Chicago Jazz Series saxophones

[miles_ahead_music]

We've recently gotten our first shipment of Chicago Jazz Series saxophones in and man are they hot. They are the replacements for the Dave Guardala horns made by B&S Germany . Personally, I love the Guardala horns and I still think these are a cut above. What we've gotten in so far are the "Earthtone Series" horns. You can check them out and price them through our site www.milesahead.org for more info

[phathorn]

Idea-

Send me a full set of them and I'll write a review on here! :lol:

[Joe Jazz]

Miles, FYI-I checked your website and found nothing on the Chicago Jazz saxes...

[Balladeer]

phathorn -
I've been working in Memphis since late July. Though I'm going home to Houston this coming weekend, I'll be back for the next four weeks in Memphis. Please drop me an email and let me know where you are playing. BTW, in late August I heard a great tenor player with an amatuer big band. They did a concert at the Center for Southern Folklore (CSF) downtown. His name is Brian something-or-other and he plays a silver Guardala. His tone was smooth and buttery, and his command of the horn was quite good.

balladeer@earthlink.net

[phathorn]

balladeer...next gig is Oct 4th (Octoberfest gig) see transitt.com for location as I believe it's the St Francis Catholic church on G-town pkwy but not for sure. As long as you are in town, bring your horn to a gig...I can also introduce you around to other horn players in the area

[Balladeer]

phathorn:
I'll try to make your performance on the 4th. I wish I could bring my horn, but I don't have it with me. I'm working 11-14 hours/day at the Pfizer offices near Kirby and Ridgeway. I'm staying at Embassy Suites at Poplar and Ridgeway. No car, so I have to be shuttled anywhere I go.

[miles_ahead_music]

Here's a great excuse for our complacency. Our shop is literally piled to the roof with repair in waiting. I will get the site updated with the "Chicago" horns soon.

Speaking of silver plate Guardalas. We just got another one in. Brand new and beautiful. We actually sold one to a guy here on Sax On The Web and he fell in love with it.

[phathorn]

Balladeer,

picked up one for this Friday night (the 26th). TJ Mulligan's at Quince and Kirby. 9:30. Bit closer to you as well....

[Balladeer]

Thanks, phathorn. I'll try to find a way to get there.

[T.S.]

Does anyone know if the Chicago horns are based on the B&S 2006 Medusa, or on the older 2001 B&S Body (that was the Guardala's basis)??

[Randall]

To the best of my knowledge, the 2006 Medusa.

[Randall]

Hey Miles, how about that site update?
A lot of us would like a close up look at those Chicago horns!

[miles_ahead_music]

I'll get you a pic here of the "Earthtone" alto that's on the wall at the shop.

[tonyg]

Miles, have you played the new Chicago earth tone series tenors, how do they compare to the Guardala horns of the same finish, did they made any improments, etc?

[Joe Jazz]

I did see Jay Beckenstein the other night with Spyro Gyra. Looked like he was playing an earthtone alto. Sounded pretty good......

[Morry]

I saw somewhere that Jay is now a L. A. Sax endorser...blech!

[Joe Jazz]

Yeah, he's been one for awhile now, there's no accounting for taste..... :P

[Joe Jazz]

He was playing an interesting looking tenor. It looked kind of like checkerboard gold lacquer. I assumed it was an LASAX. I believe the Chicago Jazz sax line is imported through LASAX, so it all made sense in a sick twisted kind of way..... :roll:

[Morry]

It amazes me that Richard Eliot plays LA Sax horns also. He's a monster player, but the only I ever tried was dreadful. Of course, I need all the help I can get, and he probably sounds great on a Coke bottle.

[Joe Jazz]

No Coke, Pepsi bottle.... :lol:

[Randall]

If Jay is playing a B&S horn with a LA Sax label, he's playing a dynamite horn, make no mistake.
LA Sax horns that I have seen and played are pure crap. The B&S stuff is the real deal though.

[Joe Jazz]

I agree Randall. B&S are definitely good saxes. :) Jay appeared to be playing a (B&S) Chicago Jazz Series earthtone alto and an LASAX tenor. It surprised me that he was not using a wireless mike......and he could've been louder(I know, blame the sound man). He just came across as rather tame after watching/hearing Mindi Abair kick butt!

[BigDaddyJ]

Here's one on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2579673028&category=16 234

[Morry]

Wow, the "buy it now" price is $6,500 more than I paid for my Keilwerth SX90R. It better be a very nice horn.

Also, based on their past performance, I'd rather not have the L.A. Sax designation on the horn. I think I'd opt for the regular B&S horn, especially if they would leave off all that silly looking Medusa engraving. I'd like to have one of the sandblast horns, and let Jason Dumars take a run at some engraving on it.

A question though...is the sandblast (or Earthtone) finish covered by a coat of matte lacquer? If not, does it tarnish? If it is, could it be engraved after-market?

[Randall]

Morry, The sandfinish will deteriorate easily and irreparably bcause there is no clear lacquer over it. Also, if you live in a humid climate, it is likely to corrode faster.
In fact, it is designed to deteriorate and get the worn look. It is uncleanable....I contacted the factory about trying to clean it and they said it can't be cleaned. I believe them. I tried everything on my ET and nothing worked at all.
I believe it could be engraved aftermarket, considering the finish, but if the CJ horn is like the original ET, there is hardly a place left on the horn to be engraved. The engraving on the ET is beautiful and massive.

[Joe Jazz]

Morry,

The buy it now price was "only $3,600 and something. The MSRP was the $6,500 and something. Still too rich for my blood! I don't know if LASAX puts any of their emblems on the Chicago Jazz Series or not. I know the engraving is beautifully done on the Allora saxes(also made by VMI), and it's not so over the top everywhere on the sax....

[Morry]

Joe, I could swear it said the $6,500 for the buy it now when I first looked at the listing, but it doesn't now, so I guess I had a brain fart. It's still $625 more than my JK.