Aristocrat Big B, Model 140, and Model 141 - Opinions

[Hurling Frootmig]

I'm using a 355k Aristocrat Model 141 as my backup alto (400 S-5 as my main horn). It's pretty closely resembes my S-5. Does anyone know the changes from the Big B's to the Model 140's to the Model 141's?

It seems to me that the 141 is pretty much an S-5. Both are very good horns but I prefer my 400.

[Bootman]

The 140 and the Big B are pretty much identical minus some engraving differences. The early model Aristocrats have the edge in terms of sweetness and centre to the sound. Try a 270 to 290K horn for the real frothing of the mouth Buescher sound. These are also much louder than the others, even though they have a smaller bell. This is most noticeable in the Tenors.

Rabid Buescher Fanatic here......... all the others are just pretenders to the crown of best sax made ever!! :roll: :roll: :wink:

[JL]

"These are also much louder than the others....."

Perhaps so. I have that older vintage in an alto, but my tenor is a Big Bell 156 silverplate 'Crat (ca. 1950). With a metal Quantum mpc, this tenor nearly blows the roof off. Maybe that would be the case with any tenor using a Quantum, but this horn certainly has more than enough power and a beautiful tone, to boot. It compared very favorably with a great Super 20 Silversonic I tried recently.

[Bootman]

The 156 is a great horn but the earlier model has more centre in the lower end of the horn. Don't let the size of the bell fool you that it isn't loud. The 270K I have here can fill a room with sound like no other horn I have ever owned or played.