Need some info on Buffet Crampon Alto

[BCPhil]

For the past 6 years or so, I've owned a Buffet Crampon Evette alto. When purchased, I found out it was used; being my first instrument, I did not find out any more information on it. Searching for information on the company and model has led me to believe they have been bought out twice and now only manufacture one model of sax. Is this true? Also, is there any way to determine model and/or value of the sax? It is serial number 551189, and looks exactly like the sax for this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2528353324&category=16 232) auction.


Any info you can give would be greatly appreciated.

[singlereed]

If it is a modern Buffet Crampon Evette like the one in that auction, then it is a Far East produced student saxophone (I believe it is actually made in China) - these are mostly alto or tenor, although I believe there are sopranos too. The other tenor player in our band (who is an impoverished student) plays an Buffet Evette and it has a very poor sound and is always giving trouble because its weak construction makes it often go out of adjustment. Not very nice saxophones and not worth much either - a new one is only about $500 - as you will see, a second hand one might go for about half that much on eBay.

The 'Evette' name is a hang on from a merger years ago between Buffet and Evette & Schaeffer, and you also see much earlier saxophones that bear this name too. Theses were French and of good quality, although the majority you see are really antiques rather than modern players' instruments. Have a look at www.saxpics.com for some pictures and history of Buffet and Evette/Schaeffer.

[BCPhil]

Interesting. That's odd, what you say about your friend's sax; mine seems quite solid, especially for an entry-level sax. Specifically, the high E and F keys have nice tone response compared to some student-level yamahas I have played, although the instrument wants for an F# key. Now I digress, and this may not be the best forum to ask this in, but I'm interested in getting a higher-grade sax... needed for high school concert band and jazz band one more year, then college bands. Any suggestions?

[singlereed]

Hi there, with a sax like that (B&H buy it in from abroad as opposed to make it themselves) it is quite likely the supplier or specification has changed over the years, so yours could well be different. For a good intermediate horn from yours that will play well in tune and give a good range of tone colour, look at the higher model Yamahas (model 62) or the lowest price Yanagisawa (model 901). In my opnion, they are ideal for advanced student or amateur use as they are so easy to play and are very well made. Otherwise, there are loads of reasonably priced vintage horns that may suit and you will find lots of opinions about King, Martin, Conn, Buescher, SML, Couesnon, Couf, Buffet....all sorts of stuff and any one might have what you are looking for.

[Gaijin-san]

I have owned and played a Buffet Evette since 1995 as my main alto. With nothing to compare it to, it's a great horn. But once I landed both of my vintage tenors, I was blown away! On the tenors, I couldn't remember what octave I was in (except for my fingers of course) based on sound alone... as tonally, the vintage horns sounded the same all the way up and down the horn. The Evette has such a distinct break in sound from C2 or C#2 to D2.

Also, the Evette is a chump with the altissimo next to my two vintage Vito's (late 1950's early 1960's). Got great fast keywork though... although the keys are soft.

[Lowell]

There were Evette models made by Buffet-Crampon in France that were pretty good. The modern Evettes have the initials "R.O.C" stamped on them and this stands for "Republic Of China" (Taiwan). Newer Taiwanese instruments are getting better but they are no match for the "real" Buffet-Crampons from france.

[BCPhil]

Mine does say R.O.C.... thanks for the info.

[usda]

I bought a China Evette in a pawn shop for $150...feels very solid and well built...it has a bad leak and will fix that tommarrow...but the keys E and above play very well. I tried the orginal mouth piece...and it is horrible, stuffy, hard to blow...and would give any instrument a problem, I would think.

That this was a student horn is obvious from the girls name inscribed on the side of otherwise a great laquior job. With my super duper Meyer's Mp the horn, as far as I can tell, has a good sound and intonation. With the leak fixed I expect better things. Since a playable horn for that little money, great case and assessories...I should be able to sell it for minimum twice what I will have in it.

It is an obvious Keelworth stincel...with the curved body to bell brace. Time will tell whether it is worth keeping around.

Once again it proves to me...that a good mouth piece is probably more important than the horn. Now if we can improve on the nut that fits on the end of the mouth piece...then success is assured.