The Bassic Sax Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Buescher’

Have you ever considered what might happen to your carefully collected and maintained saxophones upon your death? If you’re like most people under the age of 30, it most likely hasn’t even crossed your mind.

However, once you’ve hit 30, or once you’ve experienced the loss of someone close to you, you suddenly realize that after you’re gone someone has to deal with all your stuff. Such is the case with these 2 fine vintage saxophones currently listed by a seller on eBay.

     Source: eBay.com

The Conn curved soprano on the left is described like this:

This auction is for one saxophone. Up for your consideration is a Conn LTD Soprano Saxophone. I don’t know much about musical instruments as I am selling this for a friend who’s husband passed away. He was playing this and other instruments up until two years ago. I have another saxophone listed that was also his. This saxophone looks to be in wonderful condition. Some of the pictures have reflections that may look like dents. THERE ARE NO DENTS TO BE FOUND. I believe there is a guard piece missing from a bottom valve. I have shown this in my pictures. Other than that, it’s a beautiful looking instrument. It has a great patina which we will not touch. It is silver in color. I’ve never seen a saxophone this small before. On the front of the bell it says “MADE BY CONN LTD ELKHART IND.” On the back it says “PATD. DEC. 8, 1914. 1119954 S 51073 L.” I would guess that the buyer would be doing the usual upgrades that an older piece like this may need. Even if you don’t play a sax, this would make an outstanding display. It comes with a hard case that’s in good condition for it’s age, but it does have that old smell to it.

        Source: eBay.com

The Buescher True Tone alto on the right is described like this:

This auction is for one saxophone. Up for your consideration is a 1914 Buescher Tenor or Alto Saxophone. I don’t really know much about musical instruments as I am selling this for a friend who’s husband passed away. He was playing this and other instruments up until two years ago. I have another saxophone listed that was also his. This saxophone looks to be in wonderful condition. Some of the pictures have reflections that may look like dents. THERE ARE NO DENTS TO BE FOUND. It’s a beautiful looking instrument. It has a great patina which we will not touch. It is silver in color. On the front of the bell it says “THE BUESCHER ELKHART IND.” On the back it says “1 7 2527 TRUE-TONE TRADE MARK REGISTERED LOW PITCH LICENSE PAT. DEC. 8, 1914.” I would guess that the buyer would be doing the usual upgrades that an older piece like this may need. Even if you don’t play a sax, this would make an outstanding display. It comes with a hard case that’s in good condition for it’s age, but it does have that old smell to it.

On Sep-02-10 at 09:09:07 PDT, seller added the following information:

I’ve been told by a kind ebayer that this is a very fine alto sax.

        Source: eBay.com

I personally find it sad that the widow of this sax player has to have a friend sell these 2 horns for her, since neither seems to know anything about saxophones. For example, saxophones don’t have valves. 

I guess they didn’t take them to a music store who knows something about vintage saxes for an appraisal either. Although I am curious to know how they knew that the Conn is a soprano, since it is more difficult to ID than the neck difference between an alto and a tenor.

In any event, had they taken the horns to a music store for an appraisal, they might have been told these instruments are in fact somewhat valuable even in their current state, and that a reserve auction, or an auction with a pre-set starting price might be in order. As it stands right now, vintage sax lovers have a chance to bid on a couple of classic vintage horns that currently have extremely low prices.

The auction for both of these classic vintage saxophones runs until September 11. The Conn curvy currently has 12 bids on it, and the price is $208.05. The True Tone alto has not seen as much action. Only 2 people have bid on it, with the high bid being $60.32.

So if you have a saxophone, or a saxophone collection, perhaps this will give you pause for thought. What have you done to help your loved ones with regards to disposing of your horns? And if you an extensive gear collection—things like expensive vintage mouthpieces—that’s something else to consider.

© 2010, The Bassic Sax Blog. All rights reserved.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been playing bass a lot more than I usually do because I got a new toy. No, it’s not a new bass, just a new way to hold the one I already have. More about that tomorrow, I’m still working on getting my article polished up.

Yesterday we took the last in a series of photos that will be used in the articles about the new stand. While looking at the shots last night, this one just popped out at me. I decided to put a digital frame around it and include it in my photo gallery. I think it captures the enormity of the bass—compared to its everyday cousins—quite well.

   What The Right Hand Does

I don’t have tiny hands. I’m 5′9″ tall—that’s 175 cm for my friends who only do metric —and my hands are proportional to my body size.

Given that I haven’t polished my 1922 Buescher since I got it in 2000, I think it is holding up remarkably well. I really don’t like silver horns. They are a pain in the ass to own: Too much upkeep on their finishes. However, I own at least 5 of them, and as luck would have it, the biggest sax I have would have to be silver plated.

My big baby is remarkably photogenic given its lack of polishing. I think over the next few days—as you see it from almost every angle—you will be surprised what keeping it in its case when not being used will do. The real trick to that is, I believe, that I have 7 of the Hagerty anti-tarnish strips taped inside the case, and replace them every couple of years.

© 2010, The Bassic Sax Blog. All rights reserved.

In the last 3 months or so I have noticed the same vintage Buescher bass appear for sale on eBay no less than 5 times. I have reported it at least 3 of those times—most recently 2 days ago.

Sometimes when I report it the auction gets pulled. Other times, the auction is allowed to continue to its conclusion. It is frustrating, but the only good thing is that the item appears to have only sold once in all those auctions… Sure it did… That’s why it’s for sale again. The buyer was new to eBay and had a Feedback score of 0.

The bass in question looks like this:

     Source: eBay.com

     Source: eBay.com

If it looks familiar to you, that’s because The Wichita Band Instrument Company was selling the exact same horn, with the exact same photos, on eBay in December 2008.

Here are the things that make me suspicious of the auctions:

• Most times this horn has appeared on eBay recently the seller has had a Feedback score of 0.
• The seller’s name is different each time the item is up for sale. For example, in early August this horn was listed by goodmanner010—who did have a feedback score of 57. Now the bass is listed by yaheng330, who has a Feedback score of 0.
• The other items the sellers are peddling are usually cheap jewellery—unless they’re selling cheaply priced, new Asian bass saxes. (More on that below.)
• The price is always set well below what the sax’s true value is. This time around the sax’s Buy It Now price is $1,999 US.
• And each time this bass appears for sale, the seller is located in China.
• The ad text is written by someone who clearly doesn’t know anything about saxophones, or there is no text at all. For example, this time around the only description of this Buescher is in the title which reads: “Collectable Silver Grey Bass Saxophone With A Case”.

Usually there is no case photo included, and I don’t recall the seller mentioning a case. Here is the photo of the case that is ostensibly included with the Buescher bass. (Which if you will notice, they don’t mention by brand name, just that it’s “silver grey”.)

     Source: eBay.com

Now here’s something that’s interesting, the setting that this bass case is photographed in looks suspiciously like the setting this new, Selmer-style Asian-made bass is photographed in. As a matter of fact, the case is of the kind that would go with that style horn—including the IW-661 Bass. If I’m not mistaken, isn’t that the IW logo on the lower left corner of the case?

The Selmer-style Asian bass that is currently up for auction on eBay is too being sold by someone with a Feedback score of 0. It too is being offered for a Buy It Now price well below market value—which coincidentally is the same price the vintage Buescher is being sold for. And it too was most recently offered up for sale by the same seller who unsuccessfully offered the Buescher in early August.

What does all of this mean? What it means to me is that there is no shortage of seemingly crooked auctions on eBay, and even reporting them time and time again doesn’t seem to bring them to and end.

I guess if a person really thinks that they can get a pristine vintage bass for under $2,000, then there is no shortage of people waiting in the wings ready to take their money.

I think that the people who read my blog know the true value of a bass, and know that you can’t get a primo vintage bass for 2 grand. Or that you can’t get a Selmer-style Asian bass for 2 grand either.

Whoever said a fool and his money are soon parted was ever so correct. The Internet has just allowed con artists to reach worldwide targets.

© 2010, The Bassic Sax Blog. All rights reserved.