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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Buescher Baritone Serial # gap

Gabe
User ID: 9036243 Sep 10th 12:11 AM
Hello,
I've been reading this newsgroup for sometime now and I thought, maybe, all of the knowledgable people could help me with a question. I've noticed on Steve Goodson's site. A big gap for buescher baritone saxophones in the serial #'s around 260-290. I've also noticed several of these bari's being sold on different sites. So basically, I'm wondering if the tooling of these horns is the same as a Tru-tone or if they are like the Big B aristocrats.
Thanks for your help,
Gabe

Bootman
User ID: 7601343 Sep 10th 7:50 AM
There is a coupleof intereting things in this serial range of Buescher Baris. There is the Buescher Custom Baritone which is in the same serial range as the firts of the LH side bell key Aristocrats. These are basically the same as the Big B models in many areas of the design. The major difference is in the placement of the Bell keys between these horns and the 400 model. The feel of the keywork is light, precise and great for players with smaller hands, soundwise these old Buescher Baritones are killer. Big, rich and round, with a resonance that is hard to describe in words.

Overall, a very choice of horn for all applications.

paulwl
User ID: 9272753 Sep 10th 8:38 AM
Gabe may be right. There might have been a time in the late '30s when Buescher took the baritone sax out of production, perhaps because they had leftover inventory.

As far as I've been able to "geek" these things, the first Aristocrat baris appeared at #268k (1934) and were the "transitional" model with Norton springs and improved keywork, but kept the old opposing B and Bb bell. The latest I know of is #276k (1936), my own horn.

The Custom Built bari was made at the same time as the trannys. It was designed like the left bell Crat alto & tenor. Earliest on my geek list is #273k (1935).

Note that the Custom did not carry the Crat label. I think that waited till the Big B model (1940).

Somewhere I have a Buescher ad from 1940 advertising 2 of the above bari models side by side. I'll try and nail it down.

A very nice (and rare) silver tranny bari just sold on eBay. I recognized the names as a couple of excellent Rascherian concert players. For them this would be the ultimate bari, perhaps to start a quartet of their own.

Bootman
User ID: 7601343 Sep 10th 3:34 PM
Paul,
There is a 274K Custom here which is a killer horn too.

Gabe
User ID: 9036243 Sep 10th 11:33 PM
Hey Bootman,

Where is that Custom, I would be interested to see some pictures.

Gabe

Bootman
User ID: 7601343 Sep 11th 6:08 AM
This can be organised. Email me and I will get them sorted out for you.

Gabe User ID: 9036243	Sep 10th 12:11 AM Hello, I've been reading this newsgroup for sometime now and I thought, maybe, all of the knowledgable people could help me with a question. I've noticed on Steve Goodson's site. A big gap for buescher baritone saxophones in the serial #'s around 260-290. I've also noticed several of these bari's being sold on different sites. So basically, I'm wondering if the tooling of these horns is the same as a Tru-tone or if they are like the Big B aristocrats. Thanks for your help, Gabe
Bootman User ID: 7601343	Sep 10th 7:50 AM There is a coupleof intereting things in this serial range of Buescher Baris. There is the Buescher Custom Baritone which is in the same serial range as the firts of the LH side bell key Aristocrats. These are basically the same as the Big B models in many areas of the design. The major difference is in the placement of the Bell keys between these horns and the 400 model. The feel of the keywork is light, precise and great for players with smaller hands, soundwise these old Buescher Baritones are killer. Big, rich and round, with a resonance that is hard to describe in words. Overall, a very choice of horn for all applications.
paulwl User ID: 9272753	Sep 10th 8:38 AM Gabe may be right. There might have been a time in the late '30s when Buescher took the baritone sax out of production, perhaps because they had leftover inventory. As far as I've been able to "geek" these things, the first Aristocrat baris appeared at #268k (1934) and were the "transitional" model with Norton springs and improved keywork, but kept the old opposing B and Bb bell. The latest I know of is #276k (1936), my own horn. The Custom Built bari was made at the same time as the trannys. It was designed like the left bell Crat alto & tenor. Earliest on my geek list is #273k (1935). Note that the Custom did not carry the Crat label. I think that waited till the Big B model (1940). Somewhere I have a Buescher ad from 1940 advertising 2 of the above bari models side by side. I'll try and nail it down. A very nice (and rare) silver tranny bari just sold on eBay. I recognized the names as a couple of excellent Rascherian concert players. For them this would be the ultimate bari, perhaps to start a quartet of their own.
Bootman User ID: 7601343	Sep 10th 3:34 PM Paul, There is a 274K Custom here which is a killer horn too.
Gabe User ID: 9036243	Sep 10th 11:33 PM Hey Bootman, Where is that Custom, I would be interested to see some pictures. Gabe
Bootman User ID: 7601343	Sep 11th 6:08 AM This can be organised. Email me and I will get them sorted out for you.