[luispa]

Hi,

I just received this saxophone I won on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270138176933

It seems to be lacquered over gold plated. The bell engraving is bigger than usual. What do you think about it? Is it gold plated? I'll attach better pictures on Friday.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Dweekie]

I don't see any finish showing under the lacquer in the pictures. It'll be nice to see some better pictures when you post them. I wonder why anyone would lacquer over gold though. Lacquer over silver is common enough, though. Hmm.

That looks like a great horn for the price. How is the condition?

 

[luispa]

That looks like a great horn for the price. How is the condition?

It's in playing condition, however I'd prefer to replace all pads.

 

[luispa]

Pictures

Finally, I have a few pictures:

​

It seems to be polished without any lacquer.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Dave Dolson]

Nice. I'm GUESSING gold plating. DAVE

 

[Grumps]

Is that silver showing underneath?

 

[jbtsax]

The pads that can be seen in the photos look brand new to me. Why do a repad if it is not necessary?

John

 

[Pure Magic]

Great price and it looks like a solid horn. How does it sound? Any leaks or hard notes to get out? Did you take it to a TECH to check it out? Hope you post some recordings soon.

 

[JL]

It sure has a gold-plated look to it. As Grumps mentioned, if you can find some silver peaking out in a worn spot, then I think that would confirm gold plate. Looks like a great horn.

 

[luispa]

I disassembled the saxophone and I realized the pads are in very good condition, so I adjusted the saxophone and it sounds great. I'll post recordings soon.

 

[betelsax]

Looks gold-plated to me. A great sax at an unbelievably low price. The seller, who deals in musical instruments, apparently had no idea what he had other than that it was an old Buescher. Bidding started at $10 with no reserve.

Enjoy it!

 

[bruce bailey]

I have gotten about 6 gold plated altos that the sellers stated "the gold lacquer had gone bad and is dull". Satin Gold! My Chu tenor is gold plated but someone gold lacquered it, YUCK! Since all the pads are new, I just live with it.

 

[luispa]

Samples

Here are the promised samples:
Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
Sample 4
Sample 5
Sample 6

The samples were recorded with a cheap multimedia PC mic.

 

[vivace1]

Wow, great price on a great horn. So ebay isn't all bad.
Say, I'll buy it from you for $50 on top of purchase price...let you make a nice profit on it. How bout it?

 

[luispa]

Say, I'll buy it from you for $50 on top of purchase price...let you make a nice profit on it. How bout it?

I really appreciate your offer but it seems become in my main alto :twisted:

I recently overhauled an Aristocrat 140 and it also sounds great but this True Tone sounds even better.

 

[Grumps]

The gold plate makes it richer sounding? :twisted:

 

[luispa]

The gold plate makes it richer sounding? :twisted:

I don't know, It seems to sound darker than silver plated True Tones. I guess the gold plate make the sound even in all registers, Am I wrong?

 

[Dave Dolson]

luispa: I think you are wrong to conclude the finish makes any difference in the horn's sound. DAVE

 

[luispa]

luispa: I think you are wrong to conclude the finish makes any difference in the horn's sound. DAVE

Dave: There's a lot of threads about this and nobody gave a good argument to tell YES or NOT to the question. I just can say what I said. It probably also depends on the kind of pads or key heights or whatever. I don't want to start a sub thread about if sound change or not depending on the finishing. I think the only way to analyze that is to recording two similar saxophones (i.e. Buescher True Tones with snap on pads with similar key heights) making long tones and after that make an spectral analysis on each not. I don't have the time for doing it so, I can live without knowing the answer.

 

[playitfunky]

I believe it's the thickness of the finish or plating that changes the sound. By the time you get to the gold plating it has already been plated silver. IMO it's that fact it could be a bit darker. But like the other poster said finish doesn't really change the sound as much as people think. Unlacquered I think though does make a significant difference.