Although we regularly see a plethora of modern, American-designed, Asian bass saxophones that are built in the vintage American style, we don’t see nearly as many modern, Asian basses built with the shorter, European wrap. These European-style (Selmer S80 copy) bass saxophones are made by Jinbao, and generally run thousands more than their vintage American copy counterparts, that are made by Jinyin.
This morning I happened to notice that Hollywood Music World is selling a slightly used, European-style, IW 661 bass saxophone on eBay.
Source: eBay.com
This is how the seller describes this modern bass sax:
IW 661 Bass Saxophone – Like New
Modern Style Bass Sax
This is the IW 661 Bass sax. The one you have heard about by International Woodwind. Keyed from Low B Flat to high F#. Plays real easy from the bottom to the top. What a sound. E-mail us for a sound sample. Strong metal, a great neck, and solid keywork make this bass sax easy to play. Patterned in the style of a modern Bass Saxophone. It features a shorter wrap, and re-designed bore, with modern style fingering similar to the IW Baritone Saxophone. This gives the instrument a very even feel and even sound! Also comes with a real hard rubber Bass Sax mouthpiece. It comes with a hard case on wheels that really protects the horn well. The case is also made from lightweight material, that ships well, it is a square style hard durafoam, style case on wheels.
This bass sax is used but in like new condition, so we are selling it for a major discount!! Looks and plays great. Plays so easy from top to bottom.
This horn is being offered as part of our Presidents Day big blow out Sale. Good through the end of this week!!
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
If you’re curious to know what this sax sounds like, Hollywood Winds has provided a link to baritone sax great, James Carter, playing an IW 661 at the 2008 NAMM show.
Also, I did a post about one of the Disneyland bands, which featured bass player, Edmund Velasco, on an IW 661. In that video the band performed Pink Elephants On Parade.
So if you’ve been wanting to own one of these European-style bass saxophones, but have been short a few thousand, perhaps this one is in your price range. Bids for this IW 661 start at $5,995.00, and the Buy It Now price is $7,999.00. At the time of writing, there were no bids yet on this horn. The auction runs until February 21.
Update: This sax did not sell. When the auction ended, there were no bids on this S80 copy, despite it being a few thousand less than its new price.