This is an excellent Coltrane year/model SBA 40k that just arrived.  This one will definitely need a complete overhaul but it’s going to be that magical creature when done.  Wow! and look at that rare and excellent original case!

This has original US engraving and dark lacquer.  The neck is in beautiful condition and the bell as well.  This horn HAS been played and it has two repairs: the lower guard foot at Eb had a dent and the foot was damaged and the area repaired.  The tonehole is fine and the bow is nice and round, it is just cosmetic at this point.  The upper G rib was slightly unattached at the front and this was tacked down.

Now, the pads on this horn are currently horrible, YUCK! They are degrading, soft, rotten and covered in some kind of wax-like substance, maybe it is polish of some kind?  Anyhow they are disgusting and they are also leaking like a vintage British motorcycle, leaking horribly.  I was prepared to have a miserable feeling when playing it because honestly there is not a single pad that is not leaking and rotten, yet it has a truly amazing response.  This actually annoyed me.  It is better than many other horns, and with these pads it really should not be.

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