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Lacquer

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  • Buescher Aristocrat 140 Alto Original Lacquer Very Good Condition

    $ 950

    Great deal on a clean, original lacquer, original pads Buescher 140 alto saxophone. This horn has its original snaps and spuds intact, and is a repad shy of being a VERY good player. Minimal wear, minimal past repairs, neck in good shape. This is a clean one that will be an easy repad job for someone. These are among the most undervalued vintage horns right now!

  • Conn 26M VIII Connqueror Alto Original Lacquer Excellent! 292445

    $ 3,550

    This is a beautiful example of a rare Conn Connqueror 26M Alto saxophone with original lacquer and VIII stamp. The Connqueror is the most mechanically sophisticated saxophone that Conn ever made. It is a pre-war 6M body tube and neck, with all new keywork design, extra engraving, and solid silver on all the key touches that are not pearl. The ‘permadjust’ system is the big development on the Connqueror altos. You can read about that on Matt Stohrer’s website, or watch his repairman’s overview of the 26M on Youtube. This one has its bits and bobs intact, and is in very good condition. It just got overhauled before I bought it, so the pads are all new!  Cosmetically, this horn is just great, with only some minor lacquer wear. It has to be one of the nicest 26M Connqueror altos out there. Definitely the nicest one for sale currently, and priced very reasonably. I really like this one.

    Only one available!

  • 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.

  • Sold Out

    Holton Stratodyne 234 Alto Good Condition with Old Pads 242174

    $ 1,200

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

    $ 4,300

    One avalable now and it has had the GetASax new horn checkup after shipping here from Ishimori, and is ready to ship right out!!

    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 Saxophone WST-VL with F# Dark Lacquer NEW

    $ 4,700

    Available now! These are hard to keep in stock, but I’m going to try my best to order them in advance to keep one around. 

    See below for some sound samples and an unboxing video.

    This is a highly-desirable Ishimori Wood Stone New Vintage tenor saxophone. This one is in beautiful Dark Lacquer (Vintage Lacquer, they call it, or VL for short).

    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 Alto Original Lacquer Mint Exceptional 448357

    $ 6,500

    This is one of the best playing King altos that you will find! It’s freshly overhauled, and it’s in near mint condition with original lacquer and absolutely gorgeous condition. This is pretty amazing to play. Tyler said it’s a stand out player as well, when he gave it back to me after recording this clip.

  • King SilverSonic Tenor Series III Gold in the Engraving Double Socket Neck 375203

    $ 10,500

    **Price includes Matt Stohrer’s overhaul which was JUST finished!

    If you’re reading this, then welcome! I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite tenor saxophones. There are many versions of King Super 20 tenors and King SilverSonic tenors and it can be confusing for people who don’t regularly geek out about vintage saxophones to know which ones are the best. The short answer in this case would be – this one! The reasons, you ask? So, the next earlier SilverSonic version, the ‘Series II’ with pearl side keys, will cost you many many thousands of dollars more money (because only around 200 exist). This is the next version after that, and it has the best combination of features that you could ask for: solid silver (not plated, but all the way through silver) neck and bell; thick gold plate inside the engraving on the bell, gold wash inside the bell with lacquer over it; double socket neck with underslung octave key. All of those features go away at one time or another on later Super 20’s and SilverSonics. So to have them all in one horn is what you want.

    That’s the first big reason. The second is keywork. People always seem to want keywork that feels modern, even on a vintage horn. This is a barrier to lots of players getting to experience best vintage horns – they can have trouble with the idea that a Conn 10M or a Buescher Top Hat and Cane has different pinky key layout, and are afraid they won’t be able to adjust. If you’ve had the pleasure of spending a week playing a horn with an unfamiliar key layout, you’ll know already, that this fear is overplayed. Your brain makes the changes in your muscle memory and you very soon feel comfortable and at home. Nevertheless… if you’re someone who wants it both ways – vintage horn build quality, beauty and tone, but modern-ish keywork, then this is the horn for you. The Series III Super 20’s and SilverSonics are the first ones that feel pretty much modern under the fingers. No, low Bb does not tilt like your Yamaha, but it’s still in the same location and is the same basic shape. So it’s easier to make the move to this version of SilverSonic.

    And why move? Well, to me, beauty alone is a sufficient reason. It’s easily one of the most beautiful saxophones ever made.That gold over silver on the bell, plus the neck – people are still imitating that look today, to varying degrees of success.  This tenor just got a complete overhaul done by Matt Stohrer, who does King overhauls as well as anyone on the planet, if not better. Now, everything on this horn is clean, straight, tidy, and snappy, just like it should be. It probably plays better now than it did when it was brand new! It’s just fantastic. As Kings go, it’s in the medium category between dark and spread (Zephyr Special/ Super 20 series 1) and bright and focused (series IV and V Super 20). This has the earlier double socket neck design like a Series II, but the sterling silver bell seems to give it some extra zing, and it plays a little brighter than my Series II Super 20 brass bell that I compare everything to, and a lot more focused than my Zephyr Special, but not as bright and laser focused as the last few later SilverSonics that have come through. Lots of power though.

    This version of the SilverSonic deserves to be worth more than it is, and I have this one priced actually lower than the last one I sold 10 years ago, so it’s definitely a great deal. You just don’t see Series III SilverSonics with doube socket neck and gold in the engraving very often. And they have a super-powerful, fat but not too shrill, projecting tone that is really hard to beat. This could easily be your only horn for the rest of your life, and you would never need to upgrade, and probably would never even be tempted to. Now that I’ve written this description, if the horn suddenly disappears from the site, you’ll know I decided to just keep it and play it.

    Only one available! (Here it is playing a ballad, and it sounds quite different playing straight ahead.)

  • King Super 20 Alto Series III Original Lacquer Very Good Condition Overhauled! 376523

    $ 4,950

    Great King Super 20 alto that is also on the affordable side for one of the best vintages. This is 376523, double socket, solid silver neck, engraved bell keys, underslung octave key, but the more modern style pinky keys and a tone that is more like the ‘full pearls’ Super 20’s. This horn just got a full, top shelf overhaul with Pisoni italian leather pads and nice reusable slightly domed, metal resonators. It feels brand new under the fingers, and it is still in excellent original cosmetic condition. Only one available! $4950 incl the overhaul, which is about what you’d pay for a Yamaha, and this is much better and holds its value better too.

  • Martin Magna Alto Original Lacquer Excellent Condition Overhauled! 206422

    $ 3,750

    Beautiful original lacquer Martin Magna Committee III Alto Saxophone. It has no dents or dings and is in absolutely gorgeous condition. The Magna is the most desirable Martin saxophone, because of the rarity and some cosmetic and mechanical features that set it above the rest. These include the fancy engraving, and nickel keys and cross accents on neck and bell, and keyguards. It just got overhauled, and it’s in FANTASTIC shape now. Here are some preview photos. 

    These altos have such a beautiful tone (think Art Pepper), which is warm, dry, full, and powerful. Medium between bright and dark, with plenty of what Martin called ‘carrying power’ and we call ‘projection’ to spare, no matter how much you want to push it. These sound better with really bright mouthpieces than almost any other saxophone, if that’s your thing. But they sound great with something like an MC Gregory Model A like Pepper used. Only one available!

  • Martin Music Man Alto Original Lacquer Gorgeous! 208891

    $ 2,150

    Gorgeous original lacquer Martin Music Man alto saxophone. This is one of my favorite The Martin Alto Committee III’s ever, and is being sold from my personal collection. It was in another collection for many decades before I got it, and it has been cared for very well over the years. The pads aren’t bad, but it’s not freshly overhauled either. It plays well on them. I’d play it for a while and save up for an overhaul before too long, if you want to unlock the full potential.

    The Official Music Man model was made to commemorate the runaway hit musical ‘The Music Man’ about a traveling band instrument salesman. (I’m sure you know it.) These are a lot like a regular Comm III, “The Martin Alto” but have some extra engraving and the adjustable neck octave key stoppers like a Magna. They will always be more desirable and collectible than a regular The Martin Alto, but they have the same power, projection, and dark, complex tone. These horns are built to last, and came with 50 year warranties when new. Some of them are just leaving their warranty coverage now, which is hilarious. Only one available!

  • Selmer Balanced Action Tenor 24461 Relacquered Freshly Overhauled Great Price

    $ 6,450

  • Selmer Mark VI Alto 1960 Original Lac Fresh Overhaul! Hard to Beat 94108

    $ 7,450

    This is an original lacquer Selmer Mark VI Alto from 1960 that was one owner for almost its entire life until now. It was played by a pro in FL. He had a pickup installed in the neck, which I got removed and replaced with a ‘flush plug’ meaning the brass is perfectly smooth and matching inside and out. From a playing perspective, it’s the same as if it was never there. I also got this excellent Mark VI completely overhauled.

    The 90k-118k altos are my favorite Mark VI’s of all for tone. This alto has a dark, focused tenor-like tone with tons of power. It makes you want to just play and play and never put it down! With the fresh overhaul, it feels like a brand new saxophone, and plays like one too. Effortless low register, even at pianissimo; dry, snappy pad feel; slightly domed brass resonators (reusable selmer style ones that are $125 a set), italian leather Pisoni pads. It also comes in a new form-fitted BAM Classic alto case, which is designed specifically to protect the Mark VI, and which has a large external storage pocket, hard shell, and just the right kind of protective foam.

    You seldom see a ‘five digit’ Selmer Mark VI alto available for this kind of price. This one is priced lower than a new Selmer, and sounds and plays better, and has a better overhaul. That’s hard to beat if you want an original lacquer Mark VI that will keep playing great for many years to come with only minimal routine maintenance and that will hold its value or appreciate over time. It’s hard to beat!

    Only one available!

  • Selmer Mark VI Sopranino 5-digit RARE Original Lacquer Excellent! 98569

    $ 8,250

    This is an incredibly rare 5-digit Selmer Mark VI Sopranino saxophone. Serial 98569, close to Coltrane’s famous VI soprano. Original lacquer at about 98% intact; extremely clean condition with no damage and no past repairs. Original case is great as well. I may have this significantly underpriced. A 5-digit Mark VI soprano of this serial would sell much higher. In any case, it’s the ultimate sopranino saxophone. This is the only 5-digit sopranino I’ve had in the history of GetASax, so there is most certainly only one available!

  • Selmer Radio Improved Alto Original Lacquer, Recent Overhaul 19276

    $ 4,650

    If you read around on here a bit, you’ll see that I love Selmers from the 1930’s and the Radio Improved in particular. This one has most of its original lacquer intact, and is in quite good condition. it is also in great playing condition with a recent overhaul done by Jack Finucane (Aka Jack Tyler) from a few years or so ago before he stopped doing overhauls, and feels nice and snappy under the fingers. The pads look a little funny in photos – that’s because of some powder from Yamaha powder paper that is on the leather. But the pads themselves are in excellent condition and are nearly new. The resonators look like a Reso-Tech set made to match the vintage Selmer Tonex resos, but slightly oversized, and very slightly domed. They are a good match for the horn, and they almost look like vintage Selmer resonators. It didn’t get played much after overhaul, as the owner is in a military band and plays a modern horn most of the time for work. It’s on consignment now, and I think it’ll likely sell quickly.

    The tone of a Radio Improved alto is the reason to buy it. It’s like a Selmer blended with a Conn almost- delicate lyrical core that reminds me of an SBA, but with a wider, warmer, more spread feel like a Conn. The keywork is not modern. This is before the ‘Balanced Action’ keywork improvements, so you will have to get used to the left hand pinky keys if you haven’t played a vintage horn before. If you have, then it’s no problem. I barely notice keywork differences anymore after playing all the different styles out there. This one is more comfortable than most, and I like the direct action bell key mechanism.

    The original lacquer is in beautiful shape and looks great – deep honey gold. The only spot that isn’t original lacquer (and you’d have to really look closely to tell this) is at the neck receiver, where it looks like Jack had to resolder the neck receiver and then mix up some matching lacquer to over spray there. The only way to tell is that there’s just a little sign of overspray of the new lacquer on top of the original lacquer just below the receiver. That resolder often needs to be done on a 30’s Selmer to make the neck receiver strong again after 80+ years of use. (It was done on my personal RI, so I specially look for it). These horns are very uncommon, and this one is nicer than the great majority of RI’s out there. Only 1140 RI altos were made, and this is probably in the top 10% of those.

    Only one available!

  • Selmer Reference 54 Alto Saxophone Flamingo Dark Lacquer Plays Great! 708286

    $ 5,450

  • Sold Out

    Yamaha YTS-62III Professional Tenor Saxophone Brand NEW with Warranty and Pro Setup

    $ 3,798

    The YTS-62III Tenor saxophone from Yamaha is the go-to, top recommended first professional tenor from most teachers and band directors I have talked to over the years. Again and again online, someone asks something like, “We want to get our daughter/son a good saxophone. Our budget is around $3750. What should we get?” The most common answer is basically always a Yamaha 62 tenor. Why? It just works. It’s a professional horn that is extremely reliable and made in Japan, with excellent build quality, great intonation, and a top quality factory setup. You can use virtually any mouthpiece on it, and it will still tune well. That lets you take the (admittedly rather vanilla) tone in myriad directions. Yamaha is a conservative company, and their crowd pleaser YTS-62III tenor saxophone is meant to get the job done without over-determining the tone. It’s clear, medium bright, and round. Not too loud and in your face, not very dark or too bright. Not very smoky or complex. But you can add most of that back in with a well-chosen mouthpiece.

    It’s hard to keep these horns in stock, as Yamaha has been backordered on them for a long time. I have some more coming in pretty soon (Maybe June 2022) These come with a new horn checkup before they go to you, meaning my (experienced/skilled/picky) repairman makes sure that the horn plays like it should. Often there are 2 or three little tweaks that take the horn from good to great, and that’s actually a big added value to you to have us do that before you get it. Most of the differerces between new horns of the same model at a store are due to the lack of a good new horn checkup.

  • Sold Out

    Yanagisawa AWO1 Professional Alto Saxophone New + Setup – Fantastic Deal! A901

    $ 3,150

    New in the plastic Yanagisawa AWO1 Alto saxophone. This is probably the best deal overall in a modern alto, period. This horn just got checked out post shipping and is ready to play its very best right out of the case when you get it. It’s completely mint, with factory box and paperwork etc. You won’t find a better playing Yanagisawa AWO1 Alto Saxophone, nor will you find a better price. I have an extremely limited number of these that I can offer you at this sale price. Good luck to the few people who are able to jump on this deal!

    If you’re wondering, the AWO1 is the brass version of Yanagisawa’s professional alto. This is the new name of what used to be the A901 model. It has a more open and vibrating feel than the heavier-built AWO10 (which is also a fantastic alto, but more expensive). My first good alto was one of these. If you want the best alto for the money, that would be the Yanagisawa AWO1. And when you go to re-sell it, you can get most to all of your money back, which is the opposite of most new saxophones.

    Any questions, feel free to ask!

  • Sold Out

    Yanagisawa AWO10 Elite Professional Alto Saxophone Brand New Fantastic Deal! A991

    $ 3,950

    Mint, unplayed, new in the plastic Yanagisawa AWO10 Alto saxophone. This is probably the best deal on this saxophone that you will find anywhere.  The AWO10 (formerly called A991) is Yanagisawa’s top of the line saxophone, made of solid brass, like most saxophones (as distinguished from their bronze and silver options that are significantly more expensive.)  This AWO10 just got checked out post shipping and is ready to play its very best right out of the case when you get it. It’s completely mint, with factory box and paperwork etc. You won’t find a better playing Yanagisawa AWO10, nor will you find a better price. I have an extremely limited number of these that I can offer you at this sale price. Good luck to the few people who are able to jump on this amazing deal!

    If you’re wondering, the AWO10 is the brass version of Yanagisawa’s top line professional alto. This is the new name of what used to be the A991 model. It has sturdier ‘ribbed construction’ and double arms on the bell keys, to distinguish it from its extremely similar but less expensive sibling, the AWO1 (A901). The Yanagisawa AWO10 also has the underslung neck octave key mechanism and fancy hand engraving. I love how the neck octave key looks and works. My first good alto was a Yanagisawa, and I never would have needed to upgrade from it. The tone is medium bright, clear, and round, with a crisp projection to it. With a classical mouthpiece, it darkens up beautifully while still shimmering. For jazz, it’s a natural lead alto with a brighter mouthpiece, like the GS New York or many others. The intonation is excellent. Keywork is super comfortable. The build quality that Yanagisawa offers is the best of any saxophone, and yet the price is lower than many of its competitors. That’s why Yanagisawa is SO popular among pro sax players, and why its saxophones are often back ordered with long waits. Here’s your chance to grab one at a SUPER price that is all setup and ready to go for many years making beautiful music dependably. It’s the Lexus of modern saxophones, and it just makes playing effortless.

    Any questions, feel free to ask!

  • Sold Out

    Yanagisawa AWO2 Solid Bronze Alto Saxophone Brand New + Setup! A902

    $ 3,750

    Two available March 2023, and they’ve both been setup and play GREAT!

    Brand new, unplayed, in the plastic Yanagisawa AWO2 Alto saxophone. This is probably the best deal overall in a modern alto period. This horn just got checked out post shipping and is ready to play its very best right out of the case when you get it. It’s completely mint, with factory box and paperwork etc. You won’t find a better playing Yanagisawa AWO2, nor will you find a better price. I have an extremely limited number of these that I can offer you at this sale price. Good luck to the few people who are able to jump on this amazing deal!

    If you’re wondering, the WO2 is the bronze version of Yanagisawa’s professional alto. This is the new name of what used to be the A902 model. It has a more open and vibrating feel than the heavier-built AWO20 (which is also a fantastic alto, but more expensive). My first good alto was one of these. And the solid bronze adds more depth and complexity to the tone – kind of a thick heart to the core of the tone. It’s quite easy to hear once you get used to it and play the different Yanagisawa saxophones. The AWO2 (A902) and AWO20 (A992) are my favorites, closely followed by AWO1 (A901) and AWO10 (A991) (same horns but in brass instead of bronze).

    Any questions, feel free to ask!

  • Yanagisawa BWO10 Baritone Saxophone Brand New Fantastic Deal!

    $ 8,350

    Brand new Yanagisawa BWO10 professional baritone saxophone that is here and in stock now, ready to ship. These are backordered almost everywhere, whether it says that when you checkout or not. Good luck getting one from the places I find when I google this model. They’re not actually there – if you get one elsewhere, you will likely have to wait for it to be manufactured and then drop shipped from overseas. Which isn’t what you really want when buying a saxophone this big. You want a shop to do a new horn checkup on it, like this one got, and make sure everything is playing perfectly and setup properly, so that you get the full joy of playing a brand new baritone saxophone. The low register experience is incomparable – the low Bb and A just come out like any other note! Intonation is fantastic. Ergonomics likewise.

    Unfortunately there is only one available. So once that’s sold, it may be some time before I get another one, with the long backorders there are for new Yanagisawa saxophones at present.

  • Yanagisawa SWO2 Solid Bronze Professional Soprano Saxophone New! + Setup

    $ 3,950

    One just in!!

    This is a new Yanagisawa SWO2 Soprano saxophone in solid bronze. The one piece solid bronze Yanagisawa SWO-2 soprano is one of my favorite modern soprano saxophones of all. It has a noticeably darker, more complex tone than the SWO1, so to me, it’s worth the extra money to spring for the bronze on soprano. The one piece design means no neck socket to leak, and the horn resonates beautifully under your fingers when you play. It tunes beautifully as well. The keywork feels great under the fingers – dry and snappy. Yanagisawa has the best build quality of any modern saxophone, and it shows. Plus I get all new Yanagisawa saxophones checked out pre-sale by one of my excellent repairmen, so that any tiny improvements that will take it from good to great are done before you get it. This is a surprisingly big deal, and something you want to have done, regardless of where you happen to buy a new saxophone. A couple of tiny, smart fixes often take an already good horn into the exceptional category.

    If you’ve been thinking of getting a soprano, then Yanagisawa is really a great choice. These are precision instruments that are built to last and that sound beautiful. They work with a wide range of mouthpieces (Selmer sopranos are more ‘mouthpiece picky’), which is nice because you can shape the tone with mouthpiece choice a LOT.

    I have an extremely limited availability of these Yanagisawa saxophones, but ONE SWO2 is currently available as of November 2022. Whoever gets it will be one lucky saxophonist!