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| 10 May 2012 10:51:50 pm |
 Perma-what? The lesser-known SML saxophone finish option |
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SML saxophones are some of the finest ever made. But since they were made in small numbers (only around 24ooo total over several decades), many players have never had the pleasure of trying one out.
In this short article, I just wanted to point out one small matter about SML finishes that seems worth mentioning. SML used a unique finish on some of their horns that is called "permagold" or sometimes "perma-gold" which is a yellow-gold dichromate plating over an undercoat of zinc. Permagold looks a lot like gold - so much so that it has been banned in some countries for use in jewelry! So one can hardly fault sellers of permagold-plated SML saxophones for selling their horns as gold-plated. To complicate matters, since gold plate is usually applied over silver plate on saxophones, and silver looks a lot like zinc, even partially worn-off permagold still looks superficially like worn gold plate. But if you are in the market for a nice SML, here is how to tell the difference.
1. Every permagold SML that I have seen has had a matte finish to the plating over most of the body of the horn, with bright/burnished finish inside the SML logo area and in the detail of the engraving.
2. Every permagold SML so far has shown a distinctive flaky pattern to the wear. I suspect that this is because dichromate is a mineral, so it flakes off in little chips, whereas gold wears off like metals do, rubbing uniformly thinner on touch points until the silver underneath starts to show through gradually.
3. Every single supposedly gold-plated SML that I have seen, except one, has actually been permagold, so if you see a gold plated SML, it probably isn't.
4. Permagold doesn't tarnish like gold, so it tends to look a bit too good on the parts where it is present. It can get grimy, but it doesn't look black in the nooks and crannies the way a typical old gold-plated horn does.
One bit of information could also be corrected. There is a very informative article on SML history that says that SML only used permagold on its "standard" models, but I have found that they used it on their "Rev D" and Gold Medal models just as often as on horns stamped "standard."
Here are some photos to help you to identify perma-gold. Note the flaky way that the finish wears off.
I once was looking at one of these horns, and the buyer, after not believing me that his horn was not really gold plated, took it to a jeweler as I had advised him, and the jeweler took one look at the finish under a glass and said "this is not gold, and underneath it is zinc."
As far as price goes, it makes sense that permagold should be worth less than true gold plate or silver plate, but possibly more than lacquer if it's in good condition, simply because of the rarity factor. But I'll leave that up to the market to decide!
Here's my personal gold-plated SML tenor which I believe to be actual gold plate. I wonder sometimes whether my beloved tenor might really be a burnished permagold finish! One of these days, I'm going to take it to a jeweler and find out for sure. If it's not, I'll be sure to post an update.
Here's a link to a technical article about perma-gold plating processes:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=perma-gold%20saxophone&source=web&cd=4&sqi=2&ved=0CGAQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.davistoolco.com%2Fproducts%2Fanchoring_and_metal_systems%2Funistrut%2Fpdf%2FPERMA.PDF&ei=wEyKTr6RFcS1tgfLtqC7Aw&usg=AFQjCNFaClfDXMGC6dREq2F8vP3Y0Ex9Dw |
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Category : General
| By : admin |  Comments [0] |  Trackbacks [0] |
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| 15 Dec 2011 08:57:14 pm |
| How NOT to pack a saxophone - A cautionary tale. |
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Here at GetASax.com , we pride ourselves on our extremely careful saxophone packing. However, experience buying saxophones from time to time on eBay shows that it doesn't take much in order to stand out from the crowd.
Last year, we bought a saxophone from one of the three best known eBay saxophone sellers, and it arrived with NO BOX around it at all. There was a bag of thin foam, and the seller had dropped the case into it and poured some packing peanuts in there. It came to the door bleeding packing peanuts out the side. The horn was also totally different from how it was described, but that is a matter for another post...
Earlier this year, a saxophone came from a guy who styles himself as a super high-end seller, and it was shipped ground from Canada in a tiny, home-made box with NO CASE around the horn. As a consequence, the bell was pushed into the body (no surprise there) and there were all kinds of other problems with the horn. It was also totally different from how it was described (all of the flaws, past repairs, pulled down neck, extensive plating wear, shoddy pad work, were omitted from the description).
Here are some pictures of that one:
Do you see how few packing peanuts were in there?
Just last week, I bought a horn on eBay that showed up in a case, thankfully, but with only cardboard wrapped around the case, no padding. It was sent parcel post, despite my very specific packing and shipping requests, so it also got knocked around.
I tried to return it because it was relacquered, had the neck pulled down, and the bell flare was bent. None of this was mentioned or photographed clearly on eBay. The seller told me that I had to pay shipping both ways, which, for a tenor means I'm out $40 each way. I take advantage of eBay buyer protection for the first time, return the horn to the seller (packed infinitely better than how it was sent to me) only to have the seller accuse ME of causing the horn to go out of adjustment in shipping. Buyers who rely on ebay buyer protection, beware. It looks like I might be charged whatever repair costs this dishonest seller's repair guy wants to charge, just because HE shipped it to me packed poorly! So much for eBay buyer protection. It has also been over 3 weeks and I am still at the mercy of some customer care agent who will decide my fate. Meanwhile, I am out a lot of money.
And to top it off, this week, I received this in the mail
And INSIDE this monstrosity , was THIS
Need I say more? Be careful, because incredibly poor packing is not the exception, it is the rule.
Here is how to pack a saxophone well:
INSIDE THE CASE
1. Secure all loose items in the case by wrapping them in padding (thin bubble wrap etc) and putting them in a bag in the storage compartment of the case.
2. Put the endplug (a small cylinder about one inch diameter) INTO the top of the saxophone body to protect the octave lever that sticks out.
3. Cork the keys for shipping using small wedges of cork if the horn is in good playing condition, and if you know how to do this correctly.
4. Use thin bubble wrap to pad under the horn, especially under the bell, and around the bottom bow. Use enough packing to fill all void space in the case, so that the horn is SNUG in there. If you shake the case, nothing should be able to move inside. Do not overpack: the lid of the case should still close easily, and the horn should not be so tight that keys could be bent.
OUTSIDE THE CASE
1. Wrap the case in thick bubble wrap a few times.
2. Place it in a nice, new box that is at least the following size:
Soprano: 32"x10"x10"
Alto: 30"x16"x10"
Tenor: 36"x18"x12"
Baritone: 46"x18"x14"
If you have trouble finding a box at at UPS store or similar, then buy a dishpak box from your local U-Haul. It is double walled and will hold up to a tenor. It is also ideal for shipping a horn without a case, should you be in the difficult situation of having to do that.
3. FILL the box TOTALLY full of packing peanuts. Do not use wadded paper, or this will invalidate your insurance if you ship UPS or FedEx. The more peanuts you add, the more rigid the box will be. A box that is totally full becomes quite strong and can support a lot of weight. A box that is 90% full crushes immediately.
4. Write the addresses on the box in sharpie if you are shipping USPS because this will prevent loss if your label gets ripped off. Tape over your label if it is UPS so that it won't get damaged by water.
If you do it right, your package will look something like this
Comforting, isn't it? If you pack this way, your horn is very likely to arrive safely. If you have to ship internationally, as we do, this kind of packing is essential. For the ultimate in safety, ask us about getting the horn with a Hiscox case included. We became Hiscox dealers not so much to make money on the cases, as to be able to ship horns anywhere and feel good about their arriving safely, no matter what.
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Category : General
| By : admin | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [0] |
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| 05 Dec 2011 08:25:43 am |
| New Horns Coming Soon |
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Horns are selling quickly these days, so get them while they're available!
List updated 12/5/11
1. Selmer Mark VI Alto 114xxx
2. Yamaha YSS-62R Soprano mint
3. Yamaha YSS-62 Purple Label Soprano 4 digit
4. Original Silver Selmer Mark VI Soprano Sax 90xxx (no engraving)
5. Yanagisawa SC-800 Curved Soprano
6. Conn early Silver and Gold C Soprano
7. Gold-Plated Conn Chu Berry Soprano Sax
8. Mint Selmer Series II Alto Saxophone
9. Selmer SBA Alto Saxophone 53xxx
10. Nice original American-engraved Mark VI alto 140,xxx
11. Mint Selmer Reference 54 Alto
12. Another nice Series II Alto
12. Mint Conn 30M tenor
13. Conn 30M Tenor Saxophone relacquered (but a nice relac)
14. Silver Conn NWI 134xxx Tenor
15. Original VI tenor ~180xxx needs some work
16. Selmer Mark VII Tenor
17. Selmer Mark VI Tenor 87xxx
18. Yanagisawa S-992PG Soprano
19. Selmer Mark VI Soprano mint w/silver keys
Contact us if you want to reserve one of these horns before it is offered to the general public. |
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Category : General
| By : admin | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [0] |
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| 11 Nov 2011 08:06:55 pm |
| We are now official dealers for Hiscox Cases |
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Good news - GetASax.com is now an authorized dealer for Hiscox cases, which we believe to be the highest quality saxophone cases available.
They are only available from Hiscox for alto and tenor sax. Please feel free to comment if you know of horns that do NOT fit in a Hiscox. We can confirm that Buescher Top Hat and Cane altos don't fit, but that is the only horn that has not so far.
These cases are:
1. the lightest for shipping
2. the strongest protection against damage
3. the most insulated against temperature changes
4. well sized for the vast majority of saxophones
At GetASax.com we are committed to being the best place to buy a new Hiscox case. Contact us for details on how to get one shipped to you today. |
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Category : General
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| 07 Nov 2011 02:42:42 am |
| Welcome to the GetASax Blog |
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| Check back here regularly for posts about vintage and professional saxophones, buying and selling, mouthpiece information, horn vs. horn comparisons, and new product announcements. |
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Category : General
| By : admin | Comments [0] | Trackbacks [0] |
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