Despite the seller’s claims in the headline of his ad, Selmer had nothing to do with Grafton saxophones. In any event, this is certainly one of the nicest looking Graftons I’ve seen up for sale in recent years.
Source: eBay.com
Here is how the instrument is described:
This Grafton is one of the rarest vintage saxophones ever made. This particular horn is in 100% complete and perfect playing order, making it extremely rare in this day and age.
I purchased this sax from a famous band leader in New Jersey, Leonard Enourato. It was in about 90% shape. I found another Grafton for parts, and then sent both horns to the famous Joe Sax, also in Jersey. Joe is a wizard, especially with vintage horns in my mind.
Joe took the main horn apart, cleaned and adjusted everything. Any tiny part that was missing, he took from the donor horn. This horn PLAYS GREAT as a result. The restoration work Joe Sax did cost over $850!!!
This Grafton is also rare because it has a COMPLETE, UNDAMAGED SET OF KEYGUARDS…. this is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find, and I believe makes this horn that much more collectible.
The keys and neck have plenty of lacquer wear. It appears the thumb rest cracked and was reglued. It was very cleanly done, and you will have to look at the photos closely to see it. Also the thumbrest is COMPLETE. Most Graftons you see on eBay will have the tip of the thumbrest broken off.
In the time I have watched for these horns on eBay, this one is the most complete, cleanest, and although not “mint”… it may be the best example you may ever see again.
The case is very nice, and I do not know if it is original or not. One of the latches likes to pop open by itself, the other works perfect. Handle is nice.
If you have any questions, my name is Max, call my cell at xxx xxx-xxxx. This horn is not a “try before you buy item”. It is a rare, vintage, collectible horn. The photos represent it clearly, and if you are a collector, you know what you are looking at. Auction is final, no returns. Insurance MANDATORY, due to the frail nature of the rare instrument. It will be personally packed by me in a new box with peanuts.
I have $3300 invested in this horn for the record….
CHECK OUT MY OTHER AUCTIONS!!!! I AM CLEANING OUT MY SAX BARN!!!!
More rare horns and TONS of mouthpieces etc, soon to come!!!
The photos certainly show a very fragile, collectible, saxophone that appears to be in remarkable condition.
NB: all photos from eBay.com
The auction for this Grafton ends on March 31. At the time of writing, there was 1 bid of $1,999.95 on the horn.
If you would like to read more about Grafton saxophones, or would like to check out some sound samples, The Sax.info’s Grafton page, would be a good place to start.
Bass saxes aren’t moving at all. High end ones don’t move. Mid-range priced ones don’t. Hunks of junk don’t either.
A friend of mine sells minty, vintage Volvos. She has done so for years. The market of late has bottomed out to the point, that she is thinking she might as well put “Free to good home” signs on them. It’s really bad right now. Although she has been in business for 20 years, and has a solid reputation, she is seriously considering her options.
I’m not sure that you can draw a really good comparison between used vintage Volvos and vintage saxophones, but they are both collectibles in a sense, and both tend to have specific buyers. Right now, no one is buying, unless they have to.
I’m glad to see he got his investment back, since there aren’t very many mint condition Graftons left. I was afraid he’d be unable to meet his reserve in the current economic conditions, since this (hopefully!) isn’t going to be anyone’s daily driver. I think the sellers of bass saxes are having the same problem.
Update: This horn did end up finding a new home. The selling price was $3,650.00. In total 9 bids came in on this Grafton.