Comparison of Yamaha 8310Z Gen 1 vs. Gen 2! Trent Austin Demos Trumpets! A #trumpet Showdown at ACB

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One of our customers asked for this demo comparing the two versions of the very popular Yamaha 8310Z “Bobby Shew” Trumpets. While I personally own a Gen II Shew (and enjoy it from time to time) we actually have a first Gen Shew for sale (and for a great price btw) so I thought this would be a great comparison.

The sound is raw, unedited, and low-fi so if you can’t hear a huge difference I can do a better audio recording when I get my better gear back up and running. I do hear a fair amount of compression in this mic especially when I play a bit louder.

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[peterwise]

I thought that the Gen 1 had better tone. Just my opinion. I recently bought a Yamaha 6310Z 2nd hand and love the responsive valves. Compared to my earlier student grade instrument it is a huge improvement.

[chebachaka]

I think you sounded better on generation I believe it or not. Sounded more focused and to me, better tone. Also, I agree with you about the valves. I took a several hundred dollar loss to sell mine after a year of having a Gen II. It wasn’t for me after all.

[darnelmcgowan]

Gen 1 has a ton more color from this demonstration. Both sound lovely but there’s a special color and character you are getting with that Gen 1

[gregorysloat]

I actually liked the sound of the Gen 1 better. It sounded slightly more “clear” to me. If you were playing in a small group setting and wanted to play a lot of ballads, the Gen 2 had a very pleasing, intimate sound, but the Gen 1 struck me as more versatile in a number of different playing situations. Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m talking about a matter of degrees. They’re both great sounding horns, or rather, Trent plays great on both of them.

[thepoolman]

To these old ears, the #1 seemed brighter for most of the excerpts.

[AJ_MD]

Awesome video and playing!
I have been playing 8Gen1 for about 8 years and been comparing 8Gen1 (lacquer) to a new 8Gen2 (silver).
A quick summary after playing them for weeks with both a 3C and 14B style. (IMHO of course)....
8Gen1: 'smoother' or 'warmer' tone. 'Responsive' blow, more resistance, more stamina. Loose slots, very loose! Feels lighter in my hand. Much nicer for small group jazz playing and ballads.
8Gen2: 'Brighter', more 'legit' tone with better core (more 'Bach' like). Better slotting, especially in the upper register. Requires more stamina for some reason. Feels heavier in hand but maybe this is the 2 piece valves and that the block is closer to your face. They feel the same when dangling them by the bell crook side by side.

You can definitely hear the things I have mentioned in the above video. Both horns are very easy to change styles using a mouthpiece and 'concept' change. I am surprised by the less responsiveness in the 8Gen2 which has caused some stamina issues in Big Band rehearsals however the trade off is worth it. I am sure this will be overcome this when I stop swapping between them.
I really think that Yamaha have done it again with one of the most playable and versatile horns in history, they have improved slotting and tone core, perhaps sacrificing some responsiveness, but this is what this horn needed.

Thanks Trent, for putting up so many videos comparing horns, it has helped my horn 'safari' immensely!

[CameronJay]

Hey Trent, thanks for keeping it going. I recently tried the Gen 2 and in my mind it blows the Gen 1 out the park, I think your demo proves that too. Cheers man, stay safe. Cameron.

[pitgroove._]

There's already some comments that are saying this, but you definitely seem to sound a little crisper cleaner and brighter on the Gen 1 compared to the Gen 2.

[arts]

Thank You, Trent for this exceptional made comparison test. Again: The 2 has more broader sound, more overtones. More dimensional. Looks are better too.

[robertg]

I prefer the tone on the Gen 1 too. Currently, I play a 6320. My preference is a bright sounding gold horn like the way Billy Butterfield sounded.

[rockywinslow]

Sound good Trent. I have frequented your site, (have those speed springs in my original Z's) cool to hear you play. It is always so hard to tell clearly for me ( especially as I'm sure I cant' trust that other bigger chunk of my brain at all) when I random change/compare. And, especially if I'm actually used to a model, , even worse if it be my own broke- in/down horn.

You accounted for that part really well. :) Myself, with the Gen II, I could generally hear from you a more slotted focus with good pitch aligning with the note's fatter tone slots. Especially on the orchestral straight ahead stuff. Yet, with the jazz also heard that same core in the sound, while also retaining that Martin Committee-ish type personal flexible fluency/dialect in the tone timbre inflections. It just generally sounded easier to play good, if that makes any sense. I'm certainly for all of that I can get!

My Humble take: In my limited experiences with Mr Shew, I can very comfortably say that if there was not a worthy improvement, with some specific, very thought out credible research and reasoning backing the effort up, it would simply not have come out unless or until it did.

Yet, that being said every body is different, if the original Z works great and the hole goes all the way through... If you like the original version's sound, and feel better playing that version, there you go, awesome! Simple, that's your best answer too. That's the correct amplifier for you.

Still a few pesky music challenges ahead for us all, as I understand.

Thanks for all the cool trumpet stuff you do Trent!

[murraygordon]

You sound great on both, Trent, but I like the sound of Gen II on the orchestral stuff. More overtones.

[argan]

Oh no.... I thought I was done after upgrading my 6301Z to the first gen 8310Z almost 10 years ago. The new one sounds great!

[jazzygiaccone]

Love my Gen 1. Can't wait to hear your inputs.

[pitgroove._]

By far one of the best trumpets I ever played was a generation 1 8310z. Even though I don't necessarily play instruments anymore due to my desired hobbies, I really wish I could have an 8310z in my collection, just because it seems like a horn I would like to see in my case everyday

[trumpetman]

The gen 2 is a definite improvement. Obvious even over my tiny iPhone speaker.

[BrassBoy-otsy]

The 2 sounded softer and richer. It has a very soft, lovely sound. I just tried one of these today, and it was quite nice, but I could feel the resistance.

[joeartinger]

Wow, Trent thanks for doing this comparison. I definitely like the Shew 2 sound better, sounds a little fuller and with my experience the 2 has a much more open blow, which is why I purchased one, also looking into a set of those cool finger buttons. Thanks again for doing this.

[gregvanboven]

Gen II has a better core. A little more sound than the Gen I.

[robertbryant]

Gen I sounded less focused on the long held notes. Gen II was definitely smoother and more controlled.