Featured Saxophone Julius Kielwerth New King
The Keilwerth “The New King” alto saxophone is a highly regarded vintage German instrument produced by Julius Keilwerth from the 1930s through the late 1960s. Celebrated for its unique, robust engineering and a characteristically warm, powerful, and reedy tone, it serves as an excellent alternative to prestigious vintage brands like Selmer or Buescher.
Historically, “The New King” was identical in its body tube and acoustic taper to Keilwerth’s professional “Toneking” model, differing mainly in cosmetic upgrades like a high F# key or engraving options.
Major Evolutionary Eras
The model underwent dramatic shifts due to geopolitical context and manufacturing changes:
- Series I (1930s–WWII): Built in Graslitz, Czechoslovakia, these models featured inline tone holes, a Conn-style microtuner neck, and experimental ergonomics like angled side keys.
- Series II (Post-WWII / Late 1940s): Highly rare horns built right after the factory was nationalized. Due to tooling shortages, these are the only Keilwerths built with soldered, beveled tone holes rather than rolled ones.
- Series III & IV (1950s–1960s): Produced in Nauheim, West Germany, these are the definitive post-war models. They are famous for their “Angel Wing” (or lucite) pants keyguards and fully rolled tone holes, delivering an expansive jazz sound.
Key Acoustic & Design Traits
- Big Bore Sound: The instrument has a fat, punchy lower register and a complex, woody midrange. It cuts through beautifully in jazz, rock, and blues contexts.
- Mouthpiece Selectivity: Because of its vintage large-bore design, the intonation can be tricky with modern, small-chamber mouthpieces. It slots and tunes much better with large, deep-chamber mouthpieces.
- Ergonomics: The upper and lower stacks feel remarkably slick, fast, and close to a modern Selmer layout, though the left-hand pinky cluster retains a heavier, vintage American-style feel.
Market Value & Collectibility
“The New King” is widely considered one of the best-valued vintage professional saxophones on the secondary market:
- Late Post-War Models (1950s–1960s): In good playing shape, these generally command $900 to $1,200 USD. Exceptional overhauls or rare configurations can fetch up to $2,300 USD at high-end shops like Get a sax or Brass Foghorn.
- Pre-War & Structural Variations: Models lacking the modern pinky keys or those with heavy lacquer wear often sit around $500 to $700 USD.
The “Angel Wing” Premium: Horns with the fragile, original transparent lucite guard intact carry a price premium, as many were broken over time and replaced with metal guards.