Saturday, June 14, 2014

Buying Guide For Vintage Saxophones

By Ina Hunt


Although the market is generally small, there are still people who look for old musical instruments to buy. Vintage saxophones are included in these antique instruments. If you are looking for one of these saxes to purchase, you should have some ideas of where to look and how to choose.

It is quite common to find many saxes for sale on the Internet. You should make sure you are careful and do your research. Commonly, you may find it difficult to verify the value or authenticity, particularly when dealing with individuals. In these cases, you will have a little more work. You will need to get specific information about the sax including the year it was made and the manufacturer. Ask for more pictures and determine if they offer some sort of refund or return policy.

Gather information about the sax you want or are interested in buying. Learn the differences between counterfeit and genuine saxes. Educate yourself on the basics of a sax, down to the minor differences between year models. Compare alto and tenor saxes and how each one looks. These are important parts of weeding out the fakes from all the choices you have.

It is quite common to find antique saxes that have gone unused for awhile and have accumulated some dust. This can lead to damaged, non-working parts that affect the complete function of the sax. If you have the opportunity, physically examine each of the saxes you are considering. Certain parts may be irreplaceable or unrepairable and should not be broken or missing, such as the neck screw and octave pin.

Before making the purchase, do some research to determine that you are not paying more for the sax than its average appreciated value. Although it will probably be on the more expensive side because it is an older instrument, you should not be charged an outrageously high price. For example, if you located a sax and the seller asks for eight thousand dollars but an expert says it is only worth two thousand dollars, you can either negotiate down to that price or move on.

Sellers should have experience with antique sales, minimally. Experience with selling antique instruments is preferred but not always possible. Credibility should be a huge factor. The Better Business Bureau is a good source for determining if a seller is credible and if there have been complaints made.

Is the seller certified or properly licensed? When working with dealers and large scale sellers, they should be able to provide proof of certifications and licenses to sell things. If you are dealing with an individual person making a one-time sale, however, this is not necessary. Individuals are not generally required to have any licensing to sell their own items.

When you are a new collector or buying an antique saxophone, it is natural to get overly excited. It is important, however, to remember this is likely going to be a fairly expensive purchase and should not be taken lightly. Counterfeit saxes are out there and knowing what to look for can help you avoid a huge mistake.




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