Lacquer

Showing all 30 results

  • Buescher Big B Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer Good Condition 324407

    $ 1,650

    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 Yamaha student model in total- seems like a good buy to me! They combine excellent intonation, comfortable keywork, top notch build quality, and beautiful lacquer and engraving with a warm, centered tone.  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.

  • Buffet Super Dynaction Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer 17435

    $ 2,350

  • Conn 6M Transitional Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer Fresh Overhaul! PENDING

  • Conn 6M VIII Alto Original Lacquer Original Pads Fresh Full Overhaul!

    $ 3,450

  • Conn Connstellation Alto Saxophone 28M Very Good Condition Original Lacquer 335771

    $ 2,250

    You could be forgiven for thinking that because there are two original lacquer, very good condition Conn 28M “Connstellation” saxophones on my website at the moment that these are somewhat common, but I assure you that is not the case!   I will copy and paste the general statements about the 28M from the other description, with the unique description of this particular instrument’s physical and playing condition at the bottom.

    The Conn 28M will always have a special place in my heart.  It represents the last time one of the great American saxophone manufacturing companies tried something wholly new, and although the horn never really found a market and not many were made, they are fantastic instruments that besides being unique and historically interesting, play *really* well.  

    These saxophones were redesigned, utilizing many ideas from Allen Loomis (Conn’s resident saxophone visionary) and Hugh Loney, with input from Santy Runyon, with the aim of creating a saxophone that had extremely slick keywork and a very balanced scale.  The keywork, although familiar under the fingers with regard to placement and layout, is mechanically quite different from any other saxophone and has been built from the ground up with the goal of reducing mechanical friction. There are no pivot screws anywhere on this saxophone, instead the long rods have a very long hinge rod with the middle machined down so only the ends touch.   The G# has a very unique torsion mechanism to provide a G# feel that is smooth throughout the range. The side keys are designed so that the angle and distance of travel is the same for each key. There are adjustment screws on the upper and lower stacks as well as the left hand pinky table. The bell keys are on the left side, and the pantsguard/bell keyguard is a large acrylic plate that was designed with the idea in mind of allowing the horn to vent properly regardless of playing position or clothing choice.  The octave mechanism has three pips (octave vents), one on the neck and two on the body, which has the end result of a very clear middle D and no hiss on the A or G#, as well as excellent intonation. The keywork in general is very light, and the pearls are larger than usual for Conn and a little flatter. The overall feeling is of a very light horn, extremely slick, easy to play, excellent intonation, and very even throughout.

    The one downfall of this design is the pantsguard, which is fairly brittle and often broken.  Although nowadays there are excellent replacements available, this one has its original guard in decent condition.  There is one repaired crack (visible in the photos) and the common small cracks radiating from some of the screw holes.  I would anticipate, absent any further damage, that this keyguard will last and should not present any problems- although I will furnish you with contact information for obtaining a well made (and somewhat more durable) replacement should you ever need it.  And believe it or not, I have experience shipping these so you can rest easy knowing I will remove it for shipping, wrap it separately, and it will arrive to you in good condition.

    This instrument plays quite decently on what appears to be an older repad with plastic domed resonators, with a strong, moderately bright, cheerful voice.  The clarity of the tone is notable, and it is a lot of fun to play with a unique look and feel and timbre that would lend itself easily to classical, big band, or small group jazz.  The lacquer is original and in good condition with some playing wear and a few stand scratches near the low C#, with no evidence of past repairs or dents or resolders of any kind. It is also a unique and interesting piece of saxophone history, in very good condition, and whoever owns this instrument next will have a lot of fun being its steward for the next generation.  

  • Sold Out

    Conn Early 6M Alto Saxophone 250425

    This is about the 150th Conn 6M made. (The first is #250243, and they made other voices in between that one and 250425.) If you know this site, you’ll know that I especially like these early 6Ms. They play wider and wilder than the also-great-later 6M’s, but they still have the super slick keywork that makes 6M’s great. So it’s kind of a sweet spot if you want great keywork and a big sound. This one needs an overhaul, and it has a few dings, but it’s going to be a superb alto with a little care put into it. Or talk to me about getting it including a fresh overhaul, which I can have done to my picky standards in a couple of weeks’ time.

  • Couf Superba 1 Alto Original Lacquer Fresh High-End Overhaul Plays Great

    The H. Couf Superba 1 is one of my favorite vintage saxophones. They remain one of the best options for a great sounding alto sax with modern keywork and a rich, interesting tone. Darker and fatter sounding than a Yamaha, with rich, wide upper register, and a full, projecting low register, this alto will do it all. If you are looking for a great all-purpose alto, or even for an ideal smooth jazz or commercial sounding alto, the Couf Superba 1 fits the bill. I just sold one of these to a smooth jazz player who loves the fat sound that stays warm when brightened up with a bright mouthpiece. And he loves the comfort of the keywork. These are among the only saxophones that sound this full and rich and also have modern keywork. (Modern saxophones have, as a rule, moved towards a clearer, rounder, more contained sound, and can’t deal with as much air as a Superba 1 can take.)

    This alto came with its original pads still intact, and it is getting a full mechanical overhaul right now, which means it will be back to like new, or better-than-new condition mechanically, and playing wise. If you’re not used to used saxophone lingo, that means that a highly-skilled woodwind repairman is going to be spending about 30 hours of labor on this horn going over every detail, and replacing everything that can be replaced, (all new pads, corks, felts, mechanical work, setup, play testing, neck fit, full disassembly, cleaning, fresh oil etc.) so that it’s totally rebuilt and ready for its next many years of playing. That’s a big added value for you, because you don’t have to worry about the horn needing more than minor occasional maintenance to play its best for many years to come. It also means that it will play effortlessly, and saturatedly at low volumes, in the low register. Low Bb is just another note, even if you want to play it at pp.

    I have no trouble selling a Couf Superba 1 alto as soon as anyone plays one with the fresh overhaul. It’s really hard to beat, regardless of price. And at this price, it is really hard to beat.

    Only one available!

    We pay the best prices for great saxophones.

     

  • Ishimori Wood Stone New Vintage Alto Saxophone Brand New WSA-VL with F# Dark Lacquer

    $ 4,500

    Only one available!

    This is the highly sought-after Ishimori Wood Stone ‘New Vintage’ alto saxophone available. The model is WSA-VL with high F#. It has dark, cognac colored lacquer and beautiful hand engraving, the among the most elaborate of any modern saxophone. Effortless player. Hard to emphasize how effortless. Completely effortless low register, low Bb pops out like any other note. Altissimo is easy. Tuning is great. The tone is sort of Selmer-ish but punchier like a King Super 20. But it’s not either of those. It’s its own thing – the New Vintage alto.  Easy to play delicately and softly with plenty of saturation and projection. Action is low, fast, and snappy. Great for jazz, concert, ballads– really anything. I’m impressed! Here’s our first demo video:

  • Ishimori Wood Stone New Vintage Tenor VL with F# NEW Dark Lacquer Tenor Saxophone

    $ 4,700

    See below for some sound samples and an unboxing video.

    Only one available of these highly-desirable Ishimori Wood Stone New Vintage tenor saxophones. This one is in beautiful Dark Lacquer. You can find the unlacquered ‘Antique Finish’ version here.  They are usually back ordered, but I will try my best to keep at least one in stock. Ishimori is Japan’s premiere saxophone repair shop, and Mr. Ishimori has been designing, building, and repairing saxophones for decades.

    These tenors not only sound great, but they stand out from the crowd with their excellent new horn setup done in the Ishimori workshop. The Ishimori New Vintage tenors hold up extremely well over time, and every detail of construction and assembly is optimized for ease of play. The tone on this Ishimori tenor is meant to remind you of a vintage Selmer – to my ear, it plays like a late SBA – not as loud and wide open as some Mark VI’s, but more focused than earlier Selmers also. The neck and the engraving are meant to evoke the Selmer Super Balanced Action, so I suspect that the neck is an SBA bore. The tuning is excellent. This body tube is designed to have the high F# tone hole present, so it tunes well with the high F#, and that’s also just a convenient feature. Lacquer is gorgeous, as is the hand engraving.

    Ishimori New Vintage tenors play so effortlessly, they sell themselves. Every time one comes in the shop, it sells almost immediately. I have one in stock coming next week. Get it now!

    See below for some sound samples on a range of mouthpieces, and an unboxing video.

  • King SilverSonic Tenor Overhauled Early Eastlake 430459

    $ 5,850

    Super nice King Super 20 SilverSonic tenor in excellent condition. This horn has a fresh overhaul and plays great, with a huge, punchy, projecting tone that stays fat well up into the upper register. This is a naturally loud, bold sounding King. It sports both solid silver neck and solid silver bell with gold wash inside. These horns are hard to beat, and they are definitely undervalued at the moment! Early Eastlake (or late Cleveland) tenors like this with single socket neck are many people’s favorite version, who are looking for a beautiful vintage King with silver bell and great build quality that doesn’t cost as much as a new car. Only one available. These always sell quickly. It will come in a new BAM case for maximum protection, or if you want to buy a vintage King alligator style black and silver case, I could sell you one from my little case collection for extra.

  • King Super 20 Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer Excellent Condition Good Pads

    $ 3,950
  • Sold Out

    King Super 20 Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer Fresh Overhaul 362420

    $ 4,500

    Great deal on a silver neck, King Super 20 with a fresh overhaul, original lacquer, and the more modern keywork version, but still with the features that are most important. Nothing else sounds like a good Super 20 alto! This one is already all overhauled and setup to perfection. You can just play it and not worry that you’re missing out. The Super 20 is as good as it gets on alto for a great jazz tone. Pair it with a Meyer 5 or 6 and a pretty soft reed for the Cannonball Adderley style tone (and practice a lot).

    Only one available!

  • King Super 20 Tenor 1948 Original Lacquer Full Pearls Good Pads 298084

    $ 6,250

  • NOVA Woodwinds Lacquered Brass Low A Baritone Saxophone NEW Great Deal!

    $ 2,300

    Introducing the new NOVA Woodwinds line of instruments. The NOVA Woodwinds line meets a need in the marketplace for a lower-priced Low A Baritone saxophone that is still good quality. People have been asking me for years if I can recommend anything in the sub-$3500 price range for a low A baritone.There’s nothing much to recommend USED let alone new. That’s where the NOVA baritone shines. For only $2300, you get a NOVA baritone (NOVA means ‘new’ in Latin) that is brand new and plays quite well, and that holds up well over time by all accounts.

    If you are shopping for a baritone saxophone, whether for a school band program, for doubling and taking extra gigs on bari, or just for playing some sick funk lines with your Tower of Power cover band, this horn is worth a look. I have friends who have used this bari in their band programs for years, and it holds up to punishment by middle and high school students quite well. That’s saying a lot!

    Much of the reason it holds up well is that I am spending $400-500 per horn on an extensive amount of setup work. It’s almost an overhaul, because it’s fully disassembled, cleaned, oiled, gets all new corks, gets rods straightened, many pads reseated or replaced, the LH pinky table rebuilt, the neck tenon ‘fit’ to the receiver, regulation between keys fixed, and actually several other small things improved. At that point, its a completely different instrument from how it arrives. It plays down to low A easily and well and should continue to do so for a long time with only occasional upkeep needed. As such, it’s a solid school bari, doubler’s bari, or just a fun horn to play around on.

    You could set it up and sell it doing MUCH less work – $50 to get pads sealing and send it out the door, but that would not be the way to build a good reputation for your brand, or to take good care of your customers, over even the short term. I want the NOVA line to stand out as the most reliable baritone saxophone you can get new under $2500. Unfortunately, after I buy the horn, pay for international shipping and spend $450 per horn on repair, there’s very little profit to be made on these. Thankfully, this is not a large part of the overall business here at GetASax.

    Once it’s properly ‘mini-overhauled’, the tone is big, loud, and medium between bright and dark. It tunes well with a variety of mouthpieces. The keywork is pretty comfortable, and works fine for anyone from middle school up through adult. The stacks are actually in line, not offset, meaning the tone holes are all in one long row. That changes the feel of the right hand, as you rotate around farther than you otherwise would on a modern horn. This is NOT a Yanagisawa copy. From neck to bell to keywork, it’s really not similar to a B901. The case is usable, with a hard foam contoured interior, sturdy zipper, decent amount of storage, and wheels that are usable on a smooth surface. The mouthpiece it comes with isn’t great, so see below about cheap but good mouthpieces.

    It comes in this version, which is brass, and then in the bronze version also. The bronze is a slightly darker tone, and gives you the two tone look, where the all brass like this just looks like a typical new saxophone. You won’t go wrong with either one. Both of them include the pictured hard case which has wheels, as well as the other accessories in the photos. I would recommend a Yamaha 5C or Rousseau for an inexpensive beginner baritone mouthpiece for concert band, and the Rico Metalite bari for jazz, or there are lots of other options getting listed in the baritone mouthpieces section of the site. 

    These low A baritone saxophones tend to sell quickly, so please let me know if you are wanting to order more than one, so that I can be sure to order them far enough in advance to fill your order quickly.

  • Sold Out

    Selmer Mark VI Alto Original Lacquer 1954 One Owner Fresh Overhaul

    $ 9,250

    On Trial June 2021

    First year Mark VI that came in with original pads! I got it overhauled, cleaned up, and ready for its next 67 years of playing time. This was a one owner horn, owned by a good player in NYC who played it seriously for several years in the 50’s and studied with Joe Allard, before putting it in the closet for the next 55 years until now. We gave it the full treatment, and it’s really beautiful, with a focused, lyrical, medium dark, powerful tone. This is a rare chance to get a first year VI with original lacquer that is just great.

    Only one available!

  • Selmer Mark VI Alto Original Lacquer Very Good Condition 190714

    $ 5,750

  • Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone 1964 Original Lacquer Very Good Condition

    $ 7,950

  • Selmer Mark VI Baritone Original Lacquer 100k Serial Plays Well Low Bb

    $ 7,500

  • Selmer Mark VI Tenor 195260 Original Lacquer American-Engraved Plays Well

    $ 5,950

  • Selmer Mark VI Tenor 1963 Worn Original Lacquer

    $ 6,500

    Low price for this worn original lacquer 1963 Mark VI Tenor. This horn is on consignment for a great local player who played it constantly for the past 35+ years. It was his main horn all that time, and hence, has been played a ton. It’s still sealing on the older pads, and it plays great, but it’s not freshly overhauled and does not have tight, new feeling keywork by any means. The neck is also not original, and lacks the matching serial number though it is a Mark VI neck, and it plays great with the horn. This sax will be a dependably great player if you get it overhauled and play it for the next 35 years. It has a medium dark, focused, moderately powerful tone, and nice free blowing feel. It’s rare to find an original early 60’s VI that plays great for this sort of price. If you don’t mind the older pads and the neck, then you’re in business. I like the look of it. It’s well used, because it’s fun to play.

    Only one available!

  • Selmer Mark VI Tenor 77158 Original Lacquer Very Good Condition Removed Pickup Plays Well!

    $ 11,500

  • Selmer SBA Super Balanced Action Alto 41532 Relacquered Plays Great

    $ 4,950

    This was the main alto of a top level gigging musician who just retired from playing after 50 years or so. He went through a lot of horns over the years, and all of the ones he ended up with are excellent! This was the alto that won the decades-long shootout for best alto. It’s a Selmer Paris ‘Super (Balanced) Action’ (SBA) Alto saxophone made in 1950, which many consider to be the most desirable year for SBA’s (though they are all desirable)! Coltrane played a tenor of this, which probably helps them have a bit of a value bump.

    This alto has a sweet, lyrical, moderately focused tone that is warm and medium between bright and dark. The ‘French lyrical core’ to the tone is what I love most about it. It’s challenging to describe tone, but there’s a central, complex thread to the sound that you can easily latch onto that makes these really pleasant to listen to, whether that’s blending with a section, or playing solo. The build quality is of course excellent, and the feel under the fingers is nice and snappy. This sax got a ‘new coat of paint’ along the way at some point – probably in the late 50’s by the lacquer color, and probably by the Selmer factory in Elkhart (same reason), who would frequently overhaul and strip and respray the lacquer at the same time for their customers. It doesn’t really affect anything tonally. But it makes the horn a lot less expensive for you! So if you’re looking for a really nice, clean, beautiful vintage Selmer Paris alto that is better built than anything you can buy today, AND that plays beautifully, has good pads, and will go up in value — and all that for around the price of a new Yamaha, that’s what you’re getting! And this is a particularly good one, as mentioned above.

    Only one available.

  • Selmer Series II Tenor Original Lacquer Beautiful Condition

    $ 4,250

  • Selmer Super Action 80 Series II Alto Saxophone 517537 SA80-II Excellent Condition Great Price!

    $ 3,150

    Save thousands of dollars getting this beautiful condition used Selmer Series II alto. This instrument has very little wear, and comes to you in excellent condition. It just got several new pads and a thorough setup, so it is playing very well and effortlessly throughout. As I’m sure you know, the Series II is the standard, go-to alto saxophone for serious saxophone study. You never need to upgrade it, and you can take it to college for saxophone study and it will be in good company there with a lot of other Series II’s and III’s. The tone is balanced, warm, clear and round, with a lyrical core tone and very good intonation. The Series II likes to have a classical style or concert mouthpiece like a Selmer S80 C* or D, or a Selmer Concept etc. Lots of other mouthpieces work, but if you’re not sure what to get, then get one of those two.

    Saxophones don’t really wear out if you maintain them, so there’s really no reason not to save a few thousand dollars on a nice used example of one of the most popular professional alto saxophones. You can keep this for the rest of your life and play it. It will hold its value as long as you own it. These are only going to go up in price over time.

  • SML Gold Medal 1 Tenor 18835 Great Deal!

    $ 3,350

    This SML Gold Medal 1 tenor is in on consignment! It has a big, powerful, dark tone!

    If you’ve played an SML before, this is a classic example – sort of like a Selmer and Conn hybrid. Focused, lyrical core like a Selmer, but big, wide, fat sound like a Conn. Neck angle higher than average for tenor. Plays easy altissimo.
    In terms of condition – the lacquer obviously has quite a bit of wear from use. The neck is in nice shape with no past damage evident. Rolled tone holes look great. There are no dents or dings, but there has been dent work in the bow area, back of the bow, and bow guard. Crease removed from bell flare approx 3 o’clock to 6 o’clock if you’re looking with the horn upright.  Looks like the low C and Eb keyguards have one foot resoldered each. Maybe a little dent work in the upper body tube, like around the D palm key foot and maybe near the neck receiver, but if so, it was done really well. I’m just going from the way the lacquer looks there. The tube is nice and smooth. There are no dents or dings at all! SML’s are really hard to beat in the quality per dollar department. And they are only getting more popular as people find out about their unique tone and combination of premium features.
    Only one available!

  • SML Rev. D Alto Saxophone Original Lacquer 11xxx Excellent Condition! Old Pads

    $ 2,150

  • Tenor Madness Custom 500SL Tenor Saxophone Cognac Lacquer High F# Effortless Player Newest Model L01110

    $ 4,500

    This is the best TM Custom tenor that I have played so far. It is brand new, plus it got a new horn setup on top of that. This is the new light body tube version of the 500SL model, and it is a truly effortless player. The intonation is excellent throughout. This bore is designed to have the F# tone hole present, so the tuning is excellent and altissimo is easy including the handy high F# key. The low notes are nice and saturated even at pp, and the horn will shake in your hands if you push it to ff. The palm key tone stays more full and rich than on most Taiwanese tenors that I have played (like P Mauriat etc.). The neck on this tenor is modeled on an early Mark VI tenor neck, and you do in fact get a Selmer-ish tone on it. I am impressed that you can get a horn this good for this price that has been thoroughly setup in the USA by TenorMadness pre-sale.

    The hand engraving is inspired by 50’s Selmer engraving, and it is of course gorgeous. The lacquer color is as well. This is one of the best looking tenors on the market today for sure. It comes in a contoured case that should be good for shipping and gigging.

    If you’re looking for an easy, turn-key purchase for a high-quality modern horn that is darker and more complex than some other new horns on the market, and that is really dependably easy to play, this would be a great choice. Really no matter what style of music you play, this horn gets the job done.

    Only one available!

  • The Martin Baritone Low Bb Original Lacquer Near Mint Original Pads

    $ 3,950

  • Yamaha YTS-82ZM Tenor Rare 1 of 50 Matte Gold Lacquer Finish Near Mint

    $ 3,950

    The Yamaha 82ZM Tenor saxophone is one of the main go-to professional tenor saxophones in today’s market. It’s the Lexus of pro saxophones – it’s beautiful, stylish, dependable, and it just plays easily. Intonation is easy; keywork is easy. It’s easy to get a nice tone, and it works well with almost any mouthpiece that you pick.

    The Yamaha 82ZM tenor saxophone almost always comes in regular lacquered brass finish. Any other finish in an 82Z is rare, and most alternate finishes have to be special ordered. THIS one is not even available by special order. I had never seen a Yamaha in this ‘matte gold’ lacquer finish before. The Yamaha USA Pro Shop told me that this is one of only 50 that Yamaha made as a special limited edition run. So it’s definitely one of the rarest finishes you can get on the Yamaha 82Z tenor.

    This Yamaha 82zm tenor is in excellent condition. It almost could pass for a new saxophone, but it has been played at least a few times and shows very minor signs of use. It’s just tuned up, plays great, needs nothing, and is about as close to new condition as one could hope for. If you’ve been looking for a Yamaha 82Z Tenor saxophone, and you want something extra special, then this could be the one for you!

    Only one available!

  • Sold Out

    Yanagisawa S6 Soprano Good Condition

    We pay the best prices for great saxophones.