SOLD on Cafesaxophone Beaugnier Vito Alto - Vintage 1950's/60's

[DavidUK]

🙂

Full Photos here: http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/albu...eshow/24294741

This is a French LeBlanc Vito by Beaugnier, serial number 13625A.
Back up for sale now the lower stack leak my tutor noticed has been fixed and the sax checked over.

Vintage patina to lacquer commensurate with age (see photos). A few tiny dings in the bow. Neck re-corked earlier this year.

I recall there was a video of a similar Beaugnier sax being played over in the "Saxophones & Accessories" section recently.

NOTE: Just the sax, crook, and case included - The mouthpiece & neck strap shown are NOT included.
If you need a neck strap and/or mouthpiece let me know.

£315 cash collected (5 mins J1 M6 or J20 M1), or add £20 for insured courier (1-2 days).
Bank transfer please, if by post.

5% of sale price will be donated to Pete's charity.

🙂

 

[Jane M L]

PM on it's way.

 

[DavidUK]

PM on it's way.

Despite my warnings about vintage ergonomics in the previous sales thread, Jane is determined to buy this!
I have succumbed! On hold for Jane pending funds receipt early next week.

 

[Jane M L]

I am so pleased. THANK YOU !
Don't worry - unless you have found this model to be known to be uncomfortable. As far as I can find out , the Beaugnier Vito's were particularly built for the smaller student.🙂🙂🙂🙂..............

 

[majordennis]

IMHO ergos are as with most things saxophone very much down to personal choice, my old fingers find their way around vintage Conn keywork more easily than any other sax I have played.

I can also recommend Beaugnier manufactured instruments, I own a Noblet Standard Tenor (which is at the moment on commission sale with my local tech) which is in many aspects as good as my 10M, but I can't see me playing it unless something happens to the Conn, so pointless keeping such an excellent horn locked away unplayed. These are very undervalued horns, I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Jane M L]

Hi David
Just to confirm the purchase of this Beaugnier Vito alto. I've just sent a PM with my address etc.
Really looking forward to receiving it as I've been playing a quite stuffy alto Meister of exactly the model that Steve Howard said in a fairly recent thread was the one never to bother with....duh. It is in such good condition too with almost new pads etc, but as I play an awful lot these days I'm beginning to hear what is me and what is the sax and some things are just not there on the Meister.
I've found your thread from January, too, with 5 pages of discussion and banter - so have no fears, I know what I'm getting into.

[ I hope this let's you feel officially not responsible for any misjudgements I might make.....🙂🙂 ]

 

[Jane M L]

Reply to majordennis - Thanks for your reply. It's interesting to hear from someone who has such longterm affection for these saxes. I found an excellent 2 part critique of the tenors on Youtube and am hoping that the alto will be as good.

 

[majordennis]

Reply to majordennis - Thanks for your reply. It's interesting to hear from someone who has such longterm affection for these saxes. I found an excellent 2 part critique of the tenors on Youtube and am hoping that the alto will be as good.

It is very hard to part with it but it deserves to be played, there is some excellent information on them on SaxontheWeb in the A-J section Beaugnier if you are interested.
One thing that is outstanding about mine is the intonation, with a large chamber mouthpiece it's spot on.

 

[DavidUK]

Payment received. Sax packed up ready for courier to collect tomorrow.

 

[Jane M L]

Thanks, David, did it get away this time? and when should I expect it? Is it worth trying to track it - Parcelforce tracking is usually only any use after the parcel should have arrived........

 

[DavidUK]

Thanks, David, did it get away this time? and when should I expect it? Is it worth trying to track it - Parcelforce tracking is usually only any use after the parcel should have arrived........

Hi Jane, PM me your email address and I'll send the tracking link over. It was collected yesterday by UPS.

 

[Jane M L]

PM sent.

 

[ellinas]

You made a wise wise choice Jane.

I have a Vito Beaugnier special alto <late one with the egg-type spatula>.


There are two different spatulas, the trapezoid and the egg type. I know people that prefer the trapezoid one but to my hands the later design is perfect. It's a personal thing I guess. The later ones are a little bit brighter also and with a dark(-ish?) mouthpiece the versatility is trumendous.

I tend to compare it with friend's top of the line saxophones like MK6s, SMLs, Yamaha Purple Logos etc.

Beaugniers have the perfect balance between warm WARM vintage sound and easy of playing.
Now honestly the ergos are SUPERB and the SOUND is awsome. It's warmth and fullness is remarkable.

Also the minor embouchoure changes are directly reflected to the sound. In Yamahas there an other thing. They play very easily and with a signature sound. With the beaugnier I can sound bright, warm or dark, go from Getz's subtone sound to a louder one much much easier. It's really sensitive.

There's a small hidden detail though. I had it fully overhauled by a top repairman here in Athens Greece. ( Pads corks everything) . I bought it for 400euros or something and paid around 300euros for the overhaul.

Before that I thought it was a bit stuffy, not really free blowing and couldn't understand the values of this little beatuy. But my tech insisted that these saxophones are exceptionally good and that the previous owner's tech had no idea. Sounded weird and selfish but he was right.

For 700euros total I have a beast saxophone that feels unique, and makes me feel so great when I play.
Less than the price of a slightly used YAS-275.

I wouldn't sell it. Ever.
Share your opinions after you get it.

 

[Jane M L]

Good morning, David! Sax arrived mid afternoon yesterday - that's such good service. Sax looks good, all pads fine, most cork and buffers seem to have been restored. It's cleaned and polished and it's so nice to have no sticking pads and keys for once. All rods and screws snug. Can't find anything to complain of mechanically. I play up and down and the clear top notes are like best crystal glass..... I find the gold springs and I am hooked.
I can really appreciate your trepitude re me and a suitable sax, as I felt it myself and dreaded [ in among my excitement waiting all day ] a disappointment . Whether one knows enough to be able play an unfamiliar sax and make a valid judgement as to whether one will ok for a few years with it is seemingly impossible at my stage and it's been more luck than judgement but the gamble has paid off.
I'm totally delighted now, after an evening tootling and blasting and hunting for overtones and multiphonics. That was something that I had wondered about - would a well set up semi-professional sax like this maybe not have enough squeaks and rumbles compared with the crazed, stuffy little GDR Meister, that has to be blown into like a hurricane sometimes. But no worries, the Vito is full of complexities.
SO I would like to say that I really appreciate the care that you put into learning about and refurbishing the saxes that fall into your lap. I also want to say that the energy you put into sourcing and researching quality technical expertise , materials, techniques, histories etc is admirable and the instruments you find and bring to the forum are a boon to us all.
So thank you very sincerely, David

:thanks:

 

[DavidUK]

Good morning, David! Sax arrived mid afternoon yesterday - that's such good service. Sax looks good, all pads fine, most cork and buffers seem to have been restored. It's cleaned and polished and it's so nice to have no sticking pads and keys for once. All rods and screws snug. Can't find anything to complain of mechanically. I play up and down and the clear top notes are like best crystal glass..... I find the gold springs and I am hooked.
I can really appreciate your trepitude re me and a suitable sax, as I felt it myself and dreaded [ in among my excitement waiting all day ] a disappointment . Whether one knows enough to be able play an unfamiliar sax and make a valid judgement as to whether one will ok for a few years with it is seemingly impossible at my stage and it's been more luck than judgement but the gamble has paid off.
I'm totally delighted now, after an evening tootling and blasting and hunting for overtones and multiphonics. That was something that I had wondered about - would a well set up semi-professional sax like this maybe not have enough squeaks and rumbles compared with the crazed, stuffy little GDR Meister, that has to be blown into like a hurricane sometimes. But no worries, the Vito is full of complexities.
SO I would like to say that I really appreciate the care that you put into learning about and refurbishing the saxes that fall into your lap. I also want to say that the energy you put into sourcing and researching quality technical expertise , materials, techniques, histories etc is admirable and the instruments you find and bring to the forum are a boon to us all.
So thank you very sincerely, David

:thanks:

Thanks for the thanks Jane. I know some here sneer at my "bargain" buys but they allow me to experience many different horns and when I've decided they're not "the one" and pass them on I do try to make sure they play well and all will have had a trip to the tech before sale, usually straight after I find them, to ensure any little foibles are corrected. This adds value but I'm still able to sell them on at what should be a reasonable price whilst not being out of pocket. For instance a well respected member here advised me my Buescher 400 might be worth £500 but I have put it on at £350 as I still make a little profit and someone else profits from a nice vintage sax.

Of the altos I've found, the Vito was my tutor's favourite so far with it's complex and warm sound. Looks like you'll enjoy it too.

 

[Jane M L]

There is just one little carp - I was expecting vintage patina. I'd been looking forward to that as for me it's part of the instrument's past and personality. Mind you too much importance given to looks can get instruments locked away in display cabinets, unplayed.
And I expect you found out a lot more about this sax as you cleaned and polished. Maybe cleaning off patina should be the buyers choice just before delivery date is finalised?

 

[DavidUK]

There is just one little carp - I was expecting vintage patina. I'd been looking forward to that as for me it's part of the instrument's past and personality. Mind you too much importance given to looks can get instruments locked away in display cabinets, unplayed.
And I expect you found out a lot more about this sax as you cleaned and polished. Maybe cleaning off patina should be the buyers choice just before delivery date is finalised?

That's how it arrived with me. No polishing done at all, in fact you'll find it's because the lacquer is in such good condition that it's still shiny. Wait another 50 years or so and it may all have gone by then. ;}

 

[ProfJames]

Now..................tell the truth.......................did you re-lacquer it? Come on...........................

 

[majordennis]

Of the altos I've found, the Vito was my tutor's favourite so far with it's complex and warm sound. Looks like you'll enjoy it too.

I'm not surprised your tutor liked it these are very good saxophones that can be had for a fraction of the price of a "name", my Noblet tenor is on sale at the tech's for £350 and creating no interest at all so I've agreed a "part-ex" for a vintage tenor to be my winter project.

 

[Ivan]

There is just one little carp - I was expecting vintage patina

I know the feeling although in your case it's clear there was none anyway

I had a patch of patina around the left thumb rest on my 1980's alto which I was quite fond of, but it was cleaned away in an overhaul last winter and it's like my old friend has had a face lift it didn't need