Saxophones Buescher Baritone

[QWales]

Can anyone tell me anything about this Sax please? It seems to play well in the right hands, I couldn't do much with it myself but 2 more experienced people in a class I take made some great sounds with it. I bought it described as 1950's but the guy who played it reckons 1920's.

 

[Nick Wyver]

20s or earlier I would think. Low B only and possibly up to Eb - can't see the palm keys but no rh side keys. High pitch?

Thinking about it - if there were any palm keys they should be visible in the last pic. So only up to C#. Sure it's a baritone?

 

[QWales]

Thanks Nick, that's what it was sold to me as, what else could it be?

 

[Nick Wyver]

Bass. Looks about bari size but can't tell the scale from the pics. Does it play in tune?

Is there a serial number?

 

[Nick Wyver]

There's a pic of a bari (not a Buescher) of a similar age (1886) on this page.

 

[QWales]

It played really nicely when the guy in my class had a go. It was sold to me with the following info " Buescher Academy baritone saxophone, a lovely example of an interesting horn, quite unique the horn only plays down to a low C#" but there's no guarantees that is correct. I'll have a look for at the serial number when I get home.

 

[thomsax]

Are there any low B or Bb? I can't see the low keys. Keyed C to C? A baritone home model?

 

[QWales]

I don't think so, there are very few keys on this

 

[Nick Wyver]

" Buescher Academy baritone saxophone, a lovely example of an interesting horn, quite unique the horn only plays down to a low C#"

A student horn apparently. Bit of a challenge to find all the missing notes.

 

[QWales]

I found it a challenge to find the ones that were there

 

[MontyMac]

Are there any low B or Bb? I can't see the low keys. Keyed C to C? A baritone home model?

A "C" Bari? Possible. Maybe an "F" horn?
Is there a patent number on it #Qwales and did you check with a tuner what it was doing?
Curiosity Overdrive!

 

[Nick Wyver]

It's an Eb baritone but with a lot of keywork left off to make it easier for a student.

 

[QWales]

Is there a patent number on it #Qwales and did you check with a tuner what it was doing?
Curiosity Overdrive!

Will get back to you with more info, I think it was Eb as mentioned below.

 

[QWales]

It's an Eb baritone but with a lot of keywork left off to make it easier for a student.

Sounding pretty confident there Nick, so that's it then, it's a standard Eb Bari with the extra key work removed? I forgot to mention that there is a small, perfectly formed, 5mm ish hole roughly opposite the lowest of the 6 main keys, so located on the back of the lower part of the bell. I guess this was a mounting for the missing keywork?

 

[MontyMac]

It's an Eb baritone but with a lot of keywork left off to make it easier for a student.

Ahh! The quintessential "Student Model".
Curiosity mode off.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Sounding pretty confident there Nick, so that's it then, it's a standard Eb Bari with the extra key work removed? I forgot to mention that there is a small, perfectly formed, 5mm ish hole roughly opposite the lowest of the 6 main keys, so located on the back of the lower part of the bell. I guess this was a mounting for the missing keywork?

See here.

 

[kevgermany]

See here.

Good sleuthing Nick.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Very odd. The octave key appears more modern than 1920s. If it only goes up to Eb or C# then why the apparent aux F?

 

[Nick Wyver]

I can't see an aux F.

More pics here.
Although the bell on this one looks longer.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I can't see an aux F.

More pics here.
Although the bell on this one looks longer.

Nor me.

Just testing you.