Gunky Funky
  • Blog
  • Projects
  • Writings
    • How and Why I Write
    • Short Quotes
    • Travel Stories >
      • Around the World >
        • Korea
        • Philippines
        • Hong Kong
        • Singapore
        • Retrospective
      • Europe >
        • London Disrupt 2014
        • London 1998 >
          • The Search for Drugs
          • The Ethics of Cities
          • The history of the London Underground
          • A Poem
        • Italy Corsica Amsterdam France
        • Paris in the Spring
      • North America >
        • Yucatan, Mexico
        • Jamiroquai in Mexico
        • Ayahuasca in Costa Rica
        • Fear and Laughter in the Pacific Northwest
        • Burning Flipside >
          • Flipside 2007
          • Flipside 2008
          • Dr Tikis Script
        • Super Bowl XL
      • Morocco 2003
      • Australia 2010
    • Technical Writings >
      • NIME 2013
      • ITT Tech Courses I Taught >
        • Java I
        • Java II
        • Software Application Programming
        • Scripting and Web Authoring
      • Software Development Methodologies
      • Home Wine and Beer Making
    • Book Reviews >
      • The Miracle of Right Thought
      • The Source Field Investigations
      • The God Conspiracy
      • Chinese Health and Healing
    • Show Reviews >
      • Phish
      • Bonnaroo >
        • Bonnaroo I
        • Bonnaroo II
      • Skerik Syncopated Taint
      • Cleveland, Ohio >
        • Galactic 2006 Cleveland
        • Ernie Krivda
        • Medeski Martin and Wood >
          • MMW 2003
          • MMW 8-2005 Cleveland
      • Toast Tour 2009
    • College Musings >
      • Ethics Papers
      • The Story of Cybil and Charlotte
      • Full Circle or Straight Line
  • Music History
  • Infinite Creator

King Zephyr Saxophones

12/16/2015

1 Comment

 
PictureA comparison of my two vintage King Tenor Saxes. A Silver-Plated 1932 Vol True II and a circa 1946 lacquered Zephyr
I once posted a review of two of my saxophones on Facebook before realizing that i could additionally share this analysis with the world. So, here are some screenshots of this post, which is an analysis of two saxophones made by the same company about a decade apart and the technological advances in saxophone making during that time in the 1930s and 1940s. The King Zephyrs of the late model are the precursor to the famous King Super 20 saxophones and can be found at about a fifth the price with an arguably similar sound.

Here is my analysis of the findings...

The zephyr and voll true II sound similar, like they are obviously in the same family, but, the Zephyr is...
1. Less stuffy
2. more easy blowing
3. more edge
4. more ergonomic
5. the high register really sings and the low register really booms.
6. Newer horn does not hiss
7. Not as pretty, but it's all about the sound

Picture
A display of the other two differences that allow you to see that my Zephyr is the most desirable vintage of the King line. The three-ring neckstrap holder is mostly cosmetic, but allows you to place the horn in the era easily. However, to me, the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE that easily allows you to see that this horn is "THE ONE" is the low C# tonehole. Notice that on the zephyr it is pushed out a bit, whereas on the older horn it is inside. Pretty much all pro horns these days have the tonehole in the zephyr position. To me, this was the determining factor that made me pick this horn because it shows that the bore is exactly the same as the King Super 20, arguably the greatest jazz horn of all time. Basically, my Zephyr IS the Super 20 without the fancy engraving, pearl inlays, "underslung octave mechanism" on the neck, and extra support on the low-C, all of which are mostly cosmetic. Other than this, all my research tells me that this is the exact same horn from the most desirable vintage of King tenor saxes for about 1/3 the price of a Super 20!!! SWEET! (note the zephyr and voll-true II are the same size, the picture just makes the zephr look bigger).
Picture
A comparison of the octave mechanisms. The one on the left is from my 1932 Voll True II and the one on the right is my 1946 Zephyr. The '32 has a distinctive hissing sound on middle D which is absent on the new horn.. Horray!
Picture
The '32 silver Vol True Tenor has a Fork-Eb configuration which allows you to play Eb by pressing down only your right index and ring fingers instead of index, middle, ring, and pinky. In actuality, i plug this option off because it gets out of adjustment often. The lacquered Zephyr doesn't have this option; i won't miss it.
Picture
The silver 1932 Vol True II has a G-sharp trill mechanism which allows you to easily trill a G-Sharp that is absent on the newer Zephyr. Trilling is not something done that often in my field, so it's not a major loss. Additionally, the older horn has an additional tonehole that opens when you play g-sharp that is in a weird position that you won't see in horns after that era.
Picture
There are 3 things that, to me, show you in easy terms the "best vintage" of a king tenor. One of them is the "double-socket" neck which wraps around the bore, instead of the traditional neck found on most saxes in history that slides INTO the bore.
Picture
The right-pinky cluster is a bit more awkward on the older silver horn; however, i got used to it over the years. The Zephyr allows the option to play the low Bb on either pushing the far end of the cluster (like the old horn), or the bottom of the cluster (the standard of most horns made from the 1940's on). I personally like the fact that it has both options and i'll probably stick to the "old" fingering cuz i'm used to it. Newer saxes don't even have the option of the old fingering. However, the zephyr just feels more comfortable and is easier to play in this regard, ergonomically.
So there you have it. In addition to me playing this version of the King Zephyr, I believe that Stuart D. Bogie of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra plays this model as well. Joe Woullard from Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears plays a similar vintage baritone saxophone as I do, but that's another blog. King Zephyrs are some great horns.
1 Comment
Walter
2/17/2017 04:19:34 pm

Nice review. I have been playing a series II King tenor from just before the Vol-Tru I changes. I love the old King from I think '26. The intonation problems of the older Kings is way overblown in my thinking. Now I bought a '47 Zephyr, shipped today, I'm stoaked! My new Zeph is like yours but has the Super 20 style neck brace on a brass neck I think. I'll see next week. I hope it's as good as advertized, I chose it over a Chu and a 10M. Thanks for sharing your views.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Russ

    Spin the World Around

      Contact Me

    Submit

    Categories

    All
    Ahaucha
    Airbnb
    Alaska
    Alto Sax
    Amazon
    And Fire
    Android
    Aparigraha
    Around The World
    Around The World Travel
    Asana
    Asia
    Asteya
    Astral Projection
    Audiotrip
    Austin
    Austin Silent Disco
    Authority
    Ayahuasca
    Ayahusca
    Baritone Sax
    Best Travel Blog
    Bhagavad Gita
    Bikram Yoga
    Binaural Beats
    Bitches
    Boulder
    Bramacharya
    Budget Travel
    Burning Flipside
    Burning Man
    Cajun
    Caning
    Caribbean
    Celtic Cross
    Central America
    Cheltenham
    Chicken Adobo
    China
    Chinese Food
    Christmas
    Cleansing
    Colorado
    Columbia
    Conspiracy Theory
    Coronavirus
    Corona Virus
    Costa Rica
    Couchsurfing
    Covid-19
    Crazy Dance
    Create Your Reality
    Daejeon
    Dave Brubeck
    Debate
    Denali
    Dharana
    Dhyana
    Dim Sum
    Disco
    Dmt
    Double Sax
    Dr. Tiki
    Earth
    Editing
    Emperador Light
    Empire Of The Sun
    Ethics
    Europe
    Facebook
    False Dichotomy
    Fantasy
    Fela
    Fela Kuti
    Flikr
    Flipside
    Fluoride
    Food Courts
    Forgetting
    Free
    Free Will
    Funky
    Galactic Signature
    Gangnam Style
    Girdwood
    Goenka
    Groceries
    Guided Meditation Treks
    Guru
    Gymnastics
    Hatha Yoga
    Headphone Concert
    HEB
    Higher Self
    Hinduism
    Holiday Lettings
    Honey White
    Hong Kong
    Imgr
    Incline
    Inside Job
    Instagram
    Ios
    Ishvarapranidhana
    Jamiroquai
    Japan
    Java
    Javascript
    Jazzfest
    Job Search
    Jp Sears
    Judgement
    Juice Cleanse
    Jungle
    Kali Uchis
    Karma
    King Crimson
    King Super 20
    King Zephyr
    Kiss And Tell
    Korea
    Kundalini
    Labels
    Lamma Island
    Later
    Latin America
    Law Of One
    London
    Lucid Dreaming
    Manifestation
    Mark Sandman
    Materialism
    Mattress
    Meditation
    Melting Pot
    Memoir
    Memorial Day Weekend
    Mexico
    Michael Jackson
    Middle East
    Mindful Travel
    Mobile Clubbing
    Monterrey
    Montreux Jazz
    Morals
    Morphine
    Mrt
    Music
    Music Is A Meditation
    Music Tutorial
    Nacpan Beach
    Napsan Beach
    Nature Sounds
    Neurolinguistic Programming
    New Age
    New Interfaces For Musical Expression
    Nice Jazz Festival
    Nime
    Niyama
    Octopus Card
    Okcupid
    Old Flavours
    Oppression
    Out Of Body Experience
    Palawan
    Personal Growth
    Peru
    Philippines
    Photographs
    Photojournalism
    Piano Tutorial
    Pintrest
    Pittsburgh
    Platform
    Podcast
    Pranayama
    Pratyahara
    Prince Karma
    Psychedelics
    Puerto Princessa
    Pyropolis
    Quarantine
    Racism
    Reddit
    Reincarnation
    Religion
    Retreat
    Right Thought
    Rigveda
    Samadhi
    Sanskrit
    Santosha
    Satya
    Savasana
    Saxophone
    Saxophonics
    Science
    Seoul
    Sex
    Shaman
    Sheet Music
    Silent Disco
    Singapore
    Singapore Sling
    Singlish
    Skerik
    Sleep
    Smart Phone Development
    Smartphone Travel
    Social Network Platform
    Software Development
    Soju
    South America
    South Korea
    Spin The World Around
    Spirituality
    Startup
    Steelers
    Steemit
    St Lucia Jazz
    Supermarket
    Svadhyaya
    Swift
    Synervoz
    Take Five
    Talk Radio
    Tapas
    Tarot
    Techcrunch
    Telepatia
    Tenor Sax
    Tensorflow
    Texas
    They Live
    Tinder
    Topo Chico
    Travel Blog
    Travel Book
    Travel Guide
    Travel Hacking
    Travel Technology
    Tripadvisor
    Tripping Balls
    Trip Review
    Truth
    Tsa
    Tumblr
    Turkey
    Turnmeup
    Twitter
    Upanishads
    Urban Mattress
    Video Blog
    Vipassana
    Vomiting
    Waterfalls
    Wawa
    White Supremacy
    Whole Foods
    Wind
    Writing
    Xchox
    Yama
    Ymca
    Yoga
    Yogasutra
    Zombie

    Archives

    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    October 2020
    April 2020
    July 2019
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    July 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Copyright (c) 2015 Russell Eric Dobda
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • Projects
  • Writings
    • How and Why I Write
    • Short Quotes
    • Travel Stories >
      • Around the World >
        • Korea
        • Philippines
        • Hong Kong
        • Singapore
        • Retrospective
      • Europe >
        • London Disrupt 2014
        • London 1998 >
          • The Search for Drugs
          • The Ethics of Cities
          • The history of the London Underground
          • A Poem
        • Italy Corsica Amsterdam France
        • Paris in the Spring
      • North America >
        • Yucatan, Mexico
        • Jamiroquai in Mexico
        • Ayahuasca in Costa Rica
        • Fear and Laughter in the Pacific Northwest
        • Burning Flipside >
          • Flipside 2007
          • Flipside 2008
          • Dr Tikis Script
        • Super Bowl XL
      • Morocco 2003
      • Australia 2010
    • Technical Writings >
      • NIME 2013
      • ITT Tech Courses I Taught >
        • Java I
        • Java II
        • Software Application Programming
        • Scripting and Web Authoring
      • Software Development Methodologies
      • Home Wine and Beer Making
    • Book Reviews >
      • The Miracle of Right Thought
      • The Source Field Investigations
      • The God Conspiracy
      • Chinese Health and Healing
    • Show Reviews >
      • Phish
      • Bonnaroo >
        • Bonnaroo I
        • Bonnaroo II
      • Skerik Syncopated Taint
      • Cleveland, Ohio >
        • Galactic 2006 Cleveland
        • Ernie Krivda
        • Medeski Martin and Wood >
          • MMW 2003
          • MMW 8-2005 Cleveland
      • Toast Tour 2009
    • College Musings >
      • Ethics Papers
      • The Story of Cybil and Charlotte
      • Full Circle or Straight Line
  • Music History
  • Infinite Creator