C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / Mouthpieces Reeds and Ligatures / Buescher C melody

Next 20 Messages

Dan O
User ID: 9593383 Nov 7th 8:08 AM
Hello:
I recently received a Beuscher curved neck C melody #55596 as a gift from an old friend. I was curious as to the date this horn was made, as well as some history of the Beuscher company. Can anyone help me out, based on the serial number. It is a low pitch model in a silver type finish. Also, any recomendations as to a mouthpiece? I have been reading this site, and so far the Morgan seems to be the most popular. I am an experienced player on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone; but this is my first C melody.

Thanks for any help you can give!

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 0735934 Nov 7th 10:28 AM
This is an early model Buescher! I'd think that it's from around 1919. This is the earliest Buescher c-melody that I've heard about on this forum. Man, I'd love to try it out!!!

Morgan is my favorite. Wade has been getting good results with other mouthpieces on his Buescher. It would be a good idea to see what he thinks. I play a Conn c-mel.

WW2
User ID: 1404584 Nov 7th 5:40 PM
My serial number list puts that as a 1919 model.

As for mouthpiece, the Le Blanc or Beechler work well on my 1922 Buescher. Haven't tried the Morgan so I can't advise you on this one.

Just make sure to get the sax in good repair and then play test the mouthpiece to see the results and intonation tendencies of the piece.

ding
User ID: 2017574 Jan 30th 11:57 AM
i have a Wurlitzer C-Melody which is a Buescher Stencil. That puts it around 1915, serial # (I believe) in around 35xxx.

I have broken it down, polished it, repadded it, and am now getting ready to rebreak it down and replate a couple of worn sections.

I'll post images when I get it back together

Gene
User ID: 9836983 Dec 19th 8:10 PM
I have a c-melody 138345 Beuscher was this a good year for this sax or did they make them better, oh it is silver

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 1390494 Dec 20th 8:06 PM
Roger, My buescher is a 52004. I am guessing was made around 1917. Just got finished cleaning it up. Man those needle springs sure arent an oxymoron. I found that out 7 times. It looks fantastic. If I ever get my camera fixed, I will send out some pictures.

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 1390494 Dec 20th 8:08 PM
By the way, how do you get those black specks off? there are a few of these, they arent tarnish, it is like some kind of deposit. it comes off with VERY hard polishing, but that takes about 5 minutes each and there still are some remnence left behind. I am thinking of using rouge, but dont want to turn it into a regular finish, want to keep it looking brushed all the way down.

WW2
User ID: 2302834 Dec 22nd 11:46 AM
Gene; My serial number list puts that Buescher as a 1923 model. I happen to like the Bueschers of the mid to late 20's so I would say it is a good year.

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 2170744 Dec 22nd 1:47 PM
Gene,

Please see the answer I gave to Larry's question which is similar to yours. It's in the c-melody saxophone section of this forum ("Best Buescher?" thread).

In a nutshell, earlier model Bueschers can be very good horns. I'm having the time of my life with a 1920 Buescher tenor I recently had overhauled. For me, an essential thing is having your horn overhauled or checked over a good repair tech who truly loves vintage saxophones. This is more important to me than whether a particular Buescher sax is 1920 or 1929. That is, a good repair tech can make certain modifications to the keywork (such as installing a front F key) to, in effect, make an older horn play as well as a later model.

One thing to remember with having modifications done to an older horn is that its market value will probably not be equal to the money you put into it. But, for me, I really love this old tenor (it's sound is fantastic), my repair tech's prices are very reasonable, and I'm into PLAYING this horn and am not terribly concerned about its market value.

Enjoy your horn!

RomaT
User ID: 9412633 Aug 8th 7:39 PM
Could you look my horn up on your Registration List? The seriel number is: 74295. It is a Low Pitch. What is the significance of that? Thanks

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 9969773 Aug 9th 10:46 PM
wade how about mine? the 52004? What year I mean.

Alan Tucker
User ID: 9565813 Aug 10th 6:16 AM
Guys - just do an internet search ('google' is good) for 'Buescher sax serial numbers'........

Year Serial Number
1916 28875
1917 32350
1918 37540
1919 46975
1920 61255
1921 78525
1922 99275
1923 125750
1924 150250
1925 175275
1926 202350
1927 222175
1928 235250
1929 275275
1930 255250

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 9969773 Aug 10th 12:33 PM
hmm...well that shows steve goodson does'st know a damn thing.

but anyways, I am looking at a really old alto - 4 digit, I hope it is wha tI think it is.

Alan Tucker
User ID: 9565813 Aug 11th 3:45 AM
Just for you....

Year Serial Number
1905 5000
1906 5620
1907 6610
1908 7808
1909 8580
1910 11250

(haven't seen any pre-5000 lists)

Roger Aldridge
User ID: 2644644 Aug 11th 5:14 AM
I've found Dr. Rick's music shop in NYC (drrick.com) to have some of the best serial number lists around.

Even Dr. Rick's Buescher list has a mistake that hasn't been corrected. The 1929 serial number should be 245275...not 275xxx.

It's my understanding that there was a fire in the Buescher factory that destroyed the records of the pre-5000 instruments.

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 9969773 Aug 12th 2:13 AM
I think the most of the pre 5000 would probably have been made for conn too.

BTW, thanks alan, I looked all over, but I could only find lists that had 5 year increments. the years here are all the years I am interested in -I will check drricks for the missing 5 years.

BTW, that alto, was completely beat to crap. and it looks to me to have been modified extensively - the s/n places it at 1907, but it has an automatic octive mech and appears to have been converted to lp by adding an inch on the end. damn. I really want a old friken sax for relatively cheap just for a conversation piece, but it would need ot play, or be able to play with no more than 400 - 500 bucks worth of work. Anyone have anything?

RomaT
User ID: 9412633 Aug 19th 10:35 PM
I found out my horn was made in 1921. It has a great sound, I'm very pleased. I lucked out and have used my Alto Steel Ebonite, Meliphone Special, G5 mouthpiece with the Rovner Ligature and it is playing in tune.

EDDENISON
User ID: 1307164 Sep 7th 4:54 PM
I READ IN THIS FORUM THAT THE C-MELS WERE SOLD ONLY IN BRASS, SILVER AND GOLD PLATE. THOUGHT MY 156769 WAS LACQUER. HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFF BETWEEN GOLD AND LACQUER TKS.

ED DENISON

EDDENISON
User ID: 1307164 Sep 7th 4:54 PM
I READ IN THIS FORUM THAT THE C-MELS WERE SOLD ONLY IN BRASS, SILVER AND GOLD PLATE. THOUGHT MY 156769 WAS LACQUER. HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFF BETWEEN GOLD AND LACQUER TKS.

ED DENISON

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 9969773 Sep 7th 6:45 PM
king made a few in lacquer, they were also widely availiable in nickel.

Next 20 Messages

Dan O User ID: 9593383	Nov 7th 8:08 AM Hello: I recently received a Beuscher curved neck C melody #55596 as a gift from an old friend. I was curious as to the date this horn was made, as well as some history of the Beuscher company. Can anyone help me out, based on the serial number. It is a low pitch model in a silver type finish. Also, any recomendations as to a mouthpiece? I have been reading this site, and so far the Morgan seems to be the most popular. I am an experienced player on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone; but this is my first C melody. Thanks for any help you can give!
Roger Aldridge User ID: 0735934	Nov 7th 10:28 AM This is an early model Buescher! I'd think that it's from around 1919. This is the earliest Buescher c-melody that I've heard about on this forum. Man, I'd love to try it out!!! Morgan is my favorite. Wade has been getting good results with other mouthpieces on his Buescher. It would be a good idea to see what he thinks. I play a Conn c-mel.
WW2 User ID: 1404584	Nov 7th 5:40 PM My serial number list puts that as a 1919 model. As for mouthpiece, the Le Blanc or Beechler work well on my 1922 Buescher. Haven't tried the Morgan so I can't advise you on this one. Just make sure to get the sax in good repair and then play test the mouthpiece to see the results and intonation tendencies of the piece.
ding User ID: 2017574	Jan 30th 11:57 AM i have a Wurlitzer C-Melody which is a Buescher Stencil. That puts it around 1915, serial # (I believe) in around 35xxx. I have broken it down, polished it, repadded it, and am now getting ready to rebreak it down and replate a couple of worn sections. I'll post images when I get it back together
Gene User ID: 9836983	Dec 19th 8:10 PM I have a c-melody 138345 Beuscher was this a good year for this sax or did they make them better, oh it is silver
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 1390494	Dec 20th 8:06 PM Roger, My buescher is a 52004. I am guessing was made around 1917. Just got finished cleaning it up. Man those needle springs sure arent an oxymoron. I found that out 7 times. It looks fantastic. If I ever get my camera fixed, I will send out some pictures.
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 1390494	Dec 20th 8:08 PM By the way, how do you get those black specks off? there are a few of these, they arent tarnish, it is like some kind of deposit. it comes off with VERY hard polishing, but that takes about 5 minutes each and there still are some remnence left behind. I am thinking of using rouge, but dont want to turn it into a regular finish, want to keep it looking brushed all the way down.
WW2 User ID: 2302834	Dec 22nd 11:46 AM Gene; My serial number list puts that Buescher as a 1923 model. I happen to like the Bueschers of the mid to late 20's so I would say it is a good year.
Roger Aldridge User ID: 2170744	Dec 22nd 1:47 PM Gene, Please see the answer I gave to Larry's question which is similar to yours. It's in the c-melody saxophone section of this forum ("Best Buescher?" thread). In a nutshell, earlier model Bueschers can be very good horns. I'm having the time of my life with a 1920 Buescher tenor I recently had overhauled. For me, an essential thing is having your horn overhauled or checked over a good repair tech who truly loves vintage saxophones. This is more important to me than whether a particular Buescher sax is 1920 or 1929. That is, a good repair tech can make certain modifications to the keywork (such as installing a front F key) to, in effect, make an older horn play as well as a later model. One thing to remember with having modifications done to an older horn is that its market value will probably not be equal to the money you put into it. But, for me, I really love this old tenor (it's sound is fantastic), my repair tech's prices are very reasonable, and I'm into PLAYING this horn and am not terribly concerned about its market value. Enjoy your horn!
RomaT User ID: 9412633	Aug 8th 7:39 PM Could you look my horn up on your Registration List? The seriel number is: 74295. It is a Low Pitch. What is the significance of that? Thanks
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 9969773	Aug 9th 10:46 PM wade how about mine? the 52004? What year I mean.
Alan Tucker User ID: 9565813	Aug 10th 6:16 AM Guys - just do an internet search ('google' is good) for 'Buescher sax serial numbers'........ Year Serial Number 1916 28875 1917 32350 1918 37540 1919 46975 1920 61255 1921 78525 1922 99275 1923 125750 1924 150250 1925 175275 1926 202350 1927 222175 1928 235250 1929 275275 1930 255250
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 9969773	Aug 10th 12:33 PM hmm...well that shows steve goodson does'st know a damn thing. but anyways, I am looking at a really old alto - 4 digit, I hope it is wha tI think it is.
Alan Tucker User ID: 9565813	Aug 11th 3:45 AM Just for you.... Year Serial Number 1905 5000 1906 5620 1907 6610 1908 7808 1909 8580 1910 11250 (haven't seen any pre-5000 lists)
Roger Aldridge User ID: 2644644	Aug 11th 5:14 AM I've found Dr. Rick's music shop in NYC (drrick.com) to have some of the best serial number lists around. Even Dr. Rick's Buescher list has a mistake that hasn't been corrected. The 1929 serial number should be 245275...not 275xxx. It's my understanding that there was a fire in the Buescher factory that destroyed the records of the pre-5000 instruments.
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 9969773	Aug 12th 2:13 AM I think the most of the pre 5000 would probably have been made for conn too. BTW, thanks alan, I looked all over, but I could only find lists that had 5 year increments. the years here are all the years I am interested in -I will check drricks for the missing 5 years. BTW, that alto, was completely beat to crap. and it looks to me to have been modified extensively - the s/n places it at 1907, but it has an automatic octive mech and appears to have been converted to lp by adding an inch on the end. damn. I really want a old friken sax for relatively cheap just for a conversation piece, but it would need ot play, or be able to play with no more than 400 - 500 bucks worth of work. Anyone have anything?
RomaT User ID: 9412633	Aug 19th 10:35 PM I found out my horn was made in 1921. It has a great sound, I'm very pleased. I lucked out and have used my Alto Steel Ebonite, Meliphone Special, G5 mouthpiece with the Rovner Ligature and it is playing in tune.
EDDENISON User ID: 1307164	Sep 7th 4:54 PM I READ IN THIS FORUM THAT THE C-MELS WERE SOLD ONLY IN BRASS, SILVER AND GOLD PLATE. THOUGHT MY 156769 WAS LACQUER. HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFF BETWEEN GOLD AND LACQUER TKS. ED DENISON
EDDENISON User ID: 1307164	Sep 7th 4:54 PM I READ IN THIS FORUM THAT THE C-MELS WERE SOLD ONLY IN BRASS, SILVER AND GOLD PLATE. THOUGHT MY 156769 WAS LACQUER. HOW CAN YOU TELL THE DIFF BETWEEN GOLD AND LACQUER TKS. ED DENISON
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 9969773	Sep 7th 6:45 PM king made a few in lacquer, they were also widely availiable in nickel.