Monday, 13 January 2014

How To Tell Honest Vintage Saxophone Dealers

By Marissa Velazquez


There are many vintage saxophone dealers around. However, most people will attest that buying an antique item is not easy if one is not experienced at it. One can easily get duped by rogue merchants who stock both original and fake products. Telling the difference may not be easy at all, especially if they have mastered the art of making them look exactly similar. However, with the tips provided here, you will be able to make a good purchase.

Know some basics about the instrument. This is normally for first time buyers such as music students who are looking for a good piece that they can use for practice. Some schools will give recommendations, but most of the time, these will not be applicable from the consumer standpoint. Band directors also have agreements with many music stores, and therefore, they will get very different prices from other buyers.

Check out the material in the instrument. Modern sax are still made of brass, just like the old ones. However, the coating material has changed over the years. Most of the saxophones in the market are coated with lacquer, which can be high-gloss or clear-coat. The antiques, on the other hand, utilized silver, nickel or gold plating. This is a very important difference that should be carefully checked.

Even with this knowledge, it is still not easy to make an easy purchase. Therefore, it is always wise to deal with licensed and accredited dealers. Reliable secondhand sellers usually display their license number on their websites or in an open space in their shops. If you cannot see one, then just make a point of asking.

Know the most highly rated antique models. Many saxophones in the market as antiques were produced in the mid twentieth century. However, you can also get one from the 20s and 30s if you understand what you are looking for. It is important to know whether the manufacture was in operation at that time so that you can avoid fakes.

Examine the place that the saxophone was manufactured. Most reliable, pricey horns usually are associated with European origin. As an example, you will discover that numerous retro Selmers in the market nowadays are associated with United States. Those from Czechoslovakia are also relatively common. However, then most expensive ones are the French models.

Check how long the shop has been selling antique sax. You can only be certain that you are getting something original if the seller is also knowledgeable. Ask the dealer to take you through what they have in stock and see how knowledgeable they are about the items.

If you are dealing with an online seller, then make an effort to visit the store before you order. If distance proves to be a barrier, then ask for physical address and telephone numbers so that you can verify the authenticity of the seller from secondary sources. You should also request for photos or even videos of the item before it is shipped.

Finding vintage saxophone dealers is never the problem. The challenge is knowing which one to trust. If you follow these guidelines, you will not be worried about the quality if your purchase.




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