Cosmetically, I see no significant dents. There are four or five small to micro sized dings generally in the bow and lower bell area. These could be removed, they aren't all that obvious and one might have to really look to see all of them. There is no wear showing on the keys. The one exception is typical loss on the lower thumbrest which has the underlying silver plate showing through confirming that this is in fact a gold plate instrument 18K or better. There is some typical playing deterioration of the finish around some of the tone holes and underneath some of the keys. I see no obvious resolders on any of the posts or guards. The neck is in excellent condition with little or no loss of finish with only one micro ding on the right side. Original Gold finish is intact in the 90% plus range which is great in a sax this old! As I noted above with the engraving this crisp and deep the finish would have to be either bare brass or gold plate, but with the obvious underlying silver showing on the lower thumbrest this instrument was easy to evaluate as gold plate.
This horn was torn down, cleaned out, body and keys polished, body and keys separately treated with a powerful anti tarnish substance (better than a clear lacquer as it is transparent and non inhibiting sound-wise and doesn't peel, flake off, or discolor with age), then rebuilt with new Mark VI style resonator pads. These are a good choice on a gold plate instrument as they won't as much distort or muddy the gorgeous refined tone of the basic gold plate body tube. Of course this Buescher was made prior to snap pads being factory installed though they weren't used on stencil instruments like this one even after that time, about 1923. The pads that were previously on the sax were the original white ones the sax came with when new. These are included in the case in a clear plastic bag as a keepsake for the new owner to help document and confirm the history and condition of the instrument as these new pads on the sax are only the second set ever installed. Then it was carefully leak light tested and play adjusted and tested. It may need more break in, just like any new horn does. I try and do what I can, but I just don't have the playing hours these beauties really need. Hopefully, the new owner can continue this process. This sax was unusual and nice enough that it served for a year or more as an in house reference sax, so it may have a little more playing time than one of my typically newly restored saxes.
This sax comes with its original Buescher True Tone USA mouthpiece in very good condition. It does show wear but it looks to be in great playable condition, though I admit I never played this mouthpiece and I am going on looks only. This original mouthpiece comes with what appears to be its original silver cover and ligature, though the lower ligature screw appears to have been replaced. Amazingly, it also does come with its original gold plate body plug again in excellent condition. These are so typically missing on most saxes, especially tenors, I've restored that this is only the second or third I've ever run across. Also this sax comes with its deluxe original Buescher hard case in excellent condition, I would say the best condition I've ever seen a vintage tenor case.
Another note, this anti tarnish treatment on the entire horn I perform is extra work, but should keep this horn cleaner and much more tarnish free for many years to come. This is the finest early true tone style Buescher tenor I have ever encountered!
We will ship to many overseas locations but NOT all! If you're outside the US you MUST email before bidding.
We will ship to many overseas locations but NOT all! If you're outside the US you MUST email before bidding.