I love my Keilwerth!

[Kosma]

Seems like a good way to start in the new forum.
Let's hear from the Keilwerth players.

Regards, Matt K

[SteveZ]

When i played my New King tenor in the rehearsal room at the music store where i bought it, i knew it was the tenor for me. Gutsy, lush, and achingly beautiful subtones. And the angelwing is pretty groovy, too. can't say enough good things about this horn.

but dang, it's HEAVY. i think the brass is about an inch thick.

[c.c]

The SX90 and a Florida metal Link 8 is THE best combination for me. I happened to like the Keilwerth with no tone rings. It gives a snappy sound instead of a smooth one.

[Chris]

I love sx90r nickel silver. :oops: :lol: :wink:

[Chris-Sax]

I have resently bought a New King tenor for £820 pounds, and i think it can live up to any MK6 that i have tryed in the past!! In the past i have considered my self as a "selmer man", but my NEWK has now taking on
the role of my main horn!
Can anyone suggest a good mouthpiece set-up for the horn? i am currently using a metal link 6 with rico 3 (soft) jazz reeds.

[singlereed]

I have an Anniversary alto, it is the second one I have owned, sold the first one and regretted it. No 2 plays a lot better than the othe one, this came from SaxAlley and is very good. I have tried 2 Anniversary Tenors but both played really unevenly and I sent them back. Somehow the cosmetics look great on alto and left me unmoved on tenor. I use the JK for all kinds of music including classical. I had a couple of lessons from a recent graduate of the RNCM who went through ther system with a JK as his main horn. I have had loads of problems with sticking pads, laying the case on the edge seems to help a bit and it is improving with age. For me the V5 Vandoren pieces work best but I have also had success with Meyer 6 NY Ltd, Jody Jazz, Selmer C* HR S80 and Yanagisawa metal - now tell me what if anything they have in common.

[SteveZ]

Chris Sax,

that setup is pretty good--i use a Florida metal Link 8* w/ LaVoz med. soft and it's perfect. depends on the sound you're going for. Others that might be good are dukoffs and bergs. something with a bit of edge to bring out the growl in the Keilwerth tone.

[Kosma]

Mine is a plain jane lac SX90 tenor with a Morgan 7EL/FL lig/rico royal 3.
Stole it on ebay. Best horn I've ever played. I try out every horn I can get my hands on. Most recently my friends Selmer serIII. It's a great horn no doubt and I always enjoy playing it. It just doesn't have that "meaty" sound for lack of a better word like the Keilwerths do.

[Subtone Sam]

I dig all three of them.Best modern horns on the market,imo.

[Hailz]

I just recently purchased a EX90 silver plated alto keilworth, and it's the best one i've played yet! I used to play on an old student model Yamaha, and was told that professionals play on it and get a "wonderful" sound :? This was obliviously told to me by someone wanting to sell the damn thing. I almost bought it, but then had a go at the keilworth and had to get it. I've got it set up with an A27 vandoren mouthpiece, and a BG super revelation ligature, and Vandoren Java reeds.
Excellent bright, jazzy sound, i love my keilworth! :P

[Riff]

I was a loyal Mark VI player until I tried an SX90R. Haven't played my Mark VI in two years now.

I also like the Link/Keilwerth combination. I use a modern NY Link #8.

[Subtone Sam]

Riff,try Lawton on your SX90R.Lawton+JK and LaVoz reeds is the best combination I´ve found yet.

[imago]

I ´am playing a "New King" from 1951,
wonderful great saxophone, excellent intonation
with a biiig sound!

greetings
imago

[Joe Jazz]

Just got my new alto today(nickel plated with clear laquer/gold keys). Great horn at a closeout price! I'm cancelling my order for a silver Yamaha Custom Z. Haven't had any major problems with sticky pads or the palm keys so far. Love the finish and sound! Using my gold-plated Link on it......

[wsgreen5]

I've had my SX90 alto for about four months now, and I absolutely love it. Unfortunately, it wasn't set up right by the shop I got it from, so it's with my axe is with my fav. sax tech now getting sharpened. I played all the new modern horns before i chose the JK, and nothing compares to the rich tone of a JK.

[Morry]

Welcome to the brotherhood! I, too, am a shaved-headed, robe-wearing, tamborine-slapping convert myself.

[Rahspeak]

I got a black sx90r tenor on ebay for 2300. this horn was not in new condition--it was in BETTER than new condition. the previous owner had it just long enough to break it in for me. 100 percent lacquer, nary a ding, dent, or leak, just perfect. And the guy lived in NYC like me, so I didn't even have to have it shipped--saved money and possible wear and tear on the horn. Man do I feel lucky. This horn has it all--tone, intonation, sturdy construction, i like the bigger ergonomics, and it last but least, it looks COOL. when my doubling improves, all my other horns will be JKs too.

[Morry]

I just added a black nickel SX90II soprano to the stable, and I'm really starting to dig it.

[Terry Sullivan]

I have had my SX90R black nickel tenor for 3 years now and I love it, before I bought I tried all the selmers SA8011 the 54 the 36 and the yams and yannis
I had a 62 yam tenor and a SA80II soprano I sold them both to buy this tenor. The only Saxes that I have tried and have come up to its standard are some old conns and an mkV1.The only new sax that worked for me beside the keilwerth was an earthtone not cheap!
I get very dark rich tones with my vandoren and my slant sig clone eb mpcs,
and slightly brighter with my link NY metal but rich all the same.
I can’t play like getz but I can sound like him on occasion.
The best way to buy a sax is to go to a shop where you can try many,
put on a blindfold and have someone hand them to you. worked for me!
All that glitters is not gold

[saxyguy92]

I was a loyal Mark VI player until I tried an SX90R. Haven't played my Mark VI in two years now.

I also like the Link/Keilwerth combination. I use a modern NY Link #8.



can i buy your mark 6??!!!8-)

[saxyguy92]

i have an ST90 alto great horm:D

[J.Max]

I love my Keilwerth SX-90R tenor...I believe that it was one of the first ever brought into the US, I've had it for 15 years and it still says "Made In WEST Germany" on it. I'd never give it up; it's like a member of my family.

[William Bua]

Hey everyone,
I lucked out and my craigslist story will probebly make you want to gag. I found a Keilwerth tone king special two weeks ago. I took a chance and sent my money into the wind. It looked great in pictures but, there is photoshop to worry about. When it came, I realized I had somthing special. I never believed in "closet" horns until now. This is a horn built in 1984 and it only has two tiny scratches on it. Its original pads are pristine too. It has its original cleaning supplies and mouthpiece to boot. After a pro regulation, I put it up against a cannonball stone series which I bought last year. Though the cannonball stacked up well, the tonal colors the keilwerth has are unmatched. I know why so many great players love them now. This is a horn that I would stack up against any horn I've played. To get one this clean and unused is rare indeed. The problem with vintage horns are just that, they have seen better days. We have all seen worn out mark vi's that don't play as they should. I got this keilwerth in perfect condition for GET THIS $550.00 delivered. My repairman wanted to shoot me when I told him how little I payed for this horn. The deals are out there if you look often and get lucky. Now, as a Keilwerth player, I have a chance to play with the kind of subtones I've always looked for in other horns and didn't find. I know that one horn never fits all. To all great players out there who have not played one of these horns, do yourself a favor and play a keilwerth. This horn will NEVER go on the auction block. if you love to play ballads, try a keilwerth.

William Bua
Keilwerth tone king special tenor
Yanagisawa 900-sc soprano

[Giganova]

I think we all agree, Keilwerths are great.

When I went to my first sax lesson I saw that my teacher had a Sel***, so I asked him: "Wanna check out my Keilwerth SX90R?". He quickly said "No, I know its gonna be better than mine and I don't want to know how much better it plays". It really bothered him that I had an SX90R! :D

Interesting, though: Each time I talk to a "famous" sax player after a gig, we talk a bit about gear, and NONE has ever heard about Keilwerths! They all seem to have the "standard pro horn", a Mark VI, and don't care about anything else. One of them said "If you have the holy grail (Mk VI), why look any further?" :?

[Bikertrash]

Is it just my impression or are Keil tenors physically MASSIVE? I could cope with the weight but I'm concerned that the keys could be too much of a stretch.

[sycc]

Is it just my impression or are Keil tenors physically MASSIVE? I could cope with the weight but I'm concerned that the keys could be too much of a stretch. My 10 year old girl plays a SX-90 tenor::D :D . The only key she has a problem reaching is the low c key. The wide bell bow really helps w/ her low notes.

[Pannonia]

Is it just my impression or are Keil tenors physically MASSIVE? I could cope with the weight but I'm concerned that the keys could be too much of a stretch.

Probably it is just an impression. There are differences from the Selmer-ish arrangement in that the location of keys, location of thumbrest and height of posts are set up the JK way. Most Keilwerth's are no heavier or just a little heavier than their counterparts. Got to try one to see if it works for you.

[shmuelyosef]

Actually, my tenors in order of weight (lightest to heaviest) are King S20, Conn DJH (JK stencil), Keilwerth Modell Ponzol, Selmer Series 1 SA80 (sold recently), Yani T992...Same story for altos too, the Keilwerths seem heavy but are actually lighter than ribbed horns...

[Bob M]

I recently bought a Bundy Special (from SOTW'er CSharp) and am knocked out by what a great horn it is. Apparently Selmer US had Keilwerth stencil these in the early to mid-60s and despite the Bundy name and nickle plated keys, IMHO it is a pro-quality horn. The horn has rolled tone holes and looks very much like a Couf Superba 1. The intonation is fantiastic top to bottom and the sound....:D .

I love my Keilwerth!

[joshuski]

Been a convert for 2 years now. Stable includes:
Tenor - SX90R black nickle {gig horn}
- EX90 laquer FS
Alto - EX90 laquer
Soprano - Buffet/Keilwerth similiar to SX90

Gotta get a bari to complete the SATB.