[Sharkey]

I have a tenor, Arnold Brilhart Level-Aire # 6, from the seventies I think . Has the vertical machine mill marks on the table . I have read the earlier ones with horizontal machine marks were better players . Looking at pictures of latter and comparing to the one I have I cant see any difference ,rails ,tip ,length of baffle etc. look the same . Can anyone who has played both comment on this . Are there differences other than the direction of the machine marks , Thanks

 

[1saxman]

'Level Air'

The '70s models tend to be excellent players. The differences in how they play are largely the result of how well the hand-finishing was done. I stumbled into a 1975 baritone piece in new condition that turned out to be the best one I have played on bari, and I think I have had four of them before this one over the years. On tenor I played a 1966 one for 23 years and I used one on alto for 19 years. The only one I've had that was the first generation was a 9* tenor that I bought a few years ago just because it was pre-Selmer - it was in pristine condition but just did not play like I thought it should. You just have to go with the one that you like regardless of what its 'supposed to be'.