King ergononics?

[Konrad]

How is the key spacing? How are they for small hands?

(Please, if you want to lecture me on "go for tone," not ergonomics, I'm not interested.)

K

[JimD]

I've just bought a Super20 tenor and find the ergonomics are excellent. My other horn is a Keilwerth and, while I love the feel of the action, the LH table is a bit of a stretch for me. I don't have big hands, whether or not they are small I don't know, but the King feels as if it was designed for me. The keys are comforably spaced and the action is light but secure and very fast. I tried out over a dozen horns of many makes - Conn, Martin, King Zephyr and Selmer and, except for the Martin, this was easily the most comfortable. However, some of the other Super20s did not feel as easy but I think this had as much to do with the way they blew as the actual layout. There was one complete turkey though, described as feeling like a bag of spanners, which felt like a bag of spanners. This one was an early model with the pearl tips, so in theory it's one of the great classics but it was one sorry horn.

[benjamin1979]

yapp, the ergonomics is very good, but the sound is a bit dark. is worth to try one .

[frobig]

I do have one of the old horns, a tenor from around '48, and very small hands, and the Super 20 fits me like a glove. In their defense, all these horns are at least 20 years old, and being pro horns, a lot of them are going to be pretty worn out and could probably use more than the usual overhaul--lots of key swedging, new springs, etc. Also, the serial number range can mean a lot, because there were three basic key setups over the years. Lots of players can't stand the pre-305xxx keywork, with its backward-hinged pinky keys and tucked-in side keys, and the earliest pinky table (pre-295xxx) is more awkward; but either setup is more comfortable than a Chu Berry or Buescher, I think.

[swapsax]

I do have one of the old horns, a tenor from around '48, and very small hands, and the Super 20 fits me like a glove. In their defense, all these horns are at least 20 years old, and being pro horns, a lot of them are going to be pretty worn out and could probably use more than the usual overhaul--lots of key swedging, new springs, etc. Also, the serial number range can mean a lot, because there were three basic key setups over the years. Lots of players can't stand the pre-305xxx keywork, with its backward-hinged pinky keys.


The 275-295K models don't have a backward-hinged pinky key but one hinged top to bottom like a 10M--good feel on those. The 295-305K have the very nasty backward hinged G#--not nice! But both have the extremely
heavy actioned low C# with the ill-advised articulation--avoid unless you have
well developed pinkies! Best to go after the post 305K horns with the modern
"Selmer" style pinky table...

[Dr G]

How is the key spacing? How are they for small hands?

(Please, if you want to lecture me on "go for tone," not ergonomics, I'm not interested.)

If you want to talk ergos, I find the neck angle very uncomfortable. It forces me to either contort my own neck or compromise the angle at which the mouthpiece enters my mouth.

[larry]

I have to agree with swapsax on the LH pinky table - I have a Super20 tenor and it's kinda awkward running from Bb to C# to B and around. But the finger/palm spacings should be fine for small hands.

My only complaint is that the angle of the thumb hook (not adjustable) is a little sharp for me and digs into my thumb knuckle. I've been contemplating building it up since I'll never, ever sell this horn!

[sw3119]

If you want to talk ergos, I find the neck angle very uncomfortable. It forces me to either contort my own neck or compromise the angle at which the mouthpiece enters my mouth.


Dr G.

On the older Kings with the 3 loop clip for the neck strap I find that changing which loop you clip into can really change the angle of the neck.

Konrad,

If you get a good old King Zephyr or Super 20 you shouldn't have to worry about the tone.

The left hand pinky keys are the only real draw back (on the older models). It can be a little tricky to try to go from Bb to C# (they are in a straight line, so you have to skip over the B.) Also there is no articulated G#.