I need to know exactly who made my recently purchased ~1977…

Adam, This is now the second time you have taken questions out of your area of expertise. To the first: the sax you cite is the one I bought. Nice try. To the second: I doubt you will want to answer a question about my poodle's enlarged vulva. Please have my questions referred to 1) a musical instrument appraiser; and 2) a veterinarian -- as I requested.
-JohnIf I don't have a response shortly, I will have the questions referred to Customer Service.

Hello Wayne,
Thank you for your reply. Are you a qualified instrument appraiser?
I have read that the earliest sopranos were made by Yanigasawa but distributed through companies like LeBlanc and Yamaha. I have also read that the Vitos were student models, whilst I was told it was professional.
I really need hard sourced data on this. I just bought said "pro" model at a 1977 pro-price.
Please don't source Wikipedia, the compendium of knowledgeable opinions.
Thank you.
Looking forward to getting down to the facts,
John

Hello,
Please tell Wayne I wasn't trying to insult him; just need someone to traverse the development and distribution of this Vito sop. I am unable to do this myself. I have a S/N and the sax says Japan. I have nearly exceeded the window for return. Please assist asap.
Thank you.

Wayne, I need a professional to dig out the facts. I have done a lot of research, and what I come with is always conflicted. Have you seen the sax I purchased on Reverb?https://reverb.com/item/14712744-yanagisawa-vito-soprano-sax-1977-original-lacquer

Message of last night to seller:
>Hello there Jim,
How does the Vito fit in the pantheon of Yanagisawa sopranos of the year of manufacture? // For what level of player was its target demographic?
How would you describe its tonality, from highest to lowest pitch? And, would you describe this as a smooth progression, particularly when changing registers?
Thank you very much for answering these detailed questions -- I am an alto sax player, and I am looking to step up my playing, embouchure, and tonal skill.
Kind regards,
John
Music Alive! Nov 25, 2018 04:15 PM
HI John,
Well I'll try to answer. I like these horns a lot. They took a lot from the Mark VI but ergonomically its better such as the lower placement of the RH side keys which are ridiculously high on the VI.
Its similar in tone too in that its pointed and focused unlike vintage sops which nice for other reasons. This is slightly towards the more nasal /oboe-ish tone that the VI's and especially SML's but not as much. Later Yani's are less soprano-ish , more like a smaller alto . Personally I like these better and also far prefer a one piece horn to a removable neck.
Its clearly a pro horn at an entry level price.
thanks ***** 25, 2018 04:35 PM
When you say, pointed and focused - could you please elaborate?
Personally, oboe-ish would be a positive, as I wanted to learn the instrument, but the double-reed and forked fingerings were a put-off. :/ However, "nasal" would not be so. Could you again elaborate on this point?
I love what Kenny G does with his sop - sounds like a perfect blend of alto and a clarinet. This is the purity/tonality which I would hope to achieve.
Please tell me: Why do you prefer the one-piece construction?
Kind regards,
John
Music Alive! Nov 25, 2018 05:12 PM
P.S. How does this horn compare against the yanagisawas now new on the market?
Music Alive! Nov 25, 2018 05:15 PM
The vintage sopranos are considered more "spread" less "focused". I saw Kenny G last year on his VI and if you like that sound and can't afford a VI this is probably the closest in sound overall. As I mentioned later Yani's are more like small altos , they sound dull to my ears and as far as what I'd rather play it is this model.
I like one piece because I don't like handling and adjusting those small necks it just feels like it could be a problem at the wrong time.
JWSax Nov 25, 2018 05:32 PM
Pardon my ignorance, but are you speaking of a Selmer Mark VI?
Music Alive! Nov 25, 2018 05:43 PM
Yes, a Selmer Mark VI.
JWSax Nov 25, 2018 05:47 PM
So, you would prefer the '77 Vito to an SS901?
Music Alive! Nov 25, 2018 06:26 PM
I probably would but you can't make too much of everyones opinions or it gets maddening. All Yani sops are great instruments and there are no bad choices.
JWSax Nov 25, 2018 06:41 PM
Thank you. I'm just trying to be sure I've asked the right questions. I really appreciate all of the extremely helpful information.
(I am not the only one that needs to be pleased; I will have to impress my wife.(!))
Music Alive! Nov 25, 2018 07:09 PM
The 901 is a bit more valuable. If you can find one in good shape at the same price that is a better value. Just so you know.
JWSax Nov 25, 2018 07:12 PM
Jim,
One condition question: I know that the sax �� is in ready-to-play condition, but could you please tell me whether there are any aesthetic condition issues of which I might want to be made aware? (Gently and lightly used would seem to indicate, not.)
Thank you for your responsiveness.
Kind regards,
John
Music Alive! Nov 26, 2018 05:26 PM
Well, given that its over 40 years old and that it is used and not new I'd say it looks very good.
JWSax Nov 26, 2018 05:46 PM
Could you tell me how you pegged the date of manufacture? Your photos are very good, BTW. I know that this may be an unfair question: what % of the finish has deteriorated such that either brassing or green "patina" has developed? The pictures do indicate that overall it looks very good.
Music Alive! Nov 26, 2018 06:33 PM
Honestly, if my questions have become tiresome, the prior two are the last. :)
Music Alive! Nov 26, 2018 07:07 PM
I checked the serial number charts. I don't know the percent, I don't even know what brassing is. You probably would feel most comfortable buying a new horn that can be held to the highest possible standards and I recommend you do that.
JWSax Nov 26, 2018 08:18 PM
Well, I'm not convinced based on your "advice" (your opinion of the tonality of newer vs. older, as an example). I've been looking for a soprano for quite sometime (years), with cost juxtaposed with features in mind (primarily fluid action and the tonality as you seemed to describe). Oh, BTW, I like certain categories of collectibles - I fix them and use them if possible; and so I like to know rather precisely what I'm in for (I have had a few unpleasant surprises buying on the internet, so I tend to ask a lot of questions - I apologize: brassing is simply when the outer finish has..been rubbed through to the base metal (usually brass, as in this case). You, see I am sadly on a fixed income; but even if I could afford the latest Yani or even a Mark IV, that's not necessarily the "standards" I'm into. With whatever gift I have, I am wanting to bless not impress. So, I'm ready to close a deal if we can come to an agreement. Ok?
Music Alive! Nov 26, 2018 09:30 PM
Jim,
It occurred to me that my putting "advice" in quotation marks could have come off negatively, when I meant that your thoughts and opinions were positive. Sorry if my tone was in any way taken to be flat. ;)
Anticipating to hear from you soon,
John
Music Alive! Nov 27, 2018 01:06 PM
I'm not sure what questions you have at this point.
JWSax Nov 27, 2018 01:08 PM
Only: would you be willing to contemplate an offer below the current Black Friday week price?
Music Alive! Nov 27, 2018 01:18 PM
No
JWSax Nov 27, 2018 01:21 PM
Would you consider layaway?
Music Alive! Nov 27, 2018 01:27 PM
(I can understand your wanting to move this merchandise.)
Music Alive! Nov 27, 2018 01:32 PM
I'm not really setup for that so sorry but no.
JWSax Nov 27, 2018 01:52 PM
Jim,
Looking forward to receiving the sax.
Thank you again for all of your help and your timely responses.
Kind regards,
John
Music Alive! Nov 27, 2018 02:49 PM
Thanks very much, I'll plan to have it out tomorrow.
JWSax Nov 27, 2018 03:44 PM
Hello Jim,
I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a great holiday season.
I've been down with a chronic illness and migraines. So, with the holidays, etc., I was forced to keep the sax under wraps until last week.
WRT the sax: I need you to help me out of a funk.
First: the condition of the instrument seems to have been overstated. It is obvious from the condition of the bell, for example, that the sax was neither well cared for nor minimally used -- there is a good-sized ding which cannot be missed, as well as some some other, smaller impact marks, crease-line impact scratches, and the entire underside bears a scarred ring down to the metal, which indicates that the sax was repeatedly stood naked on the floor.
Secondly: after noting some quality issues with the construction of the sax itself, my research has only been able to turn up, that this is not "a professional sax at an entry level price". Rather, that the Vito sop, or its component parts were made by Yanagisawa and then sold by LeBlanc USA (the location of which matches the tag sewn into the interior of the case), as a student-level instrument.
I have a few other comments which are minimal by comparison, so I will spare you the ennui.
Please direct me toward other information sources; I really wanted this to be "The great Mark VI copy", and to be enjoying playing the instrument.
Best regards,
John