Buffet Super Dynaction Alto Saxophone 5xxx

Description

Here’s a gorgeous example of a Buffet Super Dynaction Alto Saxophone. It has a very early serial number: 5xxx, which puts it in the mid 1950’s. This horn has very little wear at all. It has what people often call Buffet sparkle lacquer, which is a beautiful crazing pattern in the lacquer that makes the horn glitter when you look closely at it. This horn is very clean. There are no dents, no dings, no past repairs. This horn has Buffet lacquer and Buffet pads, for the most part, but there is overspray on the “Super Dynaction” engraving, so it must have been relacquered – either at the factory when it was made, or sometime in the 60’s or early 70’s. As a brief aside, this is something that you would NEVER be told by most sellers, because 1. only a Buffet expert would know that this horn was relacquered, and 2. it would be so easy to sell as original that most people, I daresay, would do it anyway.

It feels good under the fingers, and it has recently had several pads replaced and is playing well. It has a rich, dark, round tone with a smoky quality to it. The SDA’s go from dark to medium bright and the general trend is towards a brighter sound on the later serial horns. I am one of the biggest fans of Buffet SDA’s that you will find. I think that they are the best tone per dollar of any vintage alto. For tenor, (if you care) I think it’s a tie between the Buffet SDA tenor and the Martin Committee III (The Martin Tenor), depending on whether you want a more French sound or a more American one–but I digress.

Bottom line: Buy this alto and you will be getting a tremendous horn for the money that will not disappoint. If you’d like to get it with a fresh overhaul, I will subsidize the cost of it significantly. That’s how much I believe you will love it.