Couf Tenors: Superba I vs. Superba II

Features on all Superba I	1 vs I engraving	Phase 1 tenors	Phase 2 tenors	Phase 3 tenors	Phase 4 tenors	Exceptions
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Superba 1/I Tenor

I have found that the Superba I tenor 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.

It is worth noting that except for one exception at the end of their run, for the most part, the Superba I tenors appear to have followed the Superba I altos in the feature evolution.

Features common over the entire production run

Black plastic left thumb rest * (see below)
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
RH pinkie keys rounder in shape
Strap ring a thick, flat ring
Large MOP buttons without metal edges
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?

Superba 1 tenor 54xxx. Source: worldwidesax.com

Superba 1 tenor #76663. Source: getasax.com

Superba I tenor # 83040

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)
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 (only) serial # seen to date: 54xxx

Defining feature for Phase 1 tenor

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.

Superba I #54xxx – Lacquer

Phase 2 – features

Identical to Phase 1 except for the clothes guard being metal instead of Lucite.
Circa 1976 the model engraving on bell was changed to a Roman I (consistent on 768xx onwards)
Serial # range seen to date: 62436-768xx

Defining feature for Phase 2 tenor

All the features of a Phase 1 horn, but with a metal clothes guard.

Superba I # 65988 – silver plate

Superba I # 76663 – lacquer

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: 78347-81932

Defining features for Phase 3 tenor

There were two important features that immediately make it obvious that we are seeing the first serious evolution of a Couf 1 tenor.

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 2 Superba 1 Tenor #65988 (pre overhaul). Source: getasax.com

Phase 3 Superba I #79231. Source: pmwoodwind.com. Used with permission.

Phase 3 Couf Superba I tenor

Superba I #79231 – Blackgold

Superba I #80439 – delacquered

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. * (see below)
At some point near the end of the production run the high F# key changed shape from semi-oval MOP, to rectangular upright. (First seen on #9126x.)
Serial # range seen to date: 81xxx – 91373

Defining features for Phase 4 tenor

The only visible difference that allows us to see that any Superba I tenor is a Phase 4 horn is that the right thumb rest changed to a fixed, black plastic version from the adjustable metal version that was the norm in all horns Phases 1-3. (Pics 1 &2 below)
The very last of the Superba I tenors had upright metal high F# keys. (Pics 3 & 4 below) (This is different than the altos that appear to have kept their same high F# key shape once it was introduced.)