Here we have a very nice original example of the earliest Florida model of hard rubber Tone-Edge. The body of these is on the shorter side, a steep drop to the beak, and a specifically bevelled shank. The chamber is probably slightly smaller than NY versions and slightly larger than late Fl versions. This one is original with evident horizontal milling on the table, and original rail and baffle finish. The baffle is somewhat long and subtle rollover, and with a slightly high floor in general this piece really packs a punch. I played a vintage Rico 3 reed on this and it played both very fat, and also aggressive and edgy. Honestly I felt like I was playing a 7. The tip size I measured at .080. This piece is missing nothing and delivers a crisp sound one can only get in smaller sizes. It has been played over years, which is not surprising due to the fact that it’s great. There were some tooth indentations on the bite area that I temporarily filled and patched over. Tip rails shows some action but I would not touch this. Plays, feels and works great.
Author Archives: Horned Toad
Selmer MK VI 80xxx Original US lac/engraving Needs overhaul nice condition
Here is a rather hard to find serial number, early MK VI alto from around 1959. This is the tail end of the first example of the medium bow designs. The lacquer is obviously original, quite dark with a nice color. This horn has been sitting quite a while, has a lot of dust and eroded old pads. All the original metal tone-x resonators are present (only had rivets on the palm keys), neck is also original and serial numbered. There is some corrosion present but this will also come off easily enough. There have been some minor bruises over the years, the octave level was bent, but all the screws are free and it is ready to have a full overhaul as it currently is not at all playable. I may end up working on it at some point but someone else should probably get it going and play it before I take a long time to get to that point.
Selmer MK VI 162k original player $6500
Nice original working musician’s 162k MK VI alto. This is a gig reliable medium bow horn, original neck and has some custom key risers added. As you can see it is not a closet horn but has lived a bit and shows some action. This is a similar design iteration as the later 140k altos with that even scale, impressive projection and tonal color.
Otto Link FL Double Ring 8* Adjusted by ‘moi’ .111 Excellent player
Wonderful rare larger sized Double Ring FL at .111. This piece had been previously faced and recently adjusted by myself to a really optimal response. Although this piece is large (for me) it will play with the same reed I use on smaller facings and unsurprisingly sounds the same as my best smaller pieces, with the added air and fatness expected for am 8*. It is very difficult at this point to find any larger double rings, and most won’t play as exceptionally as this one.
Joshua Redman’s 1956 MK VI 62xxx tenor, Wonderful Player & Collector’s Treasure
This is Joshua Redman’s 62k MK VI tenor, original US lacquer and engraving and nearly mint condition. He used this on his reunion tour in 2002 with Brad Meldau, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade. He had this set up to his preference and the overhaul is tight and slick. This horn has a rather massive lush and complex vibe to it, delivered bright and immediate, wonderfully flexible. The photos you see here are before the overhaul, and he says a little cleaning might be in order after use on tour and sessions etc. It has been put through its paces by one of the best. See and hear it live here-
This horn is exactly as great as one would expect to have been selected among many by Joshua Redman. It is definitely among the best early VI’s to be found, still has a bit of SBA in it with that MK VI width and edge on the sound. This horn will include paperwork from Redman. I have the pleasure of helping him rearrange some horns. Feel free to message with questions and interest.
Morgan Jazz 7 Soprano
Received in trade, looks in good condition.
Meyer NY USA .076 refaced
.Here, a very nice Meyer NY USA refaced to .076 by Ochuttio. It’s a nice player with both fullness and projection exactly as these are expected to be. Received this in a trade, will definitely be a happy piece for a player.
Otto Link Slant Sig Early FL .103
A very early FL blank with the very high and steep ledge drop to the beak, these are the first Florida slant models with facing stamped on the side. These have a slightly larger chamber and would trend slightly darker but with a significant baffle become powerhouses of complexity. This one was refaced to .103 by Ochuttio and plays very big and powerful. Should be a good deal for any player who wants to cut through with fatness and depth. Has some normal wear on the bite area that won’t affect anything but could be filled with minimal work.
Excellent Early Berg Larsen Type (mixed?) Font Tenor 105
Here we have a very nice find, early Berg Larsen 105/1/M. This piece has the original denim table milling marks and a wonderful delicately finished tip rail and baffle quite likely faced by Berg Larsen himself. This is the style all the early ones are done in, by, I think, himself. Unusually this piece actually measures right at .105 on my tools. The slant signature Bergs and pieces near that time period usually measure exactly as stamped but slightly later ones (like this should be) trend .005 smaller. This one is accurate to the stamp, no idea why.
The font on the shank seems to have SOME of earlier serif font. I believe someone has replaced the biteplate with a modern marbled rubber. I see no evidence of any other work done. This piece plays rather huge and fat. It is pretty accurate for a #1 baffle being brilliant while also not excessively bright or at all shrill.
There are many of destroyed, later model, etc Berg Larsens to be found but the Serif Font denim table originals are few and far between now.
Selmer MK VI 115xxx mint original US Lac. NEARLY NEW!
Here we have a rather rare find; a 1964 Mark VI tenor that is in nearly new condition. The pads are all original with lacquer rings outside the toneholes. The finish shows some water spots and a tiny amount of speckle but almost no wear of any kind, even on frequently touched keys. The neck has matching number and is in beautiful un-flexed condition with not really any wear. The bottom bow and bell flare are both structurally spotless. The body in general only has a few tiny scratches. At a careful review of the photos you can see the kind of freckling of the lacquer with darker and lighter spotted areas; this is a slow aging or darkening process of original Selmer lacquer. The horn also needs a basic cleaning and will look even more shiny and new.
Given its original condition after so many years it really will need an overhaul. That said, I have been playing it and it IS playing, pretty well. It has the fast and nimble response that is associated with the 110k-120k model period. While these would normally be slightly on the focused/centered side of response when the pads get old and dried out that is hard to discern. In this case what I can say is that it is bright and sparkly juxtaposed with really utterly huge and booming, in a way I was not prepared for. This is a BIG sounding horn, like a mid-80k might be. With an overhaul it will likely be both fast, AND huge.
It feels excellent under the fingers and is pretty much at the apex of Selmer positive engineering before they brought in the ball joint side keys, which no one really loves. This is as close to a brand new Selmer MK VI from 1964 as anyone can expect and it just happens to be a super promising horn as well.
