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Best Chinese Vintage Bass?

5K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  Jazz Is All 
#1 ·
Every bass sax fan knows the two main types- Conn/Buescher style, or Selmer style. Seeing I can't afford anything made outside of China, what is the best Conn/Buescher style bass sax made in China? I love the sound of bass, and have done some research, but you know how Chinese products are... either very good for the price or abysmally terrible.
 
#2 ·
What's your budget?

New basses from China are as much as a used Conn/Buescher, at least from feeBay.
Maybe purchasing directly from the manufacturer is cheaper??
Right now I only see the "Advanced Bass" for $8K & the "Art of Sound" for $5K.
"Art of Sound" reviews are NOT GOOD.
 
#3 ·
"Chinese Vintage Bass" is a contradiction of terms. :) Outside of that fact, I can't think of a reputable company who has bass saxophones manufactured in China. It's possible, but there isn't anyone currently keeping an eye on the QC necessary to get a good bass out of the PRC. I'm going to have to also recommend a Conn or Buescher. In the end, you're just saving yourself a world of headaches. For $5k+ I expect a saxophone free of manufacturing defects, and I find it highly doubtful that I'll find that in a Chinese bass sax in this current market.
 
#4 ·
The guy who runs International Woodwinds (an Asian saxophone importer) also plays tenor in my daughter's big-band. He gave me a brochure of his products and often has saxophone displays where he plays.

He told me that his customers prefer the Selmer-style bass sax because of the intonation improvements over the Conn/Buescher-style. He used to import both but gave up on the Conn/Buescher basses because of the less desirable intonation.

I've heard them played side-by-side and I much preferred the tone of Conn/Buescher copies - and this is consistent with what I've heard from the real models - MKVI vs. Buescher. DAVE
 
#5 ·
While the JinBao bass is the best of the two in terms of build quality, you can get them for far less than IW sell them for from the UK:

IW 661 bass is $11,998.00 (£7,708.32) http://www.internationalwoodwind.com/saxophones-bass-saxophone.htm

Sakkusu (sax.co.uk) bass is $6,222.52 (£3,999.00) http://www.sax.co.uk/sakkusu-bb-bass-saxophone.ir

Wessex Tubas bass is $5,751.27 (£3,695.00) http://www.wessex-tubas.co.uk/bass-saxophone/

Rosedale (gear4music) bass is $5,136.43 (£3,299.99) http://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Rosedale-Bass-Saxophone-Gold/MQ9

While the Conn/Buescher style bass has the better and bigger tone (compared to the SA80II copy which plays more like a big bari sax), it has incredibly poor ergonomics and fails miserably in the keywork fitting which is very sloppy. Read Stephen Howard's review on it which sums it all up well: http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Bari/chinese_vintage_bass.htm
 
#7 ·
While the JinBao bass is the best of the two in terms of build quality, you can get them for far less than IW sell them for from the UK:

Wessex Tubas bass is $5,751.27 (£3,695.00) http://www.wessex-tubas.co.uk/bass-saxophone/

While the Conn/Buescher style bass has the better and bigger tone (compared to the SA80II copy which plays more like a big bari sax), it has incredibly poor ergonomics and fails miserably in the keywork fitting which is very sloppy. Read Stephen Howard's review on it which sums it all up well: http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Bari/chinese_vintage_bass.htm
If you're in the States, the Wessex bass is available for less ($4,975) from their US site:
http://www.wessex-tubas.com/bass-saxophone/
 
#6 ·
From Stephen's review, it sounds like the vintage US horns are a better deal all around, right down to the key action.
 
#10 ·
So 30 years from now when cheap saxes are made in Afghanistan and the Sudan, when people talk about vintage saxes they'll be referring to those made in China and Indonesia now, right?
 
#16 ·
The back seat alone is worth more than 100 basses. Those are big, but still to small for any important activities to take place in.
 
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