I'm getting back to playing saxophone again after about 7 years away. Playing used to be such a major part of my life but life, school, and finances got in the way. But i'm back and ready for that part of my soul to be fulfilled. Only been half alive without this. Currently, i'm looking at different altos on a dealer website I found recommended here on SOTW. Ideally, I'd like at least an intermediate sax to give me the flexibility and response I need as I get my chops back. I think I've narrowed it down to 2 saxophones, a 1945 Buescher Aristocrat and a 1933 Vintage Martin Handcraft Imperial.
A dark tone but not muddy tone is important to me as well as being free playing at the low end. I've been seeing that Bueschers are great horns but haven't come across as much talk about early Martin horns. I'm currently leaning toward the Martin but . It's marked as having a dark tone and being in what seems like slightly better condition:
The Buescher
I don't know much about buying horns or what is the most important to have. I also don't really have the budget for expensive repairs. I don't care about aesthetics or dents much. All of the horns I've been able to own have been pretty beat up/ lower cost horns. As long as I could get a good enough tone, it was fine by me. Lol. For a while I was even having to hold open a key with my pinky. Now that I can afford to get myself a bit better of a horn, I'd like to do it right. It'll be nice not to struggle as much. I'm definitely deferring to your experience here. Please let me know what you would pick. I don't know much about the resonators. Some info on those would be great just for my own knowledge.
Thanks everyone. I'm excited.
A dark tone but not muddy tone is important to me as well as being free playing at the low end. I've been seeing that Bueschers are great horns but haven't come across as much talk about early Martin horns. I'm currently leaning toward the Martin but . It's marked as having a dark tone and being in what seems like slightly better condition:
- Possible left the factory as bare brass and later lacquered
- Older lacquer ~80%.
- Large dings in the bow and minor repairs
- Newer pads with dome metal resonators.
The Buescher
- Original lacquer ~60%
- Keyguard leg repairs.
- Minor dings
- Snap-in resonators removed
- Pads with plastic resonators
- Pads good to excellent condition
I don't know much about buying horns or what is the most important to have. I also don't really have the budget for expensive repairs. I don't care about aesthetics or dents much. All of the horns I've been able to own have been pretty beat up/ lower cost horns. As long as I could get a good enough tone, it was fine by me. Lol. For a while I was even having to hold open a key with my pinky. Now that I can afford to get myself a bit better of a horn, I'd like to do it right. It'll be nice not to struggle as much. I'm definitely deferring to your experience here. Please let me know what you would pick. I don't know much about the resonators. Some info on those would be great just for my own knowledge.
Thanks everyone. I'm excited.