Saxophones I'm trying to identify what model of Blessing Saxophone this is.

[Keaton Norfleet]

I bought this tenor saxophone a little over a year ago from my professor. I just recently picked it back up for a gig with friends. Out of curiosity, I wanted to do a little research into the sax to see if it was any good since I haven't played it much. I had never heard of this brand until my professor told me about it.

The brand is E.K. Blessing. However, I can not find a model number on it, at least not one that matches any of Blessing's model numbers. There are two numbers on the bottom back of the sax. I am attaching pictures.

I was hoping you all could work your magic on this one for me. Since I have so far found nothing. I have posted this on a few Sax subreddits, but they aren't doing me any good. I figured a saxophone-focused forum could help a bit more.

 

[turf3]

No country of origin stamp?

I'm going to bet on essentially-fungible Chinese origin.

 

[Keaton Norfleet]

No country of origin stamp. There are only three markings on the whole instrument: those two numbers and the Blessing logo.

 

[ghostler]

Welcome to the forum @Keaton Norfleet !

Offhand, my Chinese made Venus sop and tenor have no country stamp on them. They are of intermediate quality. @turf3 could be right.

How does it play? @helen , @Gandalfe , might you have an idea to help out?

 

[PigSquealer]

No country of origin stamp. There are only three markings on the whole instrument: those two numbers and the Blessing logo.

Ask St. Louis Music Company. They didn’t own E.K. Blessing in 2006 but they may be able to offer information. SLM currently owns the brand.

 

[Woodpad]

B&S 500 series?

 

[thomsax]

Looks like a ROC sax.

 

[Colin the Bear]

If it plays, it's a good saxophone. No amount of research can over ride this.

How long it plays will determine its build quality.

 

[JiJi]

A comparison between two Blessing ténor stencils of the same origin: 0710 is the model, and the issue is the 7-digit serial number. The photo is taken from a post on SOTW, and someone in that thread mentions a Jupiter 587.
That doesn't look like a Jupiter 587 !

I don't know who manufactured this saxophone; the 7-digit serial number and the foam key guard felts suggest China, where Selmer's Series II models were widely copied.

 

[PigSquealer]

From Wiki.

 

[thomsax]

Wasn't the Powell Eagle saxes built in Blessings plant, Elkhart? They bought/took over B&S tools.

 

[PigSquealer]

Wasn't the Powell Eagle saxes built in Blessings plant, Elkhart? They bought/took over B&S tools.

Dunno 🤷‍♂️. What year(s) were the Eagles made ? It appears there were numerous changes from 1961 onwards.
What models to year or facility I have zero knowledge about. Also I’ve never really studied B&S, so ??

Interesting for a long time maker to have so little online presence/ historical knowledge available.
I’ve only known one member who owned a B&S. @Jerry Kane

 

[JiJi]

The following is merely speculation. The logo on this saxophone appears on Blessing brass instruments from 2005 to 2009.
The serial numbers for these tenor models—2308114 and 2308224—could be interpreted as follows: the first two digits represent an internal factory code, the next two indicate the year (2008), and the last three are the specific unit number.

 

[Jerry Kane]

Dunno 🤷‍♂️. What year(s) were the Eagles made ? It appears there were numerous changes from 1961 onwards.
What models to year or facility I have zero knowledge about. Also I’ve never really studied B&S, so ??

Interesting for a long time maker to have so little online presence/ historical knowledge available.
I’ve only known one member who owned a B&S. @Jerry Kane

Yo Glenn! Yes, I’ve owned quite a few B&S saxes, a few early Blue Labels, then the top models like 2001, Allora stencils and Medusa. This isn’t like most top model B&S stencils, bell to body brace is wrong and no G# lifting mechanism. They usually have made in Germany and that and SN are stamped vertically on the body, not horizontal like this one. Probably made in Taiwan or China.

 

[JayeNM]

Came late here so reply is probably only for posterity sake...

It's a Jupiter 789. Good, solid intermediate horn.
Not a B&S.....

 

[thomsax]

When a windinstrument maker is looking for a sax they use to search for a good sax. I asked Bob Ackerman once about the new Olds saxes. He told me "... they are made in Taiwan (ROC) by one the best the manufacturers ". I think a Blessing sax is a good sax as well.

 

[Colin the Bear]

If it's a Jupiter it's a belter.

 

[thomsax]

If it's a Jupiter it's a belter.

Back in the 90's ther were some other ROC saxophone makers as well. In Sweden, back in the mid/late 90's, a ROC made sax called "Dixon" was popular as well. Less money compared to a Jupiter 500 model 700 model. The distributers of ROC saxes were well-organized when it came to spare parts, accesories, back-up ...... and that's important.