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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Buffet Archive / Super Dynaction - S1 tenor saxophone

Marcel
User ID: 1439244 Oct 24th 11:58 AM
Since this section is made to speak about rare saxes, I wanted to write something about one of mine.
First of all, I have to explain the title of this topic because I want to speak about only a horn even if I wrote two models names.
The fact is that the European zone business director that had the company Buffet Crampon in 1977 and the years following, explained me that Buffet Crampon began the production of the S1
model and stopped the Super Dynaction in 1973. The model changed in its construction (the holes corresponding to the right and left hands keys were aligned in the Super Dynaction, not in the S1, the keywork and ergonomy is more elaborate on the S1 than on the Super Dynaction, etc ...). The default was that between 1973 and 1977,
Buffet Crampon still wrote Super Dynaction on their sax bodies when they were S1 saxes really. When this guy asked the production services to stop engraving "Super Dynaction", they did it. Also, he asked them to put the high F# key on all these saxes since they were practically the very last professional brand that offered this key only with option (in these years, Selmer was producing the Mark VII with this key on all its saxes, that's the case also of practically all the Mark VI produced in the 70's).
This one has not this key and has the "Super Dynaction" engraving, even if that's really a 1975 S1 model. These two points make it a
very rare horn, I think.
But they are also other details that make him very rare, its finish for example : this sax is lacquered with engravings on its bell (not rare, of course)- but the keywork is silverplated as we can find in some of the European production even for profesional saxes. And above all, about its finish, it has its original lacquer intact for near 100%, without any dents or dings and just few very little scratches. I think that this sax was very little played in its life.
The keywork is just extraordinary and the sound is so good as a lot of Mark VI I heard here and there.
For sure, I don't understand why this kind of saxes had not the success we could expect from a horn with these qualities.
I also tried a 1981 S1 silverplated alto (of course, without the "Super Dynaction" engraving in 1981) that a friend of mine bought for his son who was starting the saxophone, and I was so impressed with this alto than with the tenor I have and I spoke about.
Really an excellent horn also.

Marcus
User ID: 9823593 Oct 26th 12:50 AM
I agree with you everything concerning S-1 but I dont know "SD"'s. I have S-1 since 1980 and about one year ago I bought a Gloger solid silver neck on it. The reason is that this horn has so soft and classic sound that for my purpose, playing in big band a first leading alto, it is too "beautiful". Maybe this is reason that it is more popular in the classic music.

Stevew
User ID: 1662364 Oct 26th 3:38 AM
There are a few SD and S1 fans here; I have a 1969 SD tenor which was never sold or played until I bought it this year, and am awaiting the delivery of a silver S1 alto! There have been a few transitional horns for sale - marked Super Dynaction, but with some of the S1 keywork changes. They are fantastic horns - a different mouthpiece can change their character considerably, they have a very 'polite' sound with the supplied Buffet mpc.

Marcel
User ID: 1439244 Oct 26th 7:51 AM
1969 : that's a real Super Dynaction sax. Really, I don't know them, but some people said me that they were fantastic.

stevew
User ID: 1662364 Oct 26th 8:11 AM
They are :-)

Lowell
User ID: 2282354 Oct 29th 8:54 PM
I played a ratty SD tenor in a shop a few months ago. It sounded much better than it looked but not good enough for me to give up my B&S. My S-1 alto is the most responsive instrument I have ever played. These are great horns. Try them every chance you get. Buy every one you like and can afford. They are like gold in the bank.

madav
User ID: 9892733 Oct 30th 2:18 AM
ditto - just got my S1 alto back from a repad. It absolutely flies, the mechanism is wonderful, can't fault it. Now it's hunt the mpc time.

billmecca
User ID: 8339223 Oct 30th 9:44 AM
I play a c. 1961 SDA tenor, that is losign lacquer. I was wondering if there were option originally like Silver plate etc?

It's a great sounding horn, and with my Runyon Quantum it's great for R&R

Andrea
User ID: 1745694 Nov 23rd 11:09 AM
I play a S1 tenor, year 1980. I'm currently still using the stock "C" mpc, which is really OK for a soft, classical sound, but not so bad if you want to play a little more aggressively, either (I don't think it can match a jazz metal mpc, though!). I find the keywork to be quite good, even if I never played another tenor for comparison but only a Yamaha soprano, the other intrument I own (which of course is fairly different in this aspect but, again, it's not a tenor so the comparison might be unfair).
Sooner or later I'd like to buy an alto, I will surely try a Buffet along with other more considered brands (Yam,Selmer,...).

MartyM
User ID: 3445384 Jun 2nd 2:41 PM
I have a Buffet S2 alto.it seems to be the same
basic look as an s1. can anyone please tell me the difference please? thanks!

MBushaw
User ID: 8172663 Jun 2nd 6:40 PM
MartyM- take a look at www.saxpics.com for some good info. I've got an S1 alto, and from looking at the pictures of the S2, it looks like;
rollers on the low Eb/C keys
plastic semi adjustable thumbhook
alt F# and high F mech. different.
Hard to say what else without seeing two horns side-by-side

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0728844 Jun 15th 5:28 AM
I'm still looking for an S1 tenor, possibly to trade for something else. If you know of a really good one (by really good I mean good playing and good looking), please let me know.

stevew
User ID: 8868883 Jun 21st 11:18 AM
Hey, MAG, look for a transitional SDA with the S1 keywork if you can. I owned a pukka SDA and then a S1; the S1 keywork was faster and easier, especially on the LH side, but the SDA had a clear edge on sound, looks and feel. There was a whole lot more low-end wallop to the sound, it felt heavier and more solid and had a really nice bronze coloured sparkly lacquer which made the S1 look anaemic in comparison.

tungp
User ID: 0952054 Jun 21st 12:31 PM
Steve, can't help with the specific request, but I do have a very clean sparkle-lacq SDA, if that's also in yr considerations.

ptung@justsaxes.com

(new email address)

jazzage@hotmail.com
User ID: 2177844 Jun 28th 12:12 PM
I recently got a 1977-vintage S1 (no F#) and even after setup by a famous tech have had some problems with the octave mechanism, popping open at the wrong (but not every) time. Otherwise I love the horn but this is killing me. Any suggestions? Should I take it to a Buffet-certified tech to fix?

tungp
User ID: 0952054 Jun 29th 11:06 AM
jazzage, take it to a tech. Most likely, what's happened is that you've got a cork under the thumb lever that has become compressed -- or a cork elsewhere that is allowing the mech to dip down a bit further than orginally.

tungp
User ID: 0952054 Jun 29th 11:10 AM
or, worth trying, go to your hardware store and buy some stick-on felts, about the diameter of one of those old-fashioned, round pencils. Cut its thickness down to about half of original, and stick it under the LH thumb lever where contact is made with the body tube. That might work, might make no difference, or might not allow the neck octave key to open sufficiently. You'll have to try it to find out which.

stevew
User ID: 8868883 Jul 4th 4:36 AM
I agree an experienced tech will fix it. I had a strange thing happening with the octave mech on my S1 alto; when I got a tenor, I noticed it was corked in different places, and I amended the alto one. It had maybe been overhauled wrong in the past, and I was able to fix it. It is a rather complicated mechanism and is more sensitive on the alto than the tenor - but it should be possible to make it work fine.

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0122954 Oct 12th 2:08 PM
Stephan Boesken has my S1 alto for a repad and tweaking. Can hardly wait to get it back. It's getting all new soft parts and general fine tuning, but no metal work needed. Pads will be the same as are being installed on currently made Buffets--yes, they are still making them. See new thread under French saxes called "2002 Prestige alto."

Marcel User ID: 1439244	Oct 24th 11:58 AM Since this section is made to speak about rare saxes, I wanted to write something about one of mine. First of all, I have to explain the title of this topic because I want to speak about only a horn even if I wrote two models names. The fact is that the European zone business director that had the company Buffet Crampon in 1977 and the years following, explained me that Buffet Crampon began the production of the S1 model and stopped the Super Dynaction in 1973. The model changed in its construction (the holes corresponding to the right and left hands keys were aligned in the Super Dynaction, not in the S1, the keywork and ergonomy is more elaborate on the S1 than on the Super Dynaction, etc ...). The default was that between 1973 and 1977, Buffet Crampon still wrote Super Dynaction on their sax bodies when they were S1 saxes really. When this guy asked the production services to stop engraving "Super Dynaction", they did it. Also, he asked them to put the high F# key on all these saxes since they were practically the very last professional brand that offered this key only with option (in these years, Selmer was producing the Mark VII with this key on all its saxes, that's the case also of practically all the Mark VI produced in the 70's). This one has not this key and has the "Super Dynaction" engraving, even if that's really a 1975 S1 model. These two points make it a very rare horn, I think. But they are also other details that make him very rare, its finish for example : this sax is lacquered with engravings on its bell (not rare, of course)- but the keywork is silverplated as we can find in some of the European production even for profesional saxes. And above all, about its finish, it has its original lacquer intact for near 100%, without any dents or dings and just few very little scratches. I think that this sax was very little played in its life. The keywork is just extraordinary and the sound is so good as a lot of Mark VI I heard here and there. For sure, I don't understand why this kind of saxes had not the success we could expect from a horn with these qualities. I also tried a 1981 S1 silverplated alto (of course, without the "Super Dynaction" engraving in 1981) that a friend of mine bought for his son who was starting the saxophone, and I was so impressed with this alto than with the tenor I have and I spoke about. Really an excellent horn also.
Marcus User ID: 9823593	Oct 26th 12:50 AM I agree with you everything concerning S-1 but I dont know "SD"'s. I have S-1 since 1980 and about one year ago I bought a Gloger solid silver neck on it. The reason is that this horn has so soft and classic sound that for my purpose, playing in big band a first leading alto, it is too "beautiful". Maybe this is reason that it is more popular in the classic music.
Stevew User ID: 1662364	Oct 26th 3:38 AM There are a few SD and S1 fans here; I have a 1969 SD tenor which was never sold or played until I bought it this year, and am awaiting the delivery of a silver S1 alto! There have been a few transitional horns for sale - marked Super Dynaction, but with some of the S1 keywork changes. They are fantastic horns - a different mouthpiece can change their character considerably, they have a very 'polite' sound with the supplied Buffet mpc.
Marcel User ID: 1439244	Oct 26th 7:51 AM 1969 : that's a real Super Dynaction sax. Really, I don't know them, but some people said me that they were fantastic.
stevew User ID: 1662364	Oct 26th 8:11 AM They are :-)
Lowell User ID: 2282354	Oct 29th 8:54 PM I played a ratty SD tenor in a shop a few months ago. It sounded much better than it looked but not good enough for me to give up my B&S. My S-1 alto is the most responsive instrument I have ever played. These are great horns. Try them every chance you get. Buy every one you like and can afford. They are like gold in the bank.
madav User ID: 9892733	Oct 30th 2:18 AM ditto - just got my S1 alto back from a repad. It absolutely flies, the mechanism is wonderful, can't fault it. Now it's hunt the mpc time.
billmecca User ID: 8339223	Oct 30th 9:44 AM I play a c. 1961 SDA tenor, that is losign lacquer. I was wondering if there were option originally like Silver plate etc? It's a great sounding horn, and with my Runyon Quantum it's great for R&R
Andrea User ID: 1745694	Nov 23rd 11:09 AM I play a S1 tenor, year 1980. I'm currently still using the stock "C" mpc, which is really OK for a soft, classical sound, but not so bad if you want to play a little more aggressively, either (I don't think it can match a jazz metal mpc, though!). I find the keywork to be quite good, even if I never played another tenor for comparison but only a Yamaha soprano, the other intrument I own (which of course is fairly different in this aspect but, again, it's not a tenor so the comparison might be unfair). Sooner or later I'd like to buy an alto, I will surely try a Buffet along with other more considered brands (Yam,Selmer,...).
MartyM User ID: 3445384	Jun 2nd 2:41 PM I have a Buffet S2 alto.it seems to be the same basic look as an s1. can anyone please tell me the difference please? thanks!
MBushaw User ID: 8172663	Jun 2nd 6:40 PM MartyM- take a look at www.saxpics.com for some good info. I've got an S1 alto, and from looking at the pictures of the S2, it looks like; rollers on the low Eb/C keys plastic semi adjustable thumbhook alt F# and high F mech. different. Hard to say what else without seeing two horns side-by-side
mostly alto guy User ID: 0728844	Jun 15th 5:28 AM I'm still looking for an S1 tenor, possibly to trade for something else. If you know of a really good one (by really good I mean good playing and good looking), please let me know.
stevew User ID: 8868883	Jun 21st 11:18 AM Hey, MAG, look for a transitional SDA with the S1 keywork if you can. I owned a pukka SDA and then a S1; the S1 keywork was faster and easier, especially on the LH side, but the SDA had a clear edge on sound, looks and feel. There was a whole lot more low-end wallop to the sound, it felt heavier and more solid and had a really nice bronze coloured sparkly lacquer which made the S1 look anaemic in comparison.
tungp User ID: 0952054	Jun 21st 12:31 PM Steve, can't help with the specific request, but I do have a very clean sparkle-lacq SDA, if that's also in yr considerations. ptung@justsaxes.com (new email address)
jazzage@hotmail.com User ID: 2177844	Jun 28th 12:12 PM I recently got a 1977-vintage S1 (no F#) and even after setup by a famous tech have had some problems with the octave mechanism, popping open at the wrong (but not every) time. Otherwise I love the horn but this is killing me. Any suggestions? Should I take it to a Buffet-certified tech to fix?
tungp User ID: 0952054	Jun 29th 11:06 AM jazzage, take it to a tech. Most likely, what's happened is that you've got a cork under the thumb lever that has become compressed -- or a cork elsewhere that is allowing the mech to dip down a bit further than orginally.
tungp User ID: 0952054	Jun 29th 11:10 AM or, worth trying, go to your hardware store and buy some stick-on felts, about the diameter of one of those old-fashioned, round pencils. Cut its thickness down to about half of original, and stick it under the LH thumb lever where contact is made with the body tube. That might work, might make no difference, or might not allow the neck octave key to open sufficiently. You'll have to try it to find out which.
stevew User ID: 8868883	Jul 4th 4:36 AM I agree an experienced tech will fix it. I had a strange thing happening with the octave mech on my S1 alto; when I got a tenor, I noticed it was corked in different places, and I amended the alto one. It had maybe been overhauled wrong in the past, and I was able to fix it. It is a rather complicated mechanism and is more sensitive on the alto than the tenor - but it should be possible to make it work fine.
mostly alto guy User ID: 0122954	Oct 12th 2:08 PM Stephan Boesken has my S1 alto for a repad and tweaking. Can hardly wait to get it back. It's getting all new soft parts and general fine tuning, but no metal work needed. Pads will be the same as are being installed on currently made Buffets--yes, they are still making them. See new thread under French saxes called "2002 Prestige alto."