New King

[madav]

I recently picked up a Nickel plated New King with rolled tone holes and Buck Rogers style key guards - what can I expect from this tenor ?, it's with my tech for regulation at the moment...

I bought it as a backup horn,


all comments appreciated

[Chris-Sax]

Man! Great horns! i picked mine up a few months back as a spare horn (it cost me buttons) & it has now taken the role of my main horn. Great deep, lush sounds from the bottom end! plus everyone comments on the funky plastic key guards! Good Choice! :D

[SteveZ]

8) i wouldn't trade mine for anything.

well, maybe a 5 digit mk vi. but only if it played as well.

seriously, it's a fabulous horn. great workmanship. sturdy, fast keywork. keen keyguard. rolled tone holes. husky, vintage sound that sweetens up with a good link, or gets dirty with a dukoff. you'd have to spend $1000 more to get something comparable in terms of quality/sound.

BUT------

it isn't perfect. that groovy keyguard is kinda fragile. you'll have to take good care of it and not bang it around. nobody makes the plastic ones anymore, so if you bust it up, you're SOL. And you have to get used to the intonation and adjust your embrochure accordingly. And, GAWD IS IT HEAVY. invest in a good neck strap.

but the SOUND.

[madav]

thanks guys - let you know how I get on when it getsback !!

[madav]

I've been having huge amount of fun with this sax - great sound quality, intonation and very decent mechanism, I really like the feel of the rolled tone holes as well - if the current Keilwerths represent 50 years ofimprovement over this design, it must be a wonderful sax !

[greenhorn]

I have an Alexendre Alto sax made by Keilwerth. It is a keilwerth stencil horn and has the funky plastic wing type key guards for the bell keys of the New King/Toneking.

It has the JK logo with the inscription "The best in the world". It is made in Germany. Serial number is 261** and according to the keilwerth site was made in 1956.

Am not sure how this stacks up against the current production of keilwerths, but it plays pretty nicely. It is for sale. $350 or so.

Drop me an email if you are interested. I can send pics on request.

bakchormee at yahoo.com

[Randall]

Steve, the funky keyguard is still available from Keilwerth, but the replacement is made of metal, rather than plastic. I have seen both and to tell you the truth, I like the metal replacement better...kinda reminds me of the styling of an old Plymouth!
I just landed one of these tenors, and the plastic guard looks to be in perfect condition....