How much would my Buffet SDA Transitional alto would value..

[T.J]

Well I'm a happy owner of not just one, but two Buffet SDA transitional for both alto and tenor. These days I'm seriously considering to switch my alto for a Selmer MKVI. The SDA alto is in mint condition, I should say it's like 99% condition, original pads and gold plated springs and everything. (You can check the pics at saxpics.com). The reason I want to get a MKVI - well I want that powerful, compact sound of a well played MKVI. The SDA alto is also great, but is little more conservative and too sweet(??) for what I want to do. I wonder how much my SDA tranny would be worth in the market. I'm not trying go on a survey or advertise my horn for a better price, and I really haven't made up mind on this matter. I just want to know how much worth these SDA tranny's are.. (If I could afford two altos I wouldn't even be posting this.)

Strugglin' in the shed,
T.J

[T.J]

Never mind.. why did i even think of posting this here.. I'm not gonna part with this baby. 8)

[MBushaw]

Man... I was hopin' you'd get discouraged and offer it for a few hundred!
I play the full S1 alto. was wondering if your tranny had offset right hand or if the brass was heayve like the SDA or lighter like the S1.

[rcwjd]

TJ,
Good move. I've had a MarkVI alto and presently have a Buffet SDA. Notice the one I kept?

[T.J]

Mbush, the body of the SDA tranny has all the keyworks of S1 and body/bore of the ol' SDA. I've had original SDA's too, and the old ones sound little more darker (probably the lacquer). It's just the good old SDA with all the cool features and keyworks of S1. Only thing I hate about these SDA's are the neck - they fall too short. The mouthpiece won't fit in securely and I've also noticed that the alto sax plays better with the mouthpiece pushed sufficiently into the neck. I'm planning on getting a custom neck from Gloger.

[MBushaw]

My first pro horn (first new horn too) was a SDA alto (1973?). Loved that horn. Don't think I could go back to the in-line right hand though, I had to stop playing my Selmer BA alto for that reason. The S1 has a very light body. Much more powerful than the SDA I had (and way more powerful than the BA), and a brighter sound. The tranny sounds like a perfect mix!