Superba 1/I Alto
I have found that the Superba I alto has 4 phases based on visual characteristics. These 4 phases are described and illustrated below. Additionally however, there are also some features that the Superba I had over its entire 20+ year production cycle at Keilwerth. Those will be illustrated first.
Features common over the entire production run
- Black plastic left thumb rest*
- Circle & 1/2 oval bell to body support brace
- Post to body construction
- Lyre holder attached to socket opposite the neck fastening screw
- Bow to bell connected directly (no connecting ring)
- Bow to body connected directly (no connecting ring)
- Low C key arm has a bend (*see below)
- RH pinkie keys rounder in shape
- Strap ring a thick, flat ring
- Rolled tone holes
- Hand engraving on the bell & bow
What is the significance of German-styled Arabic numeral 1 vs the Roman numeral I in the engraving?
I asked myself that for years, and I have to say that without someone from JK’s former sax department chiming in for an answer to that question, I suspect we will never know. However, after researching the H. Couf brand for a decade, I have come to the conclusion that there likely wasn’t any significance.
The German-styled Arabic 1 is seen most commonly on the earlier model Superbas. It is worth noting that not all 1’s on the bells are identical, which indicate more than a single engraver was involved.
Why did the engraving ultimately switch from 1 to I? I have a couple of theories, but theories are not proof. Ultimately it likely came down to a decision by H. Couf himself—who was very involved in virtually all aspects of the horns that bore is name.
Phase 1 – features
- Black plastic G# key touch *
- Lucite clothes guard (common on JK horns)
- (When present) high F# key shaped like the right palm keys
- Chromatic F# key shaped like the right palm keys; located on the side of the body
- Adjustable metal right thumb rest
- Latest serial # seen to date: 56781
Defining feature for Phase 1 alto
Other than the serial number indicating one of the first years of H. Couf production, these early altos have the Lucite pant guard seen on JK saxophones.
The exception to this rule is alto 51363, which is the earliest alto I have seen to date that does have a metal clothes guard, but also has extra features—such as a high G key. According to Brian at Get A Sax who was selling it, this was a prototype that belonged to Herb Couf himself. Therefore we can’t really drawing an solid conclusions from this unusual alto.
Superba I #51363 – Lacquer – keyed to high G
Superba I #54650 – Lacquer (yes, I know it looks like gold plate, but Brian stated it was lacquered)
Phase 2 – features
- Identical to Phase 1 except for the clothes guard being metal instead of Lucite.
- High F# now standard.
- Circa 1977 the model engraving on bell was changed to a Roman I (first horn that shows this 76756)
- Serial # range seen to date: 65736-76756
Defining feature for Phase 2 alto
All the features of a Phase 1 horn, but with a metal clothes guard.
Phase 2 Couf Superba I alto
Superba I #67654 – Gold plate
Phase 3 – features
- MOP G# key touch*
- Metal clothes guard
- High F# key semi-oval MOP
- Chromatic F# MOP button key with tone hole located on back of body tube
- Adjustable metal right thumb rest
- Serial # range seen to date: 78786-81936
Defining features for Phase 3 alto
There were two features that immediately make it obvious that we are seeing the first serious evolution of a Couf 1 alto.
- Keilwerth moved the Chromatic F# to the back of the body from the side, and replaced the right palm key-shaped chromatic F# with a MOP button key.
- The high F# was redesigned to a semi-oval, MOP key touch.
Phase 3 Couf Superba I alto
Superba I #78XXX – Blackgold
Superba I #80063 – Lacquer *see below
Phase 4 features
- Identical to Phase 3 horns except that the right thumb rest was switched to a fixed, black plastic one, instead of the adjustable metal one that had been on the horns since Phase 1.
- Serial # range seen to date: 81991 – 91160
Defining feature for Phase 4 alto
The only visible difference that allows us to see that this is a Phase 4 alto is that the right thumb rest changed to a fixed, black plastic version from the adjustable metal version.
Phase 4 Couf Superba I alto
Superba I #84709 – Lacquer
Superba I #91160 – Lacquer
NB: Of course there have to be exceptions. Here are the ones I have found to date:
- #78786 has MOP on its left thumb rest. Likely after market, since only one other horn has this.
- #78786 has a black plastic G# key touch, but the new F# keys.
- 82xxx has a MOP left thumb rest. This appeared after-market.
- #8215X has an adjustable Selmer-style thumb rest. One might presume it was a replacement to the fixed, black plastic one the Couf horns had at the time.
- #80063 has a straight low C tone arm. It is the only Superba I alto in my sampling of approx. 70 horns that does not have a bend in the key arm. Did they run out of Superba I keys and slap a II key on it to get it out the door? Maybe. JK couldn’t keep up with demand and was sending horns to the US for assembly there. Whatever the reason, this horn was an anomaly in the Superba I world.
You must be logged in to post a comment.