Lacquer

Showing all 36 results

Buescher Aristocrat Alto Saxophone 335466 140
$ 1,150

This basically pristine vintage saxophone from 1951 is the same as the Buescher Big B, just with less elaborate engraving.. These professional quality saxophones are known for their good intonation, sweet and mellow tone, and excellent build quality. This particular example is from the very beginning of the model run just after the end of the Big B model, and is in nearly mint condition. It still has its original pads (and Snap-on resonators), and even plays a bit on them, but you will want to get an overhaul.

These play very well when set up- just listen to Johnny Hodges play his Big B to get an idea of what you can sound like on this horn with an overhaul, 50 years of practicing, and a knee-buckling load of raw talent. Also, as an added bonus (“at no additional charge!”) this horn comes with a wooden clarinet in the case of unknown potential labeled “Revelle Master”.
Buescher Big B Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer Good Condition 324407
$ 1,600

This is a 1949 Buescher “Big B” Aristocrat, so named for the ornate engraving of a, well, a Big B on the bell. This horn is in very good condition, and the typical wear around the fine engraving of the B on the bell is not present, which indicates that this horn has led a life mostly in a closet somewhere. There are no resolders or past dentwork to speak of, and it plays *way* better than it should on some very old pads, but you would want to get this repadded to play like it can, which is very, very good!

These horns are undervalued in my opinion. I mean, you can get this one in such great shape with all of its original Snap-on resonators and overhaul it for not a whole lot more than a new Yamaha student model in total- seems like a good buy to me! Johnny Hodges famously played one of these, and his tone is a very good example of the blend of sweetness and power these horns possess.
Buescher Big B Tenor Small Bell Orig. Lacquer Saxophone Getting Overhauled!
$ 3,500

This original lacquer Big B tenor with the desirable small bell is getting a full mechanical overhaul right now. When I got it, it had new pads, but the pad work was not that good, so it is getting all that completely redone with all new pads, corks, felts, the works. The keywork is in great condition – nice and tight. Very little play wear at all. It had a bow dent removed, obviously. That is now fixed, and the rest of the horn is quite nice. This will be a fantastic player once the overhaul is done. Already, on current pads, it has a centered, warm tone with excellent response and intonation. These horns work well with a wide range of mouthpieces, and they can do anything from classical to jazz to R&B. Plus, it’s one of the most beautiful vintage Bueschers, with the extensive engraving, and the dark nitrocellulose lacquer. They don’t make them like this anymore.

Only one available. Buy it now to reserve it, and we can do the overhaul to your specifications. Otherwise, it will be how I like, which is also good.
Buescher Top Hat & Cane Alto Saxophone Great Deal 359118
$ 750

This is one of the very last “Top Hat & Cane” Buescher 400 alto saxophones made- the model run ended around serial number 360,000. The lacquer is not original, though it has not been overly buffed, and about half of the relacquer remains. The keys are nickel plated, which I imagine was not original, but it was very well done. The original Snap-On resonators and amber rollers are present, and the horn is in pretty good physical condition. It will need an overhaul, but it is a pretty solid sax with no major damage or dents, and the price is considerably less than most Top Hat & Cane altos.
Sold Out
Conn 10M Tenor Saxophone 306843 Original Lacquer Pre-War

Nice original lacquer freshly-overhauled pre-WWII Conn 10M Tenor Saxophone. These are the best of the vintage Conn tenors! The price includes the full, high-end OVERHAUL, which was just completed. An overhaul (people always ask) means that everything that can be changed gets done, and done correctly: all new pads, corks, and felts, professional setup, key fit checked and improved, neck fit checked and improved, full disassembly, cleaning, all new oil, lots of play testing. This horn turned out exceptionally well, and plays really easily and beautifully throughout the range. The tone is medium dark, wide, but with more focus than earlier Conns, and a bigger, wider sonic pallette than any modern saxophone. The palm keys stay full and consistent with the rest of the horn. The low register whispers out at a saturated pianissimo whether subtoning or not. Intonation is excellent, keywork is comfortable. If you’re coming from a modern horn, there’s a couple of weeks’ adjustment period, but then you are back up to full speed playing wise, in most people’s experience. A nice, orignial, overhauled 10M is pretty hard to find, and this one is one of the really good ones. It has only minor past repairs, like a resoldered octave key. Great condition, and plays like a new horn.
Conn 6M VIII Alto Saxophone Pre-War Original Lacquer Very Good Condition Plays Well 294775
$ 1,950
Conn Early 10M Tenor Fresh Overhaul Original Lacquer 269461 BIG Player
$ 4,250

This is this kind of Conn 10M tenor saxophone that makes people ditch their Selmers and Yamahas. Keywork is comfortable, intonation is excellent, and the tone is to die for. Wide, dark, but still punchy and with a good amount of focus. Palm key tone is gorgeous and full, not a bit thin. Priced to sell quickly. Only one available.
Couf Superba 1 Tenor Very Good Condition Original Lacquer 83040
$ 2,850

This is a very nice condition Couf (made by Keilwerth for Herb Couf) Superba I tenor, which is a great modern ergonomics horn with a lot of the big, fat tone of an old Conn. Some people also compare them tonally to a good Selmer SBA, and they do indeed share the big sound you can get on a great Selmer.

This particular sax sports a high F# key and plays decently on a mix of older pads and some original pads (!) which is a testament to the relatively cosseted life it has led thus far. The only evidence of any repairs or damage past or present is a resolder on the low Eb keyguard foot, which is fairly common on these, and has no impact on playability. The original gold colored lacquer (which has a particularly beautiful lustre to it that can often be mistaken for gold plate) is in very good shape.

The Couf Superba I sports rolled toneholes and a really cool modern engraving pattern and was built in West Germany by Keilwerth to be imported by Herb Couf, a distinguished professional saxophonist who later was a Vice President of the W. T. Armstrong company. As told to me by those who knew him and also as evidenced by playing the saxophone he chose to put his name on, the man had good taste in saxophones. If you have been looking for an extremely well built modern ergonomics horn with a bigger sound than you find on most modern instruments, look no further- Couf has you covered.
King Full Pearls SilverSonic Alto 303030 Fresh Matt Stohrer Overhaul Original Lacquer Charlie Parker Vintage!
$ 16,500

Well, well, well, what have we here? One of my favorite saxophones of all time! This is an extremely rare early King SilverSonic alto with sterling silver bell and ‘full pearls’. I have only seen a few of these altos come up for sale in many years of watching the market fairly closely. There are probably fewer than 100 altos like this in existence, and there are fewer that still have their original lacquer. Charlie Parker famously played King SilverSonic Super 20 alto SN#295173, which sold for an ungodly sum at auction several years ago. This horn’s body serial is 303030, which is the same version as Parker’s, and the neck serial is 295182, which is only 9 serial numbers later than Parker’s, so same small batch of horns. Not sure why the neck serial is different, but maybe because this neck played best. This horn was one owner going way back several decades before I bought it.

It just got a full overhaul by the best saxophone repairman for Kings that I have experienced, Matt Stohrer. Matt is a friendly and unassuming guy who has a passion for learning and sharing as much as he can about saxophone repair. His attention to all the little, time-consuming details of repair that take a horn from good to great is pretty hard to beat. This horn certainly deserved the best, and it came out great. It feels super great under the fingers – dry and snappy, with light, easy action and great response. The tone is that classic, warm, punchy, projecting, brassy-when-pushed, King alto sound that Parker and Cannonball made, at least for me, the classic jazz alto tone. It sounds like that sound you have in your head that you just can’t quite get on a Selmer or any modern horn:-)

You get a nice original Silversonic King alto case, as well as a delxe black BAM France Trekking case, both included with the horn. The BAM for safe shipping, and the King just for fun. Hard to beat the Trekking for an all-around alto case, and it fits the King like a glove.

There’s certainly only one of these available. I’ve had this in my personal collection for years, and just decided to offer it up for sale for the first time. If it doesn’t sell, it goes right back in the collection. If you want an alto that looks gorgeous, has a high likelihood to keep going up in value, plays great, and is not so perfect that you’re afraid to play it, you couldn’t do better than this.
King SilverSonic Super 20 Alto Saxophone Original with Gold Leaf 346933
$ 6,500

Superb example of a King SilverSonic alto with solid silver bell and neck, and gold plate in the engraving, with original gold lacquer over that! Cannonball Adderley tone all the way.
King Super 20 Alto 328773 Original Lacquer Plays Great
$ 3,950

King altos are the best altos ever. This one has some lacquer wear from use, but it is original lacquer. The saxophone is in great shape, and plays quite well on the current pads. No serious past repairs at all. It is such a great tone that you get from these full pearls Super 20’s. This is the ‘Series II’ which has the best combination of beauty, features, and key work of all of the Super 20 altos. You really can get the Cannonball Adderley vibe going on one of these (with lots of practice) better than almost anything else. Cannonball played almost exactly this serial alto on Kind of Blue. This plus a Meyer 5 plus a soft reed and lots of guts is what you need for what I consider to be the benchmark for good alto sound.
King Super 20 Alto Saxophone Full Pearls Series II Orig. Lacquer 339676
$ 5,650
King Super 20 Tenor Original Lacquer Full Pearls Fresh Overhaul!
$ 6,450

Do you love beauty? Do you love playing the saxophone? Wish that the two things went together more often? Well, you’ve come to the right place:-)

This, my friend, is one of the most beautiful saxophones ever produced – the King Super 20 with pearl side keys and palm keys, bell and bow key cups engraved, solid silver neck, three ring strap hook – just about as de-luxe as it gets.

But wait, there’s more! For a price lower than a new Keilwerth Shadow, or a new Selmer Reference etc, you get not only one of the best-built, most beautiful, best-sounding tenors ever made. You also get it with a fresh overhaul done by one of the most meticulous saxophone repairmen in the business – Carlo Cennamo of cennamowoodwinds.com . I have been hearing good things about Carlo’s work for a few years, but I finally got to see it earlier this year, and it is just top quality. Full mechanical rebuild including all key fitting to precise better-than-new tolerances; excellent pad work that feels dry and snappy under the fingers and makes the horn resonate its notes on its own as you close the pads; adjustment materials that make sense throughout; a carefully done neck fit for a good seal; nice, even spring tensions. This is a $1500++ overhaul and takes Carlo almost an entire work week to complete. So that’s a big deal.

The only past repair I see on this horn is a resoldered brace on the bell side that popped off on its own when the horn was disassembled. It was popped right back on and is in good shape now. This horn has obviously been babied since it was new. It has almost all of its original lacquer intact. For you King geeks out there, this is King’s ‘light’ colored lacquer advertised in its sales brochures. The dark lacquer ranges from caramel to chocolate colored and looks completely different. By the way, it now has the correct neck screw and Eb key guard screws. I need to update the photos.

This horn just sings, with a medium dark core tone that gets brighter and punchier as you push it. The solid silver neck gives you more upper partials and a bit more of a ringing focus to the sound. The whole horn comes alive as you play, and the response is particularly satisfying. If you have never played a saxophone that is actually right, then I hope that you will soon get to experience it. Low Bb is just another easy note to play, and you can play the entire low register easily at any volume, including pianissimo without losing ‘saturation’ in the sound. Basically, the horn just gets out of the way and lets you play what you want. It’s a beautiful thing.

This comes with a new BAM Classic tenor case, and you can swap that out for a different case if you want to discuss options. There’s only one available of this beautiful Super 20. Get it now!
King Super 20 Tenor Saxophone Full Pearls Original Lacquer Near Mint / Exc Cond! 328628
$ 7,500
King Super 20 Tenor Saxophone Original Lacquer Original pads Warranty Card Amazing!

Well, golly. Here’s a 1949 King Super 20 tenor in nearly immaculate condition with original pads and original guarantee bond paperwork. Holy cow.

It also has its original white mouthpiece, with original ligature and cap, and comes in its original case with the leather bell strap not only intact but supple and in good working condition. Sheesh.

This horn looks to have been played a bit by its original owner, as evidenced by some light scratching in the lacquer here and there and some light wear on the thumbhook. The solid silver necks on these horns were originally lacquered, but the lacquer typically wears off so quickly and completely most folks are not aware of this fact. The fact that the lacquer on this neck still remains at about 40%, though speckled, shows that the original owner took extremely good care of the instrument and was quite finicky with his handling. Gosh.

This Series I King Super 20 is about as fine as they come, and is collectible as-is or put a high end overhaul on it and let it sing. This horn is ready for its next steward, and at nearly 70 years old still has a couple hundred years of music making left in it, if you care for it as well as its original owner did. Goodness gracious.
Martin Handcraft Standard Tenor Saxophone 136740
$ 899

Very good condition refinished Martin Handcraft tenor with a recent overhaul. This is on consignment and priced to sell. Beautiful tenor with a big, warm voice. I don’t see any signs of past damage or repairs. The overhaul was done OK. It’s not a top-shelf job but it gets the job done. Includes the original case. This horn is one-owner and was well cared-for. Pair it with a Brilhart Tonalin tenor piece for a beautiful Tex Benake sort of sound.

From “The Martin Story” website, which is the best source on Martin model specifics, we find this nugget of information, which seems right to me also.

These horns seem to be a combination of a Handcraft Imperial body (note the Eb vent key, below the low D key) and Handcraft Committee keywork.
The fact that these horns where produced at the same time as the Handcraft Committee and Committee 2 combined with some cheaper details (fixed right thumbrest, no heartshaped left thumbrest) makes me think these are somewhat watered-down versions of the Imperial.
Martin The Martin Tenor Saxophone Original Lacquer Excellent Overhaul Candidate 163812
$ 1,400

Here’s a nice, clean, early “The Martin” tenor in original lacquer without any major past repairs, one standard overhaul away from being a blow-the-doors-down dark & woody-sounding vintage tenor, built about as good as anybody ever made a sax, with a unique tone and styling. It does not currently play and is missing some pads, but the pads that are in there are all original. It looks like it has never been taken apart since the day it was built, and it cries out to play again. All it needs is an owner and a conscientious repairer and it will faithfully serve for years to come.

These are not often found in such clean shape, and this one is described accurately and priced to sell with no surprises or unhappy discoveries upon receipt, and the equivalent horn you’d see for sale on that nefarious online auction site is likely to be a can o’ worms, a hornet’s nest, and a sack of marmots all at once. Or shortcut all that mess, buy this one, and get started on making it your own.
Selmer Adolphe Sax Baritone Rare and Unique

The ultimate collectible baritone – this is a hybrid Selmer Adolphe Sax baritone made in the 1930’s by Selmer Paris using some Selmer parts and some parts from the Adolphe Sax company, bought by Selmer.
Selmer Mark VI Alto Original Lacquer American Engraved 233486
$ 5,750
Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone 160941 Beautiful Condition Original Lacquer Great Vintage!
$ 6,950
Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone from 1967 Exceptional Player 144k
$ 7,450

Best playing Selmer alto sax on the site right now. It has that extra special something that only the 140-145k altos have. Super projection, crisp but still warm tone, even scale with fuller palm keys than usual. GREAT, world-class alto saxophone. It’s worn original lacquer, and I like the strap hook mod to make the horn balance slightly better. If you want one of the better playing altos in the world, get this. It’s priced very low for what you get.
Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer High F# 71815 the Best!
$ 7,750

This is a beautiful, original lacquer Selmer Mark VI alto from 1958, which is a great year for VI altos. It has the desirable ‘early medium bow’ which is also what I play. This is the only vintage of 5-digit alto that has the best bow length for tuning the low register. Not that that’s super essential in a VI alto – the ones immediately after this (long bow) also are great altos, and the earlier ones (short bow) are also fine. It only becomes an issue if you are playing classical sax, small tip opening, or exposed ensemble playing with a lot of low B and C etc. In those cases, this sax stands out as having better intonation, combined with the medium dark, focused, complex woody tone of the ’58-59 vintage of VI altos. My personal 84xxx plays just like this 71xxx. This horn has the high F# which is a nice plus for most alto players. It just got a thorough playing condition job done by Matt Stohrer, and it plays well on the current mix of pads. The tone is just beautiful, and response is nice too. It’s priced very well, compared to most other nice-looking, original lacquer VI altos from this vintage. If you want to own the best, this is it!
Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone Original Overhauled Excellent! 165069
$ 6,950

This is one of those altos you don’t want to put down. It’s just gotten a complete overhaul / mechanical restoration, which means that it feels and plays like new or even a bit better. I wanted to get this horn overhauled, because I had a really good feeling about how it played even on the original pads that it had when it got here. If you want a VI that will be problem-free for many many years, and plays better than any modern horn on the market, (and will go up in value) this is what you want!

This was a one-owner horn that was well cared-for for decades before now, and now it is getting a good start on a new life with a top shelf overhaul. This thing has a beautiful voice. Medium between bright and dark, rich, and resonant. The late 60’s Mark VI’s are my favorites for all-around Selmer altos, because they do basically everything well. Intonation is good, scale is even, low notes are saturated even at pianissimo, upper register screams. This has the ‘medium bow’ if you’re wondering about such things, which means the low register tunes the best of the Mark VI’s. You can’t beat a Mark VI alto like this for build quality and all-around satisfying playing experience. You get the beautiful, unbeatable tone of a Mark VI, the comfortable key work, the excellent intonation, and the feel of a new horn under your fingers, and all for less than a (let’s be honest) comparatively poorly made new Selmer alto. Plus this holds its value and appreciates, while your new horn is going to be worth approximately half the new price in about one second after you unbox it (gasp).

Comes with the original case, and you can add a great BAM case for a big discount if you contact me.
Selmer Mark VI Soprano from 1971 Excellent Original Lacquer 189112
$ 5,250
Selmer Mark VI Soprano Original Lacquer Very Good Condition 197315
$ 4,950

Wonderful example of a Selmer Mark VI soprano. This beauty has almost all of its original lacquer still remaining, as well as its original pads. Nobody has messed with this horn. It is still factory clean repair wise, with the nice, snappy factory setup still intact. If you’re going to be playing this seriously, you will want to get the pads replaced soon I would think. They are currently sealing surprisingly well, for it being 50 years old, and you can play it plenty well enough to tell that it has a rich, centered tone, medium between bright and dark, with a good amount of projection. With the right mouthpiece, the Mark VI is the ultimate smooth jazz soprano a la Kenny G. Kenny G gets both love and hate from the saxophone world, but there’s no question people far beyond the saxophone community love his sound, and he plays a Mark VI soprano just like this. There are no dents or dings, and there are no past repairs on this saxophone. It’s an amazing example, and well worth the price. The hard case is in good condition. Not original, and more protective than the original anyhow. You can upgrade to a BAM Signature (best modern soprano case) for not much extra. No mouthpiece comes with it, but we can discuss mouthpiece options if you don’t already have one that you love.

Only one available.
Selmer Mark VI Soprano Saxophone 276162 Original Lacquer Excellent Condition
$ 4,500
Selmer Mark VI Tenor 195260 Original Lacquer American-Engraved Plays Well
$ 5,950
Selmer Mark VI Tenor 205xxx from 1972 Original
$ 5,750
Selmer Mark VI Tenor from 1973 Saxophone Original Lacquer Overhauled Great!
$ 6,350

Just overhauled. This horn plays REALLY well. Super nice under the fingers, great response. Plays, feels, and responds better than most 5 digit tenors out there. If you want the loud, powerful late VI tenor sound, this is hard to beat.

This is a mechanically very clean original lacquer Selmer Mark VI Tenor saxophone with American engraving. This horn has some speckling in the lacquer, as you can see, but if you look at what counts, this Mark VI tenor is in excellent condition. There’s no damage, no resolders, neck is in great condition. It JUST got a complete overhaul / restoration done, and it’s back to factory fresh mechanical and pad condition. (An overhaul takes around 25 hours of skilled work, and represents a big added value to any saxophone.) That means all new pads, corks, felts, setup, mechanical work, neck fit – whatever it needs in order to play like a new horn.

The later VI tenors are excellent players. Better tone and feel for the dollar than almost any other saxophone that you can buy period. And this one is mechanically very nice, which is what you want. If you have been wanting a solid pro tenor that is easy to play and sounds excellent, but is in the mid-range of price for a pro tenor, that’s this. Plus, rather than depreciate like a new horn, this Mark VI tenor will go up in value, and will be easy to re-sell at any point later. Buy it and get playing!
Sold Out
Selmer Padless Tenor Original Lacquer Beautiful #29008

Pending Sale. Here’s a horn that should be part of any serious saxophone collection. It’s a Balanced-Action-Era Selmer Padless tenor saxophone, built in collaboration between Selmer Elkhart and Buescher, in the late 1930’s. This might be the nicest one in the world, with no damage, no past repairs, original lacquer, gorgeous engraving. Priced to sell!
Selmer SBA Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer from 1946 Fresh Overhaul! Super Balanced Action
$ 5,650

This is a gorgeous original lacquer Selmer SBA Alto Saxophone American engraved and assembled, that is in excellent physical condition AND has a fresh, full overhaul. This horn plays really well, with a lush, wide tone that is medium dark and smooth. The keywork feels great under the fingers – nice and snappy. It has a top quality overhaul, which is very important on a horn like this, and has slightly domed metal resonators, which are similar to the original equipment for an SBA of this vintage.

The neck is in excellent condition, body tube, bell flare, and bow are all undamaged. The engraving on this alto is particularly nice, and the exposed part of the brass is developing a beautiful matte patina that accentuates the engraving. This is a horn that looks even better in person than in the photos. It comes from a lifelong saxophone player whose baritone and tenor were also stand out players. He really had three excellent saxophones and this one is no exception.

From a player’s perspective, you get the warmth and complexity of a Balanced Action here with slightly more comfortable keywork (offset stack keys so your wrists are more relaxed compared to BA). Plenty of volume, nice easy, saturated low register, even at very low volumes. Easy subtone. Easy altissimo. Feels like a new horn under the fingers but is better built and sounds better. The price includes a new BAM Classic alto saxophone case at no extra charge.

Only one available.
Selmer Super Sax Tenor Saxophone 17xxx Original Lac Overhauled Modern Keywork!
$ 7,500

Here’s a 1933 Selmer Super Sax tenor with a recent overhaul, original finish, and several modifications/modernizations: a larger right hand thumbrest, a later-style geared octave mechanism with Mark VI style righward-tilting thumb key, and Balanced Action style left hand pinky table. These modifications significantly modernize the feel of this horn, and ergonomically it feels about a generation younger than it actually is.

The modifications themselves were done quite competently, and fit and blend in well with the horn, not being noticeable upon casual inspection unless you know where to look. The saxophone itself is in good physical condition, with moderate lacquer wear and no major past damage that I can see.

These types of modifications are not easy to do, are quite expensive, and are not often done, so it could be a good long while before you see another Super Sax with a modernized left hand pinky table. If you’ve been interested by the big Selmer tone of the Super Sax models but are used to modern ergonomics, this could be the horn for you.
Tenor Madness Custom 500SL Tenor Saxophone – New Lacquered
$ 4,295
Tenor Madness Custom 500SL Tenor Saxophone Cognac Lacquer High F# Effortless Player Newest Model L01110
$ 4,340
Sold Out
Yamaha / Ishimori Woodstone 82ZWS 2 Custom Necks Alto Saxophone D76004
Sold Out
Yanagisawa S6 Soprano Good Condition