Super Classic Amati Kraslice Tenor

[njmac]

I have a question for anyone who has come across an older Amati horn. I have a chance to score a Super Classic Amati Kraslice tenor from a garage sale in a few weeks for about 200 cash. I have no further info on this horn other than the fact that it is a brass lacquered model with minimal scratches and was purchased by the current owner in the 80's. No mouthpiece with the horn, the claim it is in great shape. I play alto with my group primarily but we just lost a tenor player and need some people to fill in. I used to play tenor in school so I am looking to score a tenor for not too much (I just bought a MK VII alto) cause the wife would kill me if I spent more than a few hundred. Anyone think this would be a bad option, should i hold out and look for another horn? Thanks for the input.

[njmac]

oh yeah serial number is Serial #96899

[Budget Explosion]

make sure you like it...there doesn't seem to be much of a resale market for the horns...here in NYC, a Super Classic tenor sat on Craigslist for over a year (and the price was pretty low.)

[foresterdjb]

Amati are a far better sax than many attest to. I am sure you will look it over close and play it first, but if it is in good shape you couldn't go wrong at $200. I have an Amati 62 tenor and a Keilwerth EX90 and find them to play very similarly, but I am just a novice.

[NissanMarkVII]

Amatis do have that huge German/Vintage American sound. I just find the action slow and clunky (haven't played an older model though). Their quality does vary, so try before you buy!

Don't overlook French, American, and Japanese (Yanigisawa) Vitos either.

[nirnak]

Sax was made around 1973.

[teenor]

i have one of these in a really good shape.. anyone know the price-range in europe?

[rotkvica]

I have Amati deluxe clasiic tenor and it has very full and warm but percussive sound with bit heavy action (not too much), usually has very good intonation, and I think is pretty undervalued. They are Keilwerth construction from mid forties. Quality of the early ones was very good but it started to vary from mid sixties, if Your is well built it is a good choice, but You`ll never get good money if You decide to sell it (when You decide to buy something better-more expencive it is going to be good backup horn).

[nirnak]

i have one of these in a really good shape.. anyone know the price-range in europe?

Second-hand Amati tenor sax in The Czech republic is price 4000-9000 CZK, it's c. 220-450$ (USD). It depends on instrument quality, model and year of construction. Newer sax from around 1980-1990-... price up to 16000CZK (800USD).
General repair is around 5000CZK (c. 280USD).

New sax Amati price 22000-50000CZK (1200-2800USD).

You can see web of Amati http://www.amati.cz/en/ for information about new models.

[NissanMarkVII]

My 2001 Amati ATS32B I bought new, in 2001, for $800 USD. Prices for the model in 2004 dropped to $600 new, and raised to $1200 new in 2006! I re-sold mine on e-bay in 2009 for $355.

[DTGAZ]

Play it before you buy it. Amati horns excellent horns, undervalued by the market.
Make sure the horn is in good condition. If you spend a lot a money on repairs, plan on keeping the horn as it may be difficult to recover the expense upon resale.

Enjoy

Dennis