[jumpin the rattler]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum and not completely new to tenor sax.

When I was 16 (1996) I had been playing clarinet in the school concert band although I really wanted to play trumpet when I discovered my dad had a tenor sax tucked away in the bottom of his wardrobe. It seemed like the perfect compromise for someone who could play clarinet but wanted to play trumpet.

The saxaphone, my father told me, was something he'd picked up in the trading post many years prior and had lost interest in. It looked old and not very well looked after but it was playable so it did the job. At the time not many of us were fortunate enough to have access to the internet and I wasn't able to get online and find out anything about it.

After school I put down the sax and have played bass guitar since. Recently I have been watching some jazz dvds and have been wishing I was capable on a lead instrument as well. Hence, I have been to visit my parents and once again have the tenor sax in my posession.

I'm wanting to start my time here finding out if anyone knows anything about my particular sax and can advise on mouthpieces, reeds etc and what I need to do to best set it up. Here is my best description:

On the bell of the sax is engraved "King Master". (Is this a brand anyone recognises?)

It has two mouthpieces with it - one white and one black. The black one doesn't have anything printed on it. The white mouthpiece has "Buescher Elkhart-Ind" in gold lettering on the top (non-reed side) surface. The black one looks to have a slighly sharper taper and has a longer surface for the reed to contact at the bottom and the hole that the reed sits over is shorter. I used to play using the white mouthpiece but I don't remember why. (Would these give different tonal qualities?)

I used no. 2 reeds as I'd been using no. 2 on my clarinet and really didn't know how to choose. Can anyone advise on what I should be using? Or how to choose?

Lastly, the finish is very damaged - overall its a dark bronze type of colour with a lot of deep, dark tarnish/pits. I'm not sure what the metal would be and what I could use to clean and brighten it up - I was thinking of brasso - does that sound all right?

Many thanks for all answers and comments!

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

Hi Jumpin,

Welcome to the SOTW forums!

To answer your inquiry, you will need to provide a bit more info than you have. Serial numbers and other stamps/engraving, AND photos will be necessary to positively ID it.

The H. N. White Instrument company did make a select model of "King" (Their Premier instrument product line) band instruments that were "Artist level" engraved, and called the "KING MASTER MODEL". I have seen many trumpets and trombones like this, but no Saxophones. If it has elaborate engraving all over it (either leaves, flowers and vines, or Art Deco geometric shapes), then it is likely a horn with this finish option. Photos will still be necessary (and encouraged).

If you don't know how to post photos, email them to me, and I will post them for you.

Cheers.

 

[saintsday]

Welcome.
DO NOT use Brasso. Don't use anything except a slightly damp soft cloth until pictures establish what the finish is on your horn.

 

[jumpin the rattler]

Thank you for the warm welcome.

I wasn't sure if it is okay to post pics here but now that I know it is I'll give it a try. I hope these pics are okay and the size is suitable.

I have a photo of the engraving "King Master" with decorative engraving around it. A lot of the engraving is the kind where the lines are "zig-zagged" such as by rocking a flat faced graver from side to side. I think it has to be hand engraved because the lines are not all equal distance apart etc.

I have included a pic of the serial number which is located under the thumb rest and appears to be C2553.

I have not found any engravings or stamps aside from the "King Master" design on the front of the bell and the serial number stamped on the back.

I have included a pic of something just below the neck join - not sure if this comes standard on all saxaphones. It is a screw seated in a hollow tube - I wondered if this is to hold a very small music stand or clip?

I also have several views of the mouthpieces which I couldn't attach to this post. I will try doing another for the mouthpieces. I think they are both hard plastic - don't know if either is the original.

Cheers

 

[jumpin the rattler]

Here are the other pics.

 

[Bernards20040]

Here are the other pics.

Photo's of the horn would be better

 

[jumpin the rattler]

Hi Bernard,

I have posted pics of my sax (before the ones of the mouthpieces) but got a message that that message has to be approved by a moderator.

It seems strange to me. My first post was in this thread and it had to be approved by a moderator. My second post was in a different forum and it went straight up. My third post was back to this thread and has gone to the moderator. My fourth post was in this thread and went straight up. I thought that this forum must have been 100% moderated until my fourth post went straight up...

Could someone explain to me why some messages go to a moderator when others don't?

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

That is neither the premium finish H. N. White "King Master Model" nor an H. N. White King sax period (it lacks conical shaped key cups and soldered tone holes).

The horn is in the typical 1950's and later student gold lacquer with Nickel keys finish (actually a premium finish on 1940's and earlier horns, but quite the opposite on later examples), and the engraving is typical of a stencil horn in the student to intermediate class.

The mouthpiece brand and markers are not necessary, as these are not connected with the make of horn, at least not the Buescher one.

Perhaps someone will identify the make of this "stencil" horn (a horn made by one maker, for another retailer/company to sell with their own model or company name engraved on it).

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

Could someone explain to me why some messages go to a moderator when others don't?

A quick look at your member status and forum permissions checks out O.K. It likely has to do with the size and number of attachments you were trying to upload.

Let me know if it persists.

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

By the way, the screw tensioned tube is indeed a music Lyre holder for marching band use.

 

[jumpin the rattler]

Thank you Saxismyaxe. I am disappointed that its not from the artist level HN White series but I never really expected that it would be anything special. I am still very curious about its origins - to start with, I'm wondering how it ended up in Australia - don't suppose any companies in Australia were making instruments for HN White???

Also, as my ear is not fine-tuned for sax I really don't know what kind of quality of sound is coming out of it... or would come out of it for a better player. I'm not sure if the pads all seal properly and whether the keys are all in good alignment - its hard to know whilst I'm still working on my embouchure to reach the high and low notes. I guess I'd be more likely to get my sax looked over by an expert if I knew it was a quality instrument worth the money.

 

[SAXISMYAXE]

It is an older horn, probably from the 1950's or 1960's, so don't be put off by the "student/intermediate" moniker. Many of these older horns in that category are still great sounding horn that play well, and are built to last. Your's looks as though it is well built, and the solid nickel keywork will make it very sturdy and stable to be certain.

I'm really unsure of who made the horn. It doesn't have the usual traits of H.N. White horns (King line or otherwise), such as soldered tone holes and cone shaped key cups, nor does it have typical Martin beveled or domed shaped and soldered tone holes etc.

I don't think many Martin or King horns made it overseas, to Australia or Europe like the Conns did, so it's voyage to Down Under is a mystery to me as well.

Hopefully someone will be able to identify the horn's make for you. It would definitely warrant a quick trip to a local tech just to make sure you aren't crippling your development with pads that aren't sealing etc. The horn is certainly worth that, and so are you.

Cheers.

 

[jumpin the rattler]

Thanks!