1990 B&S Tenor?

[Dan000892]

I currently have the option of purchasing a B&S Tenor Sax, serial 13xx from 1990 from another member of the SoTW forum. I'm told it's a professional horn, "the same horn produced for Dave Guardala."

I've been trying to find information on this B&S but about all I can dig up are the newer ones (Codera, 2001, Dave Guardala, and Medusa).

Here are the pics I have so far: http://photos.yahoo.com/Dan000892
I'll update when I have more.

It does look somewhat like a Dave Guardala DG-501CL even though it's newer, different metal composition, etc.

I figure since Dave Guardala hooked up with B&S in 1990, this would be equivalent to the first Guardala horn.

Has anyone played one of these horns or know anything about them?

[Dan000892]

I've heard great things about the newer B&S but nothing about the older (attributable to the fact that they're in the former East Germany and I live in the US).

All the B&S's I've seen (from the 70's or the Guardalas) have no guard over the third pad down the bell, but this one does. Any ideas?

Update: There are more pictures now.

I've heard two conflicting things.
First, from Joe Sax, all B&S's prior to the German reunification are total garbage. His supporting evidence was the quality of the Guardala horns, which he also said were garbage. He seemed to be a hardcore Selmerite.

The other thing I heard is that B&S makes good horns.

So... B&S: Good or Bad?

[Joe Jazz]

My understanding that B&S saxes produced before their association with Dave Guardala were not very good(that was his opinion anyway :D ). I've play tested a Guardala Artist alto and the quality was very good. I just ordered an Allora bari, which are made by VMI(same people make B&S and made Guardala's). I wouldn't buy the sax unless you can return it if you don't like it......