No, I think it may be a "must" for a Buffet fan, but I had heard that the Prestige was too far toward classical for my liking, and that the S2 was an inferior (intermediate) horn to the S1, kind of like the press the MkVII gets in the Selmer camp. The S3 was regarded as a Pro horn once again.
Some info here:
http://www.saxpics.com/?v=mod&modID=36
The Evette further scuppered Buffet's reputation in their "lost" years, and it's only more recently with the 400 and Senzo models that their reputation has recovered a little.
Of course there was also the Buffet/Keilwerth "Expression" as reviewed here:
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Buffet_Expression_alto.htm
Once again, quite a complicated history as with many a saxophone maker!
I'm being pulled in different directions by a few decent, if not absolute bargain, horns at the moment. The coffers are being stretched! Still waiting for another alto to come to fruition so I may well pass on the S1.
🙁
As it's a US horn, should I be checking its frequency is 442hz and not 440hz? I'll ask for the serial number which, according to saxpics, will tell me.