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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Bueshcer Aristocrat Bari on EBay

BFree
User ID: 8214233 Nov 29th 11:45 AM
Wow..Check this out?

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1489582725

Haven't heard much about how the Buescher Baris play, particularly from the golden age of the Aristocrat. Any comments? Bootman, I'm sure you've given a few a workout.

MusicMan
User ID: 0464054 Nov 29th 2:15 PM
You've been missing my posts, then Bfree. They are wonderful playing and sounding horns. Very dark and lush sound. My Big B is within a few #'s of the one advertised and is great. This one appears to have very good lacquer, almost too good and makes me wonder if it was a later relac. The lacquer on the Big B's was notorious for pitting and flacking off in the area of the engraving. The engraving also looks a bit faint compared to that on mine, although the photos could just be missing the deatil.

BFree
User ID: 8214233 Nov 29th 2:36 PM
MusicMan...Sorry I missed your posts. From the shape of the case, I'm inclined to almost believe the lacquer is original and the horn had been just sitting in a closet for decades. In ANy case..looks like someone's gonna get a nice horn!

MusicMan
User ID: 0464054 Nov 29th 4:06 PM
I'll agree with that and if I already didn't have one, I'd seriously consider this one.

Manofsteel
User ID: 9084913 Nov 29th 5:26 PM
I've been in the market for a used bari. I'd been trying to buy an SML/King-Marigaux but haven't heard back from the guy in a while.

Music Man - How is the keywork on the big B's? I play a Mk VI alto but when I tried to play a friends Balanced Action, I found it too 'primative' feeling for my personal tastes.

Is the Buescher more like the BA or the Mk IV in your opinion?

MusicMan
User ID: 0464054 Nov 30th 10:43 AM
I personally like the keywork on my Big B and when I compare it to memories of playing on my Mk IV from a while back, I really don't have a preference. Some players don't like the non-articulated left hand pinky table on the Big B, but with my large hands, I don't mind it. The action is pretty light and fast, and when I had Steve Goodson overhaul it last year, I had him set it up "average". I haven't had any helpers or risers installed since I wanted to keep it as original as possible, but again, I don't find this to be a problem.

Sound wise, I guess the sound would be more like the BA, dark and rich. The IV I used to play was pretty bright. And that's using both a Brilhart Levelair (original) and a scroll shank Selmer C* on both the Big B and IV. The Levelair makes the Big B growl, but can be a bit problematic intonationwise...

Dale C
User ID: 7691763 Nov 30th 12:30 PM
I have a 1949 Big B bari, and it's a very dark sounding horn. Very easy to play, and smooth and sweet with an RPC mouthpiece. For R&B, I use a Runyon custom with a spoiler and plasticovers, and still don't get a "thin" sound. I'm a tenor player that doubles on the bari, and I find it very easy to get around on.

Dr G
User ID: 9356783 Nov 30th 12:53 PM
Mano,

If you thought a BA alto felt primative, you may not want to consider a bari at all - especially a 50 year (or older) one.

That aside, I recently sold a late '20's Buescher TrueTone which was (is) one of the sweetest sounding, best playing bari's I've experienced. I'm a former BA (tenor) player and the Buescher felt like it was a relic to me. Similarly, although I had a most excellent goldplate Buescher sop from the same era, I couldn't get past the feel of the mechanism. (Current horns are a Ref 36 and a Serie III sop.)

Bootman
User ID: 0756324 Dec 3rd 12:18 AM
The Big B should be a ripper of a horn. It just depends upon how much it goes for.

BFree
User ID: 8214233 Dec 3rd 9:46 PM
Well, it went for $2,025. That doesn't seem to be too much to me if the lacquer was original...hell I'd of considered it if it wasn't. I keep forgettin that part about Christmas being about giving to OTHERS! DAMN! I'd be interested to hear what others think about the price of this one.

Bootman
User ID: 0756324 Dec 4th 1:01 AM
Higher than I would have expected but still in the fair range.

MusicMan
User ID: 0464054 Dec 5th 12:16 PM
I think Steve's site values these horns in the $2500 range, so as long as it didn't need more than $500 work, the buyer has paid a fair price.

Manofsteel
User ID: 9084913 Dec 5th 5:44 PM
Thanks Dr G and Musicman,

Obviously how a horn feels is about as subjective as how one sounds.

I did ask the fellow selling the Bari and he stated that the laquer was original FWIW.

BFree User ID: 8214233	Nov 29th 11:45 AM Wow..Check this out? http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1489582725 Haven't heard much about how the Buescher Baris play, particularly from the golden age of the Aristocrat. Any comments? Bootman, I'm sure you've given a few a workout.
MusicMan User ID: 0464054	Nov 29th 2:15 PM You've been missing my posts, then Bfree. They are wonderful playing and sounding horns. Very dark and lush sound. My Big B is within a few #'s of the one advertised and is great. This one appears to have very good lacquer, almost too good and makes me wonder if it was a later relac. The lacquer on the Big B's was notorious for pitting and flacking off in the area of the engraving. The engraving also looks a bit faint compared to that on mine, although the photos could just be missing the deatil.
BFree User ID: 8214233	Nov 29th 2:36 PM MusicMan...Sorry I missed your posts. From the shape of the case, I'm inclined to almost believe the lacquer is original and the horn had been just sitting in a closet for decades. In ANy case..looks like someone's gonna get a nice horn!
MusicMan User ID: 0464054	Nov 29th 4:06 PM I'll agree with that and if I already didn't have one, I'd seriously consider this one.
Manofsteel User ID: 9084913	Nov 29th 5:26 PM I've been in the market for a used bari. I'd been trying to buy an SML/King-Marigaux but haven't heard back from the guy in a while. Music Man - How is the keywork on the big B's? I play a Mk VI alto but when I tried to play a friends Balanced Action, I found it too 'primative' feeling for my personal tastes. Is the Buescher more like the BA or the Mk IV in your opinion?
MusicMan User ID: 0464054	Nov 30th 10:43 AM I personally like the keywork on my Big B and when I compare it to memories of playing on my Mk IV from a while back, I really don't have a preference. Some players don't like the non-articulated left hand pinky table on the Big B, but with my large hands, I don't mind it. The action is pretty light and fast, and when I had Steve Goodson overhaul it last year, I had him set it up "average". I haven't had any helpers or risers installed since I wanted to keep it as original as possible, but again, I don't find this to be a problem. Sound wise, I guess the sound would be more like the BA, dark and rich. The IV I used to play was pretty bright. And that's using both a Brilhart Levelair (original) and a scroll shank Selmer C* on both the Big B and IV. The Levelair makes the Big B growl, but can be a bit problematic intonationwise...
Dale C User ID: 7691763	Nov 30th 12:30 PM I have a 1949 Big B bari, and it's a very dark sounding horn. Very easy to play, and smooth and sweet with an RPC mouthpiece. For R&B, I use a Runyon custom with a spoiler and plasticovers, and still don't get a "thin" sound. I'm a tenor player that doubles on the bari, and I find it very easy to get around on.
Dr G User ID: 9356783	Nov 30th 12:53 PM Mano, If you thought a BA alto felt primative, you may not want to consider a bari at all - especially a 50 year (or older) one. That aside, I recently sold a late '20's Buescher TrueTone which was (is) one of the sweetest sounding, best playing bari's I've experienced. I'm a former BA (tenor) player and the Buescher felt like it was a relic to me. Similarly, although I had a most excellent goldplate Buescher sop from the same era, I couldn't get past the feel of the mechanism. (Current horns are a Ref 36 and a Serie III sop.)
Bootman User ID: 0756324	Dec 3rd 12:18 AM The Big B should be a ripper of a horn. It just depends upon how much it goes for.
BFree User ID: 8214233	Dec 3rd 9:46 PM Well, it went for $2,025. That doesn't seem to be too much to me if the lacquer was original...hell I'd of considered it if it wasn't. I keep forgettin that part about Christmas being about giving to OTHERS! DAMN! I'd be interested to hear what others think about the price of this one.
Bootman User ID: 0756324	Dec 4th 1:01 AM Higher than I would have expected but still in the fair range.
MusicMan User ID: 0464054	Dec 5th 12:16 PM I think Steve's site values these horns in the $2500 range, so as long as it didn't need more than $500 work, the buyer has paid a fair price.
Manofsteel User ID: 9084913	Dec 5th 5:44 PM Thanks Dr G and Musicman, Obviously how a horn feels is about as subjective as how one sounds. I did ask the fellow selling the Bari and he stated that the laquer was original FWIW.