Opinions on vintage Buffet horns

[HeavyWeather77]

I'm in the market for a tenor and I don't want to settle for anything short of a great horn. I also don't have tons of money. Guess I'd better quit music and go to law school.

Seriously though, I've been hearing great things about the old Buffet Dynactions and Super Dynactions. These have been popping up on Ebay for dirt cheap compared to the SBA's and VI's I've also been looking at. The Buffets look absolutely beautiful and I've heard great things. I guess the question is: do Buffet's best really stand up against Selmer's best? Is the only REAL reason for the price difference, we're talking between one and five grand here, the name and the fact that most of the old heavies played a BA, SBA or VI?

I'd like to get, once and for all, some serious testimonials about Dynactions and SDA's going on in this thread. They've piqued my curiosity and I want to know what some experienced, competent players REALLY think about these bad boys. If I can get the same boost to my sound that a VI would give for a few thousand dollars less, I'd be one happy guy.

Gear geeks forever!!!
BD

[singlereed]

If you read the Buffet thread below, you will find plenty of commentary on Buffets. They are a good buy, the Superdynaction (SDA) is a great sounding horn, just as well made as a Selmer, but check whether you can live with the Lh little finger keys. The S1 which followed had similar keys on that side to a VI (albeit with Buffet's own twist) and an innovative C/Eb pair on the RH. Some of the SDAs have these keys too. Anyway, check out the Buffet thread.

[mostly alto guy]

Vintage Buffets are wonderful horns, well worth the prices they draw these days. As single reed said, read the threads. A lot of folks on here play and love Buffets, including me.

[goodsax]

I would include Buffet S-1's in your search. They have tight and responsive keywork and a wonderful tone, but they're hard to find. It's always, in my opinion, almost futile to compare horns like Buffets to VI's. The measurement should be a comparison of the various options to your satisfaction and expectations, or what you want in an instrument for your playing style and music budget. If you find a Buffet SDA tenor in decent condition for $1K, that's an excellent value.

[Gandalfe]

Hmm... almost too good to resist. I'm selling Buffet SDA on Ebay at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3725076801&category=16 234&sspagename=STRK%3AMESSE%3AIT&rd=1. I spend most of my time using my alto and bari now-a-days. Feel free to take a look.

[HeavyWeather77]

Hey Gandalfe, beautiful looking horn, I added you to my "watch" list. If you don't mind my asking, what is your music style of choice, and what is your background? I'd be using this for mostly jazz and some rock gigs, have you played any of those with it, and if so, how did it fare? I've heard some people say Buffets are better for classical, some say they're great for jazz or anything, so I'd like to hear what you think about it.
BD

[singlereed]

Hey, its great for jazz and rock - I used to have one of these and I'd have been happy to play any style on it. It has considerable weight and authority to the sound and is versatile enough to handle whatever you want to play.

[Bill Mecca]

gee guys you're driving up the price! ;-) my one and only tenor is a c.1961 SDA, and most of what I play is R&R... if you want to hear what it sounds like in that setting, feel free

http://www.geocities.com/rockinsax1959 the cut 39 ford came out pretty well for the first time hearing the tune. these are from a recent jam session. I use a Runyon Quantum 12 and a 2.5 plasticover reed. (data transfer limits might kick in adn the site could be inaccessible)

be kind, all I'm trying to do is use my playign to drive the price back down ;D

seriously I have used Links, Bergs, varisou Runyon, Guy Hawkins and it responds very well to mpc changes, a dark rich sound that comes alive with a bright mpc.

[goodsax]

Bill - Are you referring to your SDA alto? Or, did you also have an SDA tenor?

[mostly alto guy]

HW77, I use different Buffets for different applications. For sultry ballads, you'd be hard pressed to top the Dynaction (alto and tenor). For legit/military/classical, the S1 or Prestige (just on alto). For straight up jazz, big band, or rock I should think the Dynaction would be a good choice, since it can take on the character of a setup. I've heard of jazz being played on an S1, but it doesn't strike me as a jazz horn. I don't know of anyone using a Prestige for jazz or rock.

[Gandalfe]

Since I've only been back in the music scene for two years (after a 27 year break) I have gigged with some dance bands with dubious distinction. But hey, it's for money and all about the experience. The SDA is a versatile horn with good presence. It can be played loud, raucously loud. Or it can be played in a classical setting.

I've played it in two dance bands and one community band. It is a sweet looking horn to. That is what attracted me to it. But lately I've been just playing alto and bari, so I've sold one tenor and now I have this one up for sale.

[OnyxSax]

Buffets possess a dark, warm tone. They are very well constructed. I find them even heavier than Selmers. Their mechanisms are ergonomic and very quick. Their only downfall is that they were never produced in huge quantities. I don't know the exact numbers, but where Selmer produces thousands of saxophones in a given year, Buffet was only producing hundreds of horns.

[HeavyWeather77]

Hmm, only producing hundreds of horns (instead of thousands) a year does not seem like much of a downfall to me... sounds like a damn fine investment. I have yet to try one out, but I'm just about sold on Buffet horns based on what I've been hearing, the characteristics that everyone seems to mention are exactly what I'm looking for in a horn. Now if only I could get my grubby mits on one... if anyone in the Dallas/Ft Worth area has one, drop me a line, I might just have to go give it a toot.

[SAXISMYAXE]

One of the first quality professional Tenor horns that I had was a Buffet Dynaction. They are truely superb horns in everyway. The same goes for SML's and DOLNETS too, IMHO. As has been stated elswhere, their only real downfall was the superior marketing and acceptance in the U.S. of the MKVI during the same time. This really cast a shadow on what is an otherwise fantastic horn.
Regarding why some horns fetch vastly higher prices than many other models of equal and sometimes greater quality, it is as big a mystery to me as any other collector/player. The bottom line comes down to demand, what ever it might be based on, i.e: rarity, sound/playability, collector interest etc.
The only thing I can say is, snatch them up while the majority is still blissfully ignorant, as it won't last forever!

[Russ]

I just had to chip in.

My SDA is the best horn I have ever owned. I've only had the thing a short while but I just 'connected' with it, and when you make that connection, you know you don't need to look any further.

You will notice that prices on good condition Buffets are starting to creep up on Ebay and I firmly believe this is down to the users on this forum.
Saying that, I was watching an auction last week for a 'time capsule' tenor SDA that went for an absolute song. Boy, we ALL missed out on that one. Shame it was only open to USA bidders :(

If you get the chance, snap one up !

[Bill Mecca]

goodsax,

Tenor, the only alto I have is an old Bundy that is in dire need of an overhaul. ;-) as it never gets played.

[goodsax]

Roger that, Bill. Must have been a senior moment. :oops:

[Gange]

I play the Prestige (S1) for jazz. No problem getting attention neither on looks nor sound. :-)

For classical music, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I was about to trade it (and add a lot of money) for a new Ref 54, but after some play testing and consideration the salesman adviced me _not_ to trade it. I took his advice, and I'm not sorry.

[goodsax]

Gange - that was one uncommonly honest salesman. You're very fortunate.

[griff136]

Heavyweather77:

I remember seeing one for sale on the saxquest.com site last week and was tempted myself! only customs (uk taxman) and shipping prohibited the purchase!.

regards

griff