C Melody Saxophone Forum

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

Back 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!

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

WW2
User ID: 9955583 Sep 8th 3:11 PM
It depends on the year and manufacturer. It was buescher that in the early '20s only had brass, silver and gold. The typical silver and gold were in the "satin" (soft, or sandblasted) style, though a few we burnished (shiny). Later they added the nickle and lacquer. I know that my 1921 Buescher C-Mel (http://mysite.verizon.net/res8o1o8/ctenor.html) is lacquered, but close inspection shows lacquer overspray on some of the oldest pads, thus it was relacquered at some point in its life. Steve Goodson informed me that in 1921 Buescher did not offer lacquer as one of the finishes on the C-Melody, so this added evidence that the lacquer was applied later.

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 9969773 Sep 8th 8:56 PM
Are the pads original? maybe they did a selmer.

Dianne
User ID: 1704034 Dec 16th 11:49 AM
The sax I have has a serial number of 190557. Does anyone Know what year it might be?t appers to be silver. My daughter inherited it from her grandfather several years ago ago and we think it is about 1920 but not sure. It has been cleaned and the the pads replaced by a reputable restorer. but we are in ned of a new Moutpiece or ligature and reeds.

WW2
User ID: 9955583 Dec 16th 12:34 PM
If your saxophone is a BUESCHER, my serial number lists put it as a 1925 model.

Read the threads in the mouthpiece board. Lots of information there on selecting a mouthpiece.

mike R
User ID: 1794364 Feb 22nd 7:12 PM
can anyone advise me on where to get replacement springs for my 1924/25 beuscher c mel tenor.

I am uk based.

mike R
User ID: 1794364 Feb 22nd 7:19 PM
message for allan tucker, if you are in Weymouth
and answer to cornish tin miner.
we met last year please give me a ring re spring/pad supplier for Beuscher C tenor

alternatively e mail drjazz@hotmail.co.uk

thanks.

Alan Tucker (UK)
User ID: 2630464 Feb 22nd 8:19 PM
Mike - if you go to my resources page -

http://www.dorsetdriftwood.btinternet.co.uk/saxophones/repair-resources.htm

There are contact details for Windcraft and Windplus in the UK, who both have pads and springs.

Regards, Alan.

James J.
User ID: 2936914 Mar 10th 9:09 PM
My friend just aquired a c melody serial number
58113 Buescher saxophone.Year is 1919-1920. The Silver finish is very tarnished needs to be repadded etc...
What is a Buesher sax worth from this era,
if say before refurbish and say after.
Anyone know.
Thanks for a reply.

SK
User ID: 9962683 Mar 13th 1:03 PM
Hi - I would like to know if anyone could suggest a date of manufacture for my low pitch Buescher c-melody sax - serial number: 97930

bruce bailey
User ID: 8046873 Mar 14th 1:06 AM
1919 for James'horn and 1921 (late) for SK's.
As to the value, James, I would say in before condition, about $150 US and after probably $500 as per ebay sales. Of course selling via a private sale to a REAL sax player and not an ebayer would probably bring closer to $700 after. There was a very nice Buescher on ebay about a month ago that was the satin and bright gold plate, pretty tempting at $500.

Tracer
User ID: 0665994 May 28th 5:38 PM
I thought that lacquer was a clear coating used over brass, as opposed to "bare brass"

bruce bailey
User ID: 0937864 May 29th 12:19 AM
Basic finishes on vintage horns were: Bare brass, lacquered brass, nickel plate (bright), silver plate (bright), satin silver plate with polished keys (with or without gold wash bell) and various gold plated finishes. The Buescher I referred to was the gold plated model. There wer a lot of variations of finishes with Conn having the most.

cmelodysax-uk
User ID: 8200143 May 29th 8:32 AM
Tracer - As far as I know (imho), the production lacquer used on most musical instruments contains colouring, e.g. gold. Otherwise think of the effort required to buff up brass to a shining finish, before applying clear lacquer ? Nah......

Although I have seen some after-sales finishes, where clear lacquer has been applied over (dull) bare-brass, possibly to prevent the mottled look caused by sweat/verdigris/rust/etc.

EHHeisel
User ID: 2553434 Jan 4th 3:59 PM
I have a Beuscher B flat Soprano, curve, gold color, S/N 139325, with case, all very good. Can you identify it and give an approximate value on it?

bruce bailey 2008
User ID: 9690803 Jan 5th 12:35 AM
It would be a True Tone series II with the pearl G# keyed to high Eb made in 1923. If it is gold lacquer and it plays well about $800-1.200 US. If it is gold plated, it could be worth as much as $2,000 US. Photos would help. If you want to send som pics, send to baileyflutes AT juno DOT com.

Mal-2k8
User ID: 9335603 Mar 10th 8:45 PM
Most lacquer is not perfectly clear, but it ranges anywhere from the color of American beer (that is, sex in a canoe, or f'ing close to water) to dark orange or red. I prefer lacquer that is close to colorless (unlike my beer), because that allows large scratches to be quickly touched up with clear nail polish before they turn brown or green. Not that you can't do that with dark lacquer, but there is a color clash.

Also lacquer tends to darken over time as it oxidizes. If it's GOOD lacquer, it will do so fairly evenly over the entire instrument, and not become brittle or flaky. Thus the whole horn stays shiny, it just gets a little bit more brassy.

My JAS-767 most certainly does not have this elusive "good lacquer". In another decade, it may not have any lacquer at all.

soybean
User ID: 0401124 Apr 14th 2:29 AM
A lot of the ones you'll see in lacquer are refinished.

Back 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!
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 9969773	Sep 7th 6:45 PM king made a few in lacquer, they were also widely availiable in nickel.
WW2 User ID: 9955583	Sep 8th 3:11 PM It depends on the year and manufacturer. It was buescher that in the early '20s only had brass, silver and gold. The typical silver and gold were in the "satin" (soft, or sandblasted) style, though a few we burnished (shiny). Later they added the nickle and lacquer. I know that my 1921 Buescher C-Mel (http://mysite.verizon.net/res8o1o8/ctenor.html) is lacquered, but close inspection shows lacquer overspray on some of the oldest pads, thus it was relacquered at some point in its life. Steve Goodson informed me that in 1921 Buescher did not offer lacquer as one of the finishes on the C-Melody, so this added evidence that the lacquer was applied later.
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 9969773	Sep 8th 8:56 PM Are the pads original? maybe they did a selmer.
Dianne User ID: 1704034	Dec 16th 11:49 AM The sax I have has a serial number of 190557. Does anyone Know what year it might be?t appers to be silver. My daughter inherited it from her grandfather several years ago ago and we think it is about 1920 but not sure. It has been cleaned and the the pads replaced by a reputable restorer. but we are in ned of a new Moutpiece or ligature and reeds.
WW2 User ID: 9955583	Dec 16th 12:34 PM If your saxophone is a BUESCHER, my serial number lists put it as a 1925 model. Read the threads in the mouthpiece board. Lots of information there on selecting a mouthpiece.
mike R User ID: 1794364	Feb 22nd 7:12 PM can anyone advise me on where to get replacement springs for my 1924/25 beuscher c mel tenor. I am uk based.
mike R User ID: 1794364	Feb 22nd 7:19 PM message for allan tucker, if you are in Weymouth and answer to cornish tin miner. we met last year please give me a ring re spring/pad supplier for Beuscher C tenor alternatively e mail drjazz@hotmail.co.uk thanks.
Alan Tucker (UK) User ID: 2630464	Feb 22nd 8:19 PM Mike - if you go to my resources page - http://www.dorsetdriftwood.btinternet.co.uk/saxophones/repair-resources.htm There are contact details for Windcraft and Windplus in the UK, who both have pads and springs. Regards, Alan.
James J. User ID: 2936914	Mar 10th 9:09 PM My friend just aquired a c melody serial number 58113 Buescher saxophone.Year is 1919-1920. The Silver finish is very tarnished needs to be repadded etc... What is a Buesher sax worth from this era, if say before refurbish and say after. Anyone know. Thanks for a reply.
SK User ID: 9962683	Mar 13th 1:03 PM Hi - I would like to know if anyone could suggest a date of manufacture for my low pitch Buescher c-melody sax - serial number: 97930
bruce bailey User ID: 8046873	Mar 14th 1:06 AM 1919 for James'horn and 1921 (late) for SK's. As to the value, James, I would say in before condition, about $150 US and after probably $500 as per ebay sales. Of course selling via a private sale to a REAL sax player and not an ebayer would probably bring closer to $700 after. There was a very nice Buescher on ebay about a month ago that was the satin and bright gold plate, pretty tempting at $500.
Tracer User ID: 0665994	May 28th 5:38 PM I thought that lacquer was a clear coating used over brass, as opposed to "bare brass"
bruce bailey User ID: 0937864	May 29th 12:19 AM Basic finishes on vintage horns were: Bare brass, lacquered brass, nickel plate (bright), silver plate (bright), satin silver plate with polished keys (with or without gold wash bell) and various gold plated finishes. The Buescher I referred to was the gold plated model. There wer a lot of variations of finishes with Conn having the most.
cmelodysax-uk User ID: 8200143	May 29th 8:32 AM Tracer - As far as I know (imho), the production lacquer used on most musical instruments contains colouring, e.g. gold. Otherwise think of the effort required to buff up brass to a shining finish, before applying clear lacquer ? Nah...... Although I have seen some after-sales finishes, where clear lacquer has been applied over (dull) bare-brass, possibly to prevent the mottled look caused by sweat/verdigris/rust/etc.
EHHeisel User ID: 2553434	Jan 4th 3:59 PM I have a Beuscher B flat Soprano, curve, gold color, S/N 139325, with case, all very good. Can you identify it and give an approximate value on it?
bruce bailey 2008 User ID: 9690803	Jan 5th 12:35 AM It would be a True Tone series II with the pearl G# keyed to high Eb made in 1923. If it is gold lacquer and it plays well about $800-1.200 US. If it is gold plated, it could be worth as much as $2,000 US. Photos would help. If you want to send som pics, send to baileyflutes AT juno DOT com.
Mal-2k8 User ID: 9335603	Mar 10th 8:45 PM Most lacquer is not perfectly clear, but it ranges anywhere from the color of American beer (that is, sex in a canoe, or f'ing close to water) to dark orange or red. I prefer lacquer that is close to colorless (unlike my beer), because that allows large scratches to be quickly touched up with clear nail polish before they turn brown or green. Not that you can't do that with dark lacquer, but there is a color clash. Also lacquer tends to darken over time as it oxidizes. If it's GOOD lacquer, it will do so fairly evenly over the entire instrument, and not become brittle or flaky. Thus the whole horn stays shiny, it just gets a little bit more brassy. My JAS-767 most certainly does not have this elusive "good lacquer". In another decade, it may not have any lacquer at all.
soybean User ID: 0401124	Apr 14th 2:29 AM A lot of the ones you'll see in lacquer are refinished.