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by kennyz
(31 posts)
18 years ago

Alto Sax Holton Helkhorn "This Unknown..."

Hi to everybody, yes..."this Unknown..." Because on Saxpics I've found only a few pics, Steve Goodson show only the serial number 8around 1907/8) and nothing else (doesn't it have a value?) This sax look really fine, it has some extra vent keys and pads, also the keywork and the finish seems beautiful, but in perpective of playing, someone that has tried it can tell me how is the tone and intonation? Thanks also all the people that have answered me in the preceding questions :-)

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  2. by blackfrancis
    (396 posts)
    18 years ago

    Re: Alto Sax Holton Helkhorn "This Unknown..."

    Holton saxes can be good players, though they aren't as well thought of as other vintage brands. I've played a Holton soprano for many years and it's been a great horn. Taking into account the variables such as condition, set-up, etc., the only way to know for sure how a horn plays is to try it out yourself. And FYI, Goodson's (and about everybody else's) serial number chart is SO wrong! Holton moved to Elkhorn, Wisconsin in 1917-1918. If it was 1907-8 it would say "Frank Holton Chicago".

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    1. by definition
      (963 posts)
      18 years ago

      Re: Alto Sax Holton Helkhorn "This Unknown..."

      the charts are wrong because they arent for the woodwind horns holton made. If you want to date a holton brass instrument, they work fine though. A chart for holton woodwinds does not exist

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      1. by Dave Dix
        (421 posts)
        18 years ago

        Re: Alto Sax Holton Helkhorn "This Unknown..."

        Here's a list for holton saxophones Dave Holton Serial Number List Date Serial Number 1901 0-253 1902 254-475 1903 476-525 1904 526-1150 1905 1151-1871 1906 1872-3344 1907 3345-4629 1908 4630-6070 1909 6071-9473 1910 9474-12401 1911 12402-15949 1912 15950-20806 1913 20807-21099 1914 21100-31621 1915 31622-33670 1916 33671-37908 1917 37909-41069 1918 41070-43972 1918 55000-55249 1919 43973-47600 1919 55250-57040 1920 47601-49817 1920 57041-58499 1920 70000-70549 1921 49818-54999 1921 58500-59499 1921 70550-73199 1922 59500-60599 1922 73200-76099 1923 60600-61649 1923 76100-81000 1924 61650-62199 1924 81001-85600 1925 62200-62899 1925 85900-89849 1926 62900-63149 1926 89850-92799 1927 63150-63299 1927 92800-97199 1928 63300-63549 1928 97200-101399 1929 101400-105199 1929 63550-63849 1930 105200-108399 1930 63850-64049 1931 108400-111049 1931 64050-64149 1932 111099-113899 1933 113990-114999 1934 115000-117299 1935 117300-118599 1936 118600-120599 1937 120600-122899 1938 122900-125849 1939 125850-132799 1940 132800-140099 1941 140100-151299 1942 151300-154199 1943 154200-154699 1944 154700-154899 1945 154900-156099 1946 156100-165599 1947 165600-181999 1948 182000-198299 1949 198300-210299 1950 210300-220499 1951 220500-232599 1952 232600-243349 1953 243350-254099 1954 254100-268999 1955 269000-281399 1956 281400-293699 1957 293700-307399 1958 307400-315699 1959 315700-326099 1960 326100-337599 1961 337600-348399 1962 348400-358499 1963 358500-373699 1964 373700-388949 1965 388950-403350 1966 403351-435999 1967 536000-455749 1968 455750-467099 1969 467100-483099 1970 483100-496799 1971 496800-504200 1972 504201-519299 1973 519300-524599 1974 524600-529899 1975 529900-535199 1976 535200-541999 1977 542000-548429 1978 548430-553524 1979 553525-558935

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        1. by kennyz
          (31 posts)
          18 years ago

          Re: Alto Sax Holton Helkhorn "This Unknown..."

          Thank you to everybody!! The matter of the s/n it seems a few controversial... Looking with attention to the different models I see that the model Beaufort and Collegiate don't have the extra venting keys. They appear for the first time on the Elkhorn model and subsequently they are developed in the model Rudy Wiedoeft. This one was made around 1917, then the Elkhorn has been built a little before I think. I am not a great expert of vintage saxophones but the keywork of the Helkhorn it seems too modern and "futuristic" to have been built in 1907... About playing, (Blackfrancis which model of soprano you have?) unfortunately I can't try the sax. If the soprano (that is notoriusly recognized as problematic in terms of intonation) play well, I'm confident that also the alto should be ok........or not? However I'm talking about Helkhorn andRudy Wiedoeft models...

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        2. by kennyz
          (31 posts)
          18 years ago

          Re: Alto Sax Holton Helkhorn "This Unknown..."

          Hi Dave, I've read your reply at Saxontheweb. You say of dodgy intonation... You could tell me more about this? You have tried a mouthpiece with small or large chamber?

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        3. by blackfrancis
          (396 posts)
          18 years ago

          Re: Alto Sax Holton Helkhorn "This Unknown..."

          My horn just says "Frank Holton Elkhorn Wisconsin" on the bell. From Dave's ser. no. chart I figure 1924, which looks about right. (Thanks, Dave!) I once had a tenor, which wasn't such a good axe. As for mouthpieces (sop.), I have a high baffle Geo. M. Bundy that just rips, and a modern Link Tone Edge that sounds really nice. Both have had their shank shortened to get up to pitch. No intonation problems that aren't usual to the soprano as a species, but maybe I just got lucky!

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