Here we have a very rare 88k MK VI alto neck in original excellent condition. This plays exceptionally well, fat and complex with a shimmering clarity. These are hard to find for sure.
Category Archives: Vintage Saxophones (for sale AND sold)
King Super 20 375xxx Exc. Original Player with HT Overhaul
King Super 20, I think this is right around 1960. I consider this personally to be the apex of King saxophone production. While it may no longer be the full pearls period, not as glamorous, I think these horns are the most flexible, open and resonant players. Some people prefer the single socket neck (tail end of Cleveland and early Eastlake) and they do have a bit more undiluted power, for the complexity of tone vs the resonance these late double socket necks after the full pearls period are my personal favorites.
This horn I did a big restoration on. It is original finish and in very very good condition, though not perfect. It has one inobtrusive resoldered post and some truly invisible minor brass work. Some of the key cups are a bit marred. The horn is very straight. The neck has never been pulled down and it is fitted to perfection. The action is very light and extremely fast. The pads are a moderately firm setup fitted with nickel plated brass resotech flats. I set this horn up for myself and have played it to great enjoyment myself. This is an absolute kicker of a horn, very loud, very complex and very free blowing, can’t lose.
Otto Link Florida Soprano Slant Signature .063
This is a fairly early (no USA) slant signature Otto Link with the large chamber. It was stamped 5* with a bit of a thick tip finish, I was inspired to open it to .063 with a traditional Link facing and a good rail contour. This plays very big, and wide with a warm darker tone that also has a very fast and concise response. It has a unique singing quality that I think only these have. I felt that this piece did well with intonation as well, for whatever reason. It’s a very pretty sound.
Brilhart Ebolin Streamline 3 Original nice condition
This is what this is, no cracks, nice shape all original.
Selmer MK VI Alto 107xxx Excellent in all Aspects
Selmer MK VI alto here that is just exceptional in both condition as well as function. The lacquer finish is original and is a wonderful bright gold the same as they were made without much darkening. Physically the horn is in just great condition with no damage or repair that I could find. The original matching neck has never been pulled and is in very nice shape along with bell rim and bow cap. You may observe some lacquer wear on one side of the neck but that is just wear, the neck has been structurally unaltered. The lacquer does show some ‘water spots’ dark coloration here and there where we can see it’s age but these are not solders nor evidence of damage. One area of the bell does show some lacquer breakdown.
This horn is a concise and fast player with a fine balanced projection featuring both nimble aggressiveness as well as complexity of tonal character. It is a ‘vintage’ tone yet not weighed down by sluggish heaviness of the air stream. I personally prefer this alto among many but I don’t play enough alto to keep it to myself. I’ve listed it here mainly because people were asking and it deserves use, it’s very very good. Years past I struggled with intonation on long bow altos but for whatever reason this, for me, tunes up beautifully.
Selmer MK VI 87xxx original French Lac Punchy Player
This is an interesting 1960 MK VI tenor originally made for the French market; no engraving, light yellow French lacquer and that light blue enamel on the octave ‘S’. The serial number is 87xxx although the 7 is stamped at such an angle that is looks like a 1. I was confused as first but it has all the identifiers of an 87xxx as well.
The finish is original as is the neck with part of the serial scribed into the tenon as well. This horn has really lived, has plenty of scratches blemishes and some repairs but it is sturdy and solid. It’s just not very pretty which is exactly why it is a bargain for someone hunting for a player’s mid-late 80k tenor, which are usually very very expensive and hard to find. People love these specifically because of how they play. Of course some people are obsessed with the Brecker mystique but again, he played these because of how they play, apparently.
With a Berg Larsen-
And with a FL Link-
This one is a bit more focused than spread on the scale of how they might play. It is quite aggressive and punchy with an edgy bright thing that takes plenty of air and turns it into power. It feels fast and nimble. I am not a huge fan of the pads and resos but they are not especially old. I just think it could be set up better to reach its full potential. I’ve already gone through it and got it playing quite efficiently, but this would be a great project for someone to polish up. This will be quite an opportunity for the lucky 80k-seeker.
Selmer MK VI 88xxx Original US Laq LOW A Rarity!
Super rare and desired 1960 MK VI Low A baritone, 88xxx – magic numbers! This horn is original and amazing. Pro owned, pads still have some life but old. Being as baritones are this has normal bumps and bruises around the bow but but most of this will smooth out in the hands of a skilled technician as they are normal and non-critical. I have just cleaned up a bit of amateur solder on the low Eb guard feet (seen in last photos,) again non-critical issue but leaves some cosmetic evidence; it is nice and smooth and sturdy there and the patina will come in time.
Original serialed neck included in very good shape. original US engraving, this horn just has a wonderful feel in the hands. New arrival I’ve just played it, and I am not a great Bari player, but what would one expect from an 88k low a original US Bari? -amazingness of course! These are VERY hard to find.
Includes a very excellent SKB travel case with wheels, super convenient.
King Silversonic 411xxx Cleveland Single Socket Neck Beautiful Hornedtoad overhaul
This horn is a wonderful piece of vintage precision craftsmanship. It only feels ‘vintage’ because its intonation is not rigid and therefore tonally stifled by modern computer engineering. Such as it is, the notes are far more flexible than modern engineered horns and the tone is much more complex and malleable. That said, this still has a precise feeling and it is extremely loud and powerful with particular mouthpieces. It has very much a shimmering silver-ish quality to the sound, plenty bright. It is no doubt a wonderful horn.
I set this up with large brass flat resos, and excellent pads, it rings like a bell. Everything is tight and optimal. It has very minimal lacquer wear, minor to invisible brass work- if you can even find it and just generally in amazing condition. Case is original and includes a clarinet and flute situation. Latches still mostly work.
Selmer Elkhart NY (Zimberoff Supersonic) ‘Marinated’ .100 Excellent Vintage Player
This is a custom Marin Spivack setup vintage piece that starts with the same blank used for the Dukoff/Zimberoff “House of note” Supersonic model. This blank was used by Zimberoff, Selmer, George Bundy, and several others names as well from probably the early 1950’s to the 1970’s. It is a very good blank very much akin to the Otto Link Slant signature Tone Edge of those time periods. It has a round chamber with scooped walls and yet not an extremely large chamber, which is why (if setup properly) they will have a similar power to a Slant Link or a straight sig FL Link.
This is the later version of the blank which features a slightly longer shank, as the early shorter ones tend to play a bit sharper and have to be pretty far out on the cork. This is the same inside (and mostly outside) but solves that issue.
This one was custom set up from the ground up to a tip size of .100 and a medium shelf baffle. it plays with a very fat and solid booming tone with just the right amount of edge for clarity. I would say it may be a bit brighter than most stock Florida Slant signature Links, but I would not consider this extremely bright either, a very nice balance with a lot of clarity and a solid tone one can lean into.
Selmer Balanced Action 24xxx ORIGINAL rarity
This is a beautiful 24k Balanced Action alto in original lacquer and US engraving, a very rare find. This horn has an absolutely beautiful sound but will requires some attention to function at 100%. Pads will need help and some solder joints at the bell brace that are traditional weak-points for old Balanced Actions may warrant some review as well, although they are currently stable. The sound is unrivaled and the condition is very good and difficult to find.
Original case and mouthpiece included!
