Yamaha Flute Serial Number Chart
Irmela Caccavale
Magna Organ introduced in 1935,[7][8] was a multi-timbral keyboard instrument invented in 1934 by a Yamaha engineer, Sei-ichi Yamashita.It was a kind of electro-acoustic instrument, an acoustic instrument with additional electronic circuits for sound modification. The Magna Organ was an electric-fan driven free reed organ with the microphone sealed in a soundproof box, instead of the electrostatic pickups used on electrostatic reed organs.[note 1]Early designs of the Magna Organ were a kind of additive-synthesizer that summed-up the partials generated by the frequency-multipliers.[9][10] However, it was difficult to achieve polyphony without intermodulation distortions with the technology of the 1930s.[11] According to the additional patents[12][13] and the reviews at that time,[9] its later design as finally implemented, seems to have shifted to the sound-colorization system using the combinations of sets of free reeds, microphones and loudspeakers.[11]
Note that, similar type of instruments using the pairs of free reeds and microphones sealed in double-soundproof boxes, were later re-commercialized as Croda Organs in 1959 by Tōyō Denshi Gakki Kenkyūjo (In English: Tōyō Electronic Musical Instrument Laboratory) in Tokyo.[14]
The Yamaha WX5, WX11, and WX7 are models of monophonic MIDI wind controller musical instruments manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation that have since been discontinued. The fingering system is based on the saxophone basic fingering. Like a keyboard controller, wind controllers send MIDI note information electronically to an external sound module or tone generator which in turn synthesizes a tremendous variety of musical tones. Unlike a keyboard controller which is usually polyphonic, a wind controller is monophonic. The only limits to the kinds of sounds available are the limitations of the external module/tone generator, not the WX5 itself. A WX5 performer can sound like any melodic instrument: wind, string, percussion, keyboard, or purely electronic, including special sound effects. In addition most tone generators a mix of instruments can be programmed.
The WX5 wind controller simulates a wind instrument because of the way it is played, the key layout, and because it responds to breath (wind) pressure as well as lip pressure on a simulated reed mouthpiece similar to that of a saxophone or clarinet. The wind and lip pressure information is converted to MIDI data which is interpreted by the external sound module. Usually the wind pressure is interpreted as loudness and lip pressure is interpreted as pitch bend; thus, the instrument responds much like an acoustic wind instrument and extremely realistic musical phrasing is available to the player.
The WX5 has a 16-key layout similar to a standard saxophone. It also includes a built-in MIDI output connector, a dedicated connector and cable for direct connections to Yamaha WX-Series tone generators, a high-resolution wind sensor, and a thumb-controlled pitch bend wheel. Yamaha recommend that this device be used with the Yamaha VL70m Virtual Acoustic Tone Generator.
Note: the 1993 date for introduction of the WX11 is in doubt. On the 1991 CD release "Love In" by the Australian band "The Freaked Out Flower Children" (Discogs: ) Sophie Lee is credited as playing the WX11.
Student and intermediate models are numbered in one system. The first number shows the material/series; the second shows if there is an offset G and/or a split E, and the type of keys; and the third shows if the flute is the latest or not. Currently, latest models will end with the number 2, but older models may end with the number 1, or 5. Different suffixes mean different things - 'H' means the flute has a B footjoint; 'AL' means the instrument is part of Yamaha's 'Allegro' lineup of instruments; 'U' means the instrument has a curved headjoint; 'GL' and 'SL' signal the material of the lip-plate (being gold and silver respectively); 'HD' means that the instrument is a high durability instrument.
Additionally, for Series 600 - 900 flutes, the last number will be seven if it is the latest model. Older models may have a 4, or other numbers. Additional suffixes include (but are not limited to): 'W' meaning the flute is wooden; 'CT' for a C# trill.
Between 1950 and 1998, the Yamaha Corporation produced a form of outdoor warning siren which was designed to play music, rather than alert the public of danger. Using several mechanical sirens tuned to a specific octave, the siren would use either electromagnetic or solenoid-driven sliding dampers which would open to allow air to enter each siren to play a musical note, or close to silence each siren. The musical sirens could be played directly with a keyboard located in a control station, or played automatically through a music box-like mechanism. There were two distinct generations produced, with the first being a 5-meter long siren with 10 siren units on a common driveshaft, and the second being a vertical unit inside of a box, which contained the siren units and had two shafts connected through belts to make it more compact. These could be controlled through a MIDI controller, instead of the music box system. These were created by the president of Yamaha at the time to harness the sheer sound output of a siren to play music, and to ease the fears and memory of war and air raids for the public. These sirens became "symbols of peace" and were widely installed on department stores and city halls. Production ended on these sirens in 1998, with Yamaha ceasing support for them in 2011. Most of these musical sirens have been decommissioned as parts became scarce or unavailable, although some units remain in service today.[77]
The flute is a woodwind instrument that is celebrated for its gorgeous, sweet tone. It also has a compact shape and size that make traveling to practice and performances a snap. The flute's structure is simple: a graceful metal tube open on one end with holes arranged along its sides. Using small keys moved by the fingers, these holes can be alternatively covered or uncovered to create different notes and tones.
The flute is not made of one continuous piece of metal; it is divided into three sections called joints. These three are the head joint, the middle joint and the foot joint. These pieces are connected by thinner metal tubes called tenons.
Modern flutes are classified by the way in which the flute is positioned while playing and the pitch range of the flute. A flute could be side-blown (the most common type seen in orchestras), rim-blown and end-blown. The different types of pitch include: concert flutes in C, soprano flutes in E flat, treble flutes in G, bass flutes in C, alto flutes in G and tenor flutes in B flat. The alto and tenor flutes date back to the nineteenth century and medieval times respectively, but the concept of the flute actually goes back to pre-history.
Flutes range widely in cost, with a major factor being the kind of metal the flute is crafted from. Nickel-silver, silver and gold are commonly used in flutes. Even solid platinum flutes exist for a select few!
To be the best you can be at playing the flute, you should know all of the usual names of the parts of the flute and what function they perform. You should also know how individual flute parts can be removed and replaced, how flute parts should be serviced and maintained and what to do if you think a part of your student flute is damaged or broken.
The flute barrel is a small fluted area at the top end of the middle joint of the flute that somewhat resembles a barrel. It serves no acoustic purpose, but helps to balance the flute's looks and usually carries the logo of the maker of the flute engraved on its surface.
The flute's crown is a small cap that screws into one end of the flute's head joint. Flute crowns are made in a myriad of shapes from a wide range of materials: silver, silver-plate, zirconium, rhodium and even gold. Despite their small size, the acoustic qualities of individual crowns can make a considerable difference in the tone of the flute.
The embouchure hole is a small hole in the head joint of the flute, found in the center of the lip plate. To produce sound from the flute, the player places the flute on the lips and blows air from pursed lips across the embouchure hole. Think of how a bottle sounds when you blow a stream of air across the neck and how the resonance of the sound will change markedly or disappear altogether if there is the slightest change in air stream angle. Achieving the exactly correct angle, air pressure and mouth shape to deliver a stable, consistent tone on a flute can be a tricky task at first, but it will soon become second nature.
The larger the embouchure hole, the larger the sound from the flute, while smaller holes tend to sweeten the tone. The hole will vary in shape as well as size, and could be round, oval, rectangular and everything in between.
The foot joint is where sound emits from the flute. It is a short section that has a small number of keys, depending on the type of flute. You can count the keys on this joint to see if it is a B foot (3 keys) or C foot (2 keys) instrument. B foots have one extra key that allows the player to play one step lower than a C foot. Generally, flutes with a B foot joint are intermediate level and above while flutes with a C foot joint are student level. B foots are heavier than C foots.
The tenons of your flute are designed to fit precisely into the adjoining joint and should not be lubricated. Make sure the parts of the flute are aligned exactly as designed when reassembling the instrument.
The head joint is where the sound of the flute originates as the player blows air into the flute through the embouchure hole (also known as the blow hole or mouth hole). The embouchure hole is in the center of the lip plate (or embouchure plate) that anchors the lips to the flute. One end of the head joint is covered with the crown end, which can be screwed off to facilitate cleaning. The other is open to accept the tenon on the middle joint.
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