SML Rev D Tenor Original Silver Plate Overhauled 9xxx

Description

This is a beautiful SML tenor. It’s a super-rare, near mint condition original silver plated example of what we call the “Rev D,” which only existed for a few thousand serial numbers before it was named the Gold Medal. Of course, SML didn’t call it a Rev D. That name comes from saxophone geeks who noticed that this is the fourth and final major design change in SML saxophones. It was their top-of-the-line, pro saxophone in the 50’s, and when it won the gold medal at the musical instrument show at the Hague in 1954, they renamed it the “Gold Medal.” So this is the Gold Medal model before it won the gold medal and was renamed, if that makes sense.

This horn has a top-shelf overhaul (‘Uberhaul’) on it, done by MusicMedic. It has black RooPads and domed metal resonators. The overhaul is basically new on this, and it is totally ready to go. Cosmetically, there are no past repairs to mention, and the only flaw on the whole horn is that you can see a tiny spot where the braze on the bell seam is not quite fully overlapping. This was really hard to catch in the photos, because it’s only about a millimeter and hard to see. The neck, bell, bow, and body tube are all super-clean, and the silver is almost all present on the whole horn. It’s really a remarkably beautiful and pristine example.

Sonically, if you want to have a dark, dense, powerful tone that is Selmer-like but has the wideness of a Conn, this is for you. It’s a lyrical horn too – sounds great on ballads, and it brightens up with a more aggressive mouthpiece and really sounds cutting and fat at the same time, like no other saxophone can.

Someone is going to LOVE this horn. It really does it all. Dark, french core tone, flexible, punchy and powerful. Great intonation. Ergonomics are easy to get used-to, and the overhaul is top notch and should easily last many many years with minimal maintenance. It’s a turn key purchase for a beautiful vintage tenor sax.