[SaxColossusJR]

I have been considering there horns to bring me up a notch over my yts-52, as i have been borrowing a VI but want to own a pro vintage to hold me over until I can afford a VI or super 20, or maybe even end up staying with one of these. I play mainly jazz and funk in a combo setting and a little big band.

 

[Dave dix]

pre 1959 aristocrat
Dave

 

[JL]

What Dave said. Get a Big B or 156 or even an earlier 'Crat and you won't need a VI.

 

[Dave dix]

Or even a V1 !!, the aristocrat line were a superb line of horns from the 30's to 1963 thou the 157 model was not as good as the previous 157 model
Dave

 

[bfoster64]

There are lots of Buescher-philes around here and while I haven't played any nice Buescher altos, I have played a YAS-52 and currently play an SDA alto and the SDA is a pretty awesome horn. It is a lot like a Selmer but with a bigger bore so it has a warmer middle and fatter bottom, but slightly smaller sound in the high end. I really like the ergos and feel of the SDA, and the response is great. Very free-blowing with good intonation.

 

[JL]

Or even a V1 !!, the aristocrat line were a superb line of horns from the 30's to 1963 thou the 157 model was not as good as the previous 157 model
Dave

Thanks Dave! Nice catch. I can't believe I called the VI a IV, but it isn't the first time. I edited it so I don't look like an idiot to subsequent readers.

bfoster, I'm pretty sure the original poster here is referring to tenors (yts). Altos are another thing altogether, imo.

I have to admit, I still haven't made a final decision between my Aristocrat tenor and MKVI tenor. Maybe I never will, which means I'll just have to alternate. But I doubt very much I would pay the extra $$ for a VI nowadays (I bought mine years ago).

 

[tjontheroad]

I've played both Buescher 'crats and Buffets SDAs. Both will get the job done in fine fashion. For my money, the keeper is the SDA. It's a much more solid built sax and the tone is fuller over a 'crat.

Best advise is to try yourself.

 

[bfoster64]

For some reason I read "alto" the first time through.

As you can see from my signature, I play SDA on both alto and tenor. I'm a big fan of the SDA alto with a stock neck but I didn't fall in love with the SDA tenor until I got a Barone neck. Now I would not trade it for any Buescher.

I've played a TH&C tenor and a cheap Silvertone Buescher stencil, and I'd put a stock SDA tenor pretty close to, if not better than, a TH&C--though they have significant differences. The Silvertone is not even worthy of the comparison.