Saxophone Forum


by wolfercdat
(5 posts)
18 years ago

Buescher C or B?

I've been reading almost all of the posts and cannot find the answer to my question...probably because I know little to nothing about this sax, other than I learned to play it for 1 year in highschool. I purchased it for $20 when I was 12 because it was so tarnished it was black; still had a moldy green reed on it; and holes in the original pads; plus the antique dealer hadn't a clue what it was. Through your outstanding posts I have learned that it is a Buescher Two Tone from around 1920 (serial number 95825). I had it restored many years ago (it has since tarnished again!) and I remember it being silver with brass inlays (also inside the bell) with mother-of-pearl keys. Positively beautiful, especially for $20. The problem is that in one of our moves the mouthpiece broke and I am now trying to replace it. However, I keep reading that it is important to make sure you put a C mouthpiece on a C instrument. Unfortunately, I can't find a reference that can tell me what to look for or measure that will tell me if it is a C or Bb. Can someone help? I did measure the instrument from the bell to the neck and it is 22 inches (don't know if that helps) Thanks.

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  1. by charless9833
    (7 posts)

    18 years ago

    Re: Buescher C or B?

    AS TO THE TARNISH, PROBLEM, GO TO THE JEWELRY STORE & PURCHASE SOME ANTI TARNISH STRIPS THAT ARE USUALLY PLACED IN THE SILVER WARE BOXES & THAT WILL HELP KEEP THE TARNISH TO A MINUM AFTER YOU HAVE THE SAX CLEANED. DON'T LET THEM TOUCH THE SAX. THANKS, CHARLIE

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    1. by Roccosm
      (113 posts)

      18 years ago

      Re: Buescher C or B?

      Hi Charles maybe You can help, I just bought a Buescher Soprano Bu3?? can You tell Me anything about the Horn. Thank You

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      1. by charless9833
        (7 posts)

        18 years ago

        Re: Buescher C or B?

        All I know is the Bescher's are considered to be great horns. The mouthpiece is the most critical part of pitch, etc. I don't have a Buescher sop. I have a Tenor & it sounds great. Charlie

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    2. by Sax Mom
      (964 posts)

      18 years ago

      Re: Buescher C or B?

      Just a guess here, but I don't think it would be a problem to put a regular tenor mouthpiece on a C-Melody, particluarly if the chamber is not too large.

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      1. by definition
        (963 posts)

        18 years ago

        Re: Buescher C or B?

        Its not a big deal to use a tenor piece sound-wise, but it does nothing good for the intonation. You need to get a C-melody mpc for a C melody horn. Check out the one made by Ruyon, it is a current production piece, and its pretty good for a c-mel piece. Another company makes a current production mpc, but I dont remember who right now, sorry!

        Reply To Post Yahoo! AIM


        1. by wolfercdat
          (5 posts)

          18 years ago

          Re: Buescher C or B?

          Thank you for the posts; however it still doesn't answer the basic question of how do I find out if the Buescher is a C or not? I am assuming that if it's a run of the mill Bb Soprano Sax then it doesn't matter as much what mouthpiece I use as long as it fit. Correct? Thank you again.

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          1. by sax_maniac
            (984 posts)

            18 years ago

            Re: Buescher C or B?

            I've had better intonation, personally, playing large chambered alo pieces on a C Mel than small chambered tenor pieces, but that's kind of a personal thing. BUT I played a Runyon C Melody piece and it's intonation was superb to the other alto or tenor trials I did. We are talking about a C Melody between alto and tenor, aren;t we? If we're talking about C sopranos, let me know as I have both and make custom mouthpieces for both. There's a slight difference between the two, but one can normally be played on the other, though when putting a Bb mpc on a C sop, if the shank is too long, it can run into the octave pip preventing you from getting iton there far enough. email me if you wnat further details.

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          2. by wolfercdat
            (5 posts)

            18 years ago

            Re: Buescher C or B?

            Unfortunately, all I know is that it's a soprano sax. Do you know how I determine if it's a C soprano or a Bb Soprano?

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          3. by definition
            (963 posts)

            18 years ago

            Re: Buescher C or B?

            put it up to a tuner, how tuneable is it? Also soo if you can find some other people with sopranos, and compare lengths. I unfortuenatley dont remember the average lengths for sops/ c sops

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          4. by Saxon
            (100 posts)

            18 years ago

            Re: Buescher C or B?

            22 inches long is a C soprano! Many people use a Bb soprano mouth piece and they seem to have no intonation problems, (small size difference) Try a shorter shank mpc! Goddards make some great silver polish products I think about $9 for something that will clean it up like new. If you have too much trouble please let me know and I might buy it from you? Good luck!

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          5. by Sax Mom
            (964 posts)

            18 years ago

            Re: Buescher C or B?

            Sorry, my answer was for the C-melody, which looks like a tenor, but is shorter. My Bb soprano Sax measures 25 1/2 inches from the floor to the tip of the neck. However, if yours is curved, I can't help. Do not put a Tenor mouthpiece on a soprano. :-)

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          6. by wolfercdat
            (5 posts)

            18 years ago

            Re: Buescher C or B?

            Thanks to a wonderful gentleman at saxquest I found out it's a C Soprano!!!! Now for me to find a mouthpiece...thank you all very much for the assistance.

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          7. by Saxon
            (100 posts)

            18 years ago

            Re: Buescher C or B?

            Please let us know if you find a mpc! I'd like to know if there are alternatives that work?

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          8. by sax_maniac
            (984 posts)

            18 years ago

            Re: Buescher C or B?

            I can make you a custom C-soprano mouthpiece and ship it to you for $100, assuming you are in the U.S. It would be made "brand new" from a vintage Buescher blank. email me from my profile if you are interested. I have pictures of a piece I made for a recent client I can share with you.

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