[southernutahsaxman]

This is similar to the thread that was just posted not too long ago on professional versus student horns. Although a little bit different and more specific to what I am looking for. So, that is why I am starting this new thread.

My predicament is that I have made some poor financial decisions lately and, in an effort to dig myself out, I may have to part with my beloved Selmer Super Action 80 series 1 tenor. this is the only saxophone I currently have, and I have played on it for the last 26 years. I received it as a graduation gift from high school and I have finally found a great mouthpiece to work on it and feel like it is the best horn I could ever hope for. So, it really pains me to think of having to sell it, but I may have to. (I won't get into all of the details and "why?'s" here).

So, I want to keep playing still. I consider myself an advanced amateur saxophonist and music is my outlet from the stresses of life. I love the saxophone and instrumental music!

Anyway, I digress. My question is, where I am going to try and "replace" it (hahahaha...sob, sob) with a lower-cost horn, what is the best tenor sax you guys have found for under $1,000?

Thanks!

Joe

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[JayeLID]

Am assuming you mean used ?

Because there is NO good Tenor new for under $1000....only compromised ones.

So....contemporary makes:

Jupiters made after around 1999
Buffet 100
The tried and true albeit boring Yamaha 21/23's
Yamaha YTS 52
Keilwerth ST90

...jump to mind at the moment...

Vintage horns open up a lot of possibilities, if you are cool with traditional-stlye keywork:

A JK stencil
Grassi
Martin Indiana
B&S, Germany
Beaugnier-made Vito or Noblet
a '60's Conn 10M
possibly a Buescher Aristocrat post-Big B but pre-dumbed down can be had for $1g as well
King Zephs, pre-Eastlake, can occasionally be found for $1g

are some which come to mind.....

(sorry to hear your situation BTW, I can understand the difficulty of such a decision, given the history of your Selmer)

 

[southernutahsaxman]

Thank you for those suggestions. That is really helpful! Also thank you for your condolences!

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[Jazzoetry]

Man...brings back a bad memory. I once had to sell a nice horn that I shouldn't have sold. I was younger and needed new studio equipment for an important project. I eventually replaced it with another keeper, but it took awhile. Hopefully you find a horn that keeps you playing.

 

[Dr G]

Man...brings back a bad memory. I once had to sell a nice horn that I shouldn't have sold. I was younger and needed new studio equipment for an important project. I eventually replaced it with another keeper, but it took awhile. Hopefully you find a horn that keeps you playing.

Yeah, me too - a '65 Mk VI. And a '65 Strat... and a '68 Les Paul Custom... sad, sad, sad.

Edit: Arghh, I just looked up the current value of my Fender "Esprit Ultra"...

 

[artstove]

Ouch, sorry to hear that. I think the focus of JayeID's recommendations is the way to get the best value - something used and in good condition that is a good/decent horn, but without a prestige name/reputation. Not sure of your exact budget, but others that might fit (that I have tried) would be an early-post-buyout Buescher 400, Holton 241, Bundy Special (by Keilwerth).

 

[bokagee]

Don't sell an instrument or a car if you think you may have seller's remorse. I sold my first really nice guitar when I got in a jam in my 20's, a Martin D-35, one that I'd bought for myself in high school. I have many nice guitars now, but not THAT one, I wish I hadn't sold it. I hocked a couple of Mark VIs while in my 20's and regretted it. I decided that no matter what I'd not sell an instrument again due to financial need.

I had a 1950 Buick Sedanette in high school, bone stock. I loved that car, but the summer after high school I found myself stuck in SC without funds and sold it so I could get myself to Knoxville to start my freshman year. I just got a beautiful street rod made from the same kind of car a couple months ago; that only took 45 years.

 

[Reet McVouty]

This is similar to the thread that was just posted not too long ago on professional versus student horns. Although a little bit different and more specific to what I am looking for. So, that is why I am starting this new thread.

My predicament is that I have made some poor financial decisions lately and, in an effort to dig myself out, I may have to part with my beloved Selmer Super Action 80 series 1 tenor. this is the only saxophone I currently have, and I have played on it for the last 26 years. I received it as a graduation gift from high school and I have finally found a great mouthpiece to work on it and feel like it is the best horn I could ever hope for. So, it really pains me to think of having to sell it, but I may have to. (I won't get into all of the details and "why?'s" here).

So, I want to keep playing still. I consider myself an advanced amateur saxophonist and music is my outlet from the stresses of life. I love the saxophone and instrumental music!

Anyway, I digress. My question is, where I am going to try and "replace" it (hahahaha...sob, sob) with a lower-cost horn, what is the best tenor sax you guys have found for under $1,000?

Thanks!

Joe

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

I would advise against selling your beloved horn without first analyzing the situation thoroughly. I don't know the depth of your financial problems but will selling your horn go a long way to solving your issues? The SA80 is not going to fetch the big bucks the way a Mark VI would. Then you still need to use some of the sale to purchase another horn, which decreases your profit in the end. I would keep the horn and look for another way out of your situation.

 

[MLucky]

I would advise against selling your beloved horn without first analyzing the situation thoroughly. I don't know the depth of your financial problems but will selling your horn go a long way to solving your issues? The SA80 is not going to fetch the big bucks the way a Mark VI would. Then you still need to use some of the sale to purchase another horn, which decreases your profit in the end. I would keep the horn and look for another way out of your situation.

I couldn't help thinking the same thing. There are usually multiple ways to get out of a financial squeeze: refinance a loan, ask the IRS for an extension, ask your boss for an advance, take a second job, ask a relative for help, etc. Selling stuff that you actually use and need should be fairly far down the list. Without knowing the details of your situation, it's impossible to say for sure, but I would hope you look at EVERY other possibility before you sell the horn.

 

[Jazz Is All]

Well Jaye's list is a good one. I concur with the Martin Indiana, the sound will knock your socks off. Be sure to get an earlier one with the full Indian Head engraving and the adjustable thumb hook. Great saxes, but the only thing is you'll have to accept the transition from the Selmer pinky table to the vintage Martin one. Many people can't do that right off and so reject the sax even though they blow better than most Selmers. Berfore any one gets their panties in a wad, it's just my opinion (and that of many others too) so stay calm.

The other vintge horn I have that is quite inexpensive is a Buescher 140, a pre-buy out horn. The SN on mine is 463,xxx which is either from '65 or 67-68 depending on the source of the chart you look at. Not much difference in the sound and ergos of my Big B.

As far as Conns, if you can get a Pan Am or other Conn stencil often you can find one that is really jusr a NW II, minus the cross-hatched G# Key and the rolled tone holes, but playing basically just the same for a much much lower price.

As to modern horns, I don't know many tenors, but I once had a Jupiter 769-767 alto that was really good and cheap. Less than 300 euros used. It is not as solidly built (they say) as the equivalent Yamahahaha 23 or 21 (?) but it sells for over $100 less and has a high F# key (if that is something you use). The one I got was almost unplayed because it clearly had been bought for some young student who quit, sat in a closet for years, and was gotten rid of by papa for what he could get at a local resale of everything shop. I always check those places because you can find real steals in instruments and mpcs there. And like JayeLTD says, Jupiter is a good relaiable brand. Yeah, it's not a Selmer, but for under a thou you can't touch one of those or even a Yani or Keily Minogue.

The last sax I think might be good, but don't quote me, is one of the tenors sold by Thomann.de. I don't know if they are in the USA or just here in Europe, but over here they have sites in Spain, France, GB, and Germany of course. They have some inexpensive but solid horns for around 400€ that have high F# keys. I played the Antique model tenor of a band mate about 4 years ago and it was quite nice although no match for the tonal qualities of my Comm III. One thing tho that blew me away was that whereas with my horn I had struggled for years to get a decent G3 to come out, on that modern sax it came out as easily as if I was playing C2. I tried to hide my shock from the guy lest he think he had one up on me. LOL

For a bit more money, just 1,100 euros more or less, you can get their totally hand made tenors, the MK IV with a copper body and the MK I in brass. I have no idea about these so can't speak to their provenance or quality at all. I am not shilling for them, just mentioning them as a reliable source for saxes. I doubt they are junk however, because I doubt that a German company would be interested in selling stuff that lowers it's esteem in the public mind.

Finally, I second some others and say that if at all possible you should try to find some other way to deal with your problem before being forced to sell a sax you have had since H.S. That is gonna hurt and you can't go back in time. A loan perhaps from a S&L or if you know any loansharks in your area known not to cut off fingers or toes at the first delay in paying? I don't recommend that but some people find it the only way to get out from under. If you do though, make sure you don't end up ten feet under.

 

[B Flat]

The Keilwerth ST 90 is a good recommendation and they are a lot more sax than the Yamaha 23’s.
The old Grassi standards are good value and if really pressed for cash those much disliked Amati horns from the 80’s are cheap as chips but have a far better tone than expected.
Dolnets can often be had for that price and are amazing horns.

 

[PigSquealer]

Find another way to dig yourself out of the hole. Get the get the value nailed down and find a friend that will loan you the money against it. Better than a pawnshop. And definitely better than selling something you’ve loved for a great many years. Dude that’s a Irreplaceable lifetime possession.
Best of luck.



PS; A decent Conn 16m can be had for $700 or less in decent to great playing condition. A carcass can be had for under $200.
Very underrated Tennor.

 

[Jazz Is All]

I agree with PS......don't sell it. Get a loan on it's value with a friend or go out busking or whatever. That is already a family heirloom and you can't mess with it. Sell your wife or child if need be but not you sax. Man, seriously.

 

[BigDaddyJ]

Grassi Profesional 2000 or Model 2000 tenor.

Great sounding horn. I see these going for around $1000 or less.

Later,

JOel

 

[saxcop]

There are a lot of suggestions being made that you would have to get lucky to find at 1k.

 

[musekatcher]

Two inputs: Sell your SA80 to a friend or player who will hold it for you, till you can buy it back. Its not easy to find a horn-mp combination that satisfies you for 26 years! Try very hard to make the separation temporary.

Second, there are tons of good horns to be had for cheap, if you can live with some fugliness. My favorite is a King 615 (Cleveland or Eastlake), but there are many really good horns available - BUT ALWAYS budget $150 or so for a tech visit (have access to a reputable tech before shopping). Its embarrassing, but many folks form false impressions on horns that just aren't in good working order.

 

[rhythmisking]

One of the French made Vitos are nice horns at the price point you're looking at used. The later ones are Yamaha 21-23 stencils, but the older French ones you may like better.

 

[whaler]

Sell something else. Maybe your wife’s engagement ring, car or other crap around the house.
I sold a beautiful engraved silver plated MarkVI soprano to help pay for my divorce/custody lawyer. Best money I ever spent but then I never liked silver plated saxes so it didn’t break my heart. I just replaced it with another lacquered MarkVI soprano a couple of years later. Much better horn.

 

[Jazz Is All]

Sell something else. Maybe your wife's engagement ring, car or other crap around the house.
I sold a beautiful engraved silver plated MarkVI soprano to help pay for my divorce/custody lawyer. Best money I ever spent but then I never liked silver plated saxes so it didn't break my heart. I just replaced it with another lacquered MarkVI soprano a couple of years later. Much better horn.

What did you replace your wife with? Or didn't you.....a wiser choice many woulld say. LOL

 

[JL]

Sell something else. Maybe your wife's engagement ring, car or other crap around the house.

+100!

If you really love that horn and you can't replace it with at least as good a horn, you'd be crazy to sell it. And you'll end up regretting it. OTOH, if you can come up with around $2k then you'd have some great options in the vintage horn market. But man, there's gotta be something else you can sell or do to take care of the situation.