Sweet '55 Alto

[CashSax]

Just got a #39XX Alto in a deal, what a great Horn sings like a bird and very powerful..doesn't look like an SDA, it's got a sculpted bell brace connected to a web-foot shape on the bell, very unusual, lovely extensive engraving too, both bell sides and a beautiful flower down around the bow .
It's bell stamped BUFFET CRAMPON S(5?)-A 18-20 under that, then pGE du Gd CERF under that PARIS FRANCE..I've never seen one quite like it..someone played it well, as it's orig lacquer is worn in just the right places the strap hook is perfect and the pearls are smooth but still concave, the horn is straight as an arrow and not a dent in it. Got lucky as it's had a recent tan kid re-pad with not excessive dome resos. A killer find for sure although I have 2 other fine Altos so I may have to let it go.. :roll:

[MBushaw]

Geez CashSax, get married so you won't have so much $$ to spend on new horns, or spend more time telling us about the differences!
Does your new Buffet look like-
http://www.saxpics.com/buffet/dynaction.htm

[CashSax]

Hey cool thats it..well this one came to me sort of inadvertantly, but I'm surprised how really good it is. I have sold off a lot of the horns I bought I narrowing down plus seeing how manyhorns some guys in here have, my little collection doesn't seem so big..I'm overboard on tenors tho I still have 6 (one selling this week).. :twisted:

[Jerry K.]

Some of us may have more horns Cashsax but it's fair to say you have some exceptional ones. What's that list of tenors again? As I recall, you've got some serious horns!

[CashSax]

Hi Jerry..well let's see..I've got a 20+ yr love affair with my '67 silverplate MK VI tenor (that I bought for $800. and a whipped brass Super 20).. it came from a Merchant seaman who bought the MKVI new in Singapore (I have the orig invoice). He carried it aboard ship for 14 yrs and never really played it. I got it in '81 I think.. It's still like new, been major overhauled 3 times now, it keeps getting better..!

I have a '49 SBA tenor that I bought from another original owner, he played it really only 3 yrs in the Army band (and never outdoors)..It's still like brand-new..even still soft orig pads on it..a true closet horn..I even got the warranty card with the little purple velvet cord still attached..an amazing and unbelievable horn, it's going in this week for a white glove re-pad..

I purchased a '53 TH&C tenor last yr from from one of our SOTW Alumni thats 99% museum quality, a stunning horn..a monster player after a recent neck tweak..

I found an unplayed '61 Super 20 Silversonic/gold inlay tenor recently on EBay that out of nostalgia couldn't I resist and bought it (had one exactly like it yrs ago)..cost a fortune but it's only $$..It's turned into a MUCH better horn than the one I remember..A huge voice and gorgeous tone..

I also own a beautifully restored '55 Martin tenor that is probably being sold this wk..

And of course #6.. another keeper for now my infamous naked "Mad Meg" Cannonball tenor.. funky to the Max but it will give you goosebumps sometimes, it shouts so good..

Well during all this I was up to 9 tenors at one time ..I've sold 3 Martins and 3 Conns and one Selmer, not to mention a couple other Alto's that went bye-bye too..I've all but reached my goal to have the best of the best of the vintage crop, of course that elusive 10M is still out there too, not to mention a few other Modern horns I wouldn't mind trying..and when they make that full Sterling Selmer Tenor... well, maybe the old 'vette will have to go..

[CashSax]

Had my tech give the Buffet a look today, he deemed it a great horn.. not a leak in it and I missed 2 spots (lo B Bb pivot levers) when I oiled and cleaned it ..his 2 drops finished it off.. spats now smooth as silk..he's done horns for all the big dogs Sonny Rollins and Stitt, Dexter etc.., he said Art Pepper played this model Buffet.. 8)

[Hornlip]

I almost bought one of those, once, but somebody snatched it out from under me. Has it got the cool screw-in metal resonators?

I think that model's official name was the "Dynaction", which of course gave way to the "Super Dynaction".

[Tharruff]

Cash,

The mystery text on your horn...

'18-20 Passage Du Grand Cerf'

...is the address of the Buffet factory at the time. 'Passage' means...street or road or something ???

Just like the '4 Place Dancourt' engraving on the older Selmer horns - that was Selmer's address in Paris.

I have an older Buffet Soprano with the same kind of engravings on it.

[OnyxSax]

That's sounds like my alto...mine is 16xx. It's probably not in as nice shape as yours, but it still is a surprisingly strong horn. It has to be the darkest sounding alto I've ever played. At one of our get-togethers, it compared very favorably with an SML.

[mostly alto guy]

My Dynaction alto is 23xx, post forked E-flat vent. It's 95+% original lacquer, has the screw-in domed resos, and plays great, with a really dark, smoky tone colour that's perfect for ballads. My tenor is 21xx, also post forked E-flat. It's in pieces at the moment, about to get an overhaul, but it has a similarly dark sound.

In addition to that big, dark Buffet sound, these horns have great intonation, very usable keywork, and excellent build quality. I'd love to find a bari...

[OnyxSax]

My 16xx still has the forked Eb. I find the entire keywork very light and ergonomic. Given the time period that this horn was built, it is quite remarkable that the mechanisms are that good.

[Pete]

Not only the forked Eb, but the G# trill!

The Dynaction I had was definitely the best alto I ever owned. I've played better, but never owned better.

Now, I'm a bari player. I thought the really light quick touch was beautiful for alto, but really too light for bari. Not that if someone found me a Dynaction bari that I'd refuse it!

I do remember a couple notes that were just badly out of tune on my horn -- and I heard that this was endemic to the horn. I'm wanting to say Eb, but I don't remember.

Screw-in, flat metal resonators. Mmmm. Nice sound.

[CashSax]

This horn is a GAS I'm getting more used to it, different sound than my MKVII Alto..very beautiful tone, sweet and expressive, haven't tried an R&B thang yet..I listed it for sale but kinda glad it didn't..! 8)

[CashSax]

Well I sold the the Buffet Alto to a player in Boston. It's a match for his vintage Buffet Tenor..He recieved the horn and loves it..I'm glad it's gone to a good home.Btw I got my 10M tenor recently and it is a keeper. 8)

[Kritavi]

Yeh, I'm the lucky guy who got the Dynaction Alto from CashSax. It took all of a minute to fall in love with it. As beautiful looking as any horn I've ever seen, worn in the right places like Cash says. My tenor is 31xx and this is 38xx. Looking at the beautiful dark laquer on the alto convinces me my tenor suffered a crappy and pointless relaquer. Oh well, it does play great.
Thanks again Cash.

[CashSax]

Kritavi I'm pleased our deal went so smooth and it's great meeting you too...I'm so glad the horn found it's rightful owner..