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Modern interpretation of the original Black Phoenix Yamaha logo from 1887

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division introduces the highly-anticipated limited edition line of wind instruments. Designed specifically to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary of manufacturing musical instruments in the United Sates, the new winds feature custom Phoenix engravings and vivid black lacquering.

The Black Phoenix line includes the YAS-82ZBP saxophone, the YTR-8310ZBP trumpet and the YSL-697ZBP trombone. All instruments are custom made and will be available for a limited time only.

YTR-8310ZBP trumpet

"These instruments are the fruits of our collaboration with the world's finest players," says Kurt Witt, marketing manager, Yamaha Winds. "We learn their likes and dislikes, and then strive to create instruments based on those ideas. This line celebrates 50 years of Yamaha manufacturing in the U.S. and the great musicians that play our products."

The YAS-82ZBP saxophone features a two-piece hydro-formed bell. The body, bell, and bow are annealed during production to make this horn more responsive and less resistant. With a specially designed octave mechanism, the saxophone also features a lightweight brass alloy body.

YAS-82ZBP saxophone

The YTR-8310ZBP trumpet features a large bore tuning slide and large bell flare in combination with the stepped bore design, enabling this medium bore trumpet to produce a very big sound with very little effort.

The YSL-697ZBP trombone offers a compact, well-centered tone, along with a quick response suitable for all types of trombone performance.

In Japanese lore, the Phoenix or Hou-Ou (pronounced Hō-ō) was adopted as the symbol of the imperial household, particularly the empress. This mythical symbol represents fire, the sun, justice, obedience and fidelity. According to legend, the Hou-Ou appears very rarely, and only to mark the beginning of a new era. As the herald of a new age, the Hou-Ou descends from heaven to earth to do good deeds. The limited edition winds line is here to usher in a new era for Yamaha Wind Instruments.

YSL-697ZBP trombone

The YAS-82ZBP, YTR-8310ZBP and the YSL-697ZBP are currently available.

For more information write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, Wind Instruments, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/band.