Saxquest Museum

The mission of Saxquest Saxophone Museum is to present an extraordinary collection of rare and historically significant saxophones and to preserve and study the history and current progress of the saxophone. To this end we have amassed a large collection of vintage and modern saxophones that are either extremely rare (even one-of-a-kind) and/or represent specific miles stones of achievement in the development of the instrument. In addition to the instruments, museum goers will also enjoy perusing our collections of saxophone accessories, old manufacturing photos and films, vintage catalogs and product memorabilia, vintage and antique books and periodicals, and an interesting collection of historical saxophone recordings. These holdings, which represent a tireless effort that spans over 20 years, comprise a unique and dynamic record of the history of the saxophone and serve as an impressive repository of creative human achievement as it relates to both musical instrument manufacturing and performance.

The museum is located on the 2nd floor of the Saxquest shop and is free and open to the public.

Included in the museum’s collection is a fully restored quartet of original pre-civil war Adolphe Sax saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone). Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in 1846 and very few of his original instruments still exist. Also featured is a Conn-O-Sax, made by the C.G. Conn company in 1928. This wonderful and fascinating instrument was the brainchild of their ill-conceived idea of replacing the orchestra’s English horn or Heckelphone with a saxophone. Very few are known to exist today. Other highlights from the collection include a complete collection of 1920’s vintage gold plate virtuoso deluxe model Conn saxophones with exquisite hand cut engraving and full pearls (bass sax, baritone sax to Eb, baritone sax to F, tenor sax, c-melody sax, alto sax, straight Bb soprano, curved Bb soprano, and C-soprano), a 1950’s vintage acrylic Grafton saxophone (made famous by Charlie Parker at Massey Hall), a pair of Selmer Paris saxophones commemorating their 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair gold medal for clarinet design, and many other rare and one-of-a-kind saxes. From the insanely huge contra bass saxophone to the obscenely small sopranissimo saxophone, the Saxquest Saxophone Museum is a real St. Louis treasure for the music lover or the eclectic museum goer.