This looks like a great leap forward. It has been around for a long time, but can't seem to quite get off the ground. Has anyone here played or even seen one of these? I would like to hear your impressions if you have.

I haven't played or seen one in the flesh, but from what I have read it is very expensive and you have to learn a new fingering system.

Yes, I was fortunate enough to play the JS SAX!

I met Jim Schmidt (and his JS SAX) personally a couple of times at the Anaheim CA Winter NAMM.

Jim Schmidt is a very nice guy and I was blown away when I asked him if I could play it that he was kind enough to allow me to. This is a play very custom handmade creation indeed. But then I surprised Jim because I could actually play it right away.

Jim calls it a "linear scale" and it is a totally different finger board from a regular sax. If you could cross a sax with a guitar, this is what you would get. I say that not to be funny but because the keyboard layout is is more like the chromatic fretboard of guitar. If you can get your head wrapped around that concept you'll do fine in understanding it. But once you figure it out, this no problem...and YES, it has ALL THE NOTES a regular modern day sax has.

The reason I figured it out so quickly was be cause I look it over first before I played it.

The FIRST thing I saw was the JS sax has a OPEN G# KEY (like the very old flutes had at one time). So whatever cool licks and riffs you do on your sax ain't gonna happen if you don't find the key thingie that closes the G# pad. You won't even go into the lower stack with that G# key open, but once you learn to keep your finger down on the G# key, it's no problem.

The second this that will throw you a curve is it has an important RIGHT HAND THUMB KEY, because that has to be down too. I can't remember what it was for I think it was for a F it F#. But you will have an open lower stack pad if that key is not closed.

The third thing was the DOUBLE OCTAVE KEY. I think one of the octave keys was actually a C or C# key. Which leads to the FOURTH thing about the JS Linear Sax. The C/C# thingie was also really different.

There is a lot of information about this instrument and Jim Schmidt and I might add he told me he is looking for investors.

Steve Goodson did an excellent video interview of him demonstrating and explaining the sax that you ought to see. Go here:
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=the+jim+Schmidt+saxophone&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=

While I was smart enough to figure out how the JS SAX works, I am not smart enough to know or understand "Basic Formatting Rules" on this forum and how to get pictures up here like you did. But if you want some pictures of this sax that I took, the just send me an email request direct, I will send you the pictures I took of it at NAMM. You can email me at: jim.scimonetti@gmail.com

By the way Bill, I like your avatar photo.

Here is a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeatWHC3zvk

Saxophone.com and JS Engineering Announce Partnership with
Gulf Musical Instruments to Build High Tech Saxophone

PRESS RELEASE: U. S. And China, March 17, 2011 - Saxophone.com and JS Engineering are proud to announce their new partnership with Gulf Musical Instruments of Jiashan, China, to manufacture the first true upgrade to the saxophone since the Boehm (diatonic) fingering system was introduced more than 150 years ago. According to the partners, the new saxophone will utilize the Schmidt, or linear, fingering system in which each consecutive finger produces a half step (chromatic). With this system, all fingers and both thumbs are utilized for added dexterity. In addition, the instrument is built with stainless steel rods and cups, and repelling magnets instead of springs. All of these features lead to an advanced saxophone that very easy to learn and play, and one which provides players of all levels an instrument that not only sounds great but is also comfortable to use.

The new saxophone named “Avatar” will be manufactured to JS Engineering specifications by Gulf Musical Instruments and will be marketed and distributed through Saxophone.com, a company that presently sells and rents house-brand saxophones and related accessories online. The long-term relationships among the principals of Saxophone.com and Gulf Musical Instruments, the company that presently manufactures Saxophone.com instruments, has made it possible to for all of the partners to come to mutual agreements and work smoothly together.
Garret Hypes, owner of Saxophone.com expressed his own excitement about his company's new joint venture with Gulf Musical Instruments "This is the first true upgrade to the saxophone since the Boehm system more than 150 years ago. To finally have a faster modern fingering system that is just as easy in all of the keys is a dream come true. Add to this the use of stainless steel rods and cups as well as repelling magnets for springs and you have the most advanced saxophone in the world."

Jim Schmidt, Owner of JS Engineering, inventor and present manufacturer of the Schmidt System chromatic saxophone, stated that, "After years of creating expensive hand-built horns and hearing from many potential customers who want the Schmidt fingering system but can't afford the high cost of an individually handmade horn, I have found a friend and company that is willing to take on the job of manufacturing high quality horns with the new fingering system at an attractive price. We are currently working together to develop a design that is unique, yet capable of being mass produced. There are still some details to work out, but the new user-friendly design is close to being finalized. Production of the Avatar should start in the next few months. In addition, we also have a completed tested design for the flute with the same fingering system to provide easy movement from one instrument to the other."

Brian Hu President of Gulf Musical Instruments and eldest brother of the Hu family added “The timing is perfect because we are in the process of building a new modernized saxophone factory and we have the time to build the tooling and train our people in the new techniques required for this revolutionary new type of saxophone construction.”
Billy Hu, Brian's younger brother and chief export trade negotiator for Gulf Musical Instruments, stated, “We all feel excited about building something completely new that truly advances the playability of the saxophone. We are making history.”

Description of the Companies

Saxophone.com was founded in 1999 by Garrett Hypes, a highly-regarded professional woodwinds player. His goal is to supply musicians with top quality saxophones and accessories at the best possible prices. The company offers for sale and rent, a wide selection of top-notch products; including house brand saxes, accessories and educational materials at excellent prices. Saxophone.com intermediate saxophones are currently manufactured at Gulf Musical Instruments.

Gulf Musical Instruments was founded in 1965 in Taiwan by Mark Hu. In 1989, the factory relocated from Taiwan to China and is now one of the largest and most modern musical instrument manufacturers in that country. The new expanded factory is located in Jiashan, just west of Shanghai and is now expertly managed by eldest son, Brian Hu, and and brother, Jeffrey Hu. The factory presently manufactures saxophones and other high quality instruments for a number of band instrument companies in the U.S., China and throughout the world.

JS ENGINEERING was started in 1990 in California by Jim Schmidt, the inventor and developer of the chromatic saxophone. Jim built his first instrument in the mid-70s, and since then has developed new concepts and designs for the flute and saxophone. Presently, he makes each chromatic saxophone by hand to the highest standards of design and craftsmanship. He is also a professional musician and demonstrates his new designs and instruments at schools, workshops, conferences and other venues.

For comprehensive information on Saxophone.com and JS Engineering and their new partnership with China-based Gulf Musical Instruments, check outhttp://www.saxophone.com or its Facebook fan page on http://www.facebook.com/SaxophoneDotCom.

Summary: A revolutionary new saxophone utilizing a linear fingering system will be produced through a partnership among Saxophone.com, JS Engineering and Gulf Musical Instruments.

PRESS OFFICE
Contact Person: Garrett Hypes
Telephone number: 702-263-6826
Email: garrett@saxophone.com

Here are some preliminary photos of our trip. Go to:

http://www.facebook.com/SaxophoneDotCom?sk=photoshttp://www.facebook.com/SaxophoneDotCom?sk=photos

Most of the photo are from the old Gulf factory that is now mostly being used for Gulf office space. I will out get video as well as photos of the new factory soon.

Jim is a for real genius, but this horn will be expensive to make, and I think it will only appeal to a small number of actual buyers. It's just too different to have mass appeal.

my sources from across the Great Waters to the West tell me this deal has totally fallen apart and is not going to happen.....it's a shame....

Would Saxgourmet consider making horns with this system? It looks like the sort of thing that is along the lines of your goals.

That's totally Jim's deal.....Jim is a long time good friend of mine, and a true genius, but we don't make other people's horn designs....I am very familiar with this product, and a great admirer of it....it totally works just like Jim says it does...But it's not for us, and we have no interest in going in this direction.

A little bird tells me there is some interest on the part of a manufacturer

The important question is if there is any real buyer interest, or just talk.talk is cheap, and I doubt that this horn will be.

get a fork.....this project is done.....