Helping out an old timer here in the Twin Cities. He had the horn listed way too high on Craigslist. According to him, this horn was a school horn at one point in the Univ. of Wisconsin system. There are registration numbers on the case and engraved.

For sale is a King 1480 (5B) from 1967. Serial number 4385xx. If you look at the one photo, you'll see that this was a U.S. Navy horn, dated 9/67. This particular horn has a nine-inch bell and .536 bore. Not to be mistaken for later 5B's with a split bore .536/.547.

The pictures tell the story of the condition of the horn. Various small pings and scratches on the bell and throat. Horn may have been relacquered at some point. The valve works fine and all slides as well. The handslide is probably an 8 out of 10. It moves freely but feels like there are some small pings. There is chrome wear on both stockings, but, doesn't feel like it is effecting the slide. The case stores the horn, that's about it. Josef Klier mouthpiece not included with the sale.

Photos: <LINK_TEXT text="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d3sqqp0r3tk0 ... PowMa?dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d3sqqp0r3tk03xk/AAAismLoyO9h5XMB-B9ePowMa?dl=0</LINK_TEXT>

This is the first 1480 (5B) I've played. Great instrument if you're seeking a jazz bass. With a Josef Klier 2KL, has a nice full sound, quick response, and great low and upper registers without using a lot of air. A great doubling instrument for a tenor trombonist.

Price is $675, which includes shipping in the lower 48 States, payment by Paypal. I will sell/ship internationally but need to calculate shipping before final price. Message me if you are interested or have any questions.

Thanks!

I had no idea older 5B horns were dual bore. My 7-5-73 King factory catalog shows .547, and my 6-15-71 catalog shows .536. Neither mentioned dual bore.

The 1480, as far as I know, is not really called 5B at all, and is straight .536.

Ok, back to the King factory catalogs. 6-15-71 lists "1480 King 5-B Symphony Bass" with .536 bore. The 7-15-73 catalog lists "1480 King 5-B Symphony Bass" with .547 bore. All other specs are the same. My 50s and 70s era Kings have only "4-B Sonorous", "3-B Concert", and "2-B Liberty" on the bells. Nowhere can I find the numbers "1404", "1403", or "1407". The 2-B is weird in that the model is "1407", not "1402" like one would think.

I grew up less than 2 miles at the crow flies from the King factory in Eastlake, Ohio. I visited it twice - once on a school tour in 71, once to pick up my 4-B from George McCracken in 73. and nabbed the catalogs!

Early 60's through the mid-1970's had some interesting quirks in the horns. When the 1480 converted to a stand alone 5B, there were some 5B's made with .536/.547 dual bore. I've seen two in the past with sterling silver bells and dual bores.

These old catalogs we all have in our arsenals need to be scanned and saved where all members can access them. I came across a few months ago letters I received from Ed Thayer back in the early 90's. All too cool!

I own a(by extrapolation of the serial #) a King Symphony model(#1480 if you will) circa 1963 with just a brass bell. It is 9" and a dual .535/.547 bore. It also has a fairly nice crimson alligator original case. Kingfan….you need to get some earlier King catalogs from before 1964/65. This is back when the H.N. White family still owned King.

Kevin