I got a very very used La Monte tenor sax in 1962 when I was in the 7th grade. It was really ugly and I had to use rubber bands where springs were broken. Pads had a tendency to leak. During the summer, between 7th and 8th grade, it was completely reconditioned from top to bottom and re-laquered and I got a new case for it. It played beautifully with not a single problem for many years and it looked and worked like a brand new instrument. It had a shine that would put your eyes out. To this day, I recall the band instructor taking it and holding it up for everyone to see what could be done to make a used instrument look and work as good as new. I wish I had not sold it. It was easier to blow than a friend's Bundy and as good of a tonal quality as any other saxophone in the whole band.