The One That Got Away
The One That Got Away

The One That Got Away

I’m working on a side project with someone, and while researching vintage saxophone sales on eBay for that project, came across this little gem that sold on November 9

You are bidding on something that is so out of my league so help would be appreciated. It looks like a saxophone to me and a vintage one at that. I believe the wording is in Italian. It reads Primaria Premiata Abbrida F.A.M. Bottali Milano, Italia Mar CA Ferd Roth. Being sold AS IS because of the condition. It needs the mouthpiece and the little rubber piece that fits over the flap that goes up and down has worn thin. It measures 31″ long, very narrow. I could be wrong on the wording because it’s hard to read. PLEASE, PLEASE READ THAT THIS IS BEING SOLD AS IS BECAUSE I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS SAXOPHONE!! Please note that it does need alot of work done to it, I assume but since I’m not a musician, I don’t know what it needs.. Thanks for looking.

Bell Front View

    Source: eBay.com

Upper Portion

    Source: eBay.com

Bell & Mid Section

    Source: eBay.com

Now the seller did ask for help, since he knew nothing about this saxophone, but unfortunately for him, only 2 eBayers responded to him. Both were from Europe, and both asked questions about shipping. No one who viewed the auction actually told him what he really had…

Q: Hello, I’m an italian saxophonist and I’m interested in your instrument, do You accept my bid? I’m a serious and honest buyer (please check my eBay feedback…) and I’ll pay for all shipping cost to Italy. Please let me know. Thanks and Regards, XXXX  Nov-04-09

A: Okay, I just changed the shipping that you will be able to bid on my saxophone. Thank you for asking!

Q: HI, How much to send in France. THANK YOU Nov-08-09

A: Hi, it would cost $39.50 to go by USPS first class international. That is the cheapest. Thanks for asking!

This vintage Italian-made Bottali rothophone did sell. There were 19 bids on this diamond in the rough. The high bid was $276.00.

I’m no expert on rothophones, but given the described size (31″), I’m guessing this is an alto roth. IIRC, the one owned by Matt, AKA Quinntheeskimo, that I played just over a year ago, was the same size. It too was made by Bottali BTW.

Something else that is worth noting, is that the seller doesn’t mention a neck for this saxophone… In actual fact, this roth may very well be missing its bocal, since the seller doesn’t mention anything, nor is it visible in the photos.

When you consider that this Bottali baritone rothophone, that sold on eBay for $4050.00 in May of this year, didn’t have a bocal either, it appears that whoever bought the alto roth for $276.00, got a pretty damn good deal.

…this is just my blog. My “real” website is www.bassic-sax.info. If you’re looking for sax info, you should check it out too.There’s lots there!
 

7 Comments

  1. Chris

    I thought it was a tenor saxophone at first when I looked at the pictures. I was thinking of getting it to resell it after cleaning it up a little bit. It looked like it was in poor condition and had all of the keys.

    I looked at it closer and did a little omre research on what it could be, and then there it was a Rothophone. The details were it was from 1879 and from Botali Roth company. I would love to find out who has it now.

    1. You know what they remind me of? A saxophone with an eating disorder. They’re so anorexic looking, they look they’ve been starving themselves. :mrgreen:

      Seriously though, after being used to a saxophone, the roth felt really delicate to my fingers. I was afraid to bend it. I’m sure it’s not as fragile as it seems, but compared to my bass, bari, or even my tenor, this little horn felt like a piece of fine bone china.

      I must say, I did fall in love with the rothophone, and would like to own one some day. Right now however, I have other priorities.

  2. You know, I’ve given that one a lot of thought since I tried it at Matt’s place, and I suspect it would have to have been lacquered at some point in its life since it left the factory. Given that roth’s age, it would most likely have started out life as a bare brass horn.

    Furthermore, this little roth’s finish is too perfect, so I suspect it is a fairly recent lacquer–by that I mean in the last 50 years–and then not played much since.

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