hardly get a sound out of it. Again that's because of my current embouchure. Other than that I like it a lot.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Oct 01, 2019
It is a very good idea product.
It is a very good idea product. But, Adult men with large hands can be very uncomfortable with fingering. Be careful because the plastic button keys are weak.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Jun 15, 2019
Great for pros l
Not for beginners. Experienced players will enjoy.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Sep 14, 2021
Fun instrument
This is a fun little instrument. Definitely something to add to my repetoire. Fairly easy to play.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Apr 19, 2018
My husbands passion.
Came quickly, my husband is thrilled with it. It's well built. We didn't have to spend thousands of dollars Sounds wonderful!Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
