I think I have the earliest one ever made. At 281xxx. Series 1 zephyr style pinky stable. Just wanting to see if anyone has any and maybe any earlier. I'll post some updated pics as soon as it gets back from my tech.
I've never seen a full pearls SilverSonic. I just picked up a Zephyr Special. I have seen where they silver plated the bell on a Super 20. It seems like you always see the full pearls s20 or Z-special, but never pearls
with the silversonic.
No pics? No sax.
Seriously, let's see it. I had an early Super 20 full-pearls in the early 1960s but it was brass bell. I guess it was late '40s as it had the engraved set of bell pad cups including the C and C#.
Earlier this year I acquired a Full Pearls S20, but with brass bell. I think the S/N puts it early 50s. From what I understand there's only a few years that King made Silversonics with full pearls (a rare beast as we've noted by this thread (but I could be wrong)).
I haven't yet owned one, my Super 20 is an early Eastlake with a brass bell and neck. But, I'm looking very seriously at a Silversonic (another early Eastlake horn) that's for sale here locally. It has some pearls, but I'm not sure if it's a full pearl horn (I'll check when I play it next time). It's a beast! It's a very loud horn that plays almost effortlessly everywhere except the bell notes (leaks, probably). My friend who is selling it is getting it adjusted for me to see if those low notes will come out more easily. I may trade my Super 20 (and a Wurlitzer C Soprano) in towards it. The sound of this Silversonic is so much nicer than mine, it's surprising, with a great character to it. We've already talked about the trades and if it comes back from the tech playing easily down low .... I'll probably go for it.
Btw, any thoughts on the fair market value of the Silversonic I'm describing would be greatly appreciated.
I haven't yet owned one, my Super 20 is an early Eastlake with a brass bell and neck. But, I'm looking very seriously at a Silversonic (another early Eastlake horn) that's for sale here locally. It has some pearls, but I'm not sure if it's a full pearl horn (I'll check when I play it next time).
It's a beast! It's a very loud horn that plays almost effortlessly everywhere except the bell notes (leaks, probably). My friend who is selling it is getting it adjusted for me to see if those low notes will come out more easily. I may trade my Super 20 (and a Wurlitzer C Soprano) in towards it. The sound of this Silversonic is so much nicer than mine, it's surprising, with a great character to it. We've already talked about the trades and if it comes back from the tech playing easily down low .... I'll probably go for it.
Btw, any thoughts on the fair market value of the Silversonic I'm describing would be greatly appreciated.
Condition, condition, condition - especially on a horn this old. If the condition of the Silversonic is similar to your Super, and your friend is warm to the idea of a trade, go for it - especially if you actually prefer its character beyond the aesthetics.
The pearls on the palm keys and side keys went away long before the transition to Eastlake.
Condition, condition, condition - especially on a horn this old. If the condition of the Silversonic is similar to your Super, and your friend is warm to the idea of a trade, go for it - especially if you actually prefer its character beyond the aesthetics.
Oops, my bad. I went back to the store to get another look at the Silversonic tenor (450,xxx) and it has NO pearls. I must have been thinking about the King Zephyr Special that was in the store recently, that did have full pearls (even on the palm keys and octave key, along with a silver neck). The Silversonic has no pearls but gold leaf on the bell.
Matt, congrats on your rare bird. I've seen pics of a 297xxx and a 295xxx sterling bell with pearl side keys. Yours is by far the earliest I've heard of for that combo, even suspiciously early. I look forward to seeing the photos.
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