looking for the best vintage bass?

[tenorhornspieler]

Hello,
I would like to buy (and play) a vintage bass.....
Which is the best????

I think the CONN has the best sound but perhaps the BUESCHER has the better intonation?

Could you please give some help?

Thanks in advance.

Christoph

[SearjeantSax]

oh lord, not another 'what is the best' thread

[hakukani]

Y'all pitchin' or flippin'?

[tenorhornspieler]

Sorry,
but I would like to hear something about these vintage basses.....
Which one would you prefer?
What are the "big" advantages/disatvantages of the horns?

Thanks in advance.

Christoph

[paulio]

C'mon fellas, this isn't an unreasonable question and probably not been asked before for these rare beasts - if i was going to lay out that amount of wonga i'd want to canvas a few experts to avoid making a silly mistake.

[saxtek]

Hello,

I think the CONN has the best sound but perhaps the BUESCHER has the better intonation?

Christoph

In my opinion you are correct about the Conn and the Buescher basses. The intonation problems on the Conn are mainly the palm key D and Eb and are easily corrected.

Both bass saxes actually sound very good. Both have some really bad notes. The double cross braces between the bell and body of the Conn help to prevent expensive repairs in case of an accident.

Considering the relative rarity of both bass saxophones, buy the one that is in better condition.

My Myspace site (With lots of bass sax clips)

http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis

[Pete Thomas]

My Buescher has a great sound, but the C (third space treble clef) sounds very muffled. using the B fingereing and side C key it is fine. If you aren't necesarily stuck with the idea of vintage and have the money, it's worth trying an Eppelsheim.

[Dave Dolson]

Responding to new questions about old topics without answering the question has been criticized in a thread still cooking elsewhere on SOTW. I agree that those posting a question maybe should try to search for the answer in older threads first, but at the same time, the new poster probably deserves an answer.

I've been told by someone who should know (noted repair tech Rheuben Allen) that the vintage bass saxophones from the 1920's (Buescher and Conn, and their stencils) had body tubes made on the same mandril. Assembly was then done at separate facilities.

I've heard both brands being played many times and believe they have a certain depth to their tone that is missing in other types of bass saxophones I've heard in person (mainly MKVI's).

I recently heard the current Asian-made bass sax by International Woodwinds being played and it had that same great sound of the old Bueschers and Conns. However, others have recently told me that the IW bass sax was not well made. I don't know either way, except that the IW bass looked much like the old vintage saxophones (split bell pads, etc.).

As to which of the vintage basses is best, I doubt if an objective decision will come forth. Each brand has its admirers and much probably depends on the individual instrument. If they both come from the same mandril,
well . . . DAVE

[acti0n_jacks0n]

If you have a massive hole in your pocket..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Selmer-Mark-VI-Bass-Saxophone-NEAR-MINT-GORGEOUS-WOW_W0QQitemZ280160785801QQihZ018QQcategoryZ16233Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Yeh. Pretty much O_O If you can conjure 15 grand..

GO FOR IT!

[Martin Williams]

We had one of those Selmer VI basses in the studio when I was in music school. No one really liked it, it played like a large bari, and didnt have the guts of many other basses. The intonation on it was super wonky too. There was alot of playing everything down a half step after D2 to keep it in tune for most people

[paulio]

I don't know where in the world you are but there is a gold plated early Conn bass in DrSax in Melbourne