I was a poor kid and mostly had to earn my own money for things like a bike, guitar, nice clothes, etc with paper routes, odd jobs, field work etc. So understandably my first saxophone at age 11 was a cheap, beat up old Bundy from the 1960's, even though my mom somehow came up with the money to get it for me, knowing if she did that I would be more likely to stick with it and that tactic worked, God bless her. Having a beater student horn didn't matter in middle school, but got more uncomfortable in high school as the other kids were starting to get pro horns,and when I got to college, there was definitely a feeling of exclusion, not being in the $5000 horn club. I got quite a lot of **** for having the least expensive instrument in the band, and not just from the other kids with their Custom Z's, MarkVI's and SA80's, but from the jazz band director who a couple times talked trash about it in front of the whole band. I thought it sounded fine, personally, and I wasn't having any trouble with the charts, so I didn't really get it but I was still very jealous.
It's more than 2 decades later now, and like most players I have learned a lot about horns because of the internet, and I read that those old Bundy's are actually rebranded Buescher Tru-Tone/Aristocrats, which are pretty universally considered to be quite good horns. And I have pro horns now too, including a Mark VI and a 10m, but was in Value Village a few weeks ago and found an old 1960's Bundy alto just like the one I started on,and it was only 50 bucks and played fine so I grabbed it. I put Beechler mouthpiece on it and was simply amazed at how great it sounded, how comfortable to play other than the palm keys (more for a kid's hands,) and how easy the altissimo register just pops right out. So naturally I have been playing it as my main horn, not just for the sentimental value either, but because it's a really great sounding horn and also, I really love seeing people roll their eyes when I get it out, then take a second look when they hear me play it.
I know that pro horns are worth the money in many ways, but my school experience makes me wonder, is it really higher quality that sells $5,000 saxophones, or is it ego and vanity? It seems like certain vintage horns especially, that few people were interested in back then, are now selling for a lot of money and at the jams almost everyone is playing vintage horns these days. But I think I'm still the only one that will get on stage with a Bundy.
It's more than 2 decades later now, and like most players I have learned a lot about horns because of the internet, and I read that those old Bundy's are actually rebranded Buescher Tru-Tone/Aristocrats, which are pretty universally considered to be quite good horns. And I have pro horns now too, including a Mark VI and a 10m, but was in Value Village a few weeks ago and found an old 1960's Bundy alto just like the one I started on,and it was only 50 bucks and played fine so I grabbed it. I put Beechler mouthpiece on it and was simply amazed at how great it sounded, how comfortable to play other than the palm keys (more for a kid's hands,) and how easy the altissimo register just pops right out. So naturally I have been playing it as my main horn, not just for the sentimental value either, but because it's a really great sounding horn and also, I really love seeing people roll their eyes when I get it out, then take a second look when they hear me play it.
I know that pro horns are worth the money in many ways, but my school experience makes me wonder, is it really higher quality that sells $5,000 saxophones, or is it ego and vanity? It seems like certain vintage horns especially, that few people were interested in back then, are now selling for a lot of money and at the jams almost everyone is playing vintage horns these days. But I think I'm still the only one that will get on stage with a Bundy.