VintageSax: Alto Saxophones
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Johnny Hodges, Sigurd Rascher, Cannonball Adderley...Eric Dolphy...Arthur Blythe and Charles McPherson... Marcel Mule and Benny Carter. All of these artists have used the innate lyricism of the alto sax to make their statements. Which one of these will you choose to make yours?
- Horns marked with an asterisk (*) are scheduled for a standard VintageSax pad job. This means the sax will be completely disassembled, cleaned, polished, have necessary dentwork completed, and have any play in the mechanism eliminated. New pads will be floated in, and all corks and felts replaced; typically, I use Ultrasuede on the bar keys and teflon on the sliding surfaces.
- Please click on the links at the various instruments to see pictures! To enlarge photos, double-click on the photo, and then click on the orange square with arrows.
| Make | Model | Serial Number |
Finish | Comments | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buescher | True Tone | 148xxx | Silverplate | The silver plating on this TrueTone is near-perfect. It also has the beautifully gold-plated bell interior. Made in late 1923, this alto is a survivor...it even has its factory original pads intact! If you are looking for a 1920s, sweet-sounding alto that looks like new, here she is. Scheduled for a hand-polishing and a VintageSax pad job*. | $800 |
| Buescher | True Tone | 233xxx | Goldplate | Original gold plate is 90%. Scheduled for new pads* and hand-polishing. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | New Aristocrat | 2653xx | Silverplate | Satin silver-plated body with gold bell interior. Excellent condition. Transitional model (1933) with the tone of the "True Tone" but the better ergonomics and pitch like the Aristocrat. Has the "**" neck. Scheduled for hand polishing and a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | New Aristocrat | 2654xx | Silverplate | A beautiful New Aristocrat with 100% original silverplate finish and gold-plated bell interior. Neck is stamped "01". New pads have original metal resonators still intact. The horn has a sweet, dark tone with good projection, good intonation, and just a little bit of brilliance. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | New Aristocrat | 2655xx | Lacquer | A New Aristocrat from 1933 with a lacquer finish. Has the "01" neck, and its pads are in good condition. This alto has an especially dark tone quality, and excellent intonation. | $1600 |
| Buescher | New Aristocrat | 267xxx | Silverplate | Original silver plate is 95%+. Made in 1934, this is a rare transitional alto with a #3 neck. Its tone is focused and sweet like a True Tone, but with greatly-improved key mechanisms and intonation. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | Aristocrat | 280xxx | Lacquer | This original-lacquered Aristocrat is from 1937. It has a very clean body, with minimal lacquer wear. Snap-in resonators, Norton springs, and the wonderful intonation and dark, smooth tone that the best Aristocrats are known for! | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | Aristocrat | 290xxx | Lacquer | Here's a 1939 Aristocrat alto with original lacquer. It may not look bright and shiny, but it has a smooth, dark, resonant tone and great intonation. Original snap-in resonators intact, along with Norton springs and "Art Deco"-style engraving. Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | Aristocrat | 291xxx | Lacquer | Made in 1940, this alto has the "Art Deco"-style engraving, its body is clean and straight with all-original pearls and rollers. Has the 01 neck, snap-in resonators, and Norton springs. Scheduled for new pads. | $1400 |
| Buescher | Aristocrat | 297xxx | Lacquer | Made in 1942, its original lacquer is 90%+, has the "Big B" engraving, and gold-plated Norton springs. Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | Aristocrat | 307xxx | Silverplate | Original silverplated Aristocrat with the "Big B" engraving from 1946. It is in beautiful condition and will polish up nicely. Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job.* | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | 400 | 322xxx | Lacquer | A Buescher "400" model from 1949 with the "top hat and cane" and "castle scene" engraving. This horn is no longer pretty, but it plays great! It's very free-blowing, and the sound just roars! Pads are in good condition. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | Aristocrat | 334xxx | Silverplate | A beautiful, original silverplated alto from 1950. Definitely a special order horn from Buescher (plating was rarely done by this time). Gold plate inside the bell, Norton springs, and a straight, clean body. Scheduled for hand-polishing and a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | 400 | 556xxx | Lacquer | Original lacquer is 95%+, has good pads with Buescher snap-in metal resonators. | $1000 |
| Conn | "Chu" | 171xxx | Goldplate | Original satin gold plate! Has the crosshatched G# key. Is scheduled for new pads.* | $1500 |
| Conn | "Chu" | 180xxx | Silverplate | A silver "Chu" alto in good condition, with split bell keys, the crosshatched G# key, and rolled tone holes. Made in 1926. | Available Soon... |
| Conn | "Chu" | 227xxx | Goldplate | A gold-plated alto from 1929! The engraving on this horn is special, a cabin scene by a lake with mountains in the background...looks like Utopia to me! I have disassembled this alto and it is awaiting new pads. Of course, it has rolled tone holes, the microtuner neck, and all of Conn's special qualities. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Conn | "Chu" | 235xxx | Silverplate | This Conn alto came from the factory in 1929. It has the great "Chu" sound with some upgraded mechanisms - like the built-up high E key and higher palm keys. Its silverplate is very good, as is the gold plate inside the bell. Rolled tone holes and a fine-tuner neck. | $1500 |
| Conn | 6M | 245xxx | Silverplate | Early 6M made in 1931, silver-plated body with gold-plated bell interior, "Art Deco" engraving, and rolled tone holes. Scheduled for hand-polishing and a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Conn | 6M | 267xxx | Silverplate | Restoration of this transitional alto is complete. It has new silver plate, with gold plate inside the bell, and is lovely. Rolled tone holes, microtuner neck. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Conn | 6M | 285xxx | Lacquer | An original lacquered 6M from 1939! Has the "Ladyface" engraving, rolled tone holes, microtuner neck, and is stamped "VIII" on both the neck and the body. This alto has a lot of promise! Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Conn | 26M "Connqueror" |
298xxx | Lacquer | Original lacquer with silver touchpieces. Rolled toneholes. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Conn | 6M | 300xxx | Lacquer | Made in 1941 and it still has 95% of its original lacquer! Stamped "VIII" on the body and neck, rolled tone holes, and "Ladyface" engraving on the bell. One of the best! Great intonation and tone...scheduled for a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Conn | 6M | 322xxx | Lacquer | Original lacquer is very good on this alto from 1947. It has the "Ladyface" engraving, rolled tone holes, and a tuner neck. Great sound with awesome projection. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| King | New Voll True | 140xxx | Silverplate | Made in 1932, this predecessor to the Zephyr has lovely original silver plate with gold plate inside bell. Original case, too! | $1200 |
| King | Zephyr | 196xxx | Silverplate | This Zephyr dates to the late 1930s. This alto is in excellent cosmetic condition, with 99% original silver plate. The "art deco" engraving and key mechanism make for a stunning appearance. It has the triple strap ring and double-sleeved neck as well. Scheduled for a hand polishing and a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| King | Zephyr | 261xxx | Silverplate | Made in 1941, this lovely alto has 99% original silver plate, and a beautiful, gold-plated bell interior. Its neck has a double socket, and it has a triple-loop strap ring. Its rollers and pearls are all original, and its original tweed case is too cool! Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Selmer | Mark VI | 565xx | Lacquer | What a find...a 95% original lacquer Mark VI from 1954! This is from the estate sale of a professional musician. Look at the beautiful engraving. Has a blue S on the neck, and its pads are in good condition. You don't find early Mark VIs like this anymore... | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Selmer | Mark VI | 64xxx | Lacquer | This Mark VI dates from 1956. It was probably relacquered long ago and is now mostly bare brass. "American"-style engraving. The neck plays with the horn, but is not original. Needs new pads and some dent work. I'll sell the horn as-is, or provide a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Selmer | Mark VI | 187xxx | Lacquer | A 1971 Mark VI with original lacquer around 75%. Pads are old, so expect to do a repad and remove a few light dents, or I can do this work if you like. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Selmer | Series 3 | 640xxx | Silverplate | This is Selmer's top-line Paris-made professional alto. It is about 5 years old, and has had light use. It is keyed to high F#, and still has its original mouthpiece and case. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Sopranos & Sopraninos | Tenors | Baritones & Basses | Miscellaneous Winds | Mouthpieces | How to Purchase a VintageSax |