Silver King v.s. Silversonic/Silvertone

[Slider8000]

I have seen silver King trombones pop up that have no gold plating or Silversonic/Silvertone engraving on the bell.

I have several questions:

1. Are these instruments considered “Silversonic” even if it doesn’t say in the bell? If not, what should they be called?
2. Should these instruments cost less than branded Silversonic/Silvertone instruments?
3. Are these instruments typically silverplated brass, or are they solid silver? What are the specifications/differences?
4. Why do these strange Kings exist?

I’m considering buying a 4BF that is $1,000 in nice condition. However no Silversonic branding which is strange to me.

Many thanks!

[atopper333]

These silver King trombones are indeed silver plated instruments. The Silversonic/Silvertone horns are solid silver bell instruments.

To my knowledge, I do not know of any other solid silver belled King instruments not labeled Silvertone or Silversonic.

Yes, the silver plated horns do not sell for as much as the Silversonic/Silvertone instruments. I usually see a ‘SP’ somewhere in the designation for newer silver plates King trombones. Here is an example of a King 4BFSP:

https://reverb.com/item/78007148-king-m ... 5-open-box

I’ve played a few SP models from King and like them very much. 1,000 for a solid King 4BF silver plated horn might be a great price depending on condition of course, if it’s in near mint condition, that would be a great price in my optinion.

[mazman]

Some sterling 4Bs say silver sonorous.

[hornbuilder]

The early Silver sonic instruments can be identified by the "color" of the metals used. The bell is silver, the tuning slide tubes and cross braces are nickel silver, and look "grayer" than the bell, and the tuning slide and gooseneck are yellow brass. These horns were lacquered.

Newer silversonics were silver plated, so the color differences aren't there, but, they did have gold plates tuning slide and inner handslide handgrip.

If the horn is all silver, with no gold plate accents, then it is a silver plated brass instrument

[Briande]

Aren’t there also some King Tempos that are nickel silver? (Which really isn’t silver at all).

[atopper333]

Aren’t there also some King Tempos that are nickel silver? (Which really isn’t silver at all).

Those Tempos are nickel plated instruments. Nickel plate over yellow brass if I remember correctly.

[Slider8000]

Mazman yes I did see a branded “Silver Sonorous” engraved in the bell section which is pretty cool. I think the early Silversonic 4BF was titled that for a very short time. Another strange facet in the King instrument history

[Cmillar]

A good test for a sterling silver bell....does your King 2B/3B weigh about the same as your .547 horn as you put it in playing position? (hah!)

My 1957 King 2B SilverSonic has a 'Sterling Bell' stamp in the bell, above the nice engraving marks. Sometimes you'll the 'S' stamp, sometimes both I believe.

But, it'll be heavy!

[harrisonreed]

Not all sterling silver 3Bs say "silversonic" or indeed much of anything on them. This is a 3B Silversonic, but it's definitely just labeled "2103":

https://thebrass-exchange.com/content/k ... -very-mint

Is not evident in the picture but I wouldn't be surprised if the bell had a £ symbol on the throat