[CandyHearts]

I'm fairly new here, so please bear with me ... I believe I posted this message on the wrong thread, so I am posting it here in the Buescher forum.

2 Questions:

1: Is a Buescher Aristocrat a "vintage" horn?

2: If I have found an alto Buescher Aristocrat in in very good condition, completely playable as is, how much should it cost?

THANKS!

Candy

 

[retread]

It varies greatly by the age of the sax. What are the first three digits of the serial number? Is it an alto or tenor? Selmer bought Buescher in the early 1960s and gradually decreased the quality. And, there were several versions of the Aristocrat. You might go to www.saxpics.com and see if you can identify which model it is.

 

[CandyHearts]

Thanks, retread!

Serial #585xxx ... so I am guessing it is a later, cheaper model. Price is about $150 and appears to be in very good ... and playable .. condition.

 

[CandyHearts]

Oh, and it's an alto as I said in my first post. Tenors usually cost more, eh?

 

[retread]

Do you know any sax players who could test it for you? If it plays good, the pads have some life left, and it looks good, $150 sounds like a good deal to me. It is not a vintage sax, just a 30-35 year old used horn. But it might be a good used horn.

 

[CandyHearts]

Well, I went back and that one was sold, but they have another Buescher True Tone Alto, for nearly the same price, and the serial # is 196xxx ... pro horn, isn't it?

 

[CandyHearts]

And it appears to be silver plated.

 

[retread]

Yes, it's a pro sax, especially popular with a school of classical playing. That exhausts my knowledge of Buescher True Tones. Time for someone who knows them to chime in.

 

[CandyHearts]

Thanks, retread, I do appreciate your help!

 

[JL]

The True Tone altos are very nice horns and, while Bueschers are popular with classical players (no doubt due to their superior intonation and tone quality), they work well for all styles of music with the right mpc (just like all other good saxes). The later TT models with the front alt F key are more desirable. The TT is definitely undervalued and so you can get a good deal on one.

 

[Dave dix]

196k may have the front F and for $150 its a steal
Dave

 

[bruce bailey]

That one is probably a series III which is much better than the earlier ones. It should have the crescent G# (not a pearl) and a front F.

 

[CandyHearts]

Thanks to all for your input .... this place where I saw it really sells quality instruments quickly. The pro Buescher is now gone too. :'(

 

[AG]

alas! which proves again that if you snooze you lose; they're around, keep an eye out, do your research, you'll find one.