I have been reading lately on this site and others about how Dolnet and Buffet horns represent the best values on the market today--how they can give you that French Selmeresque sound for a lot less than a Mark VI, for example. But how true is that, and which one of these horns comes closest to the classic Selmer Mark VI sound (i.e., a dark, centered sound, but with plenty of projection)? I'll start with the Buffets, specifically, their flagship model, the SDA (Super Dynaction). I've read some reports that these sound like Selmers, but others that describe their sound as somewhere between a Super Balanced Action and a Conn 10M. If that's true, then their sound would seem to be more spread (like a 10M) than the focused sound of a Mark VI. And what about the intonation on a Buffet compared to a Mark VI? I've heard that it's about the same, though maybe not as good on average as the Selmers. I know that the keywork on an SDA is quite different from a VI, so I won't bother asking about that.
But turning to Dolnets--specifically, their flagship model, the Bel Air--I have read some reports that liken their sound to the Buffet SDA, but others that say they sound more like Selmers--specifically, that they have more of that focused Selmer sound than the Buffets, and also more projection than the Buffets (i.e., like the Selmers). I have also heard that the Dolnets have more intonation problems on average than both Buffets or Selmers. Lastly, I have read that Dolnets have lighter, faster keywork than the Buffets (again, more like a Selmer).
So in a nutshell, does a Dolnet sound more like a Mark VI than does a Buffet SDA?
Basically, I am in the market to acquire one of these horns before the prices go too high--and I want to come as close as a I can to the sound of their former competitor--the Stradivarius of Saxes--the vaunted Mark VI itself. Thanks in advance for your input.
But turning to Dolnets--specifically, their flagship model, the Bel Air--I have read some reports that liken their sound to the Buffet SDA, but others that say they sound more like Selmers--specifically, that they have more of that focused Selmer sound than the Buffets, and also more projection than the Buffets (i.e., like the Selmers). I have also heard that the Dolnets have more intonation problems on average than both Buffets or Selmers. Lastly, I have read that Dolnets have lighter, faster keywork than the Buffets (again, more like a Selmer).
So in a nutshell, does a Dolnet sound more like a Mark VI than does a Buffet SDA?
Basically, I am in the market to acquire one of these horns before the prices go too high--and I want to come as close as a I can to the sound of their former competitor--the Stradivarius of Saxes--the vaunted Mark VI itself. Thanks in advance for your input.