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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Buffet Archive / Buffet- good for jazz too?

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Saxydude
User ID: 1139804 Sep 2nd 9:07 PM
I'm in the process of acquiring a beautiful tenor Buffet SA. I just want to know, are these horns any good for jazz playing? Also, what sort of setup is good on this horn? Will my Otto Link still work for jazz? Thanks

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0122954 Nov 13th 2:57 PM
Saxydude, ever seen a 150th Anniversary S1? Gorgeous, all shiny silver plate. Truly beautiful horns.

Saxydude
User ID: 1139804 Nov 14th 2:45 PM
MAG- never seen one. is there a website I can see a picture at? Man, I'd hate to think how much money those are....

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0122954 Nov 14th 11:46 PM
Go to www.saxpics.com in the Buffet S-Series section. There was one on ebay a few months ago that sold (I think) for around 2K.

stevew
User ID: 0171704 Nov 15th 2:30 AM
That S1 Anniversary alto on ebay was my horn, and I think the pics on Saxpics are the same one, from before I owned it. I am pretty sure I have seen pics of silver SDAs and S1s in general, and of course the really old Evette Schaeffers were silver plated as a rule.

MBushaw
User ID: 2324014 Nov 15th 10:22 AM
And I have a silver SDA bari. No idea of the effect the plate may have on the sound, but it is one of the best playing and sounding horns I've tried.

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0122954 Nov 15th 11:53 AM
I thought so, too stevew. I nearly bought it when you had it for auction. Wound up with a lacquer one instead, and it is awesome, but I still sort of wish I had bought yours.

madav
User ID: 1167284 Nov 15th 1:57 PM
there have been a few Silver plated SDAs on ebay, MBushaw (I think) even picked up a silver Bari, and Charlie A's got a silver tenor - personally i can't think of much better

Saxydude
User ID: 1139804 Nov 20th 3:34 PM
MAG- I've noticed that the bow brace on my S-1 tenor is very weak. Do you think I should have my repair tech (he's very good) attach another brace to the back bow of my horn? Would it decrease the value at all? Thanks.

stevew
User ID: 8868883 Nov 21st 2:53 AM
The bow brace, a curved rod (for want of a better description) is a design feature that helps the S1 resonate. I wouldn't mess with it, unless it actually needs re-attaching.

Also, the few S1 sops I have seen have usually been silver, and a dealer in Holland had an S1 bari which had been sold by the time Ifound out about it.

EllSyd
User ID: 9043333 Jan 4th 12:09 AM
Well folks, I've got to say I feel a lot better after reading your discussion on Buffet saxes. I have a Super Dynaction tenor and a Super Dynaction alto. Bought both horns new back in the 60's I've been wondering if I should be lusting after something new, but now I think I'm glad I've got the Buffets.

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0122954 Jan 4th 6:49 AM
EllSyd, if your SDAs are leak free and well set up, you won't find anything better out there. Buffet saxes are consistently great horns.

Feel good about being a Buffet player, play a lot, and don't let those MK VI prices sway you.

EllSyd
User ID: 1550764 Jan 5th 12:32 PM
Thanks m.a.g.

My horns are both in great shape - pretty low mileage since last overhaul. The only negatives are that the tenor has been re-laquered (back in the 70's) and that back then I had the necks fitted with mic attachments - that didn't seem to affect the playing.

Jerry K.
User ID: 1696934 Jan 14th 9:06 AM
I agree with MAG that the SDAs are really great horns. I just picked up an SDA alto this week and I can't believe what a nice horn it is. This one is from 62 and it's the best sounding (just the right amount of darkness) and feeling alto I've ever played, period. All this with original pads and resos to boot. Amazing! Time to find a matching tenor?

L1
User ID: 0909594 Jan 15th 12:29 AM
By the way,
Does anyone know what kind of pads Buffet used on the SuperDynactions and why they are so magically durable? They seem eternal! Well, almost. I've got ONE pad that just developed a small crack after 33 years. I would like to get as identical a replacement as possible.

BrianA
User ID: 9725373 Jan 21st 6:58 PM
Just though I would mention that back in the early 60's late 50's Buffet made the top of the line alto and labeled it the "Master Model" for Evette but it is the SDA same horn.. even has the same body to bell brace as the Buffet saying BC for Buffet Cramion.. same goes for the Olds opera model also really a SDA talk about bargains.. I feel that if you can adjust the dark rich sound to your liking they are as good as the Selmers of the period..

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0122954 Jan 22nd 1:38 PM
BrianA, I've seen a lot of pics of Olds saxes (Operas and Parisians?), and every time I've said to myself, "Buffet." I guess I was rtight.

Jerry K.
User ID: 2693314 Jan 22nd 11:43 PM
MAG, I've heard the Operas are SDA stencils but I have never heard anything really good about the Parisian model. I'm pretty sure those were made by another French company and not Buffet.

BrianA
User ID: 9725373 Jan 24th 5:03 PM
Actually Jerry,
I think you are partially right. The only actual super dyna action stencil made for Olds is engraved on the bell as the Olds Parisian Opera model..NOT the plain Olds Parisian, The Opera model is the real thing right down to the smallest screw, same as the Evette Master Model..

Jerry K.
User ID: 1696934 Jan 24th 5:12 PM
BrianA, which part is right and which part is wrong? I still believe that the Olds Parisians are not made by Buffet and are not great horns. Perhaps my post was not all that clear.

Back 20 Messages

Saxydude User ID: 1139804	Sep 2nd 9:07 PM I'm in the process of acquiring a beautiful tenor Buffet SA. I just want to know, are these horns any good for jazz playing? Also, what sort of setup is good on this horn? Will my Otto Link still work for jazz? Thanks
mostly alto guy User ID: 0122954	Nov 13th 2:57 PM Saxydude, ever seen a 150th Anniversary S1? Gorgeous, all shiny silver plate. Truly beautiful horns.
Saxydude User ID: 1139804	Nov 14th 2:45 PM MAG- never seen one. is there a website I can see a picture at? Man, I'd hate to think how much money those are....
mostly alto guy User ID: 0122954	Nov 14th 11:46 PM Go to www.saxpics.com in the Buffet S-Series section. There was one on ebay a few months ago that sold (I think) for around 2K.
stevew User ID: 0171704	Nov 15th 2:30 AM That S1 Anniversary alto on ebay was my horn, and I think the pics on Saxpics are the same one, from before I owned it. I am pretty sure I have seen pics of silver SDAs and S1s in general, and of course the really old Evette Schaeffers were silver plated as a rule.
MBushaw User ID: 2324014	Nov 15th 10:22 AM And I have a silver SDA bari. No idea of the effect the plate may have on the sound, but it is one of the best playing and sounding horns I've tried.
mostly alto guy User ID: 0122954	Nov 15th 11:53 AM I thought so, too stevew. I nearly bought it when you had it for auction. Wound up with a lacquer one instead, and it is awesome, but I still sort of wish I had bought yours.
madav User ID: 1167284	Nov 15th 1:57 PM there have been a few Silver plated SDAs on ebay, MBushaw (I think) even picked up a silver Bari, and Charlie A's got a silver tenor - personally i can't think of much better
Saxydude User ID: 1139804	Nov 20th 3:34 PM MAG- I've noticed that the bow brace on my S-1 tenor is very weak. Do you think I should have my repair tech (he's very good) attach another brace to the back bow of my horn? Would it decrease the value at all? Thanks.
stevew User ID: 8868883	Nov 21st 2:53 AM The bow brace, a curved rod (for want of a better description) is a design feature that helps the S1 resonate. I wouldn't mess with it, unless it actually needs re-attaching. Also, the few S1 sops I have seen have usually been silver, and a dealer in Holland had an S1 bari which had been sold by the time Ifound out about it.
EllSyd User ID: 9043333	Jan 4th 12:09 AM Well folks, I've got to say I feel a lot better after reading your discussion on Buffet saxes. I have a Super Dynaction tenor and a Super Dynaction alto. Bought both horns new back in the 60's I've been wondering if I should be lusting after something new, but now I think I'm glad I've got the Buffets.
mostly alto guy User ID: 0122954	Jan 4th 6:49 AM EllSyd, if your SDAs are leak free and well set up, you won't find anything better out there. Buffet saxes are consistently great horns. Feel good about being a Buffet player, play a lot, and don't let those MK VI prices sway you.
EllSyd User ID: 1550764	Jan 5th 12:32 PM Thanks m.a.g. My horns are both in great shape - pretty low mileage since last overhaul. The only negatives are that the tenor has been re-laquered (back in the 70's) and that back then I had the necks fitted with mic attachments - that didn't seem to affect the playing.
Jerry K. User ID: 1696934	Jan 14th 9:06 AM I agree with MAG that the SDAs are really great horns. I just picked up an SDA alto this week and I can't believe what a nice horn it is. This one is from 62 and it's the best sounding (just the right amount of darkness) and feeling alto I've ever played, period. All this with original pads and resos to boot. Amazing! Time to find a matching tenor?
L1 User ID: 0909594	Jan 15th 12:29 AM By the way, Does anyone know what kind of pads Buffet used on the SuperDynactions and why they are so magically durable? They seem eternal! Well, almost. I've got ONE pad that just developed a small crack after 33 years. I would like to get as identical a replacement as possible.
BrianA User ID: 9725373	Jan 21st 6:58 PM Just though I would mention that back in the early 60's late 50's Buffet made the top of the line alto and labeled it the "Master Model" for Evette but it is the SDA same horn.. even has the same body to bell brace as the Buffet saying BC for Buffet Cramion.. same goes for the Olds opera model also really a SDA talk about bargains.. I feel that if you can adjust the dark rich sound to your liking they are as good as the Selmers of the period..
mostly alto guy User ID: 0122954	Jan 22nd 1:38 PM BrianA, I've seen a lot of pics of Olds saxes (Operas and Parisians?), and every time I've said to myself, "Buffet." I guess I was rtight.
Jerry K. User ID: 2693314	Jan 22nd 11:43 PM MAG, I've heard the Operas are SDA stencils but I have never heard anything really good about the Parisian model. I'm pretty sure those were made by another French company and not Buffet.
BrianA User ID: 9725373	Jan 24th 5:03 PM Actually Jerry, I think you are partially right. The only actual super dyna action stencil made for Olds is engraved on the bell as the Olds Parisian Opera model..NOT the plain Olds Parisian, The Opera model is the real thing right down to the smallest screw, same as the Evette Master Model..
Jerry K. User ID: 1696934	Jan 24th 5:12 PM BrianA, which part is right and which part is wrong? I still believe that the Olds Parisians are not made by Buffet and are not great horns. Perhaps my post was not all that clear.