Worldwidesax - Fine Vintage Saxophones

SAD SAD NEWS...early Thursday Feb 9th, 2012 Steve "Sarge" Stransky peacefully passed away after a +3 yr battle with brain cancer. If you consider he was given only 2 yrs, this was a WIN! He was in the company of Family and close Friends. It was the most joyous send-off I've ever seen with music-galore--mostly Beatles' songs. :*)  There were many tears and a TON of laughter for this amazing man with great musical talents, repair skills and a great love for people! I will miss you so much, Buddy.

Rest in Peace, my dear dear dear Friend. ~chadd

(*** Please excuse my uncharacteristically slow email reply time ***)

Pictures:

 -(Upper Left) Chadd & Steve at pizza 2-3-12

 -(Far Left) Family & Friends on Steve's final night, him singing.

 -(Near Left) Pam (wife), Steve & Chadd. Steve's final night...STILL with the biggest smile in the room. :*)

WWS lives on! Steve set me (chadd) up to keep this legacy going, allowing me to buy WWS in January 2011.

Steve Stransky - WWS Creator

For 2012 Work Schedule

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Our Work Schedule 2012:  

1-3-11 Conn Gold Artist "Harp" alto: WWS horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild for customer. Seward Done

1-17-12 Buescher Big B Tenor: Customer horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild with metal-backed pads and natural cork throughout. Williamson In Progress

2-1-12 SML Rev D Alto:

Customer horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild with prestini pads and natural cork throughout, + custom key fabrication. Heine In Progress

2-28-12 The Martin Tenor:

WWS horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild with prestini pads and natural cork throughout for customer. Gillette

3-8-12 Buffet Super Dynaction Tenor: WWS horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild with prestini pads and natural cork throughout for customer. Croasdale

3-20-12 Conn 12M baritone:

Customer horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild with prestini pads and natural cork throughout for customer. Tarvin

3/29--4/14/12 TIME OFF

4-16-12 SLOT OPEN

4-30-12 SLOT OPEN

5-15-12 SLOT OPEN

If you wish to schedule a rebuild, or purchase one of our saxes (and it still needs to be rebuilt),  send us  a 50% deposit to hold your place in the work schedule.  We work from a published schedule (see left margin) so that your sax will only be out of your possession a couple weeks, while i do the actual work, it does not have to just sit on the shop floor, until its turn comes up... you send it to arrive on schedule and we return it on schedule.

  E-mail chadd with  questions about our vintage saxes at:   worldwidesax@gmail.com  

 Click the links above  to see what's in stock.   If  a horns says "just rebuilt", then it's ready to go, saxes that say "scheduled for a rebuild" are waiting for the work to be done, but it will be included in the posted price.  If a sax says "ON TRIAL" someone is taking advantage of our "Three Day Trial" policy (See Info and Orders page).

NEW!

Saxophone Comparison Chart 

Some of the best vintage saxes of all time

CLICK HERE

Here is a pic of some custom resonator work.  We can size the reso to your tonehole, or whatever you like.

We can get you virtually any resonator made, my favorite is the  Resotech solid silver reso.

Check out our newest pages...

WE  DO GOLD AND SILVER ELECTRO-PLATING

That's right! 

We have a:

 GOLD STAR

Pro plating system

The Industry's Premier Silver and Gold Plating System 
 Ask about having us Plate your Bell interior in 24 carat or  ROSE GOLD 

It is our business to Rebuild your sax or sell ours as Fully Rebuilt Saxes. We never sell our stock "As-Is". We are Restorers.

If you wish to schedule a rebuild, or purchase one of our saxes and it still needs to be rebuilt,  send us  a 50% deposit and we will schedule its rebuild before any of our other worldwidesax.com inventory. 

Everybody loves these new Kangaroo skin pads, aka Saxgourmet  Pads and you can get them from Curt, at musicmedic.com you can request that any WWS stock be rebuilt with them, or just click this link and order some for yourself.

Check out our newest pages...

Hard to find:

Here is a helpful outline of SML serial Numbers:

S.M.L. Serial Numbers:

0001 – 3000  /  1934 to 1940

3000 – 5500  /  1940 to 1945

5500 – 8000  /  1945 to 1950

8000 – 12000 / 1950 to 1955

12000 – 16000  /  1955 to 1960

16000 – 19000  /  1960 to 1965

22000 – 24000  /  1970 to 1975

24000 – 26000  /  1975 to 1980

26000 – 27000  /  1980 to 1982

Here is a helpful outline of Keilwerth serial Numbers:

Keilwerth Serial Numbers:

1925:   0-800 

1933-5:     9000     

1941:  18,500

1947: #20,000

1953: #23,000

1958: #28,000

1960: #38,000

1962: #43,000

1964: #49,000

1966:  #55,000

1971: #69,000

1978: #79,000

1986: #91,000

1993: #99,100

1996: #104,000

1998:  #109,000

2004:  #119,000

Keilwerth made The New King and Tone King  as their main brand names, from 1932 to 1969 or so, but there were always stencils, like Edgeware and later Couf.  Here are few of the other names you may find on Keilwerth made horns.  The New King and Tone King saxes were identical except for a high F# key on the tone king model, but keilwerth marketed the Tone King as the "deluxe" Pro model and the New King as the "standard" Pro model

Known Keilwerth Stencils:

Couf Superba 1 & 2

 Royalist

Conn DJH

Buffet

Edgeware

Marco

Vincent Albert

Martelle

Winsall

Tam

Bundy Special

Armstrong

Heritage

King Tempo

Champion

Calvert Deluxe

Silvertone

Hammerschmidt (sopranos)

Jean Barre Artist (seen Alto)

Bundy (H&A Selmer)

Keilwerth copiers, such as Amati,  Dörfler & Jörka (1949 to 1968, then purchased by Keilwerth) and B&S

H.Genet

Roxy

Jubilee

Voss

Silvertone

Rene Dumont

Keilwerth relatives:

Max Keilwerth and Richard Keilwerth (Graslitz) made saxes under the names:

Weltklang (baritones only)

Senator

Hohner

Here is a handy chart for King zephyr series:

Zephyr and Zephyr Special
Zephyr, "Series I": 

s/n 170xxx to 180xxx
Zephyr, "Series II": 

s/n 180xxx to 237xxx

Zephyr Special: 

s/n 200xxx to 280xxx
Zephyr, "Series III": 

s/n 237xxx to 305xxx
Zephyr, "Series IV": 

s/n 305xxx to 423xxx
Zephyr, "Series V": 

s/n 423xxx to 540xxx

1945 was the beginning of King's  Super 20 (s/n 272xxx)
and Zephyr "II"s (s/n 272xxx)

Past Work Schedule 2010:  

4-13-10  Gold Plated The Martin Soprano 64,xxx:   Done

4-18-10 Silver The Martin Tenor 184K "USMC":  Done

5-7-10 Buffet SDA Alto 18K:  Done

5-14-10 Armstrong Low A Baritone: Done

5-25-10 Conn 10M:   Done

5-28-10 Martin Committee 2 Alto: WWS Done

6-1-10 J. Keilwerth 1934 New King Alto:  Nickle plated  Done

6-11-10 The Martin Alto:  Done

6-17-10 Silver Buescher Big B:  Silver plated WWS horn gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild with flat metal resos for customer. Done

6-24-10 1948 Conn 6m Naked Lady: Done

7-2-10 Buescher 400 Tenor #505K:  WWS horn gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild with Prestini rivetless dome metal resos. WWS Done

7-8-10 1928 Silver Conn Chu Alto:  Customer horn gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild with flat metal resos. DONE

7-20-10 King Super 20 Alto #415K:  WWS horn gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild with flat metal resos. WWS Done

7-28-10 Conn 6m:  customer horn gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild with flat metal resos. Done

7-28-10 1945 The Martin Tenor:  WWS horn 153K gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild with Seamless Domed resos. WWS Done

8-5-10 Buescher Aristo "156" Tenor #338K:  Done

8-12-10 1953 SML Rev D #10K:  Chadd horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild with Presini pads, some Premium upgrades, minor fabrication work, and some plating restorations.  Done

8-13-10 1972 Selmer Mark VI alto #208K:  WWS horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild with Presini pads and natural cork throughout. WWS Done

8-27-10 1940 Conn 26M alto:  Customer horn gets a Premium Vintage Rebuild with White Roos & Seamless Flat resos. Done

9-7-10 1952 King Zephyr Alto:  WWS horn 328K gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild. WWS Done

9-23-10 Buescher Big B Tenor #322K:  WWS horn gets a Standard Buescher Rebuild with Buescher snap in pads and natural cork throughout for customer. Done

6-17-10 Silver Buescher Aristocrat #280k:  Silver plated WWS horn gets a Standard Vintage Buescher snap-in Rebuild with original metal resos.  WWS Done

10-15-10 1960s LeBlanc Rationale Tenor:  WWS horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild with Presini pads. Sarge/WWS Done

10-22-10 1953 SML Rev D #10K:  WWS horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild with Presini pads for customer. Done

10-26-10 1940 Martin Comm 2 alto:  Chadd horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild with Presini pads, some Premium upgrades for customer. Done

11-4-10 Buescher Aristocrat Alto #345k:  WWS horn gets a Standard Vintage Buescher snap-in Rebuild with original metal resos.  WWS Done

11-4-10 Buescher Big B Aristocrat Tenor #317k:  WWS horn gets a Standard Vintage Buescher snap-in Rebuild with original metal resos.  WWS Done

11-18-10 Silver Conn Chu alto:  Customer horn gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild with flat metal resos. Childs Done

12-2-10 Buescher Big B Aristocrat Alto:  WWS horn gets a Standard Vintage Buescher snap-in Rebuild with original metal resos.  WWS Done

12-14-10 The Martin Tenor #208k:  WWS horn gets a Standard Vintage Rebuild with flat metal resos and rivet center.  WWS Done

12-17-10 Nickel Conn Chu Tenor:  WWS horn gets a Vintage French Standard  Rebuild with plastic resos. WWS Done

    Please e-mail or phone us for   additional   descriptions or  JPEG's  of  any  of  our current  inventory,  or if  you don't   see   something   you would  like  to  have,  let  us know.
     Unlike some web shops, we will  try  to list all  of  our current inventory and prices so  you  can  see  and  shop here  in  our  virtual  store.

     We  have  a  long  list  of customers  you  can  e-mail for references. (see References Page)
    Thanks,  for  visiting Worldwide Sax.  

~~Chadd&Steve~~

Past Work 2011:  

1-1-2011 H.Couf Superba 1 Tenor:  Customer horn gets a Standard  Vintage Rebuild with Pisoni rivetless dome metal resos. Thaut  Done

1-4-11 1938 Buescher Aristocrat series 1 Tenor:  WWS horn gets a Vintage Buescher Snap-in Rebuild with natural cork throughout. WWSDone

1-19-11 1940s Buescher Aristocrat Alto:  Customer's alto neck gets pull-down repair and dents removed. Garcia Done

1-19-11 Conn "tranny" Chu alto:  WWS horn gets a Vintage Rebuild with natural cork throughout and Sherry Huntly Engraving. WWS Done

1-28-11 Conn 6m alto:  Customer horn gets a Vintage Rebuild with natural cork throughout. Harford Done

2-5-11 King Super 20 alto - pearls:  WWS horn gets a Vintage Rebuild with premuim extras. WWS Done

2-22-11 King Super 20 tenor - pearls:  Customer horn gets a Vintage Rebuild with oversized Noyak resos on Black Saxgourmet Roo pads. Atkinson Done

2-23-11 Buescher 400 Tenor 429K:  WWS horn gets a Vintage Buescher Snap In rebuild. WWS Done 

3-10-11 Conn Gold C-Soprano 98K:  WWS horn gets a rebuild for customer with silver Resotechs to be gold plated & Premium Upgrade. Gast Done 

4-7-11 King Super 20 tenor --full pearls:  Sax gets a Vintage Rebuild with premium extras and seamless flat resos. Sarge Done

4-14-11 Conn Chu tranny tenor:  Customer horn gets a Vintage Rebuild with oversized Resotech resos on Black Saxgourmet Roo pads and a Premium Upgrade and New stainless steel springs. Mattina Done

4-21-11 Buffet S-1 Tenor:  Sax gets a Vintage Rebuild with premium extras and seamless flat resos. Sarge Done

5-10-11 Vintage YAS-62 purple label:  Customer horn gets a French Standard rebuild with plastic dome resos. Tebo Done

5-13-11 Vintage Dolnet #24K:  WWS horn gets a French Standard rebuild with Flat Metal resos. WWS Done

5-19-11 Selmer Mark VI alto:  Customer horn gets a Silver Restoration with a French Standard rebuild with plastic dome resos and full Spring Replacement. Zax In Progress

6-3-11 Selmer Mark VI Tenor:  Customer horn gets a French Standard rebuild with plastic dome resos and swedging. Layer Done

6-20-11 Silver Buescher TrueTone IV Alto:  Customer horn gets a Vintage Standard rebuild with Buescher Snap In Pads. Tarvin Done

7-1-11 King Saxello customer horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild. Zax Done

7-15-11 Silver Conn curved Soprano: WWS horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild after chemical Lacquer stripping, for customer. Luchtan Done

7-29-11 Silver Conn 26M alto:  WWS horn gets Rebuilt and some much needed TLC. WWS Done

8/7/11--8/13/11 TIME OFF

8-15-11 1935 Conn 10M tenor: WWS  horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild for customer.

Oleru Done

8-16-11 The Martin Tenor 1953:  Customer horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild. Neilo Done

8-29-11 King Zephyr alto:  WWS (OS) horn gets a Vintage Standard Rebuild for customer. harrson/Keller Done

9-1-11 Maintenance & School Prep 

9-10-11 Maintenance & School Prep 

9-20-11 Martin Committee II alto: Customer horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild.Siboliban Done

10-1-11 Martin Committee I alto: Customer horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild + a new custom screw rod. Siboliban Done

10-18-11 Martin Committee III "The Martin alto": WWS horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild for customer. Zink Done

11-1-11 H&A Selmer Bundy Baritone: WWS horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild for customer with domed metal resos for customer. Snowhill Done

11-13-11 Mark VI alto:  Silver Restoration Returns from Andersons. Customer horn gets a with a French Standard rebuild with Metal dome resos and full Spring Replacement with Rose Gold Plating Accents. Zax Done

12-6-11 Buescher Big B Baritone: WWS horn gets Vintage Standard Rebuild with metal-backed pads and natural cork throughout. Aaberg Done

12/22--31/11 TIME OFF

Our Finest Works, Past and Present

This page is a chance for us to feature some of the favorite jobs over the years.  This is perhaps 10% of the work that passes through WWS.  Sometimes our finest work is done on the least likely of horns... it doesn't have to be a five digit Selmer to be a fine sounding sax. 

By the way, a silver restoration can take 5-7 months from start to finish.

Folks see my restorations and think i push that kind of stuff, but i don't.  i always like to see people keep their horns as original as possible.  if you like the sound now, i would keep your original finish, even if it's ugly.  if you look at a lot of the classic players horns, they weren't too pretty.  i usually only do silver and gold resto's on horns that have been relacquered or otherwise compromised already. 

None are for sale, as they all have very happy homes.  I will use thumbnail links to help with the pages loading time. so click on the pics to see the beauties up close:    

        Here we have a customer's horn lined up for our Silver Restoration. Mr Z wanted his long time baby to get that sparkle back. Here's what Chadd's got planned for her:

--Major WWS Prep work--Re-Engraving by Sherry Huntley--Andersons for Silver:-Satin Body, Shiny Keys and Engravings--then back to WWS for a Full Rebuild, new springs, special Rose Gold Highlights and Bell. "Mmmm..." Check back in a few months to see her return.

BEFORE PHOTOS:

PROGRESS PHOTOS:

--The bow showed heavy dent repairs, pictures don't do justice. See unlevelness? It gets somewhat smoothed out, then more to do...

 

  The backside had 'freckles' too. with some diligence, elbow grease and wishful thinking they are a faint memory now.

 

--...Hmmm, better ...closer ...ok...noticeable (moderate) progress    

--+30 pieces at about 1hr each to Prep. Then the body sections finally got their much needed attention too.

AFTER PHOTOS:

  Silver only:

 

  Rose Gold accents and repaint "S"...New Rollers, of course!

 

  Complete and Gorgeous:

 

This one was a WWS stock sax but was so nice that it deserves a spot here in Our Finest.  Serial #285,xxx  makes this near the beginning of the Super 20 line (started approx #272xxx). Serial Number indicates about 1947 manufacture in Cleveland, Ohio (not Eastlake).  Brass bell, Sterling Silver neck, with nickel keys / rods and brass key cups. These magnificent horns are well known for the huge sound and power that they bring to an ensemble, and the horns from this vintage are regarded by most as the finest saxes ever made.  Lacquer is definitely original, and darkened beautifully!!! with age and about 90% present, looks very nice, vintage. The early ser# carries that better low C keyguard trait with three feet for screws too.  This Full Pearls model is the deluxe version and their prices now rival most Selmers.  Chadd almost kept this one for his personal stash but decided to let her go in the world after a Rebuild with some favorite upgrade options: Premium Step Up, Black Saxgourmet Roo pads, Resos: Seamless, flat, nickel plated... & Oversized to to give this sax even more swagger and kick! Plays like nothing else! We even added vintage King lock-washers to all the keyguard screws. This early model didn't originally have them.   SOLD to NY, so long baby. 

     I was lucky enough to get this one with the original rivet pads still in it, in completely unaltered condition.  It' serial # is 218,xxx, one of the very first Music Man Model's made in 1963.   I gave up my 158k all original {The Martin Tenor} for this one. so i guess that answers all the questions as to whether the newer ones play/sound as nice as the forties models.  i will regret selling this one, (it is one of my all time favorites)...Sorry, no trades (and NO, the mouthpiece does not come with it).  you can listen to me play this Martin Tenor, from (my band) the Phantoms Blues Band's latest C.D, by clicking here SOLD in 2010

Item#:SSP

1925-26, low pitch # 64,23x.  Keyed to hi F. Original Gold over Silver Plating is Very good condition, just took one or two dings up by the palm keys, - one by the bell that i straightened ...It has all the usual things of that era, like huge soldered on martin Tone Holes.  My opinion, is that these are the richest, deepest sounding sopranos of any model made, ever.  It was filthy, so it was dip-cleaned and then hand polished and finally, I did a "Vintage Standard" rebuild, prestini tan, waterproof lambskin pads and classic flat metal resos's with rivet.  It had no case, so I invested in a nice Walt Johnson case too!  SOLD in 2010, this was a fun one to fix up.  and beautiful gold too! Mmmm

BEFORE PHOTOS:

DURING PHOTOS:

AFTER PHOTOS: finished 4-2010

  finished 2-2009.  The following is a letter from Bo:

Sarge,

The tired old Lady I sent to you was so different than the one you returned, I had to ask her for a positive ID when I took her out of the case.  She showed me her serial number and sure enough, it was the same Lady, but you would never know it.

She is drop-dead gorgeous, easily the best looking sax I've ever held and these old fingers have held many.  But, as the old saying goes, "Beauty is as beauty does," and WOW does this beauty do it!  All the keys are tight, low and light as a feather and I totally forget I'm holding a mechanical device as I'm playing - it's all fluid sound, just as it should be.  At times I feel as if I'm not moving my fingers at all, just 'thinking' the notes coming out of the horn - a beautiful experience only made possible by perfect spring tension, perfectly seated and height adjusted pads.

You are truly a master and I'm certain that every horn leaving your hands is going on to lead a better, more musical life.  There are not many of you around anymore.  My 26M Lady and I are deeply grateful for your expertise and it's been a pleasure exchanging emails throughout the process.

(An unusual thing happened after I took the alto out of the case and put it on the double stand next to my 30M - I heard an odd whimpering sound.  It was my Lady tenor crying over the fact that I had chosen the alto over her for the face lift and restoration.  "Maybe next year, my dear," I said.)

With much gratitude and pleasure,
Fraternally,
Bo

This unique Selmer is all done now and came out just beautiful.

  SML Rev D TENOR:   S# 132XX indicates circa 1955, one of the very last made before the Gold Medal model was introduced.   so, this one is sold, but i thought you might like to watch as she comes back together... SOLD

here are some before pics   

She is back together and I just started playing her.  I like too do a three day play/test on my rebuilds, so that i can check it with the light each morning, play it, then clamp the keys down until the next morning.  This really helps get the pads seated and the horn off to a good start.

Here's some pics of her all assembled (it was spring, so you know... flowers.)

This SML has a huge, rich voice, impeccable intonation and isn't bad on the eyes either...

BEFORE    1936 Conn 10M Tenor:   Serial #272,xxx, made about 1936.  Very little of the original finish left, but in excellent physical condition, minimal dents, no previous repairs.  Rolled tone holes, big 10m sound. I plan to send her to Anderson Silver Plating for a Satin silver Finish, with polished highlights and a 24 carat gold bell interior... and while she's in Elkhart, Sherry will re-engrave the lady too.  When she's back, I'll totally rebuild her with Tan Prestini pads and flat metal resonators... and a full Premium Upgrade, to enhance her old design and make her feel smooth and fast.   SOLD

I just got this one back from Andersons and will get some pics to share soon     

One of the modifications the customer wanted on this horn was a strap hook system that would allow more flexibility... so we co-opted the king zephyr three hook concept and it came out nicely,  this will allow for much better balance.

She's 95% back together and it stopped raining for a minute, so i thought i better get some nice pics...

THIS ONE ENDED UP HAVE A RICH SMOOTH SOUND THAT ONLY THE PRE WAR CONN'S CAN GET.  FABULOUS SOUND, 

Before  After:   

Buescher Aristocrat Tenor:  Rare early version of the Aristo, with the small bell for a more focused, sweeter sound.  Beautiful Art Deco engraving.  Think Johnny  Hodges tone.  Serial # 272,xxx, built about 1937.    No major damage ever done to it.  Neck looks great and has a matching S#.   I am going to remove a couple small dents/dings and do a Satin Silver Resto on this one, then when it's back from Anderson Silver Plating, I will do a complete rebuild/repad with metal backed Buescher style pads and snap the reso's back in.  It just returned from Andersons.  New pics above.

I've just finished her up, really quite beautiful.  Beautiful is really the right work for the tone produced by the small parabolic bore.  I would say it's a compact, or centered tone that is very warm and rich.

here are the "just finished" pics:

Here, She's about halfway together.  Just to be clear, i never do re-lacquers, and i usually only do my silver resto's when a sax has already been relacquered... it's the only way to add back the weight and beauty again.  Here's half way finished pics

This customer checked out our Rebuilds page and added the Premium Rebuild to this package.  It really does make the action much smoother and faster...

It's all done.  This one has a fabulous Getz like sound, like when he was doing the "Latin jazz" sound era, using my hard rubber mouthpiece... the sound is full and warm, but has a good crispness to the top.  Just great!

Before >   

Above is the before shot of this weeks silver restoration project.  This is a customers horn and it was in good condition overall, but had been relacquered.   This is the ideal candidate for one of my silver resto projects, the sax is not beat, just needs to be restored to it's former glory and adding silver plating can give them back the sound they were intended to have.  I don't like to remove original lacquer and wont take a project anymore, unless there is 25% original lacquer or less remaining, or it has been relacquered... but the right horn can come out absolutely beautiful, sound stronger and have more resonance once a relacquer is removed and the new silver adds to the weight of the sax.  In every case the resto has opened up the sound, like taking a blanket off or something.

   In this case, i removed a few small dents and then had it Chemically stripped, no buffing is done at all.  Then Anderson Silver and Sherry Huntley of "Artistic Engraving", work together to prepare it for it transformation.

here is the first "after" pic:

I've got the springs back in, the pads installed in the keys and the sax reassembled now.  i will be spending the next few days adjusting and regulating the whole sax.

here are the pics as it looks today:

i thought i'd post my answer to an email i received on this very subject:

This week i'm finishing up on one of my silver Restorations.  This sax came to us relacquered and needing much TLC. 

So i Prepped it, removed scratches, removed dents, cleaned up previous bad soldering work, buffed out small imperfections and sent it to Anderson's Silver Plating for plating and Artistic Engraving's for re-engraving.  It came out beautiful, have a look:

I'll put up some more pics of it, as soon as i've made some progress...

She's coming together.  Just to be clear, i never do re-lacquers, and i usually only do my silver resto's when a sax has already been relacquered... it's the only way to add back the weight and beauty again.

the finished product is beautiful and plays like a dream.  

Here is The Owners comment on the MK VI restoration:  

I bought this Mulligan era Bari in rough condition, but was very aware of it's potential, so i scheduled it for one of my silver restorations... here are a couple before pics

  1930 C G CONN Ltd. BARITONE SAXOPHONE  (Serial # M239,12x).

I just finished the Silver restoration and rebuild on this beauty for a customer.  It is sold  to our good friend Randall, in Japan.

I am going to do a somewhat customized Conn style rebuild on her.  Prestini tan lambskin pads and medium sized flat metal reso's with a rivet in the center, just like Conn equipped them, but with a better quality pad.  I will also be adding Ultrasuede, Teflon and Techcork to improve the feel of this old gal.

She's all back together...

What an awesome bari!

Ooooooh, she cleans up nice!

Next up, i'll start lapping the key tubes and resolder the posts.

Got the bottom stack soldered back on, swedged and lapped and they feel good.  a few other posts are back on too, but i'm not at the halfway point yet, as the springs are crumbling to dust when i try to remove them and that's slowing me down.... what fun ;>) 

OK friends, i know it took a while, but it's back together.  looks good too!

 and she's playing again, after what must have been 40 years of sitting without any care.  

I just finished up this Silver restoration, a 52 SBA from our stock.  This one sold right away, as SBA's are becoming quite rare and are so very nice:

   1952 Selmer Super (balanced) Action tenor:  Ser. 48,3xx, makes it a mid 1952 model.  It is preserved very well and has no solder repairs or noticeable dents, but it was kindly relacquered about 40 years ago, with very little buffing.  This makes it a great candidate for one of my silver restorations, so i will prep it and send it off to Andersons Silver Plating Co., for bright silver plate and re-engraving. by Sherry Huntley.  When it gets back i will do my SBA style rebuild, with tan prestini NS series pads and Pisoni rivetless metal domed reso's..  

It took less than 3 months this time... it's back and Holy Cow, it sure looks nice:

Ok and here's some pics of the finished product.  the first day of testing / fine tuning sounded wonderful...

12-05: She's in her new home now...  good thing she was paid for, or i might have added one more to my collection.

She's finally all done and playing as big as she looks.  here are a few pics

there is really nothing quite like a Bass sax, but they aren't for everybody... they are big, heavy and take an immense amount of wind and embouchure to play.

The previous rebuild had left it in pretty goofy condition, so i  did an authentic French style rebuild, with my premium teflon and ultrasuede upgrade.  The customer wanted Saxgourmet pads and selmer plastic domed reso's.  Here are some after pics:

the pics aren't as good as usual, because it's rainy outside and i had to take them inside with a flash...

   She's all finished now, has an awesome tone that is full and powerful, the keys feels so smooth opening and closing... and she looks absolutely beautiful too.

She's all back together and i had my first play test today.  she started off very nice, but by the time i've done three days of playing, testing, checking for leaks and clamping the keys nightly, i'll be sure just how good she is...

I tried to keep this one looking as original as possible, but used the finest stuff on the rebuild, top of the line Prestini, No Stick pads, flat metal resos, with center rivet, Tech cork, Synth cork, Teflon and Ultrasuede.

  BTW, this one turned out fabulously, both looks and sound.  

The new stainless springs are in.  The new pearls are in.  The Premium Repad with Saxgourmet pads and flat metal reso's are in...  All back together and playing like a house a fire, this thing is a powerhouse...  not to bad to look at either. 

i just finished this big beautiful bari, for one of our very good friends in Japan:

  Buescher "Big B" Bari, IN ORIGINAL SILVER PLATE:  For many, this would be the Holy Grail in baritones.  i had to take some dents out of the neck curl, but the body was great.  I  did my Premium Buescher Style repad, with Saxgourmet pads.  These bari's have a big, warm sound and are fantastic for Big Band, Swing and even Classical.

 

I bought this mk vi to restore and resell, but fell in love with it, so it lives with me now...     Selmer Mark VI Tenor Sax:   Serial # 83,6xx made in 1959, i guess i don't need to add to the Legend about the 5 digit MK VI's, suffice it to say they are considered the best in the world and often command prices in excess of 7000.00.  Made in France,  the body and neck are in very good shape and looked beautiful after Sherry Huntley re-engraved the original engravings,  and Anderson Silver Plating applied bright shiny Silver.  The neck has no serial number and a lot of early mk vi's had none, but i'm convinced by size , shape and match to saxes finish when i got it, that it is original.  I put in all new Stainless Steel springs and did a faithful French Standard repad, with extra ultrasuede and teflon and i even had a complete set of original MK VI plastic domed screw-back resonators, i  used.   The finished project is one of the finest playing and sharpest looking mk vi's i have had the pleasure to work on.

This classic mk vi is no longer for sale, but i will try to find another good candidate and do this type of resto again sometime.

Those are the original engravings... Sherry Huntley, of Artistic Engravings did an excellent job re-engraving this one.

 Bob, fom Goldmasters, did some custom gold plating and that put the icing on the cake... All Done!

Before 

This is a total silver restoration.  It took months and great patience on the part of the owner, to bring this "project" to completion.  It needed everything you can even think of restored or repaired and that just takes time.

I prepped it and sent it to Anderson's for a satin and polished silver finish, with a 24 carat bell interior.

This is a Premium rebuild, so i'm using lots of Ultrasuede and Teflon... I'm putting in Music Medics "Saxgourmet" black Kangaroo pads and snapping the original reso's in place.

and she's all done... a really warm and fat sounding alto and so pretty, you can barely look at it.

    "The Martin Tenor" Committee:  Lacquer model, that was relacquered, very carefully, with no buffing, but to really make it superb, I chem stripped it and did   S# 198,xxx 1956, a really good year for TMT's.   i put in Music Medics "Saxgourmet" black Kangaroo pads and Noyaks reso's and this thing is a monster.  it has huge sound, is full of lush overtones and can crank out R&R just as easily.

Conn  New Wonder "Chu Berry" style, C- Melody Alto:  Serial number M170,xxx, dates it from 1927. this near mint example has the nail file G sharp key, micro tuner neck and and rolled tone holes and it's also in the more rare nickel plate.  We are doing a Premium rebuild for a customer with this one and getting some very nice custom "Conn Artist style" engravings (as it originally had no engravings, aside for C.G. Conn), created by Jason DuMars.

 Here's some  pics of Jason's custom engravings...

   and here's after the custom plating...

      and finally, the icing on the cake    Neck Engravings.  

The finished sax is a bold and beautifully warm sounding, work of art that can be played and enjoyed for years to come.

This job was for a very good customer in Japan, who wanted another Total restoration, in silver  with massive engraving, then a premium rebuild.  This one got the full treatment.  It had been buffed and poorly re-plated, so i disassembled it... the neck was unsoldered and rounded out and the Eb tonehole and many dents were all removed, then it was sent to Anderson silver plating for chem-stripping and extensive engravings and expert silver plating, satin body and bright keys.  Finally, I did a total Premium Rebuild with Prestini's Hermes" treated pads and Solid silver Resotech resonators and using Teflon, to reduce friction, Synthcork for quieter and longer lasting bumpers and Ultrasuede, instead of felt, in key places. .  It's a long process, anywhere form 3 to 6 months, but the results are always magnificent.  look below:

.               

Our friend Robert, from Goldmasters  came today and 24 carat Gold plated the bell, bell to body brace and crook brace.  These were hard to reach parts that were soldered onto the body, that could not be dip plated and he has done a beautiful job on a very difficult project that required masking off and carefully detailed work.

    I measured every tonehole and custom ordered a set of solid silver flat resonators that cover 90% of the tonehole.

And I thank Randall, for this nice review of my services

From: Randall Pennington

Hi Sarge,
Now that summer vacation has fully begun, I just wanted to tell you about the SBA bari you restored for me earlier this year.  As you know, I have a pretty imposing set of horns (some of my very best are on your page of bests!). One of them is a custom made JK bari, a MK VI low A and of course the SBA. Recently I started playing bari full time in my salsa band too, so I have been trying out all 3 baris to see what works best.
Well, the SBA has won, hands down....the sound is exactly what I needed for the tunes I we do and the action is just perfect. The work you did on this horn is as good or better than what you did on my Buescher TH&C tenor. This horns simply screams, grunts, wails and honks!
I couldn't ask for a better restoration than the one you gave it. It is worth every cent I payed.
Next is the beauty of the horn...it is absolutely stunning from the plating and gold accents and inner bell plating that you had added later, to the elaborate engraving....my many thanks to your wife for helping with the drawing for the angel in the bell!
I just performed with this bari at a salsa festival and virtually every member of the Cuban band that was doing a sound check before us, when they saw the horn as they were leaving the stage, literally ooohed and aaahed when they saw the horn. And they were all BRASS players! One guy came up to me after our performance and told me he wished they could find a bari sax for their band. They liked the sound that much!
This is not the first time that horns you have restored for me have gotten kudos from non-sax players.
I don't know what else to say that I haven't said before Sarge. I love what you have done for my horns....I couldn't be happier!
Looking forward to getting another masterpiece done in the near future....
Kindest regards,

Randall Pennington
Fukuoka, Japan

    Very interesting saxes, the Houvangal design used ideas from the Boehm tuning method, so it looks quite different than 90% of other tenors.  This one's in pretty good shape, except for one deep dent under the palm keys and several posts that have been pushed into the body a little ways.  I pushed out the dents and installed  special order pads, along with some Ultra suede, and Teflon

here's how it all started:

1-23-03  Total restoration begun, with new Anderson Silver Plate, on SML Gold Medal Tenor. This is a 4-6 month process, but here are some BEFORE  prep pics.   There were some repairs that needed to be done, the Eb keyguard and tonehole had been smashed and pushed into the body, we fixed that.  The strap hook was worn on the top inside, so we flipped it.  Part of the prepping is removing a many dents as possible and we are still going over it for those.  We got a crease and a dent smoothed out pretty nicely in the Bell rim.      The sax has to be prepped and sent to Anderson plating for a beautiful silver and gold plate and then finally back here for a premium repad.  Part of the fun of making a primo horn is a little customizing... here we added a comfy Selmer thumb hook.

Now that it's back, we will do our Premium Total repad and make it play better than new.  Using Black Goatskin pads, with gold foil, Noyak oversized reso's, and synth cork and ultra suede for quieting and bumper materials.

She's coming along very nicely and gets more gorgeous daily!

She's all done and I hope Big Al doesn't  HAVE TO SNEAK THIS ONE IN THE DOOR AT MIDNIGHT, SO HIS WIFE DOESN'T GET JEALOUS!   Seriously, this SML has a great big, warm and distinctive sound that I can only describe as FABULOUS!

Here is without a doubt, one our finest works, a Buescher 400 Top Hat and Cane:  these are the finished pictures, there are pics from the beginning of the reassembly below

 This incredible sax has been custom engraved to Randall Pennington's specifications, with Sherry Huntly's Artistic Engravings, Silver plated as well as 24 c. Gold plated inside the bell and has been totally rebuilt with our Premium Repad, with Prestini Black Goatskin Pads and Solid Silver Resonators.  Click on the pics above for a more detailed image, or click here for backside, bell, gold inside bell and back engraving,  key engraving and  Bell Keys 

  SML Strasser Mariguax Lemaire Baritone:  This beauty got the full restoration treatment.  It had old brownish lacquer, so we got it mist stripped and silverplated at Anderson plating, re-engraved with Sherry Huntly's Artistic Engravings, then did our premium repad.  This is one of my finest works.  What a big, strong  sound!  Huge tone production...enough to get you thrown out of most orchestras!

  Keilwerth SX90 Straight Alto:  One of three projects for Randall Pennington.  It came to us in lacquer and retuned to Randall in Japan, as one of our finest works.  Silver and gold plating, custom engraving, with Sherry Huntly's Artistic Engravings virtually everywhere, and a premium repad.  Best sounding alto I can recall and so beautiful it is like a piece of art.

. 

We used Grey Joey's light gray Kangaroo skin pads, really nice look and sound.  Well, she's all done now and came out just beautiful.  First play test sounded rich and vintage.  

It had an original York mouthpiece that looked like a Sigard Rascher make, so I opened it up from .045" to .075" and it adds a dark tone and great overtones.  Just a beautiful warm sounding sax.  I'm very happy with the way it came out.   Here's the email we got after the owner had been playing it a while:

Steve

I've had the York back now for a week and I still feel like I need to be
wearing white gloves whenever I play it. It turned out much better than I
ever imagined. It amazes me at what beautiful sounds come out of an
instrument that is 75 years old. Of course now it is essentially better than
new. When people see my sax they can't believe how beautiful it is.

Your suggestion to open up the mouthpiece has made a world of difference.

I'm fortunate that I live only an hours drive away from you. However, I want
to take this opportunity to let your customers around the world know that
when they are dealing with you, they are dealing with the best!

The quality of your work, your knowledge, and your professionalism are
outstanding. I'm so glad I found you to perform your "magic" on my vintage
sax.

Please feel free to use my name as a reference. I can assure you we will be
keeping in touch.

Thanks again!
Mike Spencer   spencermichael@hotmail.com (Michael Spencer)
Maple Valley, Washington

I sold this nice Conqueror about 8 years ago...

  Conn Connqueror 26m:  This was my personal alto for many years, until it found a new home in Japan.  Probably Conn's finest hour.  a Standard rebuild with domed nylon reso's seemed to make her play and sound best.  

This nice SML alto just sold a few years back...

  SML Rev B Alto:  This was one of our restorations, it had dog ugly relac and we sent it to Anderson for Silver plate and re-engraving and it came out just fabulous too.  It's sporting our Premium rebuild and has been in the capable hands of a very promising student for a couple years now.  Great Horn!

      Removed dents  in body and neck, then reassembled neck curl top and bow.

Finally, align the posts and re-install the keys, level the pads and adjust the key heights...

We're all done now, and she's looking really good.

1936 Conn 10M Tenor:   Serial #272,xxx, made about 1936.  Very little of the original finish left, but in excellent physical condition, minimal dents, no previous repairs.  Rolled tone holes, big 10m sound. I plan to send her to Anderson Silver Plating for a Satin silver Finish, with polished highlights and a 24 carat gold bell interior... and while she's in Elkhart, Sherry will re-engrave the lady too.  When she's back, I'll totally rebuild her with Tan Prestini pads and flat metal resonators... and a full Premium Upgrade, to enhance her old design and make her feel smooth and fast. appx. 2999.00  Sold the 2nd day it was in stock... but i'll try to get another classic like this soon.

It will take about 3 months to complete, so i will put it up here again, when it gets back, so you can see the before and after...

That's all for now folks... I have a couple shoeboxes of photos, from years past, before the digital camera came into existence, so I'll dig into it some time and include some more of the great horns I've been lucky enough to work on.