The piston thumb valve is not popular with many people, but once you've experienced the acoustically superior manner in which it works, you may become a convert.  It is a little awkward to operate on some Schmidt copies, but this one is fitted with a duck's foot/flipper, so this problem is absent.  This is a 'Custom' Yamaha - so pretty much entirely handmade, and to special order when new - and so it's a top professional quality instrument.  It's superbly engineered, beautifully finished, and in virtually as-new condition.

And it's a joy to play.  Both sides of the instrument function superbly, and the change between the two sides of the horn is just wonderful.

Go and find another one of these for sale - or don't!

£POA