The Bassic Sax Blog

That’s the question that Music Factory Direct is asking in their auction of a JinYin Bass Saxophone Model A600G.

Over the past couple of years we’ve seen prices for new, American-style, Asian-made bass saxophones go all over the place. Check out the other posts in this series to see what the prices on these horns have been. When you do, you’ll notice that none of the prices have been as low as they currently are on this JinYin.¹

     Source: eBay.com

JinYin is the manufacturer of all the new American-style bass saxophones—regardless of what name appears on them, or what finish they come in.

The good people at Music Factory Direct do mention in their ad that JinYin is the manufacturer of this bass. Here’s how they describe it:

The JinYin Model A600G Bass Saxophone. Through its vast resources of engineering and manufacturing skills, JinYin is only one of a handful of companies in the entire world producing a bass saxophone. This instrument they produce has it all! Excellent tone and response, good intonation and comfortable key work. This bass sax, without a doubt, is one of the most incredible values you will find, with other models costing anywhere from $3,000.00 to $10,000.00 more. Comes complete with mouthpiece, cap, ligature and deluxe lightweight case.

Features:

Key of Eb

Execellent tone and response

Affordable price

Ergonomic hand position

Comes complete with mouthpiece, cap, ligature and deluxe lightweight case.

Oops, I guess that was a typo. I’m sure they meant to write that this bass is in Bb, not Eb. That aside, they certainly seem excited about this bass saxophone.

     Source: eBay.com

     Source: eBay.com

Here’s the case that looks just like the one that Glenn G. recently bought for his Keilwerth bass. He wrote a review about his new case on June 16, 2010.

     Source: eBay.com 

If you are in the market for a cheap bass saxophone, I don’t know how much cheaper than this you can get. At the time of writing there was 1 bid of $3,600.00 on the horn.

This no reserve auction for a new JinYin bass sax ends today at 11:29 PDT. So there is not much time left to get your bid in… If’n your interested in a cheap bass that is.

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¹ There is 1 brand of American-style bass that was—for a very brief period of time—apparently available for considerably less than this JinYin is currently being sold for. The Canex bass saxophone was listed for a mere $2,000 in June 2009, but in September that same year it had jumped to $3,000. 

Last time I checked Canex no longer includes a final price for their bass. The listed price was apparently for “reference” only, and a ”… detailed price due to final confirmation !!!!” Whatever the hell means.

I assume that means they don’t want to change their website regularly, or be held to the price that they state on their website. Perhaps they got burned and actually had to sell a bass at 2 grand. That’s gotta’ cut into their profits.

© 2010, The Bassic Sax Blog. All rights reserved.

Yesterday I happened to come across another stencil name for the American-style, Asian bass saxophones made by Jinyin. According to its website, Gear4music is a UK-based musical instrument and equipment retailer that was launched in 2003.  Through their on-line presence they sell bass saxes which carry their store name.

Does this look familiar?

     Source: gear4music.com  

These bass saxophones—and even their cases—look exactly like the current crop of other Jinyin-made, vintage American-style bass saxophones.

Here is how Gear4music describes their horns:

Bass Saxophone by Gear4music, Gold – This is a superb quality Bass Saxophone from Gear4music. Combining fantastic build with a great finish, and a highly competitive price. This instrument is ideal for beginners to advancing players alike.

More Details:

Bass saxophone in the American Conn/Buescher style. A mighty instrument!

We have produced this quality instrument without compromise to give more people the opportunity to learn and play what is normally a very expensive instrument.

Each Gear4music Bass saxophone is now checked and serviced by a qualified technician before dispatch, to ensure you will receive a quality, ready to play instrument.

This sax features an innovative built-in instrument stand, which is particularly useful for younger or smaller players.

Bass Saxophone Outfit Specifications

Bb Bass Saxophone

Low Bb

Lacquered brass body and keywork

Good quality pads with domed metal reflectors

Adjustable thumb rest

Light gold clear polished laquer finish

Includes ABS saxophone case and accessories

14 day money back guarantee:

If you decide this instrument is not ideal for you, simply send it back within 14 days of purchase for a full refund.

2 Year Warranty (For purchases after 1st September 2007)

If you notice the case, this appears to be the same one that comes stock with the Hawk  and Canex bass saxophones.

This same case is also currently being sold all over the ‘Net as a replacement case under names such as IW, Sax Gourmet, and Rheuben Allen.

     Source: gear4music.com  

     Source: gear4music.com  

Unlike the vintage American saxophones it was modelled after, this new Asian bass has a bis Bb key.

     Source: gear4music.com  

Notice how the bass on the inside of the case, and the one standing up on the outside are slightly different? The one outside does not have the attachments for a floor peg. This is, I believe, the older stock photo that has been used to sell Jinyin bass saxes.

Since that photo was taken, Jinyin made some changes to their horns, and the newer version of the sax is the one inside the case. (At least I think it is, based on the rest of Jinyin horns we’ve seen of late.)

     Source: gear4music.com  

If you want to see what the saxes look like, Gear4music has a really cool, interactive 360° movie on their bass page. You can stop it, and zoom in anywhere on the horn. It is the most detail I have ever been able to see on these saxes.

So if you’re in the market for an Asian-made bass saxophone, or are interested at all in what they look like, check out Gear4music’s detailed, interactive movie. You will find it very interesting.

The price for these Gear4music bass saxophones is £2,899.00, which, at the time of writing, is $4,282.25 US according to XE.com. Delivery charges from the UK not included.

© 2010, The Bassic Sax Blog. All rights reserved.

Although we regularly see a plethora of modern, 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.

© 2010, The Bassic Sax Blog. All rights reserved.