Kohlert/Keilwerth Winnenden 808x tenor - Have I struck Gold?

[soreliprick]

I know it sound like gold, the tone is great, I can live with the non-auto G#, but could it actually be a goldplated sax from 1950?! Its the one that just closed last week on eBa#.

[soreliprick]

Just an update: I've taken it apart, polished everything up, all the imperfections are gone and its shining like gold. The pads are all replaced but I have to wait until tomorrow to cork and reassemble. A friend has a couple of Kohlerts and one has a finish that he can't confirm even down at the music store, but so far I'm the only one claiming that I have a gold plated Winnenden. I'd feel a lot better if I could find someone else with a gold one.

[Jerry K.]

Weren't the Winnendons more of a intermediate range horn? I thought they were considered to be a little less desireable than say a Kohlert 57. It would be very surprising if they would made this horn in gold plate. If so, I would think you have a very unique horn indeed.

[Sigmund451]

I dont think they were intermediate horns but for whatever reason the 57 is considered the most desireable of the models. I nearly bought it and what I read led me to believe that it was basically an issue of model vs model rather than pro or semi-pro vs intermediate.

Looked to be a nice sax to me, especially for the $. In the end I didnt bid because they are considered in tone to be in the general tonal class with Martins "dark and smokey". As I play a Martin it would likely be rather redundant. Hope it works out great.

[soreliprick]

This early model would be right after they moved from the east, had to start up from scratch, and a few years before the RTH models. And redundant is right - with a '48 The Martin Tenor, albiet with an Indiana neck and a bad relacquer, and a late '20's worn goldplated Handcraft, I really didn't need another Martinesque sax, but my buddies talked me into it. I ain't complaining, even if it turns out to be polished brass.