I think the cutoff for vintage should be 1960 or 1965. Pre 1925 would be more antique.

Very interesting to this slow technical evolution. Would have loved to hear how they sound. 🎷👍

you really should had gotten two altos to compare

if it was one tone and a half above i prefer to name for example "b" as a "d" to read sheet music or partiture if prefer so. my alto is a rampone milano 1919 so difficult to sound but a powerful sound that neighbours hate me so much *~* thanks for the video!!! Eveline from Sao Paulo biggest Brazilian town

Appreciate your efforts in explaining the old and the new. I would hate to see anyone pick up my saxophone the way you did. I have a Pan Am Conn 1952 Alto. It is silver plated but much of the silver has rubbed off after passing through many users over decades of use. The entire unit is still very good and solid.

A lot of what you said is true. Your definition of vintage is...interesting. You have this nebulous and arbitrary cutoff of the 1930s-40s for the end of the vintage era (WW2 or something?). That's very simplistic, and frankly leaves out a ton of saxophone history, such as Martins until the 1970s (left side bell keys and soft-soldered tone holes), Buffet Super Dynaction (inline stacks), King Super 20 (ridiculously complex and complicated pinky cluster mechanism and octave mechanism), SML Revision D (neck tenon design), etc. All of these horns were made after the period that you outlined, and they all have design choices or quirks that are either of an older style, perhaps even a "vintage" style, or choices that were experimental that were abandoned for better or more cost-effective reasons in later years. Looking at vintage vs. modern as an all or nothing proposition is a bizarre exercise, because it ends up leaving everyone misinformed on some level because of how constricted that viewpoint is.

I have an interesting collection of vintage horns. Listing them -redundent to say the least. I have small bore, big bore, 1919, 1952. They play similar, my favorites are keys off rebuilds and kangaroo pads.

If like to know if there's a noticable sound difference. 1936 Selmer Paris SBA vs a 2021 Ref36.... In a blind listening test 2 September m experienced sax players vs 2 who can't play or read music...

I got an old Bundy and both the B flat and B natural keys are on the left side instead of the right.

I have a Conn New Wonder series I (1919). Harder to play, but sounds better then the new ones.

I have a king tru-tone from 1921 that’s mint. I love that horn.

Great vid. Thanks. Have a question: a 1960 Conn 16M tenor with old style keywork ("vintage style") cannot be considered truly vintage, right?

Thanks I have a Conn 6m alto a Martin handcarft alto and a stencil saying Super Dearman alto all 1930s. Dearman is a name a London shop was putting on the saxes before the War most where made in Paris and Germany I think this is made by Kielwerth. The Conn is by far the best sounding and easy to play all are from my family who all played in big bands and smaller jazz bands in Belfast Ireland where we live.I also have an Adolf Sax alto from around 1908 it needs some work its never played from I got it. I have it 20 years I must get it working one day :-)

Thanks.

You *really* should have done a sound comparison!!!

Do the platings affect the sound?

In the video you mentioned Conn was a good brand to look at for vintages saxophones. I’ve seen Conn “Shooting Star” saxophones. Are those any good?

In the early 90s I was traveling around and I didn't have my instrument (Mark VI tenor) with me and I was loaned a 20s Buescher alto. It had a good, clear sound, but the keywork was bad and it would have been hard to play jazz at medium or fast tempos on it. I didn't enjoy playing it. Dexter Gordon's early Blue Note recordings were made on a Conn 12M (tenor) and sound great. I don't like the left little finger keys on those; the Selmer design (now used by everybody) is better. My first soprano, a Selmer Mark VI, (bought at Selmer's in Paris in 1972) had the old-style left little finger keys, but it wasn't a problem. I now have a "Serie II" Selmer soprano, and it has the same little finger keys as on the alto and tenor. They look bulky and clumsy and there was no need to change from the Mark VI design. If you get a Mark VI soprano, make sure that it has the top F# key, because it doesn't have a front F key. My tenor does not have a top F# key, but that note is easily obtained by pressing the front F and the side Bb key (right hand).

Would ypu call a 1967 beuscher aristocrat alto sax vintage

my definition of vintage is a little different anything without Selmer style keywork I consider Vintage

Bisher?

www.stohrermusic.com/2014/09/how-to-say-buescher/ I was going to call you out on 'Bisher' as did Mezzofanti but it appears you are as correct as anyone! Of course, the German would have been Büscher (sort of Boo(e)scher.

Can I have your buescher Alto

It's not silver.. it's nickel

Really wish you said buescher correctly

I know you didn’t just speak for 14 minutes without playing....

Not quite accurate.