PIERRET- Help! Should I Buy This Horn?

[echostate]

Hello-

I saw an alto saxophone at a thrift store. It has some scroll work on bell. In pretty good condition , but needs a little work. Should I buy it? Does anyone know when this was made or anything else about it. Help is greatly appreciated.
Pricetag $80.00

Embassy
L.Pierret
Paris
Made in France
#1648

Please get back to me ASAP. Thanks

[Saxland]

Do a search on this forum and check out here:

http://www.saxpics.com/pierret/index.htm

[echostate]

I have actually looked at all different sites on the web and basically I'm reading all the same things. That nobody really knows much. So basically I'm looking for someone who knows more than what's on all the forums, sax gourmet,etc.

Thanks

[Saxland]

I would buy it for $80.00, it's $80.00 worth of entertainment, even if you lose money on it. Can you figure out what decade it might be from based on saxophone design history?

[saintsday]

For 80, as long as all the parts are there, go for it. You're right. There isn't much info. I have one on the way from eBay so I guess I'll find out more.:)
I also paid much more than 80.:(

[rhysonsax]

Steve Howard has reviewed a Pierret alto and really likes it: http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Pierret_Competition_alto.htm

Don't know if that's anything like the one you have seen.

Rhys

[Sigmund451]

Make sure its only a little work. It would be a good horn to do yourself ...even if you dont know the trade. Your not going to find a better price on a horn to learn on. You may end up with something you like...but I wouldnt dump a lot of money into it.

[bluesaxgirl]

I haven't heard much about this brand...but for eighty dollars, it wouldn't hurt to buy it and try it out. For the price, it might need some work that you don't know about unless you play it. Do you already play? If not, you might want to get someone that does try it out. But for the price, go ahead and buy it. If it doesn't work well and you don't want to spend the money to repair it, it will be nice to include when you list your extravagant axe collection. :)

[Sigmund451]

....and no lamps man....none ;)

[sax-ony]

I think you need SOTW member Farina_man. He apparently has a large collection of Pierrets, including early ones. (Steven Howard's review is of a much later model than the one you have come across, I think.) Farina_man doesn't post very often, but you could try emailing him through the SOTW system.

[echostate]

Hey-
Thanks everyone for all your help. You're all a nice bunch of saxophone loving folks. My boyfriend is a player and I'm thinking I should maybe be one also. We'll see.

[Stephen Howard]

Hey-
Thanks everyone for all your help. You're all a nice bunch of saxophone loving folks. My boyfriend is a player and I'm thinking I should maybe be one also. We'll see.

For $80 I'd go for it!
It might not be quite as good as the 'Competition' I reviewed - but Pierret seems to know how to make a decent horn, so there's a good to better chance that it'll be nice.
And if it's not...it'll fetch double its asking price on ebay.

Regards,

[Farina_man]

I'm fascinated! Any chance of photos? I might be able to identify it, although I'm not promising - Pierret seemed to bring out about a model a week before the war.

[AhCheung]

Back to the original question:
yes you should buy it if it has all (original) parts and is not banged up.
Check it out with your boyfriend or someone who knows about saxes though...