The SaxBarn Collection
I bought my first vintage saxophone at age 12, a early pre-war Holton Rudy Wiedoeft model alto in matte silver plate. Today, the collection has grown to include over 45 saxophones spanning over 100 years of production. Check out the galleries below to see some of the saxophones contained within my collection. Though they are not for sale necessarily, they are are available to play as part of my Vintage HornFinder service.
Mid-Century Dream Collection
The first batch of saxophones I'd like to feature on this page is what I refer to as my "Mid-Century Dream Collection." Picture this: you're a professional saxophonist around the middle of the 20th century. You just got picked up to go out on the road, but your old sax is tired and in need of replacement before the tour. So you walk into your favorite sax shop and ask, "what do you have in pro horns?" Step into the Mid Century Dream Collection -- if you were on the scene at the time, there's a good chance you played one of these horns. Check it!
Selmer Mark VI
(SN: 63,4xx, circa 1956)
You can't talk about vintage saxophones without bringing up the Selmer Mark VI, often considered to be the best saxophone ever produced. It certainly did become the benchmark for all modern saxophone design. This one is from Jan. of '56, assembled in London. This particular horn was my daily player alto all through college and my early professional career.
Conn 6M, Transitional
(SN: M266,3xx, circa 1935)
I think that if you exclude Selmer from the conversation, the Conn 6M and 10M saxophones (together with maybe the King Super 20) are really the front of the line when it comes to monumentally important vintage saxes. This one is a bit earlier, a transitional model from '35, but is supplied with a special order New York neck (a factory option). I couldn't not include it in this collection.
Conn 28M Connstellation
(SN: 349,1xx, circa 1952)
Compared with the standard 6M (and even the 26M Connqueror), the 28M Connstellation is largely forgotten. Whereas the 26M was more or less a dressed up 6M with some extra features, the 28M is a whole different saxophone. Totally unique keywork with a lot of attention paid towards ergonomics -- ahead of its time in my opinion, and only made for a handful of years in the late 40's to early 50's. This saxophone is truly a joy to play!
King Super 20
(SN: 325,9xx, circa 1952)
Cannonball, Bird, and so many others played the King Super 20. Like Conn with the 6M, King made this saxophone for many years and in different locations. This particular one comes from 1952, which puts it in the a prime era for these horns. Cleveland produced with full pearls, and although it isn't a Silver-Sonic, it does have the original silver underslung neck. This is the only horn in the collection that has been relacquered, but still a stellar player!
King Zephyr
(SN: 313,0xx, circa 1950)
I think that the King Zephyr is often overlooked and overshadowed by the Super 20, but it's a fantastic saxophone! The ergonomics are not necessarily the best, but such is par for the course with vintage American saxes, and the sound and build quality are every bit as good as the Super 20. This one is a super well preserved example from 1950, and worth stacking against everything else here, even if it isn't its big brother.
Buescher Aristocrat, "Big B"
(SN: 308,4xx, circa 1945)
When I first got into vintage saxophones, the only Bueschers I ever came across were old split-bell key True Tone horns, and I just never got into them. However, when I got ahold of this Aristocrat, it had been rotting away in a case for years, and it still went right together and played so well, I knew I had to have it. After a rebuild, it truly surprised me as one of the most fantastic old players I've ever had.
Buescher Super 400, "Top Hat & Cane" (SN: 321,8xx, circa 1949)
The Buescher Super 400/Top Hat & Cane saxophones are so unique compared to everything else here. The curve and flare of the bow/bell and the interesting way the bell keys operate, together with the raised script logo and the underslung neck -- it's really a special saxophone from a special time in American instrument history. This one came to me with no original neck, so it's got a Yani 991 neck (which plays awesome) to keep the look right!
Martin Committee III, "The Martin"
(SN: 164,9xx, circa 1947)
"The Martin" is also a saxophone that cannot be left off a list like this one. Coming again from what I believe to be the height of American instrument manufacturing, these Committee III horns are among the finest feeling and sounding vintage saxes out there. The Martins had some unique features, like beveled tone holes, and were crafted beautifully. This is the only American horn here that's missing it's big brother, the Martin Magna/Centennial.
Olds Opera (Buffet Dynaction stencil)
(SN: 4,2xx, circa 1955/'56)
A lot of saxophonists don't realize that Paris was full of saxophone making back in the day -- Selmer was far from the only game in town. This particular horn is actually an Olds Opera, but was built and assembled next to the Buffet Dynaction (the horns are identical). This one really surprised me! I bought on a whim, and it plays beautifully in tune and with ergonomics that are surely better than most anything American from the time period.
Evette & Schaeffer Master Model (Buffet Super Dynaction stencil)
(SN: 7,1xx, circa 1960)
I'm not sure how it happened, but both of my Buffets (DA & SDA) are stencils! The Evette & Schaeffer name was used on many Buffet Crampon products over the years, and this one is the only stencil ever produced of the Super Dynaction. Again, a fantastic saxophone from Buffet, and very much deserves a place in the leaderboard of vintage saxophones.
Vito (Kenosha, mfd. by Beaugnier)
(SN: 5,9xxA, circa ~1966)
A lot of people might not think of an old Vito when putting a list like this together. However, this horn was manufactured by Beaugnier, literally across the street from Selmer in Paris. The quality and playability is there! It's no wonder why Hodges played a Model 35, and Ted Nash still has an old Vito he plays today. It deserves a spot here!
Reynolds Contempora (SML "Gold Medal")
(SN: 19,7xx, circa 1966)
I love old French saxes, and I love stencils! This one here is an SML Gold Medal, stenciled as a Reynolds Contempora, which was a full line of pro instruments from the American company F.A.Reynolds. The Gold Medal actually won a bunch of literal gold medals at the International Music Festival at The Hague when it debuted in the 50's. Totally worth checking out if you're into vintage saxes!
Coming soon: The Stencil Collection...
For many decades, or even centuries, instrument manufacturers have been building instruments for other people to slap their own name on. Some of these so called "stencil" brands and models have become quite well known and popular. Others are widely unknown. I have a number of them, which I'd like to tell you all about here. Check back for updates!