Saxophones Pierret stencil. how much is utter worth ?

[tomangus1975]

Hi I own 3 pierret stencils. this particular one is a professional alto engraved with Invictor, Paul Cavour. its in good shape with no dents and one or two tiny dings, and is from the late 1920 to early 1930's. It has nearly all its silver plate in tact and plays better than my SELMER mark VI. the action is similar to the selmer cigar cutter. A Friend of a friend has offered me close to £700. For it. thats about $1200. Im reluctant to let it go but i need the cash. :-( any suggestions?

 

[kevgermany]

Short of taking it round a few shops and seeing what they value it at, I don't see what else you could do to come up with a value. Is it high or low pitch? That'll have a big effect on value.

 

[milandro]

I would take the money that you friend is offering.

Frankly speaking, regardless of how good they play, this kind of horns don’t really have a market, especially when they are stencils.

I am also afraid that if you go ask around shops you will be even more disappointed. In the Netherlands the majority of the shops wouldn’t even remotely consider buy them or even take in consignment.

 

[tomangus1975]

It's a low pitch. Pierret only mad saxophones and nothing else. They used to specialise in making quality stencils for other companies. In the UK and France all horns made by Pierret are considered to be amazing. They were so good that they were bought for orchestral and solo performances at professional level around the world. They never made inferior stencils. their stencil horns were always at the superior end of a companies range of saxophones. I have had this particular horn valued and compared with other horns and the price range always differs. For quality and performance the horn is valued well above the £1000. But they are also said to be a poor mans selmer mark VI. Everyone which has tried any of my pierret horns have been amazed by their performance. It just goes to show that people are still prepared to pay for name over performance. In my opinion, what ever that is worth, any pierret professional horn will simply blow away its competition from selmer, yani and other top horn, but obviously that depends on the player and their desired style. im obviously biast.

 

[kevgermany]

Yes, but Milandro's talking about what the market would pay for it at the moment, not where the horn should be priced. Reading beteen the lines you have an excellent offer, that you'd find difficult to match elsewhere.

It's a low pitch. Pierret only mad saxophones and nothing else. They used to specialise in making quality stencils for other companies. In the UK and France all horns made by Pierret are considered to be amazing. They were so good that they were bought for orchestral and solo performances at professional level around the world. They never made inferior stencils. their stencil horns were always at the superior end of a companies range of saxophones. I have had this particular horn valued and compared with other horns and the price range always differs. For quality and performance the horn is valued well above the £1000. But they are also said to be a poor mans selmer mark VI. Everyone which has tried any of my pierret horns have been amazed by their performance. It just goes to show that people are still prepared to pay for name over performance. In my opinion, what ever that is worth, any pierret professional horn will simply blow away its competition from selmer, yani and other top horn, but obviously that depends on the player and their desired style. im obviously biast.

 

[milandro]

yes, market value has nothing to do with intrinsic value or the one that you attribute to it.

Market value is what other people are gonna be prepared to pay for it and, as far as the market goes, I think you got a VERY good offer.

Incidentally, there are lots of horns marketed or defined as the “ Poor man’s Selmer”.

 

[tomangus1975]

I realise that and appreciate your comments. its just a shame though. maybe one day there will be a new horn worthy of the name Pierret. and then these vintage horns may get the creditation they deserve. I wouldn't be considering selling it at all if i didn't need the money.

 

[tomangus1975]

The reason it was called the poor mans selmer is because pierret was founded by some of the best horn makers that worked for selmer during the early 19,00s. in fact most of selmers best craftsmen were involved in the design and manufacture of Pierret horns. after the great war, they employed craftsmen that worked and were trained by Kielworth. The imput that both great names had in Pierret together came up with some amazing designs. My great uncle had some amazing stories about what it was like working for Pierret. Selmer helped bring their demise by later poaching the men that worked for pierret in the 60s and 70s. My great uncle was one of them.

 

[tomangus1975]

As far as Im aware Pierret was the only collaboration between Selmer and Kielworth.