Sax FS Grafton Acrylic alto saxophone in superb condition

Price of Item

£2900

Other Pricing Info

May consider close offers

Payment Method

Bank transfer

Your Location

Southampton UK

Can ship anywhere

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Shipping Included

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Shipping Notes

I would really prefer not to ship but if I can find a courier that will insure then it's possible. If seller can arrange courier that is fine, I will provide photos of packing for approval. Pickup is highly recommended though.

Cafe Fundraising

5%

Allow chat /off topic

Yes

Not often you see one of this in this condition. Many people would probably call this "almost mint", but you can see a few minor little things and as I'm scrupulously aware that the word mint means brand new, still in its wrapping, that many people throw that term around when they shouldn't.

But this is in very good nick, and that makes it rare. The slightest ding in a brass horn can be invisibly repaired. The slightest ding in a Grafton alto means a big nasty crack.

That's what makes this Grafton so rare - it has no actual damage beyond some teeny lacquer spots on some keys.

I had the pads replaced, not because they were old (they were almost new looking) but because Stephen Howard persuaded me to (he will deny that) as the originals are a bit on the soft side. And he was right, it plays and feels better than any other Grafton I have tried

Some of the original pads are still there in the case compartment.

It has the original white Dearman mouthpiece (which has a crack) and the ligature and mouthpiece cap with the beautiful copper coloured lacquer to match the horn.

Original brown Dallas case in very good condition.

I have had several Graftons and love them. I bought this one mostly as a collectible, but I did play it on sessions, hence the pad job. Some people might say a collector would insist on original pads but I don't see why - I'm not trying to pretend it is mint - just in unbelievably beautiful condition.

The price reflects what I paid for it plus the cost of repadding by Stephen Howard. Will I accept offers? Not initially but may do after a while. It's the sort of thing I'd rather keep than let go of to be honest.

Lots more photos to follow

This actual horn:

Grafton plastic alto sound clips

A little laid back blues on a Grafton laidbackgrafton.mp3

cafesaxophone.com

and comparison with Buescher:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecbPgDNU4g

 

[Pete Thomas]

 

[Pete Thomas]

Some interesting reading re these horns:

A Very Minty Grafton Acrylic Alto Saxophone On eBay | The Bassic Sax Blog

I couldn't let this one slip by without at least mentioning it, because it is just too pretty. Right now a seller on eBay has arguably the most minty Grafton in North America up for sale. Source: eBay.com The seller writes this about this rare, Grafton Acrylic Alto saxophone: This is hands down...

bassic-sax.info

Minty Grafton Saxophone: Sold | The Bassic Sax Blog

There is currently a minty Grafton saxophone for sale in the Metro Vancouver region. Comes with original case. Private sale & local pick-up only.

bassic-sax.info

 

[Pete Thomas]

Another sound clip. Charlie Parker Jazz at Massey Hall played on a Grafton.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9PoFl3VnmQ


And ornate Coleman of course:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNbD1JIH344

 

[BalancedReaction]

And ornate Coleman of course:

"ornate Coleman" 🙂. I like that.

 

[Damflask]

This is gorgeous!

 

[Willem Alink]

Hello Pete, what a beautiful Grafton you have! I read the pieces Steve wrote about the Grafton in general and the one about overhauling your sax, very funny to read! Two weeks ago I bought a Grafton alto in Bristol after a tip on Facebook, almost as beautiful as yours but it must be overhauled, one of the reasons I bought it!
Cheers, Willem

 

[Pete Thomas]

So it hasn't sold yet. I'd like to sell it before the end of March so please do feel free to make an offer. All offers considered, even though I might think they are stupid I won't hold it against you

 

[Willem Alink]

So it hasn't sold yet. I'd like to sell it before the end of March so please do feel free to make an offer. All offers considered, even though I might think they are stupid I won't hold it against you

Probably noone is looking for one currently... Sometimes you have to be very patient. We had a overhauled Grafton for sale for more than 3 years at de Saxofoonwinkel. When it sold finally (€3750, far less beautiful than yours) I had to disassemble it and bathe the body because of all the sticky dust from years. A friend of mine is "looking" for a Grafton, I'll point him here!

 

[etc-etc]

This is so beautifully played!

 

[Ballymenaboy]

So it hasn't sold yet. I'd like to sell it before the end of March so please do feel free to make an offer. All offers considered, even though I might think they are stupid I won't hold it against you

I see one of these has just popped up on Gumtree,Northern Ireland...don't think it is as good condition as yours

 

[saxyjt]

It's a thing of beauty. Too bad it's not as durable as brass/copper horns. I find it odd that no one makes any carbon fiber or composite saxes. There are so many items that are completely redesigned using them while the Grafton was made with early plastic material more than 60 years ago.

 

[Ballymenaboy]

It's a thing of beauty. Too bad it's not as durable as brass/copper horns. I find it odd that no one makes any carbon fiber or composite saxes. There are so many items that are completely redesigned using them while the Grafton was made with early plastic material more than 60 years ago.

I really enjoy playing saxophone and wonder how long it will be until somepne comes up with an improvement that takes it beyond a metal machine to something that removes the need for cork,springs and felt.Probably not in my lifetime so I will continue to enjoy what I have.
The Grafton was innovative on it's time and still has an attraction for many and I hope my saxes will eventually increase in value in the same proportion...probably not .

 

[Dr G]

It's a thing of beauty. Too bad it's not as durable as brass/copper horns. I find it odd that no one makes any carbon fiber or composite saxes. There are so many items that are completely redesigned using them while the Grafton was made with early plastic material more than 60 years ago.

The materials selection conversation has certainly occurred several times over - carbon fiber, titanium, etc., ad nauseum. Brass alloys are the winner when it comes down to durability, repair, cost of manufacture, formability, and more. I suggest you start a thread on the topic if you are truly interested and cannot find the previous discussions.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I see one of these has just popped up on Gumtree,Northern Ireland...don't think it is as good condition as yours

Very very few are. This is why Im likely to stick very close to the asking price.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Still for sale

 

[Pete Effamy]

Doesn’t @jcn664 need one for his collection?

 

[jcn664]

Doesn’t @jcn664 need one for his collection?

Not interesting for many reason but it's probably not a sax for playing, it's very good condition but... Grafton is mythical instrument but not for good reason too.

 

[Pete Thomas]

it's probably not a sax for playing,

It's absolutely a sax for playing (see the video). It's mythical because:

1. When they break they stay broken. The number of viable Graftons is diminishing all the time.
2. The original pads are spongy, and it's very difficult to find a good tech who will do a repad. Luckily I found on in this case.
3. The look is "different" to the mainstream and some people just want mainstream.

 

[jcn664]

It's absolutely a sax for playing (see the video). It's mythical because:

1. When they break they stay broken. The number of viable Graftons is diminishing all the time.
2. The original pads are spongy, and it's very difficult to find a good tech who will do a repad. Luckily I found on in this case.
3. The look is "different" to the mainstream and some people just want mainstream.

The first and second is very very disavantages and first reason to don't play with that.

You will serious, you say that the horns is mythical because it's breakable very easy and probably unreparable after, and they're rare to find one in condition to play

And if you want to restorate or repad, it's praticaly impossible because it's different screw, pad and other

What is mythical in that, what is mythical in the fact of it's litterally unplayable to play if you want to keep in good condition.

What is the mythical in the fact do you can't restorate, and with the fact it's not very fiablity with the time and when they're little problem, it's praticaly finished for you,...

What is mythical in that...

I can understand that it's mythical because the design is very atypical, i can understand that is mythical for the story with Charlie Parker.

But seriously i can't understand that you say it's mythical for cheapest made, and the easy breakable, the difficulty to restorate.

That is the problematic which it's not horns to play,
I resume : it's rare horn, it's cool horn but you have à easy breakable horn, you can't restorate or praticaly impossible by original technology of paw and screw and axe, if you're probleme, it's finished for your horns, but it's mythical for that.

I'am not sur that is advantages and mythical thing, and i'am not sur it's playable horn if you know that.

I don't say it's not playable because it's very good conditions,
I say it's not very playable because you don't play this horn if you say it's easy breakable, it's not or very difficult to restorate and if you want changing pad or screw, you can't praticaly not changing