C Melody Saxophone Forum

Swirve.com Links: Swirve.com Free Email Games Fantasy Sports E-Cards Movies Horoscopes Freebies Web Search

NOTICE: Beginning July 10th, 2008, this message board service will no longer be active or available for use.

C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Tenor (C-Melody) Saxophones / I want one

Back 20 Messages

Adam
User ID: 9983153 Oct 11th 2:11 PM
I would like a C melody sax, and I hear they can be found for even under ten dollars. Is this only at things like pawn shops?

HT
User ID: 9328513 Oct 16th 1:09 PM
I found a King C-Mel at an estate sale while visiting my brother in Little Rock last month. Price tag was $250, but the instrument was nearly black with tarnish and no one was interested. I offered $50 and was countered with $75. They wound up taking the $70 I had in my pocket at the time.

The story on the horn was that it belonged to the father of the person whose estate was up for sale. He was a physician who had apparently bought the horn in his youth, when the C-Melody craze was in full swing.

Mechanically, the horn is in fine shape. The action is smooth. I am (foolishly, perhaps) trying to re-pad it myself. Having a ball, though.

I realize this deal was a fluke, but it's proof that there are undiscovered C-Mels out there. I recently saw this same horn on e-bay listed as an "alto", and I think it went in the $150 (plus shipping) range.

Steve
User ID: 9774843 Oct 16th 11:55 PM
My Holton, (recently aquired) was going cheap as the pads were original and the vender knew nothing about it.
170 bucks with all parts and surprise of surprises, it still plays with half the pads 85 years old.
I will attempt to put a sound sample up on my website when I have time.
It isn't art but hey!

Captain Muggles
User ID: 9725373 Oct 17th 2:45 PM
Everyone.....I laid back for a few days in order for everyone to tell their cheap sax stories. There are exceptions to every rule, but lets face it. Thre are NO under $10.00 C melody saxes. You may be given one for a gift from someone that you know. But where a business transaction is concerned; You have a better chance of seeing God come down out of the sky than you do of getting a C melody or ANY saxophone for under $10.00. Let's stop telling stories of possible scenarios just for the sake of contradiction. Obviously, you may get a once in a lifetime deal on anything. But the under $10.00 saxophone thing is an hallucination at best! (Now I bet I've opened up a new can of worms that will have all kinds of stories of mirraculous deals beyond belief)!

ukebert
User ID: 9112483 Oct 17th 3:18 PM
I think you're right Cap'n. The best deal i've heard of was around $40 I think, Alan (UK) missed it 'cause he was sleeping, do you remember it Alan?

WW2
User ID: 1585334 Oct 17th 6:43 PM
Best deal I have gotten is US$75 for a bare brass one in need of an overhaul. All I wanted was the neck. A custom neck was about US$500 so this was the cheap alternative!

Alan (UK)
User ID: 8200143 Oct 19th 10:57 AM
ukebert - I seem to remember that one, but I have desperately to resist the urges these days, apart from the sagging bank account, I think I have reached C-Mel nirvana...

With my 30's Martin ($480), and the L&H/King (Big Ugly, $250?) as backup, there's nothing to do now but decide what to do with all the others.

However, if it has a front-F, I could still get tempted by the Ł100-$150 ones that still exist, just on the off-chance there may be an even better playing one lurking out there !

But, at the other end of the scale, has anyone noticed the time-capsule Buescher C-Mel from Argentina on ebay ? 200038485223 Even has a Buescher leaflet explaining that the new revolutionary 'snaps' can be retro-fitted on older C-Mels. 80+ years old with no patina ? Go on someone, email the seller with an offer of Ł10.......... I'm sure he'll be amused (not....)

ukebert
User ID: 9112483 Oct 19th 11:11 AM
Wow, what a beauty! Ł800 bin though, I'd be surprised if he gets it.

The one that I was thinking of, was a Conn that was listed incorrectly as damages, and unplayable, and so didn't attract any bids, but the seller heard from the person that actually owned the thing that the listing was inaccurate, and that it was in perfect condition. They couldn't get the auction off eBay, so changed the listing, and emailed those that had placed an interest (you and some other guy). Unfortunately, this was near the end of the listing, and it was in the US, so around 2 AM. I remember that in your post the following morning that you were very disappointed that it went for Ł40.

Owen

Alan (UK)
User ID: 8200143 Oct 19th 11:44 AM
Ah - that one..... I often get comments of "don't you ever sleep ?" from neighbours who notice lights still on, because of late US auction finishes. Little do they know I'm often snoozing in the chair, and miss the end of the auction anyway....................

Hard life, this retirement !

Captain Muggles
User ID: 8026483 Oct 19th 4:03 PM
Alan UK....That timecapsule Buescher is gorgeous. BUT..I guarantee it has been used AND polished. I would like to see a closeup of the neck cork and the outside of the case. Even so,it is a beautiful horn. He may get a good price for it. If I was in the market I would go as high as $1000,00. But that is all. After all it is still just a C Melody saxophone!

Alan (UK)
User ID: 8200143 Oct 20th 7:08 AM
Capt - understood, it's just the ancilliary bits I'd like, sax doesn't have fronf-F so no interest to me...... For example, that booklet on 'snaps' is like a 'snapshot' of how it was in the 20's when the owner bought that instrument.

(probably) It lists all the other nice things and options that Buescher could do for proud owners - when 'service' really was service ! Not like today (in most cases). Those are the things that intrigue me now. Maybe I'll offer the seller a modest amount of money for a photocopy (or photo's or scans) of the booklet. I think he's been a visitor to my - sadly neglected these days - website.

Captain Muggles
User ID: 8026483 Oct 20th 7:58 AM
Alan UK....I totally agree on your comment about the ancillary bits. They are the things that make the horn desirable. I must admit that I have never seen that much original literature in such fine condition offered with any other C Melody for sale!

rob
User ID: 8520773 Oct 30th 5:14 AM
I have one up on e-bay

Alan (UK)
User ID: 8200143 Oct 30th 8:38 AM
Rob - always worth giving either the full url, or at least an item number............

Back 20 Messages

Adam User ID: 9983153	Oct 11th 2:11 PM I would like a C melody sax, and I hear they can be found for even under ten dollars. Is this only at things like pawn shops?
HT User ID: 9328513	Oct 16th 1:09 PM I found a King C-Mel at an estate sale while visiting my brother in Little Rock last month. Price tag was $250, but the instrument was nearly black with tarnish and no one was interested. I offered $50 and was countered with $75. They wound up taking the $70 I had in my pocket at the time. The story on the horn was that it belonged to the father of the person whose estate was up for sale. He was a physician who had apparently bought the horn in his youth, when the C-Melody craze was in full swing. Mechanically, the horn is in fine shape. The action is smooth. I am (foolishly, perhaps) trying to re-pad it myself. Having a ball, though. I realize this deal was a fluke, but it's proof that there are undiscovered C-Mels out there. I recently saw this same horn on e-bay listed as an "alto", and I think it went in the $150 (plus shipping) range.
Steve User ID: 9774843	Oct 16th 11:55 PM My Holton, (recently aquired) was going cheap as the pads were original and the vender knew nothing about it. 170 bucks with all parts and surprise of surprises, it still plays with half the pads 85 years old. I will attempt to put a sound sample up on my website when I have time. It isn't art but hey!
Captain Muggles User ID: 9725373	Oct 17th 2:45 PM Everyone.....I laid back for a few days in order for everyone to tell their cheap sax stories. There are exceptions to every rule, but lets face it. Thre are NO under $10.00 C melody saxes. You may be given one for a gift from someone that you know. But where a business transaction is concerned; You have a better chance of seeing God come down out of the sky than you do of getting a C melody or ANY saxophone for under $10.00. Let's stop telling stories of possible scenarios just for the sake of contradiction. Obviously, you may get a once in a lifetime deal on anything. But the under $10.00 saxophone thing is an hallucination at best! (Now I bet I've opened up a new can of worms that will have all kinds of stories of mirraculous deals beyond belief)!
ukebert User ID: 9112483	Oct 17th 3:18 PM I think you're right Cap'n. The best deal i've heard of was around $40 I think, Alan (UK) missed it 'cause he was sleeping, do you remember it Alan?
WW2 User ID: 1585334	Oct 17th 6:43 PM Best deal I have gotten is US$75 for a bare brass one in need of an overhaul. All I wanted was the neck. A custom neck was about US$500 so this was the cheap alternative!
Alan (UK) User ID: 8200143	Oct 19th 10:57 AM ukebert - I seem to remember that one, but I have desperately to resist the urges these days, apart from the sagging bank account, I think I have reached C-Mel nirvana... With my 30's Martin ($480), and the L&H/King (Big Ugly, $250?) as backup, there's nothing to do now but decide what to do with all the others. However, if it has a front-F, I could still get tempted by the Ł100-$150 ones that still exist, just on the off-chance there may be an even better playing one lurking out there ! But, at the other end of the scale, has anyone noticed the time-capsule Buescher C-Mel from Argentina on ebay ? 200038485223 Even has a Buescher leaflet explaining that the new revolutionary 'snaps' can be retro-fitted on older C-Mels. 80+ years old with no patina ? Go on someone, email the seller with an offer of Ł10.......... I'm sure he'll be amused (not....)
ukebert User ID: 9112483	Oct 19th 11:11 AM Wow, what a beauty! Ł800 bin though, I'd be surprised if he gets it. The one that I was thinking of, was a Conn that was listed incorrectly as damages, and unplayable, and so didn't attract any bids, but the seller heard from the person that actually owned the thing that the listing was inaccurate, and that it was in perfect condition. They couldn't get the auction off eBay, so changed the listing, and emailed those that had placed an interest (you and some other guy). Unfortunately, this was near the end of the listing, and it was in the US, so around 2 AM. I remember that in your post the following morning that you were very disappointed that it went for Ł40. Owen
Alan (UK) User ID: 8200143	Oct 19th 11:44 AM Ah - that one..... I often get comments of "don't you ever sleep ?" from neighbours who notice lights still on, because of late US auction finishes. Little do they know I'm often snoozing in the chair, and miss the end of the auction anyway.................... Hard life, this retirement !
Captain Muggles User ID: 8026483	Oct 19th 4:03 PM Alan UK....That timecapsule Buescher is gorgeous. BUT..I guarantee it has been used AND polished. I would like to see a closeup of the neck cork and the outside of the case. Even so,it is a beautiful horn. He may get a good price for it. If I was in the market I would go as high as $1000,00. But that is all. After all it is still just a C Melody saxophone!
Alan (UK) User ID: 8200143	Oct 20th 7:08 AM Capt - understood, it's just the ancilliary bits I'd like, sax doesn't have fronf-F so no interest to me...... For example, that booklet on 'snaps' is like a 'snapshot' of how it was in the 20's when the owner bought that instrument. (probably) It lists all the other nice things and options that Buescher could do for proud owners - when 'service' really was service ! Not like today (in most cases). Those are the things that intrigue me now. Maybe I'll offer the seller a modest amount of money for a photocopy (or photo's or scans) of the booklet. I think he's been a visitor to my - sadly neglected these days - website.
Captain Muggles User ID: 8026483	Oct 20th 7:58 AM Alan UK....I totally agree on your comment about the ancillary bits. They are the things that make the horn desirable. I must admit that I have never seen that much original literature in such fine condition offered with any other C Melody for sale!
rob User ID: 8520773	Oct 30th 5:14 AM I have one up on e-bay
Alan (UK) User ID: 8200143	Oct 30th 8:38 AM Rob - always worth giving either the full url, or at least an item number............