As far as real Dolnet history goes, Dolnet was founded in 1880 and started manufacturing saxophones around 1888.
#DOLNET SAXOPHONE FOR SALE SERIAL NUMBER#
If you really like the horn and/or it has sentimental value, Iâd spend the money to get it in perfect mechanical shape. These Dolnet tenors are not that common but are outstanding-blowing saxophones for a great price. There isn't a Dolnet model or serial number chart, per se, so I essentially am creating this based on engravings, user input and manufacturing differences. If you need parts fabricated or you have splits or holes in the metal or if you have damaged toneholes, you could be hundreds to thousands above that $1500 mark.Īt absolute maximum, with the horn in perfect shape â and not high pitch â the horn will be worth around $1500. This means that you get the horn chemically stripped and relacquer or replate. Make the horn mechanically perfect and aesthetically perfect. Make sure the horn plays with consistent intonation on all notes. Make sure the springs are good or replace âem. Replace all pads (and resonators), corks, and felts.
This can be between shop minimum (say $50 to $75) and thousands.
Make sure that the corks, felts, and springs are in the right place. There are several levels of ârestoreâ: That makes Dolnets a hard sell, unless thereâs a guarantee that the horn isnât high pitch. Without going into tremendous detail, high pitch horns will not play in tune with modern instruments and high pitch woodwinds cannot be made to play in tune. The Royal Jazz is the same as a Bel Air model, with the addition of a microtuner on the neck, a high E trill, a forked Eb, a high F (which on this horn was configured as a fourth palm key), and G trill key. One of the biggest problems with Dolnet is that they produced horns using the high pitch intonation standard up until the M70 came out around 1970. I recently performed a full overhaul on a Dolnet Royal Jazz alto saxophone in gold plate. I can also say that your horn was made around the mid-1950s.