C melody with pearl G# + front F? Have one?
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Mine has both front F and roller G#. And an unusual neck: salt-shaker octave pip and a slightly higher mouthpiece angle than is normal even for the later C-mels.
Serial is 190xxx.
I thought that front F became standard at the same time the roller G# appeared?
Do remember that Buescher had front F as a special order option from at least 1922. I don't know how many special-ordered C-mels Buescher did, but I have seen at least one each alto and tenor that had a pearl G# and a front F before front F was standard. One was from 1922 and the other from 1924, although I totally forget which was which.
Serial is 190xxx.
I thought that front F became standard at the same time the roller G# appeared?
Do remember that Buescher had front F as a special order option from at least 1922. I don't know how many special-ordered C-mels Buescher did, but I have seen at least one each alto and tenor that had a pearl G# and a front F before front F was standard. One was from 1922 and the other from 1924, although I totally forget which was which.
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Before the roller G# era, I've only seen them on tenors. If they were an option earlier in the '20s, they were an option practically no one wanted. I've never seen one on a pearl G#'d alto that wasn't a retrofit.
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FWIW I've got a TT tenor in the 190xxx range with the front-F, pearl G#, and the "salt shaker" neck pip.
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Sounds like a great horn...do you notice any effect from that pip? My 185k tenor is satin gold, front F/pearl G#, but has the conventional pip.
Another complication in 20s Bueschers is the "FR" saxes (a body stamp meaning free replacement or factory remainder). These were unsold inventory from the early-mid '20s, and from about 1926-'29 they were available in a 1:1 exchange for your old saxophone, in ANY condition.
They might have key updates (often G#s) beyond their serials, except that I've never seen one with a front F. It would have required new posts (G# wouldn't have).
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I've never noticed any issue with the neck pip. I got it out today - 196xxx serial. It's a swell horn I had Gayle at Vintagesax re-pad about four years ago. Haven't played it much since, which has more to do with ergonomic issues particular to an injury I had than the horn itself - my 400 tenor was just easier to play.
Incidentally it's a factory brass finish horn with a post-market coat of lacquer. I picked it before I knew that they didn't start factory lacquering horns until the '30s, so I couldn't figure out why there was a tin of brass polish in the case. What kind of idiot polishes a lacquered horn, I thought. The horn was very well cared for, but I guess at some point he got tired of polishing!
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The two I saw appeared original to me (I have seen one or two more that clearly were not). I believe I have also read at least once that it was a special order option, although - full disclosure - I do not remember where that was.
I suspect it was the same situation as always: many top-tier companies have offered special options, and some like Selmer, Keilwerth, and R&C still do them without hesitation, but... how many people are willing to pay for that?
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I helped research the background information for a patent for a friend's design of a new front F/altissimo G key. This is an excerpt: "In the history of the development of the saxophone, there have been many improvements to the key mechanisms for the purpose of allowing the player to more easily perform difficult technical passages in the musical literature. One of the most significant improvements related to the fingering of the two highest notes in the conventional range of the saxophone was the addition of the key by Paul Evette in 1899, U.S. Pat. No. 638,385. Commonly known today as the Front F Key or Auxiliary high F key." The "concept" for the front F apparently was around quite a while before the major brands began putting it on their saxophones.
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Found this on fleabag #192193 C-Mel TT pearl G# no F.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bu...Pitch-C-Melody-Saxophone-Silver-/143416221037If you have a fleabag account check closed listings too.
I think the pearl G# was gone after 1925
1926 G#roller & F , C Mel See page 8 "Key system "
https://www.saxophone.org/museum/publications/id/550
1926 roller G# C Mel see page 9
https://www.saxophone.org/museum/publications/id/511
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Mine has both, and I recall it to be a 1924, original unlacquered. I had it professionally overhauled a few years ago. Its on loan, so I can't confirm the serial number right now. It completely changed my understanding of C Melody capabilities, and the capabilities of better horns from the 1920's.
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I now believe that Buescher tenors got front F in 1925; altos and C melodies only with the new roller G# key in 1926; and baritones in 1933.
Conn had added a simple lever-type front F to alto, C mel, and tenor in 1906, which became a button when the New Inventions rolled out in 1912. Bari only got front F in 1940.
Conn had added a simple lever-type front F to alto, C mel, and tenor in 1906, which became a button when the New Inventions rolled out in 1912. Bari only got front F in 1940.
On soprano, I think the Holton was the only one with a standard front F till VERY late in the game. Other than Holton I'm not sure who had a front F on soprano until the Selmer Super Action 80?
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That's what the earliest Conn front Fs look like. They must have been very awkward in use.
Look how far down it is to the C button.
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That seems reasonable. My 1925 C-mel has the usual G pearl, no roller, no front F.
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These front Fs are the same as on some early holtons.
The pearl drop design is nice. The mechanism works just fine when adjusted and swedged properly.
). I've only seen one with a front F, probably about ~82,XXX was changeover to Phase III like the rest of the 1927-1928 Handcrafts.1 - 20 of 22 Posts
