Vintage bass saxes are finicky beasts that are temperamental at best. But when they work well, there is nothing like the sound of them. They have a particular resonance to them that immediately identifies them for what they are: Amazing pieces of vintage—or antique in some cases—metal; carefully and painstakingly handcrafted, that have the ability to cause a very intense vibration in both the player, and his or her surroundings.
Some of these brands are are French—AKA short wrap—horns, while others are vintage American or American style (long wrap). I should note that this is in no means necessarily a complete listing. It is hoped however, that I did manage to capture the main names in bass saxophone manufacturing.
Vintage American/American style, AKA Long Wrap Bass Saxophones
- Buescher
- Buffet & Crampon, Evette & Schaeffer
- Conn
- Conn Stencils & Second Line (Pan American) Bass Saxes
- F.X. Hüller
- G.H. Hüller
- Gebr. Mönnig
- Holton
- Julius Keilwerth
- Oscar Adler
- Orsi-branded Bass Saxes
- Orsi Stencil Bass Saxes
- Rampone & Cazzani
- V. Kohlert’s Söhne
- W. Stowasser’s Söhne
French Style, AKA Short Wrap, Bass Saxophones
- Beaugnier
- Buffet & Crampon, Evette & Schaeffer
- Couesnon & Cie
- Millereau & Cie
- Pierret
- Selmer
This section of my website will eventually provide an overview of many of the main manufacturers who used to make bass saxophones. These saxophones, for the most part, would have been produced during or before the 1940s.
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