SAXOPHONE DESIGNER and
At the age of 19 Friso had already developed a love affair for the saxophone, helping out weekends in a saxophone repair shop. In his twenties he was sidetracked by a career in science, working on a PhD in neurobiology. But after a while he couldn’t silence his passion for the sax.
Amsterdam Winds was born in 2002. At first selling and repairing a broad range of wind instruments, Amsterdam Winds quickly built a name for itself as a workshop for sax aficionados. Friso became an internationally acclaimed saxophone repairman. In 2009 a new adventure began when he started research on the construction of his own saxophone. This resulted in the Free Wind alto saxophone played by Candy Dulfer and Will Vinson.
Although Amsterdam Winds is no longer a regular saxophone shop, Friso now focuses primarily on making saxophone necks which can greatly improve any saxophone.
Aside from making necks, Friso is working on a new tenor saxophone that he is completely building by himself including the tools and machinery needed for production.
During the research and development process of his tenor saxophone Friso worked with some of his favorite musicians amongst others Joshua Redman.
Although Amsterdam Winds is no longer a regular saxophone shop, Friso now focuses primarily on making saxophone necks which can greatly improve any saxophone.
Aside from making necks, Friso is working on a new tenor saxophone that he is completely building by himself including the tools and machinery needed for production.
During the research and development process of his tenor saxophone Friso worked with some of his favorite musicians amongst others Joshua Redman. A new alto model is also planned.
Read more about Friso
Friso featured in Dutch newspaperHet Parool (PDF)
Friso featured on Dutch TV Noord Holland
Friso featured in Esquire 2014 (PDF)
Friso featured in Japanese magazine Sax&Brass
Friso featured in Esquire 2013 (PDF)
Friso’s Free Wind alto saxophone featured on front page of Dutch newspaper Volkskrant Magazine
Friso ‘the Artisan’ in Esquire
“The combination of craftsmanship and the elusively beautiful sound ultimately produced is what makes this work so very satisfying.”
Friso Heidinga
