Vintage Buescher Bass On eBay
Author: Helen
Well it’s been a while since we’ve seen a vintage American bass saxophone on eBay. Then a couple of days ago I saw across this silver plated Buescher, circa 1922.
Source: eBay.com
This is how the seller describes the vintage beauty:
Vintage Buescher Bass Saxophone (1920-1925) True Tone Low Pitch, Silver Plated – Serial # 104667 Mouthpiece; Meyer NY, M, medium chamber. Engraved; The Buescher Elkhart Ind. Pearlized keys. Custom black soft case. Recently serviced. Two slight dings on bell front. Otherwise, great condition.
Shipping cost via UPS ground, plus handling and insurance, coast to coast. Box = 19×18x56 h rated at 116 lbs = $325. (Can’t insure via USPS)
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
One would have to see more close-up and detailed photos of this Buescher, but if these dings are really the only damage to the horn, this bass would be in truly remarkable condition.
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
Source: eBay.com
It’s pretty obvious that the seller doesn’t play the saxophone—the photos of the upside down mouthpiece kind of give that away. This inexperience might also explain the slightly over zealous pricing on this lovely looking sax.
Bids for this Buescher bass start at $10,999.00, but to date none have yet come in. The auction for this vintage sax runs until February 11.
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Update: This bass did not sell. Anyone here surprised? There was an interesting exchange that the seller posted on the auction that is worth noting. (No, I wasn’t the one who wrote him.)
I’m not sure who would have placed a value above $11,000 on this sax, and for what purpose. For insurance purposes I might see a high value, but for sales value? It seems that the person who did the appraisal didn’t do their homework, or didn’t explain to the seller what the appraisal was for.
My bass has a high appraisal because of its new custom case that cost a lot to make, all the various mouthpieces I have (about 5 at last count I think), all the reeds (about 30 synthetic ones at any given time), as well as its custom stand. However, if I were to sell it, I know that I wouldn’t get that for it.
It will be interesting to see what happens when, and if, this sax appears again.
Update: Well… It’s baaaack… This time around the seller has set the minimum bid price at $8,999.00.
The auction runs until March 14.
So what do you think? Any bidders this time?
Update: Well there were no takers this time around either. Not 1 bid came in on this Buescher.
I’m not surprised. That’s thousands more than I paid for my identical bass in 2000–when prices were higher than what they are now.
Now in all fairness, this bass is in better overall condition than mine is. Mine suffered some pretty nasty damage that needed to be repaired, and shows evidence of those repairs. But still… I think it will quite a while before prices rebound enough for this seller to see this kind of price.
Update: The seller has it back on eBay. This time the opening bids start at $7,000. The auction runs until March 21.
Update: Well 0 bids on the bass this time around as well. So the seller is trying it again. Only this time they are dropping it below the psychological impact of $7000 of the last go ’round on eBay, but starting the bids at $6,999.
The auction ends on April 7. So far no one has placed a bid yet.
Update: Well this horn finally found itself a new home. When the auction ended there was 1 bid of $6,999 on this bass, and it was the winning bid.
This is a very nice looking bass, that from the phtos, would indicated that it had a very easy life. Most vintage basses look like they’ve been to war, but not this guy. Whoever bought it most likely got themselves a very nice bass saxophone.