King tenor valve knuckles

[hyperbolica]

I've been on a King tenor binge recently, and I've seen a lot of horns with braces added across the valve and/or buckled knuckles. It's as if all these bones have been marched and snapped over the shoulder by overly enthusiastic high schoolers. 3b, 48, 3b+, all f attachment horns, obviously. Most of the horns of these models I've seen in the last month or so have damage or repairs. Are or were Kings used more than other brands in schools, or were the horns just mechanically inferior to other brands?

[BGuttman]

I'd guess more the former than the latter. The King F-attachment horns are held like straight tenors (at least the older ones, and all 3B and 3B+ with F) so "snap-to" moves are reasonable. Try doing a "snap-to" with a Bach 42B or Conn 88H and you'll see what I mean.

[afugate]

I've been on a King tenor binge recently, and I've seen a lot of horns with braces added across the valve and/or buckled knuckles. It's as if all these bones have been marched and snapped over the shoulder by overly enthusiastic high schoolers. 3b, 48, 3b+, all f attachment horns, obviously. Most of the horns of these models I've seen in the last month or so have damage or repairs. Are or were Kings used more than other brands in schools, or were the horns just mechanically inferior to other brands?

Were you on a binge or a Benge? lol
--Andy in OKC

[hyperbolica]

I've been on a King tenor binge recently,...

Were you on a binge or a Benge? lol
--Andy in OKC

Ahahaha I think Benges were better made and didn't have this problem.