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Wandering around this wonderful place called zee infrawebz, I stumbled upon an old King Cleveland alto sax. The guy only wanted $79 for it so I assumed it was a basket case. I exchanged some email with him and he said the bottom three pads may need replacing but he can play it down to low D. I decided that I could live with replacing three pads. I have a guy here named Tommy Ianni who is great for horn repairs, though like most guys who are good, he is very busy.

So in the course of emailing, I asked if he would consider selling it outside of auction. He said he would but the buy it now price was too high, so I decided to ride out the auction. That auction ended today about 10:30am EST, and I ended up getting the thing for $87.86!! With shipping, right at $110.

Now the story gets good. Before I bought I ran the serial number and found that this sax was built between 1960 and 1964. That puts the horn well inside the years that my father worked at King, which was H.N. White until right around that time. My uncle also worked there, and many family friends worked there, most of whom had kids I went to school with. So this will be a nice sentimental value horn to own.

Now, it gets better. The repair guy I mentioned? Tommy Ianni? His dad, Tom senior, also worked at H.N. White/King Band with my father, so we have known each other on and off since we were young children. I am pretty sure when I take the horn in next week Tommy and I will share a moment thinking back to our fathers working together at the place that horn was built.

This sax will be the second King instrument I have, the other being a flute I bought in 1997. My father passed away in 1991, and this sax will be great to have. Hopefully I can get it in shape and use it for this year's reunion show in October. It HAS to sound better than what I play now....

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I hope it plays as good as the story! Even if it doesn't, it sure sounds worth it to me.


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Very nice to have that personal connection!


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THAT is cool

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Great story, Eddie. As an old commercial put it: "You deserve a break today!"

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Really good story Eddie. My father passed away 7 years ago. I really treasure some things of his that were special to him.


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Its birthday Karma Eddie.

Quick, run down to the store and buy some lottery tickets!

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Very cool Eddie. A C note? Definitely a no brainer.

A somewhat related story is about a sax player friend who's 69 and lives in a retirement community. A few years ago a nice lady in her 80's gave him her late husbands horn. He had died maybe 20 years ago. She said he was a big band player during the war. He called me and told me it's an Olds trombone and when I ran the serial number it came up as being from 1941-42. When I visited him he brought it out and while the case is a beat up old road warrier the horn inside is absolutely perfect. Not a scratch or dent anywhere and it has a very nice engraved chrome lip around the bell. In the case is a rag, a small half full bottle of oil, a second mouthpiece and a faded old picture of the Whiteman band. It's like he came home from a gig, put it in the closet ready for the next call and it hasn't moved since.

Before she died Gary tried to ask her more about him but all she knew was he traveled a lot during the 40's and 50's and she couldn't confirm if he played for Whiteman or not. What stories that horn could tell, eh? Just like yours. A King from the 60's? Who knows what the backstory is with that one.

Another friend of Gary's who plays both keys and trombone came over and he showed it to him and he about flipped out handling it. Said it was in amazing condition and it plays perfectly. He wants to buy it but Gary is the type to not sell anything, that's probably why the lady gave it to him in the first place.

Bob


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Here's hoping I have a similar story. 6th grader son Ben learned clarinet dutifully this past year as his teacher told him he had to learn it first before moving on to sax. Kid has pretty good tone and he made it into the citywide honors band - only 6th grader from his school to make it.

Now we are renting a Tenor but looking to buy. Ran across a great wedding band (Alive on Arrival) from Denver at a wedding a few weeks back at the fanciest club in the Springs and the leader of the band is laying it down on alto and tenor like no other.

http://www.aoaband.com/clubaudio.cfm

I ask her if she can help me pick out a horn since I know nothing about it. Says she'll help me pick something out at a particular pawn shop in Denver. What would be a reasonable payment for that kind of service? She didn't ask for payment but since I know nothing about any woodwind stuff and since she obviously does, I thought it might be worth something.

-Scott

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I've had people buy me a dinner for going with them to evaluate horns. Just an idea.


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Quote:

I've had people buy me a dinner for going with them to evaluate horns. Just an idea.



Now there's an idea!

-Scott

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