Originally Posted By: eddie1261
Notes, my sax is a King Cleveland from 1964. Meaning that it is likely my father worked on it as it was being assembled. The plant was on 52nd Street. We lived on 61st. My father worked there his entire working life. When Henderson White died, his widow Edna had dinner at our house many times.

THERE is some vintage right there.

That's cool history Eddie. King made some great instruments in Cleveland. They have a much better reputation than those built in Eastlake.

My King (H.N. White) alto is silver plated over dense brass.

Like many old saxes, the intonation is rough, meaning it takes a good ear and a quick lip on the reed to play all the notes in tune.

On the other hand, it has the voice of an angel.

Years ago I compared it to my friend's Selmer Mark VI alto, and we both agreed, the King sounded much better.

What I'd really like, but definitely can't afford, is an old King Super 20 Tenor "Silversonic" with the sterling silver neck and bell.

I had a Mark VI tenor once, then a VII, then a H.Couf Superba (IMO the best sax I've ever played), then a Grassi, now a custom-made MacSax and a Yamaha (Gotta have 2 tenors - just in case)

Before the VI I had a Conn "firworkes" and a Selmer Modele 26 with a Pan American backup horn. The Pan American was definitely student model and I only played it when my other horns were being overhauled.

Actually, I have another piece of vintage gear. It's a reed trimmer that I bought when I was in high school. Still have it, still occasionally use it.

I have a Berg Larson 100/0 Stainless mouthpiece that I no longer use, but will not part with.

I'm using an Otto Link 8/NY today. With the more modern, brighter sounding saxes, the slightly darker tone of the Link makes them sound better to my ears.

I bought the Berg probably in the mid 1960s.

The Berg sounded good on the darker VI and Couf, it helped put a rock/blues edge on the horns without going to a closed tip and harder reed. I like softer reeds as they allow me to make more different tones out of it, which I think gives the sax more vox humana.

Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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