VintageSax: Alto Saxophones
| Sopranos & Sopraninos | Tenors | Baritones & Basses | Miscellaneous Winds | Mouthpieces | How to Purchase a VintageSax |
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 | Beautiful "True Tone" in original silver plate, with gold-plated bell interior. Take a look at the gorgeous satin texture...this horn is MINTY! A VintageSax pad job has just been completed, using original metal snap-in resonators. It plays easily to low Bb and has a warm, sweet tone. Original case included. | $900 |
| Buescher | True Tone | 233xxx | Goldplate | Original gold plate is 90%. Scheduled for new pads* and hand-polishing. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | New Aristocrat | 26337x | Silverplate | This is a "Dream" transitional alto from 1931 with a "**" stamped neck. The satin silverplate/goldplate finish combination is perfect. The texture of the plate is as nice as it was in 1931. I don't often use the word MINT - but this is when it can be used without apology. Original resonators will be reused with new pads*. I'll also hand-polish it with great care. | 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 | 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 | New Aristocrat | 26774x | Lacquer | Made in 1934, this alto has the famed "#3" neck. Pads are in like-new condition, and the horn plays with a dark resonance that is wonderful. It needs a home where cosmetics are not an issue, so it can be appreciated for the fine player that it is. | $1700 |
| Buescher | Aristocrat | 278xxx | Lacquer | This 1936 Aristocrat has a lush, dark, centered tone that is sure to please. It's a lively, clear player with great intonation. Has the "Art Deco" engraving, Norton springs, and original resonators intact. Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job*. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Buescher | Aristocrat | 285xxx | Silverplate | A 1938 Aristocrat with 100% original silver plate and a nice gold-plated bell interior. New pads seat beautifully, and the horn plays like butter! Great intonation and a rich, fat tone that projects... | 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 | 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 | 337xxx | Lacquer | A Buescher 400 from 1950, with the "Top Hat and Cane" engraving, raised "Buescher 400" on the bell, Norton springs, tone ring, and snap-in resonators. Although this alto is no longer pretty, it will be a wonderful player. Body is clean and straight. Scheduled for 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. | $850 |
| Conn | "Chu" | 1703xx | Silverplate | Split-bell-keyed alto from 1926. Its original silver plate is 95%+, with gold-plated bell interior. It has the crosshatched G# key, rolled tone holes, and the microtuner neck. This alto will be stunning when I've hand-polished it, and replaced the original white pads with new ones. | $1450 |
| 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 | 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 | Transitional 6M |
24695x | Silverplate | This museum-quality alto from 1931 has Conn's "Art Deco" engraving and rolled tone holes. The satin silver plated finish is perfect, as is the gold-plated bell interior. MINT condition! The original case is in wonderful condition, too. | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Conn | 6M | 250xxx | Silverplate | This 6M is worthy of any collection. It dates to 1932, and still has the original guarantee card, lyre, mouthpiece, ligature, cap, case, and case keys. Its satin silver plate is perfect, and gold-plated bell interior lovely. Has rolled tone holes, swivel thumbrest, and "ladyface" engraving. Notice the satin texture...it's just as nice as the day it came from the factory! Scheduled for hand-polishing and 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 | A 6M with original lacquer from 1941. It has "VIII" stamping on the body and the neck, a microtuner on the neck, rolled tone holes, and the "Ladyface" engraving. Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job.* | In soon... |
| Conn | 6M | 322xxx | Silverplate | A beautiful 6M in original silver plate with a gold-plated bell interior. Has the "Ladyface" engraving, rolled tone holes, and a fine-tunable neck. This 6M was made in 1947, but has been well cared-for. It will be minty when hand-polished. Scheduled for a VintageSax pad job.* | Call or write Vintagesax |
| Conn | 6M | 334xxx | Silverplate | This 6M dates to 1949. It is one of the first Conns with straight tone holes. Silver plate is original, as is the gold-plated bell interior. Has "ladyface" engraving, a fine-tuner neck, and very good brass quality. Scheduled for hand-polishing and a VintageSax pad job.* | Call or write Vintagesax |
| 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 |
| Martin | "Committee" | 180xxx | Lacquer | A "Committee" model from 1952. Original lacquer, beautiful engraving, adjustable thumbrest. Neck has same serial number as body. Quick, light action. Scheduled for 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. | as is: $4000 |
| Sopranos & Sopraninos | Tenors | Baritones & Basses | Miscellaneous Winds | Mouthpieces | How to Purchase a VintageSax |