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.
It is good to be equipped with some basics about sax. Most students who are new to the instruments may not know much about the different parts and what to expect from an antique. As such, they may simply overly on the recommendations provided by their respective schools. However, it is common to find such information not adequate to the common consumer.
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.
Always ask for the license of the dealership. Ensure that they are particularly licensed resell used items. Some shops even go further to join trade unions that review and accredit them periodically. If you can find such a seller, then better. If you cannot find the license number on their website, then simply ask.
Check out the models available. One thing most people do not understand is that most antiques were produced in very limited additions. Even large manufactures only made a few pieces every year. Therefore, check the makes stocked at the store and see if the manufacture has been producing horns long enough for them to have some vintages in the market.
Check where the sax was manufactured. Most reliable and high priced antiques are of European origin. For example, many vintage Selmers you will find in the market today are of USA origin. However, they bear the same name with those of French make. However, you will find an indication of made in France in the latter. If not, then know they are from the U. S. Others were also made in Czechoslovakia.
Check the history of the shop. You surely do not expect a vintage dealer to be one year old in the business and expect to get reliable items from them. Most dealers spend several years establishing themselves and making a collection of these paraphernalia.
Dealing with online sellers in a very tricky affair. You can easily fall for fraud. Therefore, ensure that you can verify things such as the business location, physical address and telephone contacts from independent sources. You can easily get this information from review sites and consumer forums.
Knowing what you are looking for is very important when dealing with vintage saxophone dealers. There are many dishonest sellers around and you can never know who you are dealing with. Therefore, you should have these tips at your fingertips.
It is good to be equipped with some basics about sax. Most students who are new to the instruments may not know much about the different parts and what to expect from an antique. As such, they may simply overly on the recommendations provided by their respective schools. However, it is common to find such information not adequate to the common consumer.
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.
Always ask for the license of the dealership. Ensure that they are particularly licensed resell used items. Some shops even go further to join trade unions that review and accredit them periodically. If you can find such a seller, then better. If you cannot find the license number on their website, then simply ask.
Check out the models available. One thing most people do not understand is that most antiques were produced in very limited additions. Even large manufactures only made a few pieces every year. Therefore, check the makes stocked at the store and see if the manufacture has been producing horns long enough for them to have some vintages in the market.
Check where the sax was manufactured. Most reliable and high priced antiques are of European origin. For example, many vintage Selmers you will find in the market today are of USA origin. However, they bear the same name with those of French make. However, you will find an indication of made in France in the latter. If not, then know they are from the U. S. Others were also made in Czechoslovakia.
Check the history of the shop. You surely do not expect a vintage dealer to be one year old in the business and expect to get reliable items from them. Most dealers spend several years establishing themselves and making a collection of these paraphernalia.
Dealing with online sellers in a very tricky affair. You can easily fall for fraud. Therefore, ensure that you can verify things such as the business location, physical address and telephone contacts from independent sources. You can easily get this information from review sites and consumer forums.
Knowing what you are looking for is very important when dealing with vintage saxophone dealers. There are many dishonest sellers around and you can never know who you are dealing with. Therefore, you should have these tips at your fingertips.
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