Anybody actually played a Grafton?

[Frank D]

Anybody actually played one of these? I think the styling is pretty cool, just wonder what the playability factor is like. I know Bird and Ornette played them at times, but those guys would sound great on just about anything.

Would appreciate any input regarding sound, responsiveness, resonance, etc.

[garyinla]

I played a grafton alto once. I was at a trade show and a vintage sax dealer had one on display for sale.

It was my opinion that the tone was poor, not comparable to a pro sax made out of brass.

I wouldnt be interested in one because of tonal qualities, only collectibility.

[Morry]

It kind of makes those of use who are constantly looking for that "perfect setup" look stupid. Those two players mentioned sounded incredible on what is basically a kid's plastic toy.

[Andrew]

Yeah...they could've played on busted lamp horns and still out play anyone.

[sarge]

Graftons have a nice warm tone, but have very limited flexibility, also they are stuffy, the bore seems smaller than average and the key heights are low and have little room for adjustment to more open.
if you were looking for a horn to play for home enjoyment, they are interesting, but they are too fragile for a gig horn.
p.s.
( story goes) Charlie was given one by Grafton, he found that because it was plastic, he could not pawn it, so it was always there to play when he pawned his super 20.
he could, however, play the heck out of it... and as you all have noted, anything he held. it certainly says something to people who are absolutely dead set on one brand of horn being the only one to play. 8)

[saxgourmet]

I've worked on a few, but won't do so in the future. You have to make those crazy springs! I don't think that the examples that I have played were anything great in the playing department, but thy're hard to beat for wierdness!

[johnc]

I have a Grafton and use it to demonstrate different examples of saxes to the kids I teach. I also repair vintage horns for a living so can appreciate all kinds of tones and features from the various models. The Grafton I own has the original pads and has never been repaired or set up since it left the factory. It is as Steve suggested one of the most complicated saxes to set up I have ever come across. Its key work is a credit to the inventor. It is true to say it doesnt have the tone of a great traditional horn from the stable of Conn or Martin BUT my horn has an exceptionally light action, and well balanced keywork from top to bottom. For this its worth having. You cannot bend it around to seat the pads, Its brittle and in time the plastic will become even more brittle. These are rear indeed. I live a few miles from where they were made. I speak to the older guys in big bands who all had a Grafton pass through there fingers at some time in thier lives. All of them wont give you a few pounds for them. Now they are fetching astonishing amounts. For the collector these will be a sax worth seeking out and based on the stock market today probably a better bet than most on the Nasdac.

[Buster]

I played and considered buying a couple of Graftons in the early 80's before the prices became ridiculous. Considering they were made as a cheap mass-produced and even disposable instrument they played remarkably well and with a reasonable tone. They both looked stunning but the reason I bought neither was that they both had repairs - a brass sax gets dents which you can live with or get ironed out, a plastic sax cracks and gets mended with GLUE. Looking at the going rates on ebay I wish I had bought both - I'd have made a killing.

[paulwl]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the BIG issue with Graftons: the wear on screw holes, mountings, etc. that was inevitable on a 1950s-era plastic body and led to a horn that simply will not keep its adjustments.

Ornette had to send the horn to Gretsch (US vendors) several times to have new bodies fitted to the original keys. This was the reason.

[Joseph Boucher]

I wonder what kind of value( in dollars) a Grafton would have now if Ornette's and Parker's names were not connected to it. Would it even be a topic of conversation at this forum. Joe.

[paulwl]

Oh, it'd still be a collectible. It'd just be that much harder to find the right buyer. Something that only one person would pay $3,000 for instead of lots of people.

[saxshooter]

I came across this link on off a Japanese website posted by Tears June regarding another subject.

It shows an 8 minute video clip of Grafton being played. Sounds great to me! Check it out.

http://my.reset.jp/~tsuji/_9409Pking.htm

[Randall]

I just got one of these at the Saxofoonwinkel and it absolutely wails! I was always curious about them....and then I tried this horn....and I still can't understand why they were so maligned (other than the breakability).
More as I play it more....

[funkster]

Oh, it'd still be a collectible. It'd just be that much harder to find the right buyer. Something that only one person would pay $3,000 for instead of lots of people.

Charlie Parkers Grafton sold at Christie's for 93000+ pounds. That's about $135,000.00 US
Cheers

[funkster]

Oh, it'd still be a collectible. It'd just be that much harder to find the right buyer. Something that only one person would pay $3,000 for instead of lots of people.

Charlie Parkers Grafton sold at Christie's for 93000+ pounds. That's about $135,000.00 US
Cheers

Actually it is more than that. I don't know the exchange but it must be close to 200K US

[Morry]

93,000 British Pound = 151,488 US Dollar
93,000 US Dollar (USD) = 57,093.7 British Pound (GBP)

Median price = 1.62820 / 1.62890 (bid/ask)
Minimum price = 1.62270 / 1.62330
Maximum price = 1.64240 / 1.64330

[SaxyAcoustician]

This Piter King guy absolutely wails! What a sound! And what technique! It just goes to show, it ain't the horn you play on it's how much time you spend in the shed. This Piter King obviously spent at least an hour or two in the shed during his lifetime...you think? :)

[jonaskullhammar]

My Grafton is great!

[Howlin]

technical marvel (see saxgourmet) and was renowned for having good intonation. I picked one up recently cheap although it too has the dreaded cracked body. It has a tubby feel compared to a metal sax and the action is light and smooth. I look forward to playing her soon.

[mhoeta]

hi from NEW ZEALAND i hav a grafton 4 sale on Trade Me auctions in NZ, I was going to sell it for $150 but becos of a technical hitch it went through to full auction, it's up to an AMAZING $215, it finishes 7.40pm NZ time wed 30th July. HOW MUCH?????

[brucemacdonald]

This Piter King guy absolutely wails! What a sound! And what technique! It just goes to show, it ain't the horn you play on it's how much time you spend in the shed. This Piter King obviously spent at least an hour or two in the shed during his lifetime...you think? :)


That's Peter King - one of the top altoists in the world, let alone in the UK where he is based.

I'm not surprised he sounds good on it.

Best wishes

Bruce