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rhythmisking
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I just purchased an rather unusual soprano and can't for the life of me find any info about it whatsoever anywhere on the web, and the owner had no idea either.
It's a medium-quality, "saxello" style soprano with a tipped bell and two neckpieces, one curved and one straight. The horn is definately nickel plated (not chrome or silver), highly polished and quite heavy. It doesn't appear to be terribly old (I'd guess less than 20 years old, maybe a lot less). It's hard to tell because it appears to have been recently refurbished (all new pads and cork -except neckpieces- and thoroughly cleaned and polished). The case is old and cheap -no way to tell if it's original or not. There is a matching three digit serial number or maybe model number (stamped with three individual number stamps) in several places; on each neckpiece, on a couple of keys and on the body. It has some modest engraving, and no manufacturers name or location on either the horn or case.
The only identification, and it's rather odd, is a solid oval brass plaque soldered onto the bell about 1/16" thick and 2" wide with nicely carved script letters on it (hard to read because of the style of the script); it either says PULE or TULE or perhaps GULE (none of which mean anything to me and internet searches have turned up nothing).
The horn plays generally very well, and has a modern, open voice. The key action is medium (neither soft or crisp, but right in the middle) and the mechanics seem very solid and if anything perhaps a bit overbuilt. The left hand palette keys are quite close to the body. The finish quality of the keys is good; surfaces are nicely finished, but there are file marks, etc on the undersides of some keys. The springs seem to be mostly aluminum with a few made of steel. Buttons are fake MOP.
It seems too nice a horn to be one of the really cheap $200 chinese eBay ones, I haven't been able to find any pics on the web that exactly match the style, layout and keywork. I'm guessing it maybe is an asian horn, but the brass plaque is strange, AND what's driving me crazy is I've seen the plaque before either Craigslist or eBay within the last year. The previous owner said he's had the horn for 2 years and got it in a pawn shop, so I don't know if it's the same horn or not.
Thanks for reading this, and any help you might give me would be sincerely appreciated. I can send pics if anyone's interested
Paul
It's a medium-quality, "saxello" style soprano with a tipped bell and two neckpieces, one curved and one straight. The horn is definately nickel plated (not chrome or silver), highly polished and quite heavy. It doesn't appear to be terribly old (I'd guess less than 20 years old, maybe a lot less). It's hard to tell because it appears to have been recently refurbished (all new pads and cork -except neckpieces- and thoroughly cleaned and polished). The case is old and cheap -no way to tell if it's original or not. There is a matching three digit serial number or maybe model number (stamped with three individual number stamps) in several places; on each neckpiece, on a couple of keys and on the body. It has some modest engraving, and no manufacturers name or location on either the horn or case.
The only identification, and it's rather odd, is a solid oval brass plaque soldered onto the bell about 1/16" thick and 2" wide with nicely carved script letters on it (hard to read because of the style of the script); it either says PULE or TULE or perhaps GULE (none of which mean anything to me and internet searches have turned up nothing).
The horn plays generally very well, and has a modern, open voice. The key action is medium (neither soft or crisp, but right in the middle) and the mechanics seem very solid and if anything perhaps a bit overbuilt. The left hand palette keys are quite close to the body. The finish quality of the keys is good; surfaces are nicely finished, but there are file marks, etc on the undersides of some keys. The springs seem to be mostly aluminum with a few made of steel. Buttons are fake MOP.
It seems too nice a horn to be one of the really cheap $200 chinese eBay ones, I haven't been able to find any pics on the web that exactly match the style, layout and keywork. I'm guessing it maybe is an asian horn, but the brass plaque is strange, AND what's driving me crazy is I've seen the plaque before either Craigslist or eBay within the last year. The previous owner said he's had the horn for 2 years and got it in a pawn shop, so I don't know if it's the same horn or not.
Thanks for reading this, and any help you might give me would be sincerely appreciated. I can send pics if anyone's interested
Paul
