Price level: Intermediate Performance guide level: Mid-range/professional

Key: Bb

Features: Benefits:

• New sophisticated one piece body design Improved performance at higher level
• High grade 80:20 brass For durability and improved sound
• Underslung 8ve mechanism For reliability
• Floating plate design for little finger (LH) cluster Aids fast movement
• 'Abalone' pearls To enhance appearance
• Blue steel springs Rust resistant with better tension memory
• Italian leather pads More waterproof so more reliable
• Resonator pads For enhanced projection and tonal depth
• Adjustable thumb rest Increases playing comfort
• Adjustable back stops For easier adjustment and faster servicing
• G#/Bb & F/F# independent adjustment Adds strength, rigidity and reliability
• Mechanism includes: Front F, High F#, High G

Accessories: High quality lightweight case with backpack/shoulder straps, mouthpiece, cap, ligature, reed

Variations: Nil

Benefits for Customer:

• Inexpensive
• Accurate tuning
• Professional spec
• High performance:cost ratio
• Choice of finish to suit all requirements

Applications and Characteristics:

This instrument is a brand new design, intended for the more demanding player. It is supplied with a 'student friendly' mouthpiece but responds well to the addition of a professional mouthpiece which will substantially increase its performance capacity and fine-tune it to the player.

Weight and Dimensions:

4.5kg 79x19x24cms (single)10kg 76x39x27cms (multiple)

Reviews

"I received this saxophone last week and have had great pleasure playing it.

The sax feels light, which for me is good, as I play without a sling and am now developing arthritis in my wrists. In fact it's 200gm heavier than my 1926 Buescher True-Tone, but so nicely balanced that it feels lighter on the right hand. Good news for us oldies and for younger/smaller players, too.

I like the integrated neck and (therefore) absence of a curved alternative crook, thought his might not suit everyone.

Overall construction and appearance are of a high quality.

Against expectations, I stuck with the mouthpiece provided, which plays very well. In fact, on this instrument, I prefer it to my (presumably more expensive) Vandoren, Barone and Link m/pieces. The square cross-section of the chamber arch reminds me of the Selmer S-80. It speaks clearly throughout the entire range of the instrument from low Bb to high G.

Intonation is excellent. The usual variations at tops and bottoms of registers lie within a very narrow range on this instrument.

Tone is even throughout the instrument. Inevitable differences of tone for overlapping notes either side of the break are useful, therefore, rather than sounding like different instruments, one too thin and one to thick.

The keys are smooth, even, fast and well positioned. My relatively short little fingers can be problematic with low Bb on some instruments. No problem at all with the JP243, which has a well-designed plate for the left-hand cluster. On some instruments altissimo keys are often difficult to find or too easily opened inadvertently, especially for players with smaller hands. Not so with the JP243. Fingering is intuitive and comfortable on this sax.

In conclusion, this is a remarkable instrument for its price range, and I would recommend it to beginners and professionals alike."

Professor David Burnand Royal College of Music London SW7 2BS Feb 2012