contrabass sax

[sax maniac]

I know there are sveral pictures out there of buffet contrabass saxes but i've never seen one for sale does anyone know if they still produce these giant saxes. I know that the nuclear whales saxophone ensemble has one and i saw another pic somewhere but thats all i know about them so any info would help :?:

thanks,saxmaniac :D

[saxgourmet]

Orsi still makes one. Here's a picture

http://members.aol.com/barrysacks2/images/jay_easton_contrabass_ufo.jpg

[singlereed]

You must go to the Orsi website and watch the videos of the curved sopranino and the contrabass - hilarious!

[MBushaw]

And let's see you with one of those in the marching band!

[sax maniac]

I know orsi/LA sax makes them but i was wondering about the buffet contras. thx anyways though.



P.S. nice sax :D i'm very jealous thats my main goal in life to own or at least play one :wink:

[sax maniac]

also what is that space ship thing in the background? hehehehe :P

[Gandalfe]

Is that pic for real??? There are only two pad openings on the bell. My bari with the low A has four. Man, that thang is immense! I'd guess it's at least forty pounds if it is an ounce.

[srcsax]

ha! that is my friend Jay Easton with his contra bass. It's a great horn i have plaed it and it is sweet. Yesterday Jay show up with an Orsi curved soranino. Very cool horn. Not a toy and no whare near the same as the LA Sax version.

Back to the buffet....no, i have not seen one up close.

[srcsax]

Must spell check prior posting.........

[paulwl]

Somewhere I've got an old down beat cover with Glen Gray, the bandleader, blowing an Evette contra for a gag. Here's the thing - he was using an ordinary lightweight neck strap and standing up, like Jay in the pic! BTW, Glen was 6'6" - as tall as the horn.

Jay looks like he's ready to play the tuba part from Close Encounters.
Bleep bleep bleep bloop bloooop...

[sax maniac]

i'm wondering if the guy in that pic is superimposed, his eyes are looking up away from the camera there is no shadow and lighting seems diff, anyone else notice this?

just though that maybe it was could be wrong sorry if i am :oops:

[srcsax]

Nope, Jay was there for that pic. you can check his web site out for more pics www.jayeaston.com

[Lowell]

Check out the L.A. Sax website for lots of details on bass and contrabass saxes. Yes they are heavy. They come with WHEELED stands that are height adjustable. Nobody else makes them because there is so little demand and they are so expensive. Why would you pay $36,000 for a contrabass sax when a good organ can play more bass notes faster, easier and cheaper? For $36,000 you could buy a good organ and a van to carry it in.
These horns are for guys with big lungs, big wallets and something to prove.
If you read the Nuclear Whales site, there is a strange story of how that contrabass sax was acquired.
VISIT www.nuclearwhales.com and www.lasax.com

[paulwl]

Check out the L.A. Sax website for lots of details on bass and contrabass saxes. Yes they are heavy. They come with WHEELED stands that are height adjustable. Nobody else makes them because there is so little demand and they are so expensive....because nobody else makes them and there is so little demand. :shock: Suddenly it all makes sense!!!

Why would you pay $36,000 for a contrabass sax when a good organ can play more bass notes faster, easier and cheaper? For $36,000 you could buy a good organ and a van to carry it in.
At least one contra user bought a van for the horn - and it cost him less new than the horn did!

These horns are for guys with big lungs, big wallets and something to prove.
Aw Lowell, I think you're just jealous. :wink:

If you read the Nuclear Whales site, there is a strange story of how that contrabass sax was acquired.
Any story about acquisition of a contrabass sax is, by definition, strange. True to the nature of mythical beasts, they turn up ONLY in the most unlikely places - walled up rooms, garden sheds, horribly ratty antique shops you wouldn't go into on a bet. All had been abandoned as musically useless or just too brane-numbingly wierd to think about.

Someday, I feel certain, one of these beauties will be found in the junk-crammed residence of a legendary recluse. Beside it, amid dozens of piteously mewing kitty cats, will lie the long-decayed corpse of its owner.

I hope to be that owner. :roll:

[sax maniac]

i have read how that contra was aquired, and it's very interesting, i wish i had found it :(

[srcsax]

Actually, the Contra Bass doesn't take THAT much more air to play. It doesn't take anymore than a Bass. And, Jay is only about 5'9"

[Lowell]

I didn't say it takes big lungs to play it. It takes big lungs to pick it up and carry it from your van to the stage. Don't get me wrong, I would love to hear one played in person but I have no desire to own one. Anyone who manages to take a contrabass on the road is much more dedicated to the sax than I will ever be.