Lafleur Alto?

[skully12]

Hi i'm new 🙂

I found an alto saxophone in my closet that i used in grade 8 (i'm going on grade 12 now) and it's a "lafleur" make. The only other thing I can tell you about it is that it was made in czechoslovakia and it says "made for Boosey and Hawkes" and the serial number is 142049.

It's kinda used and it looks pretty old (sorry i can't get any pictures 😛) and there is somthing broken on the octave key that i'm trying to fix myself.
I played the lower octave and it seemes to play very well.
I was just wondering if you guys could lend some information on it or tell me wether or not it's a quality instrument.


Thank you.

 

[thomsax]

Lafleaur saxes were made by Amati in Krallice, Chechoslovakia. They made saxes - stencils and parts for Keilwerth, Couf, Corton, Toptone, SML, UMI (Conn, King, Arstrong). There is a long tradition of making saxes in the Check Republic/Chechoslovakia. After WWII to early or mid 90's there were less develpment work done. The Tonking from late 40' and Super Classic from late 80's are rougly the same sax.

Your sax, I think it's made in late 70's or early 80's, is a studentsax. For beginners or persons who don't want to spend a lot of money on their saxes. Yamaha 23,25.... are better but I think Amati are better than most PRC- made saxes.

Cork, felts and pads were not the best! They used compressed cork. To replace cork, felts and pads can give you a better sax. Maybe you can do it yourself? But first I think a tech should have a look at the octave-key.

Thomas

 

[skully12]

Thank you very much for the information. I figured it was a cheap student model because it was given to me for free. I think i'm going to have to get a tech to look at the octave key. It seems as though super glue is simply not going to cut it. I think i'll just keep it and see if i can make some little improvements to it. I already have a saxophone that is functioning very well so I think I'll try and polish it up and use it as a backup sax.

Thanks again Thomas.

 

[Taz]

My personal opinion is to hang on to it. Amati made superb saxes. I think the "lafleur" was a Boosey and Hawkes stencil.
I play an Amati ATS21 student model. Its got no high F# but who cares (purists believe the high F# spoils the tone anyway) She serves me well, has great intonation (cold or warm) and does all I ask without complaint. Not bad for a 50 year old 😉
Get a tech to sort out the issues that you have, then enjoy your piece of Czechoslovakian history. 8)

Oh and by the way, welcome to the BR

 

[skully12]

Thank you very much for the welcome Taz. I see you guys seem to know what you're talking about and i'll have to spend some time here mpicking your brains about saxophone.

I tried some of the altissimo notes (without the octave key) and seemed to pop them out pretty well. I'll probably just keep it. Get somone to fix it up a little. It seemed to sound fine to me.
Thanks for all of your help. If anyone has anything else they would like to add be my guest.

 

[Col9]

Hi skully, Welcome to the forum. I can vouch for taz's horn :laugh: . Its sounds fantastic. I have a Similar if not identical Corton which is also made by Armati. I'm happy with mine,Its well built and all the keys are in just the right place.

Col.

 

[skully12]

Update on the condition of the octave key.

I tried gluing the broken part on last night and let it dry all night. I waited untill about 3 to see if the glue dried and it did and everything seemed to be nice and secure. Silly me i had to test this theory 😛. well i was playing it for a few minutes and i tried to do somthing with it and ended up pulling the part i glued right off. So my efforts looks like they were for nothing. I'm going to get somone to look at it soon. To see if they can save this thing.

 

[thomsax]

I just want you to get this clear: I like Amati saxes! Nice straight saxes for less money. No Hanky-Panky. I use to play with a guy who is on a Louis Robert/Amati tenor from late 70's. The sax is full of stickers. He rules with his sax! The Czechs are also doing excellent beer. Sax and beer. Does it get better?

Thomas

 

[skully12]

Oh have no fear this thing will be well used... when it's fixed. I'm starting private lessons for the first time with a guy that works at the local music store so i'll proabably bring this thing in to him.
But from what i played the sax sounds great. It has a nice sound, very warm and full. I'd like to be able have it just to have another option for jazz bands and what not.
I'll see if i can get a picture or two up soon.
Anyways thank you very much for all your information.

 

[Dylan]

My first ever sax was a tenor Lafleur - bought new for me by my mum and dad. I played it for years and years - only replaced it a couple of years ago in fact.

I was going to sell it, but can't bear to part with it and like you am keeping it as a back up horn.

The only thing that ever went wrong with it was a pearl falling off it.
Not bad for a horn that was gigged and played relentlessly.

They are built like tanks. Not the most graceful feeling of instruments when put against a Yani or whatever but no complaints from here.

Cheers

D

 

[Pete Thomas]

My very first tenor was a Lafleur, and it was a good horn I remember. Not that I was in much of a position to know a good one from a bad one, but I don't remember any problems, it was easy to play, in tune (well more in tune than the player anyway !)

 

[griff136]

La Fleur was a "brand name" used by Boosey and Hawkes on instruments they had made by a third party. Some la Fleur saxes and clarinets in particular were made in France by companies like Leblanc, Beaugnier, Thibouville etc, some were made in Eastern Europe particularly by Amati kraslice.

 

[thomsax]

For some years ago I saw a La Fleur tenor that were made Hammerschmidt, Bayern, Germany. Nice sax with rolled toneholes and a dark tone. Hammerschmidt manufactoried saxes between mid 50's to early 80's. They made ss. as. ts and bs. Most saxes were named "Klingsor" but they also did stencils for other companys.

Thomas

 

[griff136]

theres a lafleur tenor on ebay that was made in Italy ( either grassi, borgani or Ranpone and cazzani)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-SILVER-LA-FLEUR-DELUX-PROFESSIONAL-TENOR-WOW_W0QQitemZ270253027865QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270253027865&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C65%3A10&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[Dylan]

Looks very nice. I had no idea the Lafleur brand name went that far back.