Saxophones Bass Sax Shopping - Need Help!

[naverwater]

I have been looking at purchasing a bass sax and have run across a few brands that I am unfamiliar with. Does anyone have any experience or opinions on these brands? Any experience with ordering from any of these companies? Thanks!

-Bass Saxaphone by Hengshui Xinxing Musical Instrument Company with a price of $4.038.24.
-Bass Sax by Tide International Company with a price of $2,000.
-Bass Saxaphone (HSL-6001) by Hengshui Newstar Musical Instrument Shop with a price of $3,546.32.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[kevgermany]

The best reference for Bass saxes is Helen's 'bassic sax'. But it's in the process of moving from .ca to .info and not all the pages have moved yet.

You'll probably get what you need from this link: http://bassic-sax.info/blog/?series=asian-made-modern-bass-sax-brand-names

From what I can remember there are two makers in China, one making US and European styles, the other just making US style. The difference is in the positions of the bends, making one more compact than the other, and affecting the sound.

This video will give you more idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_gEAKAqebw

 

[maxortensi]

I would run away from any of them unless you have the possibility to try them.
Bass saxophones are even more "fragile" than others, because of their long leverages

 

[thomsax]

Here is a clip and a story (after the song) about a new chinese bassax. The owner didn't like it so he did some modifications. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R43kY-VkEk

 

[maxortensi]

I've just missed this piece of beauty.
I know J'Elle Steiner horns and they're reasonably solid.
This one just got sold for 3500 euros (2nd hand)
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9728/saxbassostainercopia.jpg

 

[Ivan]

Just when you thought you'd managed to keep your GAS urges under control you realise there's a whole new area of sax envy unexplored

Hearty thanks for these links

Thankfully impecunity means I can only look on a the bass sax with wistful longing

 

[ProfJames]

What is a bass sax?

 

[maxortensi]

What is a bass sax?

seriously ?
bass is to tenor what baritone is to alto, it's in Bb playing an octave lower than tenor.
In kevgermany post you'll find two good links to get an idea

 

[kevgermany]

There's also contrabass playing an octave below Baritone and sub contrabass....

Take a look at Benedikt Eppelsheim's site, he's still making these monsters, including what he calls a tubax, which is a big sax, but with narrower tubing to cut down the amount of air needed. I've seen his saxes at an exhibition, really stunning workmanship and huge... http://www.eppelsheim.com/

You can also google J'elle Stainer who're making some really large instruments.

 

[Ivan]

There's also contrabass playing an octave below Baritone and sub contrabass....

Take a look at Benedikt Eppelsheim's site, he's still making these monsters, including what he calls a tubax, which is a big sax, but with narrower tubing to cut down the amount of air needed. I've seen his saxes at an exhibition, really stunning workmanship and huge... http://www.eppelsheim.com/

You can also google J'elle Stainer who're making some really large instruments.

Astounding instruments

 

[jonf]

Take a look at Benedikt Eppelsheim's site, he's still making these monsters, including what he calls a tubax, which is a big sax, but with narrower tubing to cut down the amount of air needed. I've seen his saxes at an exhibition, really stunning workmanship and huge... http://www.eppelsheim.com/

And huge prices, too........

 

[aldevis]

And huge prices, too........

Not really: my financial department, comparing sub contrabbass and baritone, found out that the price surcharge on the low instrument is only about £1035 per semitone.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I have tried a few new bass saxophones including a couple of Chinese ones. I own an old Buescher Truetone, but if I was to buy a new one, i would get the JBBS-120L from Tianjin Jinbao.

I don't know the current prices, their website seems a bit random, they used to have prices but now I think you need to contact Ms Lucy Liu.

I have a video of me Playtesting one at the 2012 Musikmesse which i will get around to putting up on Youtube some time.

 

[aldevis]

And huge prices, too........

Not to mention the expression of the lucky wife that hears the well known:
"Honey, look what I bought! Now, listen the sound it makes: RRRRRRRRRRRRRR. cool, isn't it?"
- Silence
"...In the bedroom, where my half of the bed is now....."

 

[Jules]

I have tried a few new bass saxophones including a couple of Chinese ones. I own an old Buescher Truetone, but if I was to buy a new one, i would get the JBBS-120L from Tianjin Jinbao.

I don't know the current prices, their website seems a bit random, they used to have prices but now I think you need to contact Ms Lucy Liu.

Our Bass Saxes are Jin Bao ones and they're easily the best modern/cheap modles we've come across- nicely constructed, very solid &- well- work well

 

[Kingsleyhk]

.

I don't know the current prices, their website seems a bit random, they used to have prices but now I think you need to contact Ms Lucy Liu.

Lucy Liu - wasn't she in Charlie's Angels?

 

[AndyWhiteford]

for some reason i always think of this US dealer when I think of bass saxes.
He has a couple of old Bueschers in stock..
http://www.junkdude.com/

 

[Jules]

Lucy Liu - wasn't she in Charlie's Angels?

Indeed.. wibble....

 

[Pete Thomas]

Youtube !

 

[maxortensi]

Which mouthpiece were you using with the bass ?