I have to look to find anything wrong, but here goes.
The bottom is in good condition with no major flatness or dents only some small
dings and ripples on the inside of the bow in the typical place where the sax hits the chair.
Surprisingly there is none of the typical pinpoint lacquer loss common on older Aristocrats
and 400's!! Yet this is clearly no relacquer as all engraving is incredibly detailed
and there is no serial number washing.
If you look extremely closly there is some very minute lacquer loss in tiny spots on
the bell, but extremely minimal much less then typical!!
It appears to be the original neck. The neck did have a common hairline seam crack
on the left side, but has been very professionally repaired and heavily reinforced with
an additional bar. This area on the left side of the neck was also relacquered very nicely
and is the only such area on the entire horn, no cages or posts have ever been reattached!!!
The neck is still quite attractive and is now stronger then it was originally!
See the pictures!!
Again being extremely fussy there is some typical very minor corrosion around a small number
of valves.
There are virtually no scratches and only minor typical wear on the usual keys and
lower thumbrest.
Gold finish is intact in about the 95% range.
Look at the pictures and see for yourself.
Now about the overhaul, basically the horn was completely torn down to the tube
and scrubbed and bathed inside and out extensively!!! Then carefully reassembled
with ALL NEW PADS except one that didn't need to be replaced!!!
Then it was carefully leak light pad tested and play adjusted and tested.
It can't have been in any better condition when it was new, mechanically or play-wise.
It plays WONDERFULLY: a rich DEEP FAT TONE that only a fine
professional level fifties Buescher 400 tenor can provide.
This plays like the ultimate horn! It's ready for some serious BLOWIN!
Pictures show most everything! The finish over large areas of the horn is nice and shiny
as new!! This is a solid playable instrument with the fast action, great looks, and great sound of a
fifties professional level Buescher.
Indeed, perhaps subject to debate, the ultimate professional tenor saxophone ever made!!
Comes with a Selmer Goldentone mouthpiece and ligature/reed holder.
This sax comes with its original deluxe Buescher hard case that has seen better days.
It's still quite servicable, though as is typical with vintage horns
it's a bit musty smelling and may need more airing out then I've been able to give it.
I haven't treated it with any air freshener though I've been tempted,
I leave that to the buyer, ha ha.
While I did consider offering a new or different case with this instrument, I felt that
the buyer would probably want this case since it is highly likely the original one
this sax came with when it was new. Preserving originality with such an
original sax usually is the preference these days. Certainly the buyer
may opt to keep this case, but acquire another to hold the sax on a day to day
basis. Still having the original case does enhance the long term value of the instrument,
even if it is a litte bit too vintage for the nose at times, ha ha!
The SAXMAN at Ann's Music Connection.