You can buy a cheap student-model instrument, made of soft metal in an overseas factory, with poor quality lacquer and lousy intonation.  List price for new student saxophones is now over  $1200.  You might be able to get one as low as $900.  Within a few months it will be worth about $600.

Or you can buy a professional quality instrument from the 1920s, triple-plated in silver, perhaps with gold plating in the bell.  Made by American craftsmen in the booming instrument factories of Indiana, these are instruments which will appreciate in value and provide a great playing experience.  They are made from nice heavy brass and have a wonderful sound and good intonation.  You can buy one for about $500 and have new pads put on for about $300. It will hold its value and perhaps even go up a little bit over time.

Soprano

	Conn C soprano, S/N 113257 (made 1923), gold plated, with original mouthpiece.  This is a soprano in the key of C. To high Eb. Gold plating in very good condition. Pads are generally in good shape, but needs a few new ones. $1,300
	Buescher stencil soprano, curved, silver plated, recently repadded, no dents, perfect playing condition. Price and photos on request.
	Conn stencil soprano, curved, silver plated, recently repadded, no dents, perfect playing condition.  Price and photos on request.

Altos

	Conn alto, silver plated, S/N 101687. This is a great-playing instrument with brilliant silver plating in very good condition and a nice gold-plated bell. It was recently serviced, pads replaced as necessary, by my repairman, who also cleaned and lubricated the Conn Tuning Neck mechanism, which allows the player to lengthen or shorten the neck by twisting a knurled ring on the neck. This instrument has a front F key and the Conn "3-across" C#-B-Bb keys for the left hand little finger. $1100.  [Not available - expected back in 2009]
	Buescher True Tone altos - Several in stock - call or email for an up-to-date list. Various dates, key configurations, engraving styles available. The following are in PLAYING CONDITION, having recently been repadded (in some cases) or had several pads replaced (in other cases) by my local repairman. They are all silver plated; are in cases in good condition; and have neck plugs. You may request a Buescher case or a 1970s case (your choice). S/N 257,209 (one of the last true-tones) silver with gold bell, front F key, crescent G#, $1200 S/N 235,124 silver with gold bell, front F key, crescent G#, $1100 S/N 227,522 silver with gold bell, front F key, crescent G#, $1100 S/N 200,384 silver with gold bell, front F key, crescent G#, $1100 S/N 129,218 silver with gold bell, button G#, front F key added by Aronson, $1000 S/N 241,913 silver, front F key, crescent G#, $1000 S/N 234,153 silver, front F key, crescent G#, $1000 S/N 176,290 silver, button G#, front F key added by Aronson, $900 S/N 166,802 silver with gold bell, button G#, $900 I will gladly provide pictures - pick a couple that interest you and ask!
	Buescher Aristocrat alto, S/N 276276 (c. 1937), great shape, no dents, mechanically sound, lacquer in fair condition, email for pictures. $1200
	Buescher "The New Aristocrat" (transitional) alto, S/N _______ (1930), silver plating in excellent condition, gold plating in bell.  "01" neck. $1900
	Buescher "The New Aristocrat" (transitional) alto, S/N _______ (1932), silver plating in excellent condition, gold plating in bell, "**" neck. $1800

Do you have questions about C-melody saxophones? I may have the answer!  Check my page of information about the C melody saxophone.

None available at the moment - but there are lots on ebay !

Tenor

	Buescher True Tone tenor, S/N 74835 (1921), gold plated, great condition, nice sound, just repadded. Articulated G# feature and a sloping (Super-Action Mark III style) front F key added by Aronson. All key heights adjusted. With like-new padded Cordura gig bag. $1400
	Buescher True Tone tenor, silver, 1924, with front F key and "salt shaker" octave vent. Third  octave vent added by Aronson. $2200
	Buescher True Tone tenor, silver, 1921, no front F key.
	Buescher Aristocrat tenor, lacquer in excellent condition

Baritone

C.G. Conn, lacquered, serial number 134190. This instrument is in good condition, recently serviced and in playing condition. The octave key hole is on the removable part of the neck. This instrument had the neck replaced at some point in its history and the replacement neck is longer than the original. $450

Evette Master Model, 1975-1980 vintage, made by Buffet Crampon in Paris. This nice wooden instrument features keywork identical to a Buffet R-13 professional model. The equivalent new instrument is the Buffet E-11, but this is a higher quality instrument than the E-11. Recently repadded and in perfect playing condition. This is the best value available to any junior high or high school clarinetist.  $600 plus $25 shipping.

Compare prices at www.vintagesax.com

Saxophone serial number charts

Sax Gourmet serial number charts

Sax Gourmet chart of Conn models