Happy Holidays 2025
I am not sure where 2025 went exactly, but here we on another December 6—or as the Germans call it: St. Nikolaus Tag (Saint Nicholas …
The Magazine-Like Part of Bassic-Sax.info
The Bassic Sax Blog is an original. Its roots can be traced back to 2004, when it started as the "News" section of the Bassic Sax website.
No matter what saxophone-related info you're looking for, there is a good chance you'll find something here among the 2,000+ articles that make up The Bassic Sax Blog.
Who & What
This blog is the magazine portion of the Bassic Sax website belonging to saxophonist and former teacher, Helen Kahlke. It is a culmination of over 20 years of work, and involves quite a few people....
Anyone familiar with Nikkan saxes?
The other day something crossed my radar screen that I hadn’t seen before: a vintage Nikkan alto on eBay that looked ever so much like …
The Olds Super Saxophone
Helen’s Intro 2025 I have not changed the text to Pete’s original article at all. I did have to change the formatting some; added a …
GebrM for JK large MOP key touches
Julius Keilwerth saxophones are known for many things: their huge sound; big bells; accurate intonation; sturdy build; longevity; and big MOP key touches. But something …
John Burg tenor sax by Dörfler & Jörka
A few months ago I noticed another Dörfler & Jörka (D&J) made stencil horn that I had never seen before. I had come across the …
H. Couf pages now completely updated!
I am so incredibly relieved to say that after 7 years of research; cataloguing of hundreds of H. Couf saxophones; viewing & reviewing thousands of …
H. Couf Superba soprano & bari done!
It’s hard to believe that it was just a mere 3 weeks ago that I published my last article here in the Bassic Sax Blog, …
H. Couf Superba I & II bass sax page
Over the last couple of days I crunched the data on the five—yes, you read that right, 5—bass saxophones that I have managed to collect …
H. Couf Superba I & II tenor pages
It was a mere 10 days ago that I wrote an article ecstatically noting that after years of collecting and collating data on H. Couf …
Articles of Note
It is all about the bass
Is a bass sax right for me?
I read a post on a Facebook bass group that other day from some rando who said: “I want a bass sax.” This got me...
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Review of P. Mauriat Bass Sax
Intro Specs Specs & Video from P. Mauriat Case MPs Used in Playtest Uwe Ladwig's Playtest for Sonic Reeds Used in Playtest Tone Response Feel...
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Review of a Jinbao-made Bass Sax
Intro Specs MPs Used in Playtest Reed Used in Playtest Tone Response Feel Build Weight What I Didn't Like What I Liked Photo Gallery Head...
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Bass Sax Pages on Bassic Sax: Progress Report
As I originally mentioned in an article on May 19, I finally began the process that I have had the back of my mind for...
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1985 BBC doc on the bass saxophone
As mentioned a few weeks ago, I have now began the rather large undertaking of totally revamping the Bass Saxophone section of Bassic Sax. Just...
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Vintage American Bass Saxes: Resources
Background When I first got my first bass saxophone in October 2000, things were A LOT different in the saxophone landscape: The bass saxophone renaissance...
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Keilwerth SX90 bass sax for sale in UK
If you live in the EU and are looking for a bass saxophone, then Vintage Saxophones has what I would suggest to you, is one...
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Chinese bass sax name recap & update
I admit I have been rather neglectful about keeping my Series about the Chinese bass saxes by Jinyin and Jinbao up to date. In my...
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Vintage: My personal favorite type of horn
Anyone familiar with Nikkan saxes?
The other day something crossed my radar screen that I hadn't seen...
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Clearing up confusion about Migma
For years I have watched the confusion of English-only speakers/readers as they...
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Is a vintage sax less reliable?
I was having an interesting conversation on a sax discussion board the...
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“Newest” Bassic Sax family member
I am primarily a bari sax player. Bari/bass are my two main...
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Two prima Keilwerth tenor saxes
Couf Superba 1 Toneking Special Comparison Chart Research Thanks Update: Both these...
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LP Boosey & Co. Eb alto keyed to low B
Internet findings Findings from colleagues Boosey & Co. sax production Facts Assumptions...
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Like sax? Saxophone collectibles for everyone
Bassic Sax Christmas Gift Roundup
It is time again for what has become as [almost] annual tradition: the Bassic Sax Christmas gift roundup of saxophone-inspired gifts and collectibles that might...
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Tis the season: Order yours now
What am I referring to? It am of course referring to ugly saxophone Christmas sweaters. Intelligent people are ordering them now for the best selection....
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Picassso-inspired, glass sax sculpture
I am not sure when I originally saw this Picasso-inspired, glass sax sculpture on etsy, but it was a little while ago. What caught my...
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Saxy kitsch: Christmas 2021 edition
It wouldn't be Christmas without a healthy dose of kitsch decorating up our homes. Now while some of us are happy with us just a...
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Have you got a steampunk sax yet?
After a couple of weeks of working on the site updates necessitated by: 1. Time, and 2. The new theme I purchased for this site,...
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Sax-shaped Metal Tobacco & Pot Pipes… Huh?
Over the years I have written numerous articles illustrating how the saxophone's iconic image is used in everything from advertising to high art. Well today's...
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Artsy, saxy, sexy C mel pic
A few weeks ago a SOTW Facebook discussion degenerated into middle school-level conversation, after someone posted the following vintage photo. Now let me state upfront...
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How To Make Your Own Ugly Saxophone Christmas Sweater
The trend is not going out of style, and every year more ugly Christmas sweaters get shipped out and make their way into gift boxes;...
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