TromboneChat

So I bought both a King 4BF and a King Tempo awhile back. The King 4BF came from the Brass Exchange and was recommended by Mr. Doug Bert after I had tried out a good deal of other horns. This horn has quite the background to include a personalized engraving with some interesting spelling and marked from the Bronx. It is a beautiful horn from the 60s and 70s and I’ve never sounded better on anything else I’ve played. Don’t get me wrong…to me it’s a difficult horn, and it makes you work for that sound, but the color and depth is worth the practice. It just makes me want to pick it up.

The Tempo is also a very wonderful horn as well and has much the same temperament as the 4BF.

I decided to sent these horns in for a touch up and rework as they both had some slide issues, dents and some other concerns. Here is what I got back.

I definitely want to thank Mr. Jim Huwe at Wardbrodt Music for his excellent work. These two came back playing as they had before but now mechanically sound with excellent slides, a great lacquered finish and ready to make music again for a few more decades after some much needed love.

Nice. Enjoy.

The horn on the left in the photo is a Tempo? From what era?

dbwhitaker wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 10:08 am The horn on the left in the photo is a Tempo? From what era?

It’s an Eastlake model Tempo. It was built and played very similar to an HN White era horn I had briefly. Want to say the serial number puts it late 60s.

Any chance you could upload a clear pic of the 4bf's engraving? I'm trying to think of who up in the boogie-down (Bronx) played a 4bf.

pbone3b wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 11:39 am Any chance you could upload a clear pic of the 4bf's engraving? I'm trying to think of who up in the boogie-down (Bronx) played a 4bf.

I’ll make sure to take and attach one once in off of work, would definitely love to know as much of the history of the horn as I could!

pbone3b wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 11:39 am Any chance you could upload a clear pic of the 4bf's engraving? I'm trying to think of who up in the boogie-down (Bronx) played a 4bf.

Here is that picture.

atopper333 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 4:28 pm

pbone3b wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 11:39 am Any chance you could upload a clear pic of the 4bf's engraving? I'm trying to think of who up in the boogie-down (Bronx) played a 4bf.

Here is that picture.

Looks like it says El Malate / Bx. N.Y.

Posaunus wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 8:17 pm

atopper333 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 4:28 pm

Here is that picture.

Looks like it says El Malate / Bx. N.Y.

Indeed, it is a personal engraving of “El Malote,” which should translate to “the bad guy.”

The bottom is BX, NY.

Also, it appears to have a non factory engraving for sonorous misspelled as “sonoris”

I texted Willie Alvarez last night and sent a picture. I figured If anyone would know Spanish-speaking trombone players in the Bronx over the last 40 or so years it might be him. But it didn't ring any bells for him. He did remind me that Willie Colon used to go by "El Malo" so maybe he was emulating Willie Colon?

atopper333 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 9:00 pm Also, it appears to have a non factory engraving for sonorous misspelled as “sonoris”

Hilarious, I totally missed that! This is getting very interesting!

Nice overhauls! I love it when those vintage horns get a good overhaul and can make music for many more years to come!

pbone3b wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 7:03 am I texted Willie Alvarez last night and sent a picture. I figured If anyone would know Spanish-speaking trombone players in the Bronx over the last 40 or so years it might be him. But it didn't ring any bells for him. He did remind me that Willie Colon used to go by "El Malo" so maybe he was emulating Willie Colon?

atopper333 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 9:00 pm Also, it appears to have a non factory engraving for sonorous misspelled as “sonoris”

Hilarious, I totally missed that! This is getting very interesting!

I really can’t thank you enough for looking into this. I’ve always wanted to know more about the horn since I picked it up over a year ago. I can tell it was well loved and played. So much so that the locking nut has almost been worth smooth! If this horn could talk, I bet it would have some awesome stories!

SwissTbone wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 7:25 am Nice overhauls! I love it when those vintage horns get a good overhaul and can make music for many more years to come!

I agree with you on that! It definitely has seen some miles! The rotor needed some work, and I haven’t play much on either of them recently as I wanted slide work on it done to keep the inners intact as much as possible. I’m hoping to pass these on to my kid who just picked up the horn this year, with the overhaul, that’ll be a real possibility as long as he keeps interest!