Gently Used 06 Kessler Custom Deluxe Tenor

[SimpleGifts]

Yesterday we purchased a like new Kessler Tenor saxophone, now as Paul Harvey would say: "Here Is The Rest Of The Story",

My daughter started bassoon 3 years ago in 6th grade. By the end of that school year we could tell that she was taking to bassoon like a duck to water.

During the summer between 6th & 7th grade her band director gave her a few private lessons so that she could try out for the youth orchestra in a near by town. She has just completed her second year in the youth orchestra, will be playing in the orchestra again this fall as a 9th grader.

We found out rather quickly that some school bus drivers do not like students to bring the larger instrument cases on their bus. Which meant that if she were to practice at home I would have to drop her off/pick her up at school. Well near the end of 6th grade we decided to look into purchasing a used bassoon for her to practice on at home.

I started researching online about everything bassoon. While doing a google search I found the Double Reeds sub-forum on SOTW. There is some really good information on the double reed forum. It was there that I learned about IDRS. At the IDRS site I found out about Chip Owen at Fox Bassoon Products. He gave lots of good tips about purchasing a used bassoon.

My daughter found someone that was selling a vintage wooden Fox basssoon. I looked at the serial numbers on the IDRS site to make sure the bassoon was not stolen.

We than drove out of state to view the bassoon. This bassoon was made in 1950's, possibly worked on by Hugo Fox himself. It was in great shape, no cracks. Well we bought that wonderful old bassoon made of sugar maple, had a body lock & whisper key added. With a few adjustments, a couple of new pads, it was ready to play! It has such a beautiful rich deep dark mellow tone.

A few days ago my daughter asked the high school band director if she could play piano in the Jazz Band this fall. Our high school added a period for Jazz Band. He told her that he had his piano players, but would she like to play tenor sax instead. Her eyes got so big, with a huge smile on her face, she said yes.

She was given a Selmer Usa tenor sax from the school to practice on a little over a week ago. We still have the same problem with the school bus driver not letting large instrument cases on "his" bus.

I knew if she were going to practice at home I would have to pick her up/drop her off at school, or purchase a tenor sax for her to keep at home.

I started researching on SOTW. I looked on Ebay, Craigslist, local music stores when I happened to notice a Kessler tenor sax listed on craigslist. Our school only approves Selmers, Yamahas, but I kept going back to the Kessler listed on craigslist. Kessler music has got a spotless reputation on SOTW. After much research on the forum, and talking to Dave Kessler several times, he was so patient with me, we decided to meet with the person selling the tenor sax.

This Kessler Custom Deluxe Tenor Sax only had about 30 hours playing time on it. The doctor who owned it had received it from his wife as a gift. He had played sax in high school, but did not have time to play it, so decided to sell it to someone who did. We met him yesterday morning. My daughter played scales, each note came out sounding great. He than played it for her. He told us he made all state his senior year, you could tell, he made it sing!

My daughter just finished practicing on her Kessler Custom Deluxe Tenor Saxophone,

And that, as Paul Harvey would say, "is the rest of the story. ...

[MartinMusicMan]

Thanks for the story. It's an interesting read. But it makes me want to make 2 comments:

The behavior of the school bus driver should be brought to the attention of the Principal, the Superintendent, and the School Board. It's outrageous. It's anti-music education. Since when does a school bus driver get to dictate what instrument your kid plays? If it were me, I'd raise holy hell until the school bus driver changed his behavior - or lost his job.

I'm equally appalled that "Our school only approves Selmers, Yamahas." Since when is a school in the business of "approving" brand names of instruments? This would start a flame war on SOTW. Clearly, the school is ignorant of the quality of both vintage and modern horn makes and models, and is patently unqualified to issue any statement about "approved" horns. (Your experience with the Kessler is proof of that.) I'd also raise hell about this if it were me, but I realize you've got enough on your plate just to get your kid's tenor on the bus.

But really, kids can't take a tenor on the bus? In my day, we would have tipped the bus over ...

BTW, glad you like the Kessler. I love my new Phil Barone black tenor.

[SimpleGifts]

Hello Martin, you are so right about the bus driver, sometimes the drivers forget that if it were not for the students, they would not even have a job.

When I read over what I wrote about "our school only approving Selmer, Yamahas", I realized that I was being misleading, which I did'nt mean to be. Please except my apology.

Yamahas, Selmers are on the approved instruments list for students playing saxophone. Any other makes have to be approved by the band director. Many parents do not realize that all instruments are not created equal. I've heard horror stories about some new instruments that are just about unplayable from the start. The approval list also includes a small number of brands for other instruments, other brands must be aproved by the band director on an instrument by instrument basis.

[ratracer]

Well, I played alto in elementary, junior, and high school. Never had a problem taking it on the bus so can't help too much there. Does seem like the bus driver is being unreasonable. Tenor is not that large! Is that a school level policy or is the bus driver allowed to set subjective rules such as that?

Glad she likes the Kessler Custom Deluxe. I have one that I purchased in January '07. Love the thing. It'll be a long time before I out grow it. Very versatile horn. If I want to change the sound, I'll be looking a mouthpieces and reeds long before I change the horn.

I really enjoyed dealing with the Kesslers. I talked to both Dave and his father Chuck. Really nice folks. Like you said, very patient with the customer, even for some of the really naive tenor questions I had. And that after spending a whole lot of time on SoTW researching my options.

Oh, and by buying a KCD, you, or your daughter, are know obligated to come back and post a review! :D (Okay, this is highly unenforceable but I like to give the Kesslers the kudos due to folks who conduct business the way they do and put out a very good product for a reasonable price and high quality!)

Cheers!

[SimpleGifts]

Hi Ratracer, the only place students can put large instruments is behind the bus drivers's seat, there is just not much room. Many of our buses have 3 kids to a seat, so having the larger cases in the seat beside the student won't work.

I enjoyed reading your posts, as well as others about Dave Kessler. With all the postitive experiences that I read about, "none negative", we were able to purchase with confidence.

I'll do my best to post updates.

[SAXISMYAXE]

Great to hear everything worked out so wonderfully. I concur about Kessler & sons.

I also think that emperor bus driver needs to find a pink slip with his/her next paycheck. What a low life.

[ratracer]

I hear ya SimpleGifts, but still, I don't have to like it! :) It's been a looong while since I've ridden the school bus. It's like a whole different world today so I'm not too surprised about the situation.

Be that as is may, it's totally cool that your daughter can handle a bassoon, piano, and sax. All at the grand old age of 9! She gets the props for being that motivated for music and you get the props for getting her to lessons/school in spite of the bus driver!! :cheers: :thumbrig:

[SimpleGifts]

She's not 9, but she will be in 9th grade this fall.

[ratracer]

Bummer, my reading comprehension just went in the toilet! :? Need to slow down there a wee bit! :shock: That puts her somewhere around 13ish-14ish right? I've got one going into the same grade. She's not interested in any of my saxes but she does play the piano. She's kinda shy so she's getting some voice lessons for the summer. :shock: It's a good stretch out of her comfort zone for her.

[ratracer]

[QUOTE=SimpleGifts;855384]IWith all the postitive experiences that I read about, "none negative", we were able to purchase with confidence.QUOTE]

In the interest of full disclosure, and Dave will be the first to admit it, he's not perfect. Nor do I expect anyone to be so. There has been a few posts that have been critical, with less favorable experiences with Kesslers. But what's impressed me is the way Dave handled them, and on a very public board such as SoTW. You know, every once in a while you do mess up and Dave's addressed the situation head-on and tried to make it right. What I found out about Kesslers gave me the confidence to buy long distance and the assurance that should any issues arise I was sure I wouldn't be left out high and dry. The Kesslers have set the standard pretty high for others selling on SoTW imho. They've definitely earned their reputation.

[SimpleGifts]

You're right ratracer, thinking back I do remember reading a post or two that were critical, and Dave did take care of them.