Chicago Jazz Series???????????????????

[Ben123]

I need help to find a decent tenor for a decent price. I've found a L.A. Sax Chicago Jazz Series tenor saxophone for $2699.00 but I don't now if their any good or if this is a good deal. :?

Can someone help me out????

[Whatasaxman]

Chicago Jazz Series Saxes are good horns. If it plays well, that's a great price. A lot less than I would pay dealer cost. I had six of them here for a while and found them very responsive, just didn't have enough to keep them in stock. Retail on those horns is around 6K.

[Saxturtle]

A friend of mine @ work just got his son one (HS junior: hope he's grateful!). He seems to be veryfond of it. I think these are made by VMI in Germany, high quality all the way according to other posts.

[Tears June]

Chicago Jazz Series Saxes are good horns. If it plays well, that's a great price. A lot less than I would pay dealer cost. I had six of them here for a while and found them very responsive, just didn't have enough to keep them in stock. Retail on those horns is around 6K.


Whatasaxman,

Have you compared your Chicago Jazz with Dave Guardala horn ?
I understand both are made by the same factory in Germany - VMI (also B&S mmade by VMI). But not sure if any difference in sound & quality (look very same).


:cry:

[Whatasaxman]

Can't say as I have. I did not have my own shop when I last played a Gaurdala. I can say That the CJS are definately very well made horns, but as a small, mostly repair shop I can't afford to keep them in stock(can keep a lot of pearl flutes for the price of one earthtone tenor). I am very tempted to sell my silver plated series III tenor and sp oleg neck to finance either an earthtone or vintage brass tenor for my personal player though.

[miles_ahead_music]

Theyre' awfully close from a sound and playability standpoint. Miles carries them, although sales in the Louisville,KY market have been slow.

We still have 2 Guardala tenors so I did a side-by-side comparison the other day. The CJS horns have a couple of mechanisms that the Guardalas don't, most notably the the G# bridge ala B&S, which are also VMI horns. I believe that the copper content of the CJS's bodies is the same as the DG501 series, so it produces a little bolder sound than the DG500 does.

Incidentally, we have all of the CJS finishes in stock on alto and tenor. The price of $2699 is really, really good. I don't know that we could macth that on a gold lacquer horn.


However, you can buy a Guardala DG500-BN tenor in black nickel or the 501CL (clear lacquer) (the better sounding horn) for $2499 set up and ready to play.

[Thomas]

but they're ,the CJ's, look so cheesy with the name stamped on all the keys...what genius thought that appealing?

[Randy Marks]

I believe the Chicago Jazz Series Horns are made by B&S in Germany. These are the same manfucturer that manufactures the Guardalas. High copper context for wonderful sound.

However, I would still opt for Selmer Series III when it comes to tenor.