Buffet SA-18 Tenor Saxophone

Description

This is an extremely rare and clean Buffet SA-18 Tenor saxophone. This horn looks like it was relacquered by Buffet without buffing in 1958, and it has been sitting in the case since then. The pads have the correct parabolic domed, screw-in resonators that are original to this model (another reason that it was probably done at the factory.) It is a beautiful dark honey color and the lacquer is about 95% with no signs of buffing. The engraving is beautiful – this is the most highly-engraved Buffet saxophone. The original case from the 40’s is in excellent condition, and the original neck looks great as well. This horn has a HUGE sound – it’s like a Selmer Balanced Action or a Conn New Wonder II in terms of huge, dark 30’s jazz power. These horns are also the rarest Buffet, with only around 2-3000 made total. I do not know why these horns don’t have more of a following. The intonation is great, the French BA-like core is complex and interesting, and the sound is overall bigger than a Balanced. These are great saxophones!