J’Élle Stainer Low A French Wrap Bass Saxophone

The J’Élle Stainer low A French Wrap bass is one of the company’s current production model bass saxophones, and can be found on their new website. 

Here are the spec as provided by J’Élle Stainer:

Model (Part) Number: JBSF

Details

Low A French Wrap
B♭Bass Saxophone

• Manufactured [?]
• Traditional design
• Range from low A to high F#
• Written Range: A3-F#6
• Sounding: G1-E4
• Ergonomic keywork
• Brass body and bell
• Lacquered & beautifully engraved
• Plastic resin J’Elle Stainer mouthpiece
• Brass ligature and cap
• Playable with bass mouthpiece and reeds
• Pisoni pads
• Plastic resonators
• Adjustable peg and fixed floor rest
• SaxRax stand (optional)
• Special J’Elle Stainer flight case
• Final setup in USA or Italy
• Assembled in Brazil

Description

Special adaptation made by J’Elle Stainer of a unique low A mechanism and extended body and bell in a classical bass saxophone.

Source: J’Élle Stainer website https://www.jellestainer.com/ Used With Permission

Source: J’Élle Stainer website https://www.jellestainer.com/ Used With Permission

Source: J’Élle Stainer website https://www.jellestainer.com/ Used With Permission

Source: J’Élle Stainer website https://www.jellestainer.com/ Used With Permission

Commentary

I am not sure why there is nothing written after “Manufactured”…. It seem like the copy editor missed this line. Presumably they were going to write something like: Manufactured by Jinbao, customized by J’Elle Stainer. Or perhaps: Manufactured in partnership with Jinbao. 

This low A French Wrap bass looks to me like a Jinbao-made, Selmer copy.

We know that J’Elle Stainer did have a partnership with Jinbao at one point back circa 2009, when they sold Jinbao-made low Bb basses carrying the J’Elle Stainer name. 

Below is a troika of photos for you to compare/compare 3 different basses. To me, they all look like the come from the Jinbao factory, and all look like variations on a theme. 

Presumably these low A French wrap basses start off with body tubes from Jinbao in Taiwan; get customized by J’Elle Stainer in Brazil; and then get their final set up in either USA or Italy depending on where they are going to be delivered to.