Top 5 Vintage Saxophones

Comments · 291

• OL

  @olaflangness2907 · 2 years ago

  John Leadbetter is a great student of the saxophone.  I certainly could have had this video go for another hour with him talking about and playing vintage instruments. You know that he can talk on this subject with authority for days, and by the looks of the background, he probably could be pulling out hundreds more vintage gems. I see people mentioning many more brands and models they want to see him discuss and play. Please consider having him back as a guest. This format worked well. A good balance of discussion and playing that was about the best length so we could still have that sound and information in our head while he moved on to another saxophone.

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• SA

  @Saxologic · 2 years ago

  Jay you are such a gift, always elevating the sax community. Thank you for all that you do!

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• JA

  @jamiemeansjamesmusic · 2 years ago

  The SBA's sound the best to my ears. But what's even more mind blowing to me is John's absolutely phenomenal playing of the saxophone. Mans easily on the same level as guys like Chris Bittner, Sarah Hanahan, and Bob Reynolds and yet, he chooses to be their repairman. Here's a guy who could make it as a top notch player in NYC and he's here making his own saxophones and repairing saxophones for us. John's one of the most talented and humble musicians and people I've seen yet.

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• OF

  @officialbmanproductions · 2 years ago

  I have a Conn 10M Tenor that was made sometime between 1942 and 1943 and it was my grandpa's which has been passed down to me and I play it in performances for Jazz Band. It plays absolutely great and it makes me happy seeing it is on this list.

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• KA

  @karltonlemons2746 · 2 years ago

  John is a legend indeed!  I have personally never found such a genuinely nice, friendly repairman.  I was blown away when considering a new Ishimori alto, John answered the phone, answered all my questions, ordered, set up and even sent me videos of him playing my new instrument!  Loved the experience so much I just had to purchase one of his JL Woodwind Artist Edition altos.  Both of these instruments are world-class and play like a dream!  This guy is the real deal.  Anything....I mean, anything saxophone he is more than willing to take time to share his wealth of knowledge with you!  I am so vey happy he is part of the saxophone community we all love!  Kudos John for such smashing success and thank you Jay for sharing with the world this amazingly talented person!

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• LA

  @landocycle · 2 years ago

  I’m kind of obsessed with the 10M. Such a sexy, smoky sound.

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• AL

  @AlexGlu444 · 2 years ago

  I have a Conn 10m and it sounds great!Love Him.

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• FU

  @furtherdefinitions1 · 2 years ago

  John is a friend and a former co-worker when we both worked in the same music retail store, and just a great all around guy

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• DA

  @davidrennie8197 · 2 years ago

  From Wiki: The most notable player of a Grafton saxophone was Charlie Parker. While in Toronto, Charlie Parker and "the quintet" were scheduled to perform at Massey Hall, but Parker had pawned his saxophone - some sources[who?] say to buy heroin. A sales representative for Grafton (or the owner of the company, depending on the source) asked Parker to use a Grafton for a Massey Hall gig in May 1953. Although Parker was under exclusive contract to use only one type of saxophone while gigging in the United States, outside the U.S. he was free to use any sax he wished. Parker (credited as Charlie Chan due to contract issues) can be heard playing this Grafton on the album Jazz at Massey Hall with Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus and Max Roach, albeit through a low fidelity recording. The Grafton saxophone that Parker used (serial number 10265) was sold at the Christie's auction house in London in September 1994 for £93,500 sterling. The buyer was the American Jazz Museum, located in Parker's home town of Kansas City, Missouri.

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• MC

  @mcmikah · 6 months ago

  Not having the Buffet Super Dynactions in there is criminal.

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• MR

  @MrAndygayle · 2 years ago

  Brilliant. What a sax player and expert...humbling,

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• SO

  @sorenfuhrer401 · 2 years ago

  Ah, the "what to buy a saxophonist for Christmas" series continues :)

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