King Soprano players

[A.C.]

Are there any King soprano players out there? I just got a silver one from the 20's and had it overhauled. I think it sounds really sweet.

[Tharruff]

A.C.

I bought a 92XXX silver plated King Soprano a couple of years ago. Mine is a 'fixer upper' with the high 'E' key MISSING. I posted a similar question about the playability of these horns awhile ago, but no one responded. I'll be curious to see if anyone bites this time.

I'll need to eventually find a parts horn to get mine playable, or use mine for parts to get another one up to speed.

I'm glad to hear that you like the way yours plays.

[knighttrain]

AC, I've had a 1926 King Soprano for over 30 years. The sound is just beautiful. Wouldn't dream of parting with it. My congrats on your acquisition. What Mouth Piece are you using?

[A.C.]

I'm going to go to WW&BW this week to try some out. Was thinking of either Selmer Super Session or Selmer Metal Classical. Currently using a Lakey. Intonation isn't any more of an issue than it was on my alto. It's a joy to practice: the low notes are especially satisfying. And there's a wide range of tones I can get out of it. Wish I had started on soprano earlier. With the exception of my right thumb, which is aching, I find it much easier to practice for extended amounts of time. If you have any recommendations for other mouthpieces I should try, let me know. Thanks.

[knighttrain]

Have been using a Hard Rubber Berg 55/2 for years. This is a middle of the road choice. Nice sound - good flexibility - I really have no problems with it, but I thought I'd try something different. I now have a Runyon Custom on back order (WW&BW) with a #9 facing and spoiler. Maybe we should keep comparing notes. I had also planned on getting around to the Super Session sooner or later. I'd be really interested to know how it works for you.
I had not noticed a problem with the thumb, but I probably have a pretty good callous built up from "too many" years of playing.

[A.C.]

The thumb is hurting less and less each day; I also am trying to build up stamina for holding it up at an angle. I will try out a hard rubber berg when I go to WW&BW if they have any.

[A.C.]

I finally made it to WW&BW today: I liked the metal classical Selmer better than the Super Session; I perceived it to be smoother and more modern sounding on the horn
The Super Session made it sound ... I don't know, sort of like a Brilhart on an alto - more Clarinet like, more vintage. I just thought it sounded like it was from the past - it probably doesn't sound like that on newer horns. Anyway, I went with the metal classical in a D facing.

[knighttrain]

Glad to see you found your piece. I not surprised you get a "modern" sound with it. The construction on the classical selmer pieces I've seen seem more modern than my berg does (smaller bore, etc). Still did not get my Runyon Custom in, but I did purchase a Rico Metalite with #9 facing. I purchased this one used from a respected forum member who had moved on to another piece. So far, so good. I like the piece a lot, although I will still play the Berg as well. Not sure you would like the Metalite. It's a more open-sounding piece, but does shift the sould slightly toward the Clarinet mode.

[Hornlip]

I've talked to two people who had a King soprano, and both said it played wonderfully but that the intonation was awful. Don't know how their choice of mouthpieces may have worked into it.

I actually heard one of them play, and the horn certainly sounded great.

[Mike Ruhl]

Still did not get my Runyon Custom in, but I did purchase a Rico Metalite with #9 facing. I purchased this one used from a respected forum member who had moved on to another piece. :oops: Aw shucks, there's lotsa folks round here think I'm nuts...

[A.C.]

I got mine overhauled, and I don't have any complaints about the intonation.
As far as tone, the low notes resonate wonderfully. The high c# and above are weak, but I think that's just me - I'm new to soprano and need to work on my embouchure.
I know saxellos have earned a reputation for awful intonation.

[knighttrain]

Hornlip, re: your question on intonation. The mid-range alternate fingerings are slightly off. The mid C with octave key and right pinkie is a touch sharp. The mid D and above notes hit with the palm keys are a touch flat. All other notes are right on. Just as a side note - my friend's Mark VI has the exact same issues, but a bit more so (also, in case you're wondering, no it's not my playing - I tried several Taiwanese horns recently with my usual set up and none of them had these particular issues.)

[super20dan]

i just got one -its a stinker! intonation is all over the place.some notes almost 1/4 tone sharp! avoid these and get a conn or buescher if vintage is your bag

[knighttrain]

Dan, Just out of curiosity, what type of mouthpiece did you use with it? The chamber size seems to make a difference with mine. A bigger chamber (which would have been the norm when the sax was produced) works perfectly. Narrow chambers are tougher to keep in. Sharpness increases progressively when going up the scale.

[T.S.]

I've owned two King Sops..both 20's vingtage, one completely silver plated, one silver with the gold bell...both were ok intonationally (only a little dodgy on C#3 up through palm keys if you weren't careful). Both sounded great! I wish I still had them.

[super20dan]

i must confess i havent spent much time on it with a large chamber mpc . so far i have used my rico royal metalite and runyon quantum mostly .i have a very good rubber link i will try but dont hold out much hope.there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to as this horns intonation problems. some notes very flat (a2 ,c#2 and e2) while d2 is almost 1/4 tone sharp.using the plam key makes no diff! i am no stranger to vintage sops and their quirks but this one is going to be a challenge. make me glad i never shelled out for a saxello . the plam keys speak easy and are in tune(go figure?)

[super20dan]

ok i tried all 13 of my sop mpcs and the winner is the selmer s80 c* .wow what a differance . tunning is vastly improved ! across the whole horn. the yamaha 4c was second. the dukoff was attrocious. metal yani will serve as my rock mpc but none of the high baff mpcs will work.

[knighttrain]

For a high baffle piece with good intonation, the Runyon Custom w/spoiler (#9) works well on mine. The sound is not as edgy as with the Metallite 9, but the intonation is easier. Considering the sound that comes out of these Kings, I don't resent a little babying.

[knighttrain]

Dan - 13 Soprano mouthpieces! You've got me beat there by good measure.

[super20dan]

i have a custom too but like the quantum w/out spoiler on the king better. it probably has enough edge for rock but i wont know till i use it durung a show .(the acid test) .the reason for so many sop mpcs is i had a yamaha yss-r that was so tunning picky i had to try a lot of mpcs to find some that could tune with it. i gave up and traded it for a yani that works well with any mpc. i should sell some of the excess ones off but havnt gotten around to it . good that i didnt cause i might not have had one that would have worked with the king. one cant have too many mpcs!

[super20dan]

here is a paradox for you . vintage sops are supposed to work best with large round chamber mpcs right? well i tried my dukoff on the old king sop and guess what -it works great! in addition to the famous dukoff projection it actually now has better intonation .go figure?

[Stencilman]

I have found the same thing: many vintage sopranos are just not that sensitive to mouthpiece choice. While a Dukoff D chamber does work ok on my vintage Martin and Buescher sopranos, the M chamber works better for me on these horns. With the D chamber, the palm key notes are just a little flat. I've only tried the M chamber on a mid 1920's King soprano and it was very nice.

[super20dan]

my dukoff is also am M