[Rickymagic]

Hi, I picked up a Vito Sax for my son who wants to learn. I cannot find any info on this model. It is an Alto Sax. The only number I could find on the Sax is 45x. Is that the Serial Number? Or The Model? Any Idea of the Age or Country of Manufacture, or Any Other Info on This Sax? Any Help will be Greatly Appreciated

 

[turf3]

Looks a little dubious to me. Vitos have been made by Beaugnier (not one of those), Yamaha (not one of those), even maybe Holton (not one of those) and a couple others. I think any real Vito has a serial number and country of origin stamp - because these were real reputable companies that made them.

On the other hand, who on earth would want to counterfeit a Vito?

 

[AddictedToSax]

Strange. I agree with turf3 that it's unlikely a fake. It looks like it's in pretty good shape. Good luck with it.

 

[Hassles]

On the other hand, who on earth would want to counterfeit a Vito?

The once well renown Kohlert brand is again in the market place with those being of asian origins. Something branded Vito is gonna' sell more readily than something branded Dolphin or Swallow for example. I remain unconvinced it has any connections to Vito as we knew it.

 

[sparq]

This is the version of Vito that I am not clear on. That said, I think these were made by Yamaha and assembled in the USA. Vito started importing Yamaha when Yamaha was relatively new to saxophone manufacture. Not labeling it "Japan" may have saved money on tariffs.

In general, it looks like a YAS-21 - or a precursor to the YAS-21. I would estimate the production as being in the early 1970s.

However, it should still have a serial number on it, and I don't think the 45X is it.

As for quality, it should be a reasonable student horn and marching band horn.

 

[ptung]

This is the version of Vito that I am not clear on. That said, I think these were made by Yamaha and assembled in the USA. Vito started importing Yamaha when Yamaha was relatively new to saxophone manufacture. Not labeling it "Japan" may have saved money on tariffs.

In general, it looks like a YAS-21 - or a precursor to the YAS-21. I would estimate the production as being in the early 1970s.

However, it should still have a serial number on it, and I don't think the 45X is it.

As for quality, it should be a reasonable student horn and marching band horn.

Just to add a validation: there are a lot of things that look Yamaha here. Most of it looks Yamaha. My guess is that if the photos included a view of the LH table, that would probably confirm and cement it.

The pic you posted definitely matches the "Shooting Stars" and New Mexico Conn period, but basically nothing on that horn matches the Yamaha-like one in the OP. There are pretty much no matches, tho most of the OP horn matches Yamaha.

 

[milandro]

I understand that that horn abouve is the Conn 7M version made for VITO

According to the best information source on Vito saxophones , run by Kim Slava, Dr. Sax here (article on the Conn-Vergence of models)

Vito - Conn Convergence

Doctor Sax repairs, buys and sells woodwinds...saxes, clarinet flutes and a variety of reed instruments. I strive to bring quality affordable instruments to people who want to play. I specialize in saxophones and other vintage instruments.

doctorsax.biz

"....
Conn's original "shooting star" was the 14M with the shooting stars and the wire Mercedes key guards, based on the Pan-American. Conn took over the original Vito, called that the 50M and also put their shooting star stencil on the bell. The 50M had the sheet metal type key guards and the different F# tonehole placement. Over time, these models melded a bit, with the 14M taking on the 50M's keyguards (which might have been easier to install than the Mercedes cage type, and easier to replace for sure.
To the best of my knowledge, only altos of the 50M type were made...no tenors, whereas the 14M model type had a tenor big brother, the 16M.

UPDATE - I have seen some 60M Tenors.

The 14M and 16M started life in the mid-to-late 1950's, made in Elkhart. Production moved to Nogales in the mid-60's and ended in the early 70's.

One fellow states categorically that contrary to common belief, the Conn student lines began the move to the ex Best Manufacturing plant (Art Best, Coin-Art) in Nogales as soon as Conn acquired it c. 1959/1960 NOT 1968.

The 50M started production in 1961, also moving to Nogales around 1966 (perhaps as late as 1968). Production also ending in the early 70's.
After production of the 14M and 50M ceased, I think the 20M came on the scene sometime in the 70's. I've never met one of these that I particularly liked.

I'm not sure that if Art Best was making 50M's in 1961, whether that meant he had stopped making Vitos for LeBlanc at that point. I thought the Kenosha Vito's persisted well into the 60's and paralleled LeBlanc's continued importation of Vito-branded Made In France horns. Per the information given above, it is possible that some Vito horns were assembled in Nogales and sent to Kenosha for quality control and correction.
It'd be good to get a date as to when LeBlanc started outsourcing to Yamaha. I HAVE seen some Vito horns with Yamaha bodies and Kenosha keyguards. Hybrids, if you will.

The 50M was a great little horn, held up well and some played really well. I am guessing the body tube had the same specs as the alto's that LeBlanc originally imported from France.
The 14M was an old school design out of Conn, a good design without getting ridiculous.
Both these can be good quality horns if made before the move to Nogales.
The quality control of the production of the Nogales horns was spotty at best....."

The Conn 50 M had somewhat different Eb-C keys but the rest looks really pretty similar to OP's horn.

 

[ptung]

Those two do not overlap, I think. Look at the RH table, the F# linkage, etc. -- those are just two very telltale non-matches. I'd still bet your guy $1000 in a heartbeat that the LH table also matches with Yamaha.

 

[JohnInDenver]

I'm a big Vito fan...the Beaugnier stencils, Yamaha stencils, Yanagisawa stencils all have had their place in my collection. Every time I think I've seen all of the Vito variations something like this comes along. It looks pretty good to me. Does it play well? How does it sound?