Saxophones Grafton, who knows more about it?

[lig]

I’m a sucker for novel toys. Love the Grafton as a piece of brilliant Deco design. Mine doesn’t play all that well but it sounds pretty decent.

More recently picked up a Vibratosax tenor. Really do not like it as a player but one day I’ll go nuts and play it on a gig.

 

[Vlad]

The Grafton I had (prob very early 80s) just sounded like an alto pretty much like any other, and was playable enough, there wasn't any special 'plastic-ness' quality about the sound or anything.
I think it was about 50 quid, which is about what they averagely went for at that time. Wish I'd bought every one available now and stashed them, seeing as they go for mad ('collector's) money these days !

 

[PigSquealer]

I’m a sucker for novel toys. Love the Grafton as a piece of brilliant Deco design. Mine doesn’t play all that well but it sounds pretty decent.

More recently picked up a Vibratosax tenor. Really do not like it as a player but one day I’ll go nuts and play it on a gig. View attachment 33306
View attachment 33307View attachment 33308

As you know. I can acquire these Vibrato units directly from Chateau assembled +/- $500-$800. A novelty at best.
The Vibrato A & T do play reasonably well, but feel funky in hand. My first impression having one in hand was…squishy. Still a brave adventure for the maker(?) to make an innovative design concept that actually works.
Anyone interested in a Vibrato A or T new just send me a PM.

 

[lig]

Squishy is a great term for them. And for me at least - playing the palm keys close to being in tune is a challenge.

I'd recommend getting a white one after getting a clear one though. 😀

Perfect camping or houseboat or desert island horn though.

 

[EdJ]

I wish Vibrato would produce the curved soprano they tried. I mainly play soprano these days and might get one for travel

 

[Pete Thomas]

Someone mentioned at the Frankfurt Musikmesse that it appeared the Vibratosax body had been templated off of a [insert possible name of brand...] but the internal dimensions of the Vibratosax corresponded to the external dimension of the instrument it was based off, ie it that horn was used as a mold but the resultant instrument was bigger as a result.

Perhaps it was assumed some shrinkage due to the molding process? Or does it explain tuning anomalies?

 

[PigSquealer]

I wish Vibrato would produce the curved soprano they tried.

No you don’t. I’ve had my hands on a A & T for full review. At SOP size they wouldn’t stay together.

 

[Jaejae]

For sale here - Leslie Evans' Grafton. I took in-person lessons with Les Evans, once every two weeks, for four years between the ages of 17 and 21. L.E. was the UK's most prominent teacher for sax and clarinet for decades. I played this Grafton a number of times at his home in the small bedroom that had been converted to a music room. Les had just two personal saxes - a 1936 BA tenor and this Grafton alto (which was in perfect playing order but even then had the professionally repaired keyguard - presumably done by his repair partner Ken Tootell). I was initially surprised that here was Britain's leading teacher who, via his personal contacts, musical mail-order business, or publishing contacts (Crescendo! magazine for example), could have owned any instrument he would have liked. However, Les made the Grafton sing and found it perfectly adequate in his work as a professional teacher. I would buy it myself, even if only for nostalgia reasons, but as I'm now in the USA rather than London I'm not confident in the complications of damage insurance and import issues.

GRAFTON ALTO SAX ,OWNED BY LESLIE EVANS – Second Hand Saxophones

 

[Pete Thomas]

I would buy it myself, even if only for nostalgia reasons, but as I'm now in the USA rather than London I'm not confident in the complications of damage insurance and import issues.

Well there is one for sale here which is quite a lot more than the Leslie Evans one but the condition merits the extra price being in both player (overhaue by Stephen Howard) and collector condition Immaculate, 99% lacquer and no damage). And can be shipped insured to the US.

Saxophone FS - Grafton Acrylic alto saxophone in superb condition

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...

cafesaxophone.com

 

[Grumps]

As I said years ago, I was amazed by the Vibratosax alto and would have bought it on the spot if my girlfriend had four hundred bucks on her. Never tried the tenor, but I keep dropping hints to the now wife... around holidays... birthdays... tuesdays...

 

[Jaejae]

Well there is one for sale here which is quite a lot more than the Leslie Evans one but the condition merits the extra price being in both player (overhaue by Stephen Howard) and collector condition Immaculate, 99% lacquer and no damage). And can be shipped insured to the US.

Saxophone FS - Grafton Acrylic alto saxophone in superb condition

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...

cafesaxophone.com

Thanks. That's a really nice option. However, if I were to go ahead then notwithstanding price it would be the Leslie Evans version
1. Because it is in working order and,
2. Mainly because of provenance and my nostalgic connection to that instrument!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Thanks. That's a really nice option. However, if I were to go ahead then notwithstanding price it would be the Leslie Evans version
1. Because it is in working order and,

Unlikely to be very good working order.

2. Mainly because of provenance and my nostalgic connection to that instrument!

I can't argue with that. Mine has provenance but of course not the actual nostalgia connection to Leslie Evans.

Good luck. But be prepared to spend a lot of money if you intend to play it.