Buescher 1949 ‘Aristocrat III – 156’ Bb Tenor, Silver “U.S.”, #331k (Archived)

 1949 Buescher Aristocrat III '156' Tenor

Here's a sax with a sultry Buescher sound that lots of people love on the affordable model: Aristo III! This is the little brother to the more famous Big B (Aristo II). These are light weight with a sound that is bigger than that illusion. A nice, silver tenor under $1,700? - It won't last long.

Serial #331k dates the sax to about 1949-50.  It has snap in resonators and gold Norton springs(showing wear of gold). This sax body is in original silver plate finish with the "U.S." military stamp on the bell. WWS accepted this sax in on trade noting the non-original neck, that is from the 1960-70s Bueschers; it may have been played silver to solve this sax's need for a neck--but it is silver to match. *I did test intonation comparing to a similar Big B neck using my Berg Larsen mouthpiece (not often an ideal pairing) and I found that I "learned" and adjusted easily to the sax/neck. The intonation concerns did not ruin the sax. This non-original detail is priced into this listing.

PADS: tan pads, snap in resos. Age?- I suspect pads were all changed at the same time around 2016, as there is some known history with the WA repair techs.  All the snaps are present except 1 high E.

CASE: comes with SKB molded hard case, and neck pouch for in-bell storage.

SOUND: warmth, sultry, very very close to the Big B(series II), just add a bit more treble tones in the clearness of tone.

One of the best bargain saxes!

Item#:WWST06.5WT0.0WT0.01312.4-C30