Angular arpeggios, bar honking, playing out, playing in...the tenor sax and its players have led the jazz world for more than 70 years. Any of the horns below could help you lead jazz in the next millenium.
- 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.
Available Models
Buescher True Tone
This is a later "True Tone" tenor (1929) with a few Aristocrat key changes such as the pearled thumb touchpiece on the octave key, and the F#/G#/Bis regulating mechanism. Its silver plate is original, showing little wear, and has gold plate in the bell interior, G# key roller, and original snap-in resonators. Neck is original and in fine condition. Original case included. These tenors are awesome players, with good intonation and a dark, rich, smooth tone. Scheduled for new pads, reusing the original resonators.
Buescher Aristocrat
Here is an Aristocrat from approximately 1939. It is no longer beautiful, but it has a solid body and neck, and will be a fine player with good intonation. Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job*.
Buescher Aristocrat
This Aristocrat is from 1949 and has the "Big B"-style engraving. Original lacquer is 95+% with little wear, and the body is straight and exceptionally clean. The neck is in great condition with no pull-down. In excellent condition overall, this is a fine example of a great-playing tenor with a fat, dark tone and lots of character and core to the sound. Older pads with original metal snap-in resonators will be replaced.
Buescher 400
A Buescher 400 from 1950 with "top hat and cane" engraving, raised silver "Buescher 400" name, and a detailed engraving of a castle beside a lake. Lacquer is in good condition, with wear on many touchpieces. Nylon resonator pads are in good condition, and the original case is still around the horn. Norton springs and the Buescher silver tone ring on the bell are all present. If you are looking for a fine player with a fat, punchy tone, look no further.
Buescher 400
Later 400 that still blows well, snap-in resonators, original lacquer in very good condition.
Conn "Chu"
A 1925 New Wonder "Chu" tenor in Silverplate! Rolled tone holes, Crosshatched G#, Big Powerful Sound! This tenor has it all! Body is straight, neck is in great condition and pads are in good condition as well. Plate is original and has wear. Rollers and pearls are in good condition and all original. Roar with the Best!
Conn "Chu"
This bare brass "Chu" tenor from 1927 has a beautifully straight body with no previous damage; neck is also perfect, with no pull-down. Rolled tone holes have never been filed. It has the crosshatched G# key, original pearls and rollers, and longer palm keys. Serial stamping is very deep, with no signs of buffing. Bare brass saxophones like this usually came from the Conn factory with Conn stamping only, no flowery engraving was standard. Original Conn case included. Newer nylon resonator pads intact; I will go through the tenor thoroughly and make sure all pads are tight and in good condition.
Martin "Committee"
An original, silver-plated "The Martin" tenor from 1951! Engraved "US", its pads are in good condition. It has nice, quick action with a great, punchy sound.
Selmer "Mark VI"
Made in 1969, original lacquer, tight and fast key action, and original neck. Pads are in great condition with oversized Reso-tech brass resonators. This tenor speaks with a powerful voice and a nice balance of bright and dark.
