Saxophones Spotted - 1952 Full Pearl King Silversonic Alto

[DavidUK]

😱

Looks lovely. Just had a full overhaul (after this photo was taken).

But how much would you pay.....??

 

[Ads]

No more than a normal S20 - Bling doesn`t add value to me .......... in fact I`ve never liked the Silversonic look and prefer the body/bow/bell to be all one colour

 

[ProfJames]

£4,000

 

[Ads]

There`s one on Saxtrader for £3200, would no doubt take an offer .

http://www.saxtrader.co.uk/index.php?cmd=ShowAdvertDetail&advertID=2886

 

[DavidUK]

No more than a normal S20 - Bling doesn`t add value to me .......... in fact I`ve never liked the Silversonic look and prefer the body/bow/bell to be all one colour

...even with the silver neck? I've heard tell that the brass bell version have a better tone, but that could just be hearsay.

This one also looks to have factory gold leaf on the bell, although I note it doesn't say "Cleveland". Anyone have a clue to why there's no factory location?...

 

[Ivan]

... although I note it doesn't say "Cleveland". Anyone have a clue to why there's no factory location?...

Ran out of space?

 

[Ads]

...even with the silver neck?

that mate of mine who has the S20 Tenor has both necks , I didn`t hear any difference between them when we compared ages ago . bling is just bling .. whoever said the brass bell sounded better was probably merely playing a better sample of the horn..

 

[kevgermany]

It's a collector's item. So Expect to pay similarly inflated prices to MkVIs. And then some. If you've got the cash and fancy a punt, it's a good time to buy, cos when the market picks up it'll be worth a lot more.

Me - I wouldn't pay more than 1K. Unless I wanted it as an investment, which I don't.

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

Thats one weird sax, for a start are you sure it's a full pearl?? i cant quite make out from the picture but im pretty sure it isn't. The engraving would date it to late 70s early 80s as it says "King musical instruments USA" which would mean it was made in the Nogalis factory in Mexico rather than Cleveland or Eastlake, yes they still offered the gold engraving on the late models, but the one thing that doesent make any sence is the double socket neck which would have been out of production for probably 20 years, all i can suggest is it is a very late one and someone at some point in time replaced the neck and socket from an early one that was damaged, this one should have a standard overslung neck.
Do you have a serial number?

 

[thomsax]

I'm with Fraser Jarvis. I can't see any pearls on rh side heys and palm keys. And no engraving on Bb, B C# and C keycups. But I don't think King Musical Instrument made any King Super 20 saxes in Nogales, AZ. It was UMI.

 

[altissimo]

google image search gives this - http://tomosax.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/king/
if it's this one, the bell has been replaced - http://www.saxquest.com/product/vie...ey-king-super-20-alto-sax-serial-328760-P7945

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

Ah that explains it then, probably not worth alot to be fair but i would emagine it's a gret player none the less.

 

[thomsax]

Yes, I can see the engraving and pearl key touches on the other pictures.

 

[DavidUK]

google image search gives this - http://tomosax.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/king/
if it's this one, the bell has been replaced - http://www.saxquest.com/product/vie...ey-king-super-20-alto-sax-serial-328760-P7945

Well done Dave, good sleuthing! 😉

Yes, it's a later bell on an early horn. When did they stop putting the location on the bell?

I'm reckoning they'll want $7-8k for it! Too much indeed.

I have possibly located another in a city I shall be travelling to in January. No gold leaf, but it's a Cleveland Silversonic at £2k. Sounds a much better bet?

 

[Ads]

The horn is probably a normal S20 then and the bell & neck salvaged from an unrepairable Silversonic . kills the collectability value, though it`s still an S20 so should be a lovely players horn

 

[altissimo]

The horn is probably a normal S20 then and the bell & neck salvaged from an unrepairable Silversonic . kills the collectability value, though it`s still an S20 so should be a lovely players horn

from the Saxquest website - "At some point the original lacquer bell was removed and someone replaced it with a later vintage King sterling bell. The sax was also relacquered, so any solders or evidence of the bell replacement is impossible to spot. This sax does feature pearl inlay on nearly all of the touch points, including the side keys, palm keys, octave key, etc. It has “sunburst” engraving on the bell keys as well, and comes with its original sterling silver neck, with matching serial number."

 

[DavidUK]

Of course this was never going to be a "go-er" for me, being "made up", in the US, and... expensive!

This one looks a better deal...

 

[Ads]

from the Saxquest website - "or evidence of the bell replacement is impossible to spot. This well, and comes with its original sterling silver neck, with matching serial number."

Apart from that the bell dates from a totally different era which you spotted instantly .........


it`s a Bitsa (a Re-Laq at that) , IMO with its value only as a player, I hope someone thinking they`re getting a pukka Silversonic as a collectors horn doesn`t land this . but then they ought to know .

 

[altissimo]

Of course this was never going to be a "go-er" for me, being "made up", in the US, and... expensive!

This one looks a better deal...

View attachment 3378

are you going on holiday to Rome just to buy a sax?
http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_king-super-20-silversonic_id3583667.html

 

[DavidUK]

are you going on holiday to Rome just to buy a sax?
http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_king-super-20-silversonic_id3583667.html

We were going anyway, first week of January, and maybe it's just Karma! Can't think of any other attractions out there...

I'm not sure if it's still available as the seller hasn't responded yet. 😵