Introduction Good morning from Boise

[skeller047]

Welcome @dbarnesid - I’m older than you are, but have been playing for over 65 years. Started on clarinet, added saxophone quickly, flute a few years later as a 19 year old. Then 9 or 10 years after that was told I needed to play oboe. Which I did, working shows and recording. I learned to make reeds, for both oboe and cor anglais.

When I left that line of work I put them away and they haven’t been out since then. You have made the correct choice 🙂

All that as a preamble to a standard musician joke:

Q: What’s the difference between an oboe and an English horn?
A: The English horn burns 30 minutes longer.

In any case, sorry for the diversion, glad you’re here. If your brain gets enough energy to wonder about your theory studies, be sure to ask here. Lots of us are ready and willing to help.

 

[Tuppertn]

No way ! I humbly disagree. I have one made from Vibranium. Deep mined in Wakanda. Vibranium resonates like no other. Mithril is just so middle earth average….

Well, that sucks 'cuz mithril's dang expensive. I paid my entire kingdom for mine and sold my first born into slavery.

It has the coveted "Balrog Flame and Whip" engraving. Everyone knows the BF&W's play the best.

 

[Tenor Viol]

Hi, welcome

 

[dbarnesid]

At least on sax people seem to enjoy the reed war!
And for added fun, being a single reed, you have mouthpiece exploration to take up the other half of the excitement!

Enjoy

Haha… the disadvantage of having a sop, alto and a tenor is the insane number of mouthpieces I fear I will collect. After all, if the sound I’m making doesn’t suit me it must be the mouthpiece, reed, or both. It can’t be my skill. Time to get a new mouthpiece!

 

[PaulC]

 

[dbarnesid]

Hello Dave, welcome to the Café. I too have family in Boise.
Nice tenor, but I don’t recognize the engraving as an 1938. Best I remember “Comm 1” was never on the bell of an ‘38. Does this have beveled tone holes ? Pictures of full engraving and lower stack tone holes would be helpful. Maybe a picture of Serial number area below RH thumb rest too.

My serial number is 1289xx (not sure because the sax is in the shop).
I do think this is a rare bird. It was built during a very short period of time when both the Comm. 1 and Comm. 2 were being produced. I checked the serial number on an online resource and that seems to confirm my suspicions. But I would surely like more information from someone who is familiar with the vintage Martins.

 

[dbarnesid]

There's only one example of the "Comm 1" horn on Saxpics.com. Its serial number corresponds to 1938. Looks just like the OP's.

One would think that would be the only year these were made--just using up the existing parts inventory after the Comm 2 came out. Simpler engraving just to get them out the door. Maybe discounted as a sort of "last year's model".

I can imagine that mine had Comm 1 engraved because Comm 2 was being produced so they did that to distinguish between the horns. I looked on The Martin Story and for sure, there is no picture of a horn that looks like mine.

I know this, the sound that old girl makes is just stunning. I brought it home on trial and my wife would not let me return it in spite of my misgivings about buying such an old horn with the unusual left pinky fingerings. When was the last time a wife wouldn’t let her husband not spend money?

 

[thomsax]

Welcome.

I have a Martin Handcraft tenor #128 XXX. No "Comm 1" engraving on the bell and no stamp on the back with "Comm 1". Matching number on the neck and the neck is more in the style of Comm II neck. All Martin committee saxes are great so enjoy your horn.

 

[dbarnesid]

Welcome.

I have a Martin Handcraft tenor #128 XXX. No "Comm 1" engraving on the bell and no stamp on the back with "Comm 1". Matching number on the neck and the neck is more in the style of Comm II neck. All Martin committee saxes are great so enjoy your horn.

View attachment 29870

Wow… the engraving on yours is very similar to mine. So I am left to wonder, why did the maker engrave “Comm 1” on mine. Maybe made by a different craftsman who just wanted to include that text or leave it out. I would really like to know the answer. But I fear the only ones who can answer that are long gone. Unless someone wrote it down somewhere. This is getting more and more interesting.

 

[PigSquealer]

My serial number is 1289xx (not sure because the sax is in the shop).
I do think this is a rare bird. It was built during a very short period of time when both the Comm. 1 and Comm. 2 were being produced. I checked the serial number on an online resource and that seems to confirm my suspicions. But I would surely like more information from someone who is familiar with the vintage Martins.

Thanks for the additional pictures. The (all makes) publicly available dating charts are a bit off.
Martins being first year as 1919 & SN# 1700. Well, the starting number(s) are more likely 1500. Number 15247 by a fellow collector is the lowest documented horn in hand. #17599 is my oldest.
+/- 1938 on yours is close enough.
Sax-Pics and The Martin Story haven’t been updated in years. The information above is recent.
You have a beautiful sax. Enjoy it well. Take that wonderful wife of yours out for a special treat !

 

[PigSquealer]

Nothing for 1939, but some great Martin information here.

MARTIN Publications | Saxophone.org

Saxophone.org - created by saxophone players for saxophone players. Features an active saxophone forum, buy sell trade your sax, saxophone museum, sax teachers and more.

www.saxophone.org

 

[dbarnesid]

Welcome.

I have a Martin Handcraft tenor #128 XXX. No "Comm 1" engraving on the bell and no stamp on the back with "Comm 1". Matching number on the neck and the neck is more in the style of Comm II neck. All Martin committee saxes are great so enjoy your horn.

View attachment 29870

Since you are experienced with these instruments I would like some advice. The only mouthpiece I have is the very old Bamber that came with the Martin. It’s a little beat up and the table has a minor nick or two in it. I would classify myself as an low advanced clarinetist maybe advanced intermediate. I am probably a low intermediate sax player but getting better pretty quickly. My goal is to play sax as well as I do clarinet but with some improv skills that I never learned before. I play Legere American Cut 2-2.25 reeds. Can you suggest a good mouthpiece for a player like me that works well with the Martin?

 

[thomsax]

I try to play blues, rock & roll, R&B ... so I play with litle bit more volume and wants to cut through. I think medium/small chamber with some kind of baffles are good for me. The tip opening and reed strenght is depending on my playing status. For some months ago I was playing mouthpieces with smaller tip openings.

Dukoff, Berg Larsen, Brilhart, Meyer, Otto Link .... seems to be common among Martin players. I have never played a Pete Thomas mouthpiece but from what I have read and heard they are great pieces. Pete Thomas use(d) to play on Martin saxes as well.

A small chamber tenor mpc with high baffle and bullet ("blunt") step and a small roll over step. Bare brass (been plated). This mouthpice is going to be the only mouthpiece for the Martin Handcraft 1938. A small and slim mouthpiece. Small bore/shank as well and Martin saxes are pretty large at the end. Thin cork after sanding it down. The lengtht on this mouthpiece is better on old saxes. A long Rovner is not ideal.

A medium chamber baritone mouthpiece with lower baffle and straight step. Bare brass. A good Martin Baritone mouthpiece but I've been playing a Metalite the latest years.