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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Buffet Archive / Buffet SDA Transitional Tenor

Troy
User ID: 8639383 May 24th 9:15 AM
Just got my Buffet SDA tenor from a long trip. I got it quite inexpensive from eBay, but it's in great shape. This is the exact Transitional model shown at Saxpics.com, but it has the high F# key! (although I prefer the fork F). It has the serial 23,5XX which I believe is a '76 or '77 model, one the very last model of SDA.

I just love this horn. It has some character to boot! The down end so big and round yet it still has that unique depth and warmth of the old SDA's. It is heavy (heavier than Selmer Serie II) and has bigger tenon and bell than the Selmers, just like the ol' SDA's do. It has all the power and depth of a SDA, but with modern (maybe more modern than some of today's horn) keywork. The left palm clusters and pinky spatula, and the mechanism of alternate F# and high F# is genius. I don't know why such a great horn had to discontinue its production.

If Pete at Saxpics wants photos on this horn, I'd gladly throw in some. This is really a one of a kind.

stevew
User ID: 1961724 May 25th 2:24 AM
You probably have the ultimate horn! My SDA sounded better with more bottom end wallop whilst the S1 had faster keywork. Does it have both the Left and Right hand S1 style pinky keys? I found the worst thing about the SDA was the LH side which were cumbersome and pivoted towrds the body rather than away. The S1 has that strange C# articulation too. The RH ones on a S1 are a wonderful piece of engineering, but I am perfectly happy with the roller style seen on most other horns, including most SDAs.

madv
User ID: 1167284 May 25th 4:33 AM
can't agree more - the only tiny disadvantage is that you (probably) don't have that wonderful dark honey sparkle lacquer of the earlier SDA's - it's aesthetically the best around

Matt K
User ID: 9112483 May 25th 8:21 AM
I just sold an s1 #239xx. I sold it for one reason: did NOT sound like my SDA.
I thought about searching for a tranny but I figured they would have the same sound as the S1.
The metal is different on the S1. I think it is thinner.

Matt K
User ID: 9112483 May 25th 8:28 AM
BTW Troy your horn was built the same year as the one I had, 1975. Also interesting: my s1 did not have a high F# keyIt is entirely possible that you got a horn with the new keywork and the old metal. If you did then I'm jealous!
I'll take my ser.vii over any of'em though!

Troy
User ID: 8639383 May 25th 9:05 AM
Steve, yes it does have everything you'd expect in a S-1, but the sound of a SDA. Actually, I find the left cluster keys more advanced than Selmers. I also like the huge palm keys - fits in my hand like a glove. The front F is also slightly bent for better grasp and reaction.

And Matt, I believe some of the early S-1's had no F# key, as I've seen some of them on eBay before. But mine has(it's actually a 23,7XX - sorry about the typo up there), and is an articulated F# just like the articulated alt-F. The lacquer isn't the old honey lacquered sparkler(too bad my alto has only 60% left), maybe looks more like a Selmer Serie III(never liked the greenish lacquer of Serie III), but still nice looking. It also has the gold plated needle springs like the old SDA.

The sound of this horn is a monster! The diameter of the body bore is 1/4 inch bigger than a Selmer, but it doesn't just sound huge, but has great depth and character. This horn isn't 100% functional - has lots of sleeves and worn out pads. I'm gonna go to the shop for an overhaul and see how it comes out.

Troy
User ID: 8639383 May 25th 9:15 AM
Oh yeah. It also has adjustable thumbrest and offset toneholes. I know the S-1's have offset tonehoels, but don't know if the other Tranistional SDA's have these. I'm not sure but maybe Selmer had some patent thing on this.

Matt K
User ID: 9112483 May 25th 10:39 AM
Troy, I remember that one from ebay. Very nice!
Do you have a link to that auction? I can't find it and I want to see it again.

Troy
User ID: 8639383 May 25th 11:07 AM
Sorry I don't know how to trace it back because I've already left a feedback and have erased most of related emails. The auction was over on early May but I can't find it from the Completed Items. The seller was from Chicago and was very prompt and honest. I still do have the pics archieved from eBay and if you're interested I can email them to you.

Matt K
User ID: 9112483 May 28th 12:28 PM
Troy, Please email me at tenorman54@msn.com
My vii came from chicago too. I wonder if it was the same seller.

saxpics
User ID: 0610144 Jun 1st 12:06 PM
Sure, Troy, send me some pics.

saxpics@hotmail.com

Troy
User ID: 8639383 Jun 1st 9:08 PM
Matt, I found a link to ebay. Here it is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=863713539

I know what you're gonna say when you look at my feedback (you thief!), but hey, I'm just a lucky guy ;-)

I'll try to get the pics to you when I get my cam to work out properly. But I'm not sure if your Hotamil account can received all the data, since it supports only up to 1MB of storage.

Matt K
User ID: 0247944 Jun 1st 10:45 PM
Troy, You scored. If it plays half as good as it looks it must be awesome.
You can send two pictures per email to the hotmail. I keep it cleaned out. Email me and I'll give you my other email.
Both of my tenors are beaters in comparison- until you play 'em.
Right now I'm relly digging the series vii.
The SDA is in the shop getting checked over.
It wasn't playing right the other night.
The vii blew it away.

Donn G
User ID: 9140763 Jun 2nd 1:30 AM
Troy, even the 237xx would have been built in 1975 as well. I have a 212xx SDA built in 1973. I had it relacquered in 1988, but it wasn't the original Buffet color. I was kind of disappointed. It still plays wonderful. Just got to keep working on that low B-C#!

Some of you guys may have seen my horn on e-bay. I was going to sell it, but the wife told me I wasn't allowed to. I just wasn't playing it enough. That's changed now. I have to get it checked up, but I joined a community band and am back in the rehearsing habits!

Troy User ID: 8639383	May 24th 9:15 AM Just got my Buffet SDA tenor from a long trip. I got it quite inexpensive from eBay, but it's in great shape. This is the exact Transitional model shown at Saxpics.com, but it has the high F# key! (although I prefer the fork F). It has the serial 23,5XX which I believe is a '76 or '77 model, one the very last model of SDA. I just love this horn. It has some character to boot! The down end so big and round yet it still has that unique depth and warmth of the old SDA's. It is heavy (heavier than Selmer Serie II) and has bigger tenon and bell than the Selmers, just like the ol' SDA's do. It has all the power and depth of a SDA, but with modern (maybe more modern than some of today's horn) keywork. The left palm clusters and pinky spatula, and the mechanism of alternate F# and high F# is genius. I don't know why such a great horn had to discontinue its production. If Pete at Saxpics wants photos on this horn, I'd gladly throw in some. This is really a one of a kind.
stevew User ID: 1961724	May 25th 2:24 AM You probably have the ultimate horn! My SDA sounded better with more bottom end wallop whilst the S1 had faster keywork. Does it have both the Left and Right hand S1 style pinky keys? I found the worst thing about the SDA was the LH side which were cumbersome and pivoted towrds the body rather than away. The S1 has that strange C# articulation too. The RH ones on a S1 are a wonderful piece of engineering, but I am perfectly happy with the roller style seen on most other horns, including most SDAs.
madv User ID: 1167284	May 25th 4:33 AM can't agree more - the only tiny disadvantage is that you (probably) don't have that wonderful dark honey sparkle lacquer of the earlier SDA's - it's aesthetically the best around
Matt K User ID: 9112483	May 25th 8:21 AM I just sold an s1 #239xx. I sold it for one reason: did NOT sound like my SDA. I thought about searching for a tranny but I figured they would have the same sound as the S1. The metal is different on the S1. I think it is thinner.
Matt K User ID: 9112483	May 25th 8:28 AM BTW Troy your horn was built the same year as the one I had, 1975. Also interesting: my s1 did not have a high F# keyIt is entirely possible that you got a horn with the new keywork and the old metal. If you did then I'm jealous! I'll take my ser.vii over any of'em though!
Troy User ID: 8639383	May 25th 9:05 AM Steve, yes it does have everything you'd expect in a S-1, but the sound of a SDA. Actually, I find the left cluster keys more advanced than Selmers. I also like the huge palm keys - fits in my hand like a glove. The front F is also slightly bent for better grasp and reaction. And Matt, I believe some of the early S-1's had no F# key, as I've seen some of them on eBay before. But mine has(it's actually a 23,7XX - sorry about the typo up there), and is an articulated F# just like the articulated alt-F. The lacquer isn't the old honey lacquered sparkler(too bad my alto has only 60% left), maybe looks more like a Selmer Serie III(never liked the greenish lacquer of Serie III), but still nice looking. It also has the gold plated needle springs like the old SDA. The sound of this horn is a monster! The diameter of the body bore is 1/4 inch bigger than a Selmer, but it doesn't just sound huge, but has great depth and character. This horn isn't 100% functional - has lots of sleeves and worn out pads. I'm gonna go to the shop for an overhaul and see how it comes out.
Troy User ID: 8639383	May 25th 9:15 AM Oh yeah. It also has adjustable thumbrest and offset toneholes. I know the S-1's have offset tonehoels, but don't know if the other Tranistional SDA's have these. I'm not sure but maybe Selmer had some patent thing on this.
Matt K User ID: 9112483	May 25th 10:39 AM Troy, I remember that one from ebay. Very nice! Do you have a link to that auction? I can't find it and I want to see it again.
Troy User ID: 8639383	May 25th 11:07 AM Sorry I don't know how to trace it back because I've already left a feedback and have erased most of related emails. The auction was over on early May but I can't find it from the Completed Items. The seller was from Chicago and was very prompt and honest. I still do have the pics archieved from eBay and if you're interested I can email them to you.
Matt K User ID: 9112483	May 28th 12:28 PM Troy, Please email me at tenorman54@msn.com My vii came from chicago too. I wonder if it was the same seller.
saxpics User ID: 0610144	Jun 1st 12:06 PM Sure, Troy, send me some pics. saxpics@hotmail.com
Troy User ID: 8639383	Jun 1st 9:08 PM Matt, I found a link to ebay. Here it is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=863713539 I know what you're gonna say when you look at my feedback (you thief!), but hey, I'm just a lucky guy ;-) I'll try to get the pics to you when I get my cam to work out properly. But I'm not sure if your Hotamil account can received all the data, since it supports only up to 1MB of storage.
Matt K User ID: 0247944	Jun 1st 10:45 PM Troy, You scored. If it plays half as good as it looks it must be awesome. You can send two pictures per email to the hotmail. I keep it cleaned out. Email me and I'll give you my other email. Both of my tenors are beaters in comparison- until you play 'em. Right now I'm relly digging the series vii. The SDA is in the shop getting checked over. It wasn't playing right the other night. The vii blew it away.
Donn G User ID: 9140763	Jun 2nd 1:30 AM Troy, even the 237xx would have been built in 1975 as well. I have a 212xx SDA built in 1973. I had it relacquered in 1988, but it wasn't the original Buffet color. I was kind of disappointed. It still plays wonderful. Just got to keep working on that low B-C#! Some of you guys may have seen my horn on e-bay. I was going to sell it, but the wife told me I wasn't allowed to. I just wasn't playing it enough. That's changed now. I have to get it checked up, but I joined a community band and am back in the rehearsing habits!