Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2019-10-13 01:00
The Bundy altos (must've been produced for decades) are a particulary good example of a "plastic" horn worth restoring. Given how man mediocre altos there are out there - and this is especially interesting for me - and how this single-register-vent instrument can be restored to have a pretty smooth key action, so you can actually play more difficult pieces for concert band, I think it's a real treasure. You can get one for 200$ and turn it into a great horn.
Granted, the price of restoration will be, I suppose, something like 600$ toget it to a decent level. But since I can do it myself (in fact, restored one recently), I'm seriously considering getting one, despite having an 1950s Selmer at my disposal. Just can't get it to decent altissimo, unlike the bundy, plus it's sloppy thanks to a complicated double register mecahnism, without better intonation!!
So yeah, the answer is pretty clear. Good horns are worth restoring. As Chris P outlined, their value is what matters, and here, people often confuse wooden bodies and a shiny polish with a good instrument. Plus, we all know how Buffet group horns are often poorly set up. Register keys on some Schreibers - spring tension beyond good and evil; Bladder pads on 2000s Buffets - complete crap; Nylon pins, too much play in the pivots... etc., despite Buffets having agood "substance"
The Prodige (540€ at Thoman, WOW) is a pretty great horn and has good pads, nice silver plating and great keywork, it'd certainly beat many older Bundys, even when they're restored. At least in my opinion.
Best regards
Christian
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