Saxophones Any Jupiter owners?

[Ghr9204]

This thread has gone rather funnily off-track, most of it digressed to Beaugnier or Vito USA made horns, which were not Jupiters of course. Not sure why that happened. I like Vito 37's, good vintage horns, but the Q was about Jupes.

Some of it I believe was for clarification of what Vito is a Jupiter and what is not. For me it has been a learning lesson, because there was some confusion, some related to sellers on Internet auctions and sales sites mis-identifying the model numbers and years. On other discussion sites led down the wrong rabbit hole, etc.

One thing might help is if we had a "locked" topic thread on Vitos, maybe another on Jupiters.

I have refurbed over 100 JUpes, they are one of my favorite modern makers. From around 1999-ish forward, they got their game down and have been producing some really nice models. They were catching up to the curve in their first decade of saxes, '87-'97. Then they locked it in. Also, benefit for buyers...they do not have the brand bias that Yamaha does, thus...you can get a Jupe model equal to or better than a Yama model, for significantly less $.

This has been my point exactly. It is a way for an upcoming, beginner saxist, advanced hobbyist or the financially struggling muscian to obtain a quality horn at an affordable price, one that can reliably serve them for a while.

I owned a Jupiter 500 alto as my first saxophone, played as well as I needed and was decent quality. sold it around a year later to upgrade..... then bought a tenor..... not played alto since 😀

Nothing wrong with that. Some have found the tenor to be their cup of tea, and are quite happy going that direction. More power to them. 😉

Although I play the tenor in the community band, some others like me are not as tenor crazed and quite happy with the soprano and alto. (Started on clarinet in 1965.) Back in the 1980's I played bari, and actually have a better ear for the lower notes in the trombone/euphonium range. I love the fat bari sound one can obtain in the lower range, but easy to play "falsetto" (altissimo). It can be made to sound sweet too, cello-like.

 

[Ghr9204]

Tonight was the first time that I used my Vito 7133T tenor by Jupiter in community band rehearsal after having it serviced by Tarpley Music of Lubbock, Texas.

Compared with my Chinese Venus tenor, it has a tad richer sound, plays very well in tune. For the quiet passages, tonight we were short on woodwind coverage with only 1 flute, 2 clarinets, 2 bass clarinets, no alto saxes and I was the only tenor.

Using the Bari Esprit mouthpiece, the sax was very controllable balancing the limited instrumentation.

Some of our members ➠

are a combination of junior high, high school, college students and several school band teachers. The school year is in full swing and commitments vary, but with need for school sports coverage by the band plus various practices for upcoming home coming American football game half time shows, college exams and etc. accounts for lack of coverage. But, we will have full coverage towards Fall Concert time.

Earlier in the day, I tried out my newly purchased Rico Graftonite B5 mouthpiece (0.095 tip opening, 23 mm facing length) with a Rico Jazz Select 2.0. I found that this mouthpiece has decent projection, good for large room and outdoor play. (For some reason, the C5 with smaller chamber has not worked out well with me, although it has the same tip opening and facing length.)

Needing to bide the time, opened the Salvation Army's Corps Community Center building for our volunteers doing food donation pickups during the temporary absence of our officers. I connected my netbook to the karaoke sound system in the dining room.

Set it to the backing tracks from my book:

Jazz/Blues - Jazz Play-Along Volume 73 Hal Leonard Online

Buy the official Hal Leonard Jazz Play Along, 'Jazz/Blues - Jazz Play-Along Volume 73' (Sheet Music)

www.halleonard.com

Amazon.com: Jazz/Blues: Jazz Play-Along Volume 73 (Hal Leonard Jazz Play Along Series, 73): 9781423426165: Various: Books

Amazon.com: Jazz/Blues: Jazz Play-Along Volume 73 (Hal Leonard Jazz Play Along Series, 73): 9781423426165: Various: Books

www.amazon.com

Volume 73, Jazz/Blues has some really nice tunes on it: Break Out the Blues * Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You * I'll Close My Eyes * Movin' Along (Sid's Twelve) * Night Lights * Reunion Blues * The Serman * Sunny * This Here.

It really sings well during improv. I love this sax, it is definitely a keeper. IMHO, it plays right along with the pro models plus gives change. For those on a budget, it is worth considering.

About my only complaint is its small left thumb rest button tends to be tiring compared with my other saxes. Otherwise, it has a beautiful tone throughout its range. The metallurgy is definitely stout, heavy duty.

 

[Ghr9204]

Earlier in this thread, excited about my very clean 1952 Le Blanc stencil buy, I posted about my Beaugnier Vito 37 alto, which was not a Jupiter. Tonight I am back on track. I just won a Le Blanc (KHS Jupiter) Vito 7133 alto, even has "Taiwan" stamped next to the serial number.

My photo from another Café thread displayed using BB Code.

A coincidence, it is missing the upper B key pearl, but I have extras. My Jupiter Vito 7133T tenor was missing the G key pearl when I bought it in 2010.

After a little clean up, if needed, I will have Tarpley Music, Lubbock, Texas service it. This is another example of instead of taking a chance by buying a super cheap generic name sax on-line from the Orient that may be of questionable quality, buy an older used brand name or quality stencil sold under a brand name (in this case - Le Blanc) in clean condition. Have it professionally serviced.

My total for this sax is $165 US, includes shipment and taxes. Its all black Le Blanc rectangular plastic covered sewn edges plywood case with black felt interior (not shown) is in very clean condition. Add another say, $150 - $220 for servicing, now I have a decent horn that is a solid player.

 

[Ghr9204]

Are you buying from the Texas Horn Trader again?

No. The Le Blanc 7133 Vito (Jupiter) alto was from bandgenterprisesinc (100% feedback) in Danville, Indiana. I won the bid at $119 + $35 ship + $12 tax = $166. Seller shipped it correctly, came in a well padded Yamaha alto shipping box. The sax is pictured above in my previous message.

It was lacking the right thumb rest, so I bought a brass one from Amazon, fits perfectly, although the original one was black plastic. It has the mechanism to allow the thumb rest to move from side to side to adjust for comfort.

Standard Le Blanc rectangular plywood case with sheet black plastic exterior, sewn edges. Case needs a few minor repairs with 2 split corners but otherwise in clean condition. I will be able to restore its functionality.

The sax has a bit of patina on the back side. Will clean it up and the rest of the horn, a little dusty and dirty.

The Bundy II alto, will post that in another thread appropriate for it.