Selmer SBA (Super Action) Tenor Saxophone 41xxx original near new

Posted on by

This is exactly the Coltrane model, Bluetrane, Giant Steps, Soultrane etc. 41xxx and nearly brand new.  It has all original pads and resos, lacquer still on the edges, could use a bit of tweaking but plays awesomely right now. Amazing crisp bright popping sound, saoring highs with the big bottom and compression. Just like the other 45xxx that recently sold here, this is just one of those things as good as it looks and it sure looks.

This level of instrument usually sells quietly without publicly posted sales so the only people who know what they really sell for are the seller and the buyer.  This is one of the nicest examples I’ve ever found and there are very few to be found now, so I will gladly keep it until and unless I am quite compelled to let it go. For those who are expecting a ‘reasonable’ price, best not to bother to ask.  There is nothing reasonable about this horn.

Continue reading →

Otto Link FL no USA 9* Original Apex Tenor Piece

Posted on by

This is an excellent example of the archetypal large tip size earlier Florida Link. For some unknown reason these larger tip sizes on the earlier FL really had a special thing.  They play big and very flexible, but if you get the right model they also play somehow unexpectedly easy for that size.  It’s a trick of facing and finish I guess, just the way they made these.  I’ve had many 9’s and 10’s that did just this thing, reliably.

This one is in very nice condition, untouched and not abused.  It measures at around .130 on my tools and blows very complex and easy for the size with a very significant original baffle.

 

 

Continue reading →

Otto Link USA 7 (.105) Optimized

Posted on by

This is a wonderful late FL USA stamped 7 facing that plays excellently. I have trued and optimized this facing and tip.  The finish over most of the mouthpiece is very nice yet there is some staining of the plating on the table due to a reed left attached long term I imagine.  This piece plays in a compact and concise way with a very nice flat step baffle similar to late FL hard rubber pieces of the same time period.  It has a lot of complexity and a great buzz and depth to it. Tip size.105 and set up with an older traditional Otto Link Facing curve.

Continue reading →

Gear Nerd Summit

Posted on by

Had a really wonderful hang with Josh Redman, fellow tone & subtlety aficionado; inspiringly great player and exceptionally good, smart and fun person to be around. Being able to share that level of appreciation for detail in sound is why we do this, but some people are just plain cool.

Selmer MK VI soprano 73xxx Original engraved & premium overhaul Amazing player

Posted on by

I am not keen to sell this horn.  It took me years to find and it is wonderful, but it is sitting at the moment, probably should be played more.  It is an original lac. European market fully engraved 1957 first year MK VI soprano #73xxx.  I restored it with new pads and metal resonators and it is very nicely set up tight with all toneholes level and keys fitted, it’s a beautiful experience to play.

More to follow-

Continue reading →

Selmer MK VI 88xxx Original US Laq LOW A Rarity!

Posted on by

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.

 

 

 

Continue reading →

King Silversonic 411xxx Cleveland Single Socket Neck Beautiful Hornedtoad overhaul

Posted on by

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.

Continue reading →

Otto Link Early Babbitt STM 10 original PLAYER

Posted on by

Here is a rather hard to find mouthpiece for a particular player who likes to go big.  This is a wonderful denim tabled original EB Link with a rather huge significant baffle adding a big shot of bright buzz and sizzle on a huge wide sound.  The big baffle and the specific shape of it helps stop that big sound from getting lost or too diffuse which can happen with large tipped Links.

This piece is measuring over .125 on my tools which means it is probably .130. It’s been used, has some scratching and plating age but it’s overall in good shape. The biteplate has a little spot of wear but not something I would bother about.  I noticed that the material above the table (inside the chamber) is quite thin which tells me that essentially this chamber is not so big.  This is the secret to a great playing EB Link.

Continue reading →

Selmer Elkhart NY (Zimberoff Supersonic) ‘Marinated’ .100 Excellent Vintage Player

Posted on by

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.

Continue reading →