There's a certain magic when it comes to things old and vintage. Each one seems to hold a mystery; not just questions of when and how they were made, but more interestingly how it made its way to you. Did you see it displayed in a flea market? Is a collector selling it after years of holding on to it? Was it passed on to you generation to generation? Or did you just luckily (some would say fatefully) come across it in some obscure store? Whatever the story of your vintage item, there's undoubtedly a lot of story behind it. Aside from the fact that you rarely come across such items these days, vintage things are valued so highly because they possess that "cool" factor having lasted through all this time.
As a musician, I find this very true for musical instruments. It's been a little over a year now since I acquired my main saxophone - a King Zephyr tenor. Based on its serial number and a rough serial number guide I found online, this horn was built around the mid 1940s. Just thinking what this particular horn has gone through the past 70 years or so just boggles my mind.
Like most vintage saxophones and instruments, this particular horn has its fair share of dents and dings. Small bumps and creases can be seen at different parts of the horn if you look real closely. That's not to mention a variety of minor stains on the metal throughout the horn and parts of the plating that have worn off from years of use. Then there are the usual scrapes and scratches in along parts of the horn that give it a weathered look.
But despite all these cosmetic flaws, the horn sounds and plays great. Yes, there are definitely some leaks and things that need readjustment. A lot of the parts also need replacement and maintenance to function at its best again. But it plays and it plays well. That's the most important part.
Also, I've always preferred the old and faded look of most vintage saxophones. This horn as a rich dark gold patina that just screams vintage when you first look at it. This was perfect for me since I've never found shiny horns to be appealing. Unfair and unreasonable as it sounds, shiny horn oftentimes gives me a feeling that it's inferior and less durable. So when I saw this horn being sold by a friend last year, I immediately jumped on it knowing that it sounds great and has that vintage look I love.
So does that make vintage horns better than modern ones? Simply put no, at least not necessarily. We all have our own needs, preferences, and tastes no matter what. Some will argue that vintage horns have a better sound because of the different type of metals used and its unique designs. Some will argue the opposite saying modern horns sound better because the keywork is more fluid and they're more consistenly and accurately made. Both sides have their own advocates, so it really all boils down to personal preference. What works for one can easily not work for another. To each his own, and for an instrument as flexible as the saxophone, this is especially true.
As for me, I've mostly leaned towards vintage horns primarily because I liked how most of them sound (at least from the ones I've tried). That's not to say that I haven't played great modern horns as well, because I've played some that blew away the other vintage horns I've tried. At the end of the day, it all boils down to how it sounds and plays. Vintage or not, this should be the number one quality that a musician looks for in an instrument. It just so happens that I find this quality in my vintage horn no and am very happy with it.
There's also the added charm of a long history and cool mystique that vintage horns possess that draw me to them. Every time I clean my King Zephyr tenor and take a good look at it, I always wonder how many people have used it, how many gigs it's been played on, how many hands it's gone through all these years. Seventy years of use have brought this horn to me.
Now I'm continuing its journey.
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