King Super 20 Tenor Saxophone 1A Transitional/Full Pearls

Description: WELCOME TO SHORE SAX! What do Charlie Parker and Sonny Rollins have in common?! Impeccable taste in suits and the King Super 20. The early Super 20s helped define the sound of the saxophone and bebop especially through Parker’s alto and Rollins’s tenor. If you’re looking for an incredible American horn with stunning looks and a sound that can’t be matched by European brands including Selmer, SML, Buffet, and others, then this is the horn you’re looking for. Mark Shim, Troy Roberts, Nicole Glover, and many other serious players have expanded their sound and style by performing on American instruments because their bore and sound provides a “sweetness” and a balance of highs and mids that just doesn’t exist in contemporary offerings. This example in particular is THE BEST example of a King I’ve ever played. This 297xxx Super 20 is what’s known as a Series 1A Transitional. These instruments were known for better keywork, particularly the Left Hand Pinky Cluster, use of a contemporary neck strap ring, and the “Coat Hanger” pant guard. Note that the C and C# keys have incredibly detailed engraving and the engraving on the bell descends through the bow SBA style. This is a very limited range (less than 10,000 instruments across all voices) were made. Selmer actually sued King for the design similarities between the Super 20 left pinky cluster and the Selmer BA/SBA, and they were right- it feels very similar to play in the lower register (the left hand is inline). This horn is in beautiful condition- the neck is sterling silver and retains quite a bit of its original “spray” gold lacquer. The engraved serial number on the neck matches the serial number of the body. The body of the instrument has approximately 96% lacquer, notably it has some lacquer removed on the right side of the bow. Otherwise the lacquer is in great condition with a “sparkle” or sheen that radiates in natural light. In conjunction with two of the foremost King saxophone technicians, Rich Casey and Gary Byndas, I have worked over the past year to eliminate unnecessary and lost motion while retaining the incredibly robust and powerful sound of this instrument to balance tone with technical virtuosity. This instrument is capable of playing the most challenging technical passages one might attempt in contemporary jazz, including atonal music, large asymmetric leaps, and mixed meter, while being extraordinarily fluid in traditional bebop and hard bop idioms. This instrument underwent a full Clean, Oil, and Adjust (COA) this month, and is capable of subtoning from low Bb into the altissimo. It has original springs and comes with the original case! If you have any further questions about this remarkable horn I encourage you to send me a Direct Message (DM). About SHORE SAX: SHORE SAX is a vintage saxophone sales company run by Dr. John Petrucelli (Oberlin Conservatory) specializing in curating rare saxophones for clients. The company's focus is on providing exceptional service to musicians and collectors who are seeking specific brands, models, and unique saxophones for performance, collecting, and investment. Each instrument is meticulously selected to find the best possible examples in excellent condition for the discerning player and collector, then set up to a world class standard to enable and enhance the new owner’s artistry. What to expect: -Play tests! No one should purchase an instrument without hearing one in our opinion! I play every instrument to demonstrate its sound, range, that the instrument IS IN MY POSSESSION and in impeccable playing condition. Every play test uses the full range of the instrument and a variety of different timbres, tempos, and technical devices to illustrate what the instrument is capable of. -Unaltered Photography in Natural Light! Digital photography and editing is incredible, but can often hide, obscure, or fundamentally change our understanding of the overall condition of a vintage instrument. Every horn offered for sale through SHORE SAX includes a full unaltered picture set in natural light of all angles of the instrument and I provide any additional angles or areas upon request. -Bomb Proof Packaging! It is incredibly important to ensure that our clients receive their new instrument in the same condition of the photography. Our clients rest easy knowing that their vintage instrument will arrive expertly packed and the full value of the instrument insured in case of disaster. You can pack a saxophone as well as us, but you definitely can’t do it better. We pay attention to every detail (and spend an arm and a leg on packing material!) to make absolutely certain that your horn can’t rattle, shift, or shake inside the case. Packages are sometimes even double boxed to make absolutely certain that your instrument arrives in the condition it entered the box in- and a full set of pictures are sent to you before shipping to document and demonstrate the condition and packing process. - Transparent & Timely Communication! Having worked full time in higher ed jazz programs ranging from Rutgers University, University of Pittsburgh, Northeastern State University, University of Utah and Oberlin Conservatory, I value my relationships with the music community and will work my hardest to ensure that you have every answer you need to fully evaluate an instrument. Let’s start a conversation- I love talking about gear and meeting new people!

Price: 10000 USD

Location: Bradley Beach, New Jersey

End Time: 2024-11-04T22:49:18.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD