The Grafton Saxophone was the first plastic saxophone. It was not very durable or playable. It may be a design icon, but not much more. It was designed with an eye to capturing the market of sax players (or their parents) who couldn’t afford brass ones.

It was very art deco in appearance. It had bold lines and curves everywhere. It was white with a brass neck and brass keys. It looks like it should have come out of the art deco craze of the early 20th century.

The sound itself is very odd. It sounds a lot on the tin side. Like someone turned off the bass in their stereo. They were made of cheap plastic at a time when plastic was just taking off. They tended to crack and snap, so there are very few of them left that actually play.

Now a new company is having a go at it. Vibrato Sax is dabbling in the plastic saxophone market. It is also white and looks like some one coated a normal sax in plastic. It is sort of chunky and unattractive in general. These were supposed to be on the market in January of 2008, but are still a no show. Maybe they gave up.

The plastic saxophone is a novelty at best.