[Swingtone]

I know it's a tiny photo, but I was wondering if any of you Buescher folks know what model and vintage (approx. year) of Bundy Buescher Wayne Shorter is playing here? Is it essentially a stencil of the famous "small-bell" Crat? Whatever it is, it's the horn he used on all of his classic 1964 Blue Note recording dates, including the legendary "Speak No Evil." Thanks!

 

[Swingtone]

BTW the photo was taken during the "Ju Ju" recording sessions in August of 1964; "Night Dreamer" was recorded in May of the same year; and "Speak No Evil, in December 1964. Also, Shorter played this same axe (what a dark and resonant tone it had!--just to listen to the unaccompanied finale to Track No. 3 on Night Dreamer!) on his first recording with the Miles, the classic "ESP." I do not know exactly when in 1965 that Miles bought him a new Mark VI, as the legend goes, but I know he was playing the VI by the time he recorded "Adam's Apple" in early 1966.

In some ways I like the darker, earthier tone he got on the (Bundy) Buescher better than his later tone on the VI (just listen to "Infant Eyes"--beautiful), which was definitely brighter.

 

[docformat]

I seem to recollect that it was a Bundy Special (which is a Keilwerth stencil.) Not 100% sure though.

 

[Enviroguy]

It's an Aristocrat or a Bundy/Aristocrat stencil. I can't tell which from the photo.

 

[Swingtone]

Yes, I know it's not a Bundy Special, but some sort of earlier Buescher-made Bundy made prior to the 1963 buyout. I once owned one of these horns and they have Selmer Bundy on the bell with elaborate filigree SBA-style engraving. I think mine dated from the 50's, and I suspect Shorter's did, too. However, his seems to have the earlier Aristocrat design with the small bell flare, whereas mine was clearly a 156 stencil, with the wider 400-like bell flare.

I have always wondered how to date these earlier pre-Selmer-Buyout Bundy's. I have never been able to find a Bundy serial number chart on the web for anything earlier than 1963. Thus I was unable to date the horn mentioned above, which I have since sold. Does anyone know how you can date these earlier horns?

I don't have access to my Shorter biography right now, where the picture above originated from, but as soon as I locate it I will post a larger scan.

 

[Dave dix]

Wayne could be playing the EK Blessing horn (artist) i have with the smaller series 1 aristo bell Serial number 21481.These horns were also engraved with Geo Bundy.
Dave

 

[saxgurl1989]

I luv my bundy.

 

[saintsday]

I don't believe Buescher made a horn with that style neck brace until right around the time of the buy out. On my laptop the picture is too small to see much of anything else.

I haven't seen a ton of tenors from this era, but FWIW there were some real Frankenbuescher altos. 141s with 140 engraving and a 400 body tube and a 140 bell with 400 tonehole placement. Or the same with a 400 bell minus the tone ring. Some ribbon keyguards, some those big nickle cages. From somewhere around 359xxx it started getting pretty weird.

 

[Dave dix]

My small belled blessing has that same styled neck brace with the ring octave vent
Dave

 

[drakesaxprof]

Wayne's Bundy

Here's some prior discussion of the Bundy.

 

[SuperAction80]

I used to own one of those Bundy's. The model used to be posted up on saxpics, but I can't seem to find it now. It is a Series I Buescher made Bundy and I believe it was the second Bundy stencil ever made. The first was made by Conn. The horn does have (Selmer USA) engraved below (Bundy). I don't know if this means they were produced after the Selmer buyout or if it was something involving distribution. The horns were made in the late 30's or early 40's. Buescher made a series II Bundy that lacked the elaborate engravings of the series I. Pete described these as "Advanced Intermediate Horns". I'll post a link if I can find this information again.

Mine was a good horn, but needed an overhaul as the pads were starting to go. It was the lightest tenor I've ever played, husky tone with good altissimo too. I gave the horn away like an idiot. In fact I should call that friend up and see what ever happened to it. There was an older gentleman on eBay who was selling a Reference 36 because he prefered his old horn that just so happened to be this style of Bundy. Now I'm curious how mine would have played after an overhaul. The one thing I remember hating was the chromatic F# key. It's too close to the lower stack keys and I remember always hitting it and making ghost notes. Otherwise, I could see why Shorter liked it.