Jinbao Bass Saxes: a reference guide
Jinbao Bass Saxes: a reference guide

Jinbao Bass Saxes: a reference guide

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Asian-made modern bass saxophones

Asian-made modern bass saxophones

patent drawing, Jinbao sax saxophone, CN101409069A,

Patent of a knockoff: the Jinbao bass

Jinyin Bass Saxes: a reference guide

Jinbao Bass Saxes: a reference guide

A – J K – S T – Z

Thomann

Model: TBB-150; TBB-150BN; TBB-150S
Feb 2021 – Present (2026)
Price (Lacquer)
  • April 15, 2021 – $2998 US **
  • Oct 2021 – $2899 US
  • June 15, 2022 – $2690 US **
  • Sept 10, 2022 – $2499 US **
  • July 29, 2023 – $2790 US **
  • Apr 8, 2024 – $2699 US**
  • Mar 6, 2025 – $2599 US**
  • May 17, 2025 – $2799 US**
  • July 30, 2025 – $2959 US**
  • June 30, 2026 – $2859 US
Price (Black Nickel)
  • Oct 5, 2024 – $3066 US**
  • Nov 22, 2024 – $2899 US**
  • Aug 22, 2025 – $3222 US**
  • Oct 6, 2025 – $3222 US**
  • Jan 15, 2026 – $3199 US**
  • June 30, 2026 – $3111 US
Price (Silver)
  • July 29, 2023 – $3222 US**
  • Aug 22, 2025 – $3399 US**
  • June 30, 2026 – $3333 US

NB: ** These prices retrieved from the Internet Archive WayBack machine.

Description:

Bass saxophone
Down to low Bb
High F#
Adjustable thumb rest
Body and keys made of brass
Clear lacquer finish
Weight: 8.6 kg
Includes case with castors, mouthpiece with ligature and screw-off endpin

Source: thomannmusic.com

More Info

According to the Thomann website, the black nickel horn has been available since August 2023, and the silver plated bass since August 2022.

Every since Thomann introduced its TBB-150 bass, their rock-bottom prices have been remarkable consistent. I am very unclear how these differ from the Levante at more than double the price.

At the end of the day though, they are still Jinbao-made bass saxophones, and presumably have the weaknesses I identified in the Jinbao specimen I play-tested in 2023. As a matter of fact, you can see many of the things I ID’d as problematic in the photos on the Thomann website.

But then this is a 3K bass sax. You get what you pay for.

Tuyama®

Models: TBS-271 (2013) TBB-200 (2026)
Circa 2013 – Present (2026)
Price
  • Dec 2013 – €3999.00 ($4992.95 US) on Totalbrass’ eBay store
  • June 2026 – €4996.00 ($5704.84 US according xe.com) on Totalbrass website
Description TBS-271:

Tuyama ® TBS-271 Bass Saxophone in B flat

The Instrument

High quality bass saxophone in Bb. Its excellent intonation and an easy playability make this instrument perfectly suited for semiprofessional saxophone players.

Details

in Bb
low Bb and high F# key
body and neck: brass, lacquered
leather pads, stainless steel springs
adjustable thumb key
high quality mouthpiece included
high-quality case with backpack straps

produced in China, tested in Germany

Description TBB-200:

Product Information “Tuyama® TBB-200 Bass Saxophone in B”
Pitch: B
Range: Low B to High F#
Material: Brass, lacquered
Adjustable thumb rest
Leather pads
Mouthpiece and case included
Our Tuyama® TBB-200 bass saxophone stands out for its very light response, which is exceptional for this type of instrument. The intonation is excellent, and the craftsmanship is very solid. It’s the perfect choice for any musician looking for a high-quality bass saxophone at a fair and affordable price.

The instrument features high-quality craftsmanship and is equipped with leather pads throughout.

With its adjustable thumb rest, the TBB-200 can be flexibly adapted to the player’s anatomy.

Condition: New

Color: Gold

Material: Brass

Tuning: B

Warranty: 24 months

The Tuyama® brand is our in-house brand for music schools and hobbyists. Tuyama® instruments are distinguished in particular by their reliability, excellent playability, and exceptional value for money. This makes them extremely popular, especially among students and hobby musicians. We develop and distribute our instruments ourselves. As musicians, we understand and share the expectations our customers have for our products. We value the trust placed in us and are committed to doing everything we can to live up to it. That’s why we thoroughly test all our products for functionality before shipping.

Source: totalbrass.de

More Info

I am not sure why Totalbrass changed the model number of their Jinbao-made bass sax. The photo they provide is more or less exactly the same. The horn appears identical. The only difference is the newer one is in greater detail.

Wessex

Model: SAX120 (2021) WSXBS-900 (2026)
Circa 2015 – Present (2026)
Price
  • Jan 2015 – $4975 US Lacquer on wessex-tubas.com website
  • Jan 2015 – $5275 US Silver plated on wessex-tubas.com website
  • Oct 2021 – £4,281.00 on wessex-tubas.com website
  • June 2026 – $7750 US Gold Lacquer on wessexwoodwind.com
Description 2015:

Consider by some to be one of the best bass saxophone made in China, these are building up an increasing good reputation. Although mainly a brass stockist, these are available to order from Wessex Tubas to provide a good quality bass saxophones at reasonable price.

Specifications:
Key Bb
Range: Low Bb to High F#

Source: wessex-tubas.com

Description 2026:

The Wessex WSXBS-900 Bass Saxophone delivers the commanding presence and depth of the lowest member of the saxophone family. Designed for players seeking a powerful foundation, this instrument produces a resonant, room-filling tone that anchors ensembles and opens up new creative possibilities.

Despite its size, the WSXBS-900 is built with ergonomics in mind, featuring carefully balanced keywork that allows the player to handle the instrument comfortably. Constructed from yellow brass with hand engraving and a robust build, it combines striking appearance with reliability. Each instrument is individually set up for smooth action, precise intonation, and dependable pad sealing, ensuring confident performance from the start.

Ideal for advanced students, professionals, and ensembles looking to extend their sonic range, the WSXBS-900 is both an eye-catching and musically inspiring addition to any saxophonist’s collection.

Why Choose the Wessex WSXBS-900 Bass Saxophone?

Produces a rich, resonant bass voice that adds depth and power to ensembles.
Ergonomically designed keywork helps manage the size of the instrument comfortably.
Durable build and careful setup give players confidence on stage or in the studio.
A rare instrument, offering both visual impact and a unique tonal character.

Features
Level: Intermediate to professional
Range: Low A to high F#
Model: WSXBS-900 Bass Saxophone (Bb)
Material: Brass
Pads: Leather pads with domed metal resonators
Key Touches: Imitation mother of pearl
Available Finish: Gold lacquer
Engraving: Hand-engraved bell
Factory Setup: Each instrument receives a careful setup by our technician for reliable intonation, pad sealing, and smooth key action on arrival.
Comes With
Lightweight case
Mouthpiece, ligature, reed, and reed cap
Saxophone sling (neck strap)

Source: wessexwoodwind.com/

Extra Info

It is worth mentioning that although Wessex changed the model number of their Jinbao-made bass, the photos they used on their new woodwind-specific website are exactly the same as the ones they used in 2021.

Wilmington Bass Saxophone

Model: ST
Circa 2021 – Present (2026)
Price
  • October 2021 – $6500 US
  • Nov 26, 2022 – $7,848.75 US **
  • Dec 10, 2024 – $7,063.88 US Sale $7,848.75  US Reg Price**
  • Apr 20, 2025 – $7,848.75 US **
  • March 11, 2026 – $7,848.00 US $9,810.00 **
  • July 2026 – $7848 US

NB: ** These prices retrieved from the Internet Archive WayBack machine.

Description:

Our Wilmington Bass Saxophone feels great and very solid, with keys that lay well under the hands almost like a baritone. The tone is even throughout, the intonation is remarkably good, and it responds well in all registers! This highly adjustable and repairable instrument undergoes extensive set-up at the Sax ProShop before it ships.

DETAILS
Traditionally, the Bass saxophone’s uniquely large size came with cumbersome ergonomics and well known intonation and response issues. The secret to why the Wilmington Bass plays so well is in the set-up!

We’ve done SO much work and research on bass saxophones at the Sax ProShop that we know all the in’s and out’s, which is why we were so particular when choosing the factory that would make it for us. We start with a really solid instrument and when it arrives at the Sax ProShop, that’s where the magic happens.

Set-up is key on such a large instrument in order to bring the player closer to the instrument. A straight-from-the-factory or even a poorly set-up bass could result in the player struggling for years with a problem that could be removed mechanically rather than by their own practice. This is why we spend a significant amount of time on each instrument to set up the key heights, the pad heights, timing, perform our tuning and toning process, and reduce key noise by adding synthetic materials such as ultra suede, tech cork, and teflon to the mechanism as needed for a quiet and smooth action.

The result of our work is a Wilmington Bass Saxophone that feels great and very solid, with keywork that lays well under the hands almost like a baritone. The tone is even throughout, the intonation is remarkably good, and it responds well in all registers. It is highly adjustable and repairable, for all of the bumps and bangs an instrument of such a size inevitably endures.

Features:

*Keyed Low Bb to High F#

*Compact body style

*Ribbed construction

*Completely removable top bow and bow and bell section so the instrument can be mostly disassembled without soldering for easier repairs and dent removal

*Two heavy duty bell-to-body braces to keep the bell in alignment and the low end honkin’

*Two sturdy braces in the top bow that unscrew

*Long hinge rods are nickel which limits flex and keeps the horn in adjustment

*Front F has adjustment screws to remove lost motion

*Bis Bb key *Key contacts under every single floating key to keep them in adjustment and create a solid feel *Side key contacts under Side E, Side C, and Side Bb

*Low C and Eb key touches have an upward ergonomic curve

*Adjustment screws on the top stack keys

*Adjustment screws on sliders for the F# to G# and F# to Bb connections

*Adjustment screws to adjust the swing of the Low B to Low C# connection

*Foot on Low C# lever to give it a solid feel

*Adjustable bell key bumpers

*Blued Steel needle springs for a snappy feel

*Triple Strap Ring

*Adjustable Thumb Rest

*Substantial floor peg

*Optimized body octave vent has been modified for improved octave response

*Comes with hard rubber mouthpiece, ligature, cap, and reed

*Rolling zipper case with a good size storage compartment and plenty of padding

*The Wilmington Logo is engraved in-house, with extra engraving available as an upgrade.

Source: musicmedic.com

Extra Info

Like the PRO, the Wilmington ST is hardly ever in stock, and has been remarkably consistent in price. I am curious if the prices have been updated lately, or since the horns are perpetually out of stock, their prices will have gone up given what is going on with tariffs and trade wars south of the 49th.

Wilmington Bass Saxophone Professional

Model: PRO
Circa 2021 – Present (2026)
Price
  • Nov 29, 2021 – $10,000 US **
  • May 20, 2022 – $10,500 US **
  • Sept 28, 2022 – $11,472.00 US Sale price $12,075.00 Reg **
  • Sept 30, 2023 – $12,075 US **
  • July 2024 – Didn’t record price
  • Dec 10, 2024 – $10,867.50 US Sale price. $12,075.00 US Reg. price**
  • Apr 20, 2025 – $12,075 US **
  • March 11, 2026 – $12,075 US **
  • July 2026 – $12,075 US

NB: ** These prices retrieved from the Internet Archive WayBack machine.

Description:

You could buy another Bass Saxophone that’s more expensive or has a more well known name, but you can’t buy another bass that plays all the notes! The Wilmington Pro Bass Saxophone is the ONLY bass in the world that plays second octave D with the regular fingering, and that’s because it features our proprietary and revolutionary Altarac Vent.

The Altarac Vent is a fully mechanized triple octave vent that allows the player to use all the same fingerings as on other saxophones with no alteration for response. In theory, a perfect saxophone would have a separate octave vent for every single note, but in practice, this would be tons of extra keywork and would be very difficult to set up and maintain. The standard saxophone keywork arrived at the compromise of 2 octave vents: one on the body that vents D2-G#2, and one on the neck that vents A2 and above. This works pretty well on smaller saxophones, but as they get exponentially larger, the compromise doesn’t work so well because the ideal location for a vent such as D2 is pretty far from where the body octave vent is actually located.

The Altarac Vent gets around this issue by installing two additional vents that work in tandem on a teetering mechanism to vent D2 and D#2, and the body octave vent then vents only E2-G#2. To accomplish this requires quite a bit of custom modification, starting from Low D all the way up to the very top of the horn. The additional 3rd octave vent has to be executed precisely so it is adjustable where it needs to be and is fully automated without additional action from the player. Adjustment screws were added so that key heights can still be independently adjusted. This modification designed in the Sax ProShop is truly a thoughtful, well engineered mechanism.

Having a note on the instrument that doesn’t work causes you to have to be on guard for that note- it changes how you read and how you solo. The Altarac Vent allows the player to relax and focus on the music- the way it should be. Although this keywork is new and innovative, it was designed to be adjustable and repairable in a standard fashion by your trusted repair technician. It comes with an oversized clothing guard to protect the mechanism and keep it in adjustment.

As with the Wilmington Standard Bass Saxophone, it has been fully set-up at the Sax ProShop. We spend a significant amount of time on each instrument to set up the key heights, the pad heights, timing, perform our tuning and toning process, and reduce key noise by adding synthetic materials such as ultra suede, tech cork, and teflon to the mechanism as needed for quiet and smooth action.

The result is a bass saxophone that feels great and very solid, with keywork that lays well under the hands almost like a baritone. The tone is even throughout, the intonation is remarkably good, and it speaks well in all registers (no alternate fingerings required). It is highly adjustable and repairable, for all of the bumps and bangs an instrument of such a size inevitably endures.

The Wilmington Pro model is engraved in-house with the Wilmington logo and extensive additional engraving showcasing additional scenes from the beautiful North Carolina coast. Have some custom engraving in mind? Let us know!

Features:

*Altarac Vent, the world’s first fully mechanized triple octave vent

*Keyed Low Bb to High F#

*Compact body style

*Ribbed construction

*Completely removable top bow and bow and bell section so the instrument can be mostly disassembled without soldering for easier repairs and dent removal

*Two heavy duty bell-to-body braces to keep the bell in alignment and the low end honkin’

*Two sturdy braces in the top bow that unscrew

*Long hinge rods are nickel which limits flex and keeps the horn in adjustment

*Front F has adjustment screws to remove lost motion

*Bis Bb key

*Key contacts under every single floating key to keep them in adjustment and create a solid feel

*Side key contacts under Side E, Side C, and Side Bb

*Low C and Eb key touches have an upward ergonomic curve

*Adjustment screws on the top stack keys

*Adjustment screws on sliders for the F# to G# and F# to Bb connections

*Adjustment screws to adjust the swing of the Low B to Low C# connection

*Foot on Low C# lever to give it a solid feel

*Adjustable bell key bumpers

*Blued Steel needle springs for a snappy feel

*Triple Strap Ring *Adjustable Thumb Rest

*Substantial floor peg

*Comes with hard rubber mouthpiece, ligature, cap, and reed *Rolling zipper case with a good size storage compartment and plenty of padding

*Extensive and beautiful engraving done in-house with additional custom engraving available.

Source: musicmedic.com

Extra notes

Like the Wilmington ST, the PRO is hardly ever in stock, and has been remarkably consistent in price. I am curious if the prices have been updated lately, or since the horns are perpetually out of stock, their prices will have gone up given what is going on with tariffs and trade wars south of the 49th.

Xuqiu

Model: XBS001
Catalogued June 2026
Price
  • Not provided on website. They are a wholesaler.
Description:

Bass Saxophone XBS001

MOQ:
10
Brand:
XuQiu,OEM
Place of Origin:
China
Delivery Time:
20-30 days
Tone:
Bb Key,Low Bb to High F#
Material:
Yellow Brass
Surface:
Gold Lacquer

Source: Xuqiu Music

Extra Info

I am very unclear whether or not Xuqiu makes their own bass saxophones, or if they buy them from Jinbao. What is interesting is that they show new, long wrap bass saxophones for order, while Jinyin, the former manufacturer, no longer does. (These long wrap horns are discussed in the Jinyin article.)Very strange indeed.

Xuqiu bass saxophone, Jinbao-made bass saxophone, short wrap bass, stencil sax, Chinese bass sax, Super Action 80 Series II copy,
Source: xuqiumusic.com

Zetland

Model: Not listed
Circa 2021 – Present (2026)
Price
  • Oct 2021 – £3,750.00 on Headwind Music website
  • July 2026 – £3,750.00 ($4981.73 US according to xe.com) on Headwind Music website
Description:

The idea behind the Zetland bass saxophone was to offer a cost effective option for professional players looking for a functional yet inexpensive ‘doubling’ instrument, but what we found is that they are much more than that. Priced as £3,750 we truly believe this is the best value bass saxophone that money can buy today. It’s solid, punchy and astoundingly easy to play, and when coupled with the right mouthpiece the tone is on par with most professional model instruments on the market. But don’t just take our word for it – come in and try it for yourself!

Source: headwindmusic.co.uk

Zetland bass saxophone, Jinbao-made bass saxophone, short wrap bass, stencil sax, Chinese bass sax, Super Action 80 Series II copy,
Source: headwindmusic.co.uk

Asian-made modern bass saxophones

Jinyin Bass Saxes: a reference guide

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *