Bass Sax Sale At WWBW

I was just sitting at my computer this AM, minding my own business, when suddenly I get an email from WWBW. Like a moth to flame, I stop what I’m doing, and look at their latest offerings. I can’t believe what I’m seeing! A bass saxophone, in a fall theme, with a sale price!

I think: What is going here? How did this happen? Bass saxophones are now so common-place that we’re selling them off at “bargain basement” prices?

This is a very different musical world than where I started my bass sax adventures almost 8 years ago to the day, when I flew to New Orleans to pick up my 1922 Buescher from Paul Coats & Wayne Shell. Oh how things have changed…

Jeez, I feel a bit like this at at moment……

Anyways, back to earlier this morning…

Of course I had to go to the WWBW site, and check out the International Woodwinds Model 601 bass saxophone, that they currently have on sale for $1500 off. (Moth to a flame & all.) This is what WWBW tells me about the horn:

Modeled after the great vintage bass saxophones of the mid-twentieth century, The International Woodwinds 601 Bass Saxophone features modernized key work and a range from low Bb up to high F. The IW 601 Bass Sax also has some innovative redesign in the key work, thicker rods on the keys and a beautiful engraving pattern. Complete with easy transport, gig-style case.

Source: Woodwind & Brasswind

Then under “Product Overview & Specifications”, it goes on to say:

Standard Features

Body / Bow / Neck Lacquered Brass
Special Keys High F#
Engraved Yes
Range Low Bb
Includes Case, Mouthpiece, Ligature & Cap

Now I’m confused, here it says the horn goes to F#. Which is it: High F or High F#? I read on…

A “Customer Rating” by Graham Dorsey dated May 22, 2007 gives it 5 stars. This man, with 40+ years of professional experience in jazz & Latin music, says:

I was present as this horn was developed from the first horn to what is now a real find. The body is constructed from the old Buescher Bass Sax template. The key work is cutting edge modern. Its range has been extended to high F using the mechanism from a modern era horn. The neck, tone hole placement, thumb rest, and key work have been carefully engineered for the best ergonomics and intonation. They have a mouthpiece to go with the horn that brings out the best in the horn, top to bottom. These are great horns and are the best bang for your buck.

OK, so now we’re back to high F. The high F# must have been incorrectly entered in the database. This all sounds interesting. It seems that this horn, at this current price point, is directly in competition with vintage bass saxophones currently on the market. As a matter of fact, it is less expensive than some of the vintage bass saxes for sale today.

It has been said for some time now that the new American-designed, Asian-made horns are competition for the quirky, vintage, bass saxophones of yesteryear. While some players are obviously choosing to play these new horns, (otherwise production of them would not continue) vintage bass saxophones continue to have a niche market. Bass saxophones are in themselves a niche market, so the market is just being carved up into smaller pieces.

Now, I was quite curious about the International Woodwind brand. I’ve heard of them, but being a vintage horn enthusiast and player, I’ve not really paid them much attention. I searched International Woodwind out on the Internet, found their homepage, and started checking out their bass saxophones.

I see that they have 2 models of bass saxophones: the IW 661 (keyed to high F#) and the IW 602 (keyed to high F). I assume that the 602 must be the replacement for the 601, since when you follow the links on the 602 page, it leads you to information on the 601.

The retail price of the 661, is almost 1.5 times that of the 602 (15K vs 11K). Obviously there are more features than just a high F# key for $4,000 more, but the info provided (hard case with wheels, strong metal, great neck, & some design things like shorter wrap, smaller bore) don’t really explain the price difference. Although not expressly stated anywhere, one can only presume that this  instrument is of a higher quality to warrant the higher cost.

As I look at these shiny new instruments, I am not swayed. Yes, they are nice & new. Sure, there is something to be said about having an instrument that no one else has spent hours blowing their hot air through. But, all these horns are lacking a certain something…An almost intangible quality that is indescribable…But if you’re a vintage horn enthusiast, you know what I’m talking about. It’s why we will work around intonation issues, find alternate fingerings, & learn to work around awkward ergonomics.

If you want to be reductionist in your thinking, you could say that there are 2 types of sax players: vintage and modern. I know what camp I fall in to. How about you?

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