Saxophones SML Gold Medal Tenor ..... is it worth restoring ??

[Mark_ii]

Hi,

I have a silver plated SML Tenor sax, looks a bit tarnishednow and the case is a bit beat up. However the sax plays fine (or at lease it did when I last played it), do you know ifit’s worth restoring or does it have a current value ? It was a lovely tenor toplay (way back when I did play a bit). Here's some information that's printed on the bell.

SML
Gold Medal
Strasser Marigaux
144-146 Boul de la Villette
Paris
France.

The Serial Number is 23969

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Mark

 

[kevgermany]

They're well regarded, sought after.

Value will depend a lot on condition and where you are.

Seems to be from the early 70s:

http://www.saxpics.com/sml/serials.htm

 

[aldevis]

Having more informations or a picture would help.
I have an alto and tried a tenor recently (didn't eventually buy it).

There are few repairers around that could give a reliable quote for the restoration.

 

[Jules]

I once had a session on one of these horns.... very, very nice sax indeed!

 

[aldevis]

I once had a session on one of these horns.... very, very nice sax indeed!

DeadAudiolink Removed

B, C ,G are recorded with a Gold Medal

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hi,

I have a silver plated SML Tenor sax, looks a bit tarnishednow and the case is a bit beat up. However the sax plays fine (or at lease it did when I last played it), do you know ifit’s worth restoring or does it have a current value ? It was a lovely tenor toplay (way back when I did play a bit). Here's some information that's printed on the bell.

SML
Gold Medal
Strasser Marigaux
144-146 Boul de la Villette
Paris
France.

The Serial Number is 23969

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Mark

Great horns, developed a bit of a cult following a few years back. I would think OK playable condition £1000 up to about £2000 for top notch condition. Very approx.

 

[thomsax]

Fine saxes. My former saxtech was trained at SML. He worked on the "line" making new saxes and even repairing SMLs. He was at SML between 68-71. If you have any questions maybe I can pass them further to him.

For some reasons, that I don't know, SML's are quite common here in Sweden. On our Blues & Rock sax meetings at least two SML's use to show up. Great Rocksax horns! Strong players.

A questions that often comes up is: Which SML, rev D or Gold Medal, is the best. With the rev D they won the Gold Medal!?!

Thomas

 

[dubrosa22]

A questions that often comes up is: Which SML, rev D or Gold Medal, is the best. With the rev D they won the Gold Medal!?!

Arrgh!!! Not that can of worms!!!!

A member of SOTW cleared up a lot of the Rev D vs Gold Medal prize malarky up a little while ago in this thread.

The thread includes a link to a German eBay auction where a Rev D tenor serial 11xxx with original documents and paraphernalia included a cardboard marketing tag celebrating the Rev D winning two Gold Medal prizes at the International Music Festival held at The Hague, Holland. 😀

These are images from the Rev D auction including the cardboard tag:

Personally, I think there's not much (or indeed any) difference between late Rev Ds and the Gold Medal Mk1s.
Not that I'm biased or anything

 

[milandro]

one of the best horns ever made, everyone is worth restoring, there are not too many around really but I see them regularly offered

 

[bluechord]

It's been a year since this thread was started....
Did that SML ever get an overhaul? How's it sounding now?
Am just interested to hear!
Michael

 

[Reed Warbler]

Any thoughts on the Super series? I'm thinking to go and look at a 46. Is €1500 too much to pay, fully retored?

 

[milandro]

Well, they are obviously good but for that kind of money I would prefer a later and more advanced type such as the Gold Medal

 

[peterpick]

i am an SML fanatic, and personally i play a 'super 46' alto over a gold medal mk 1 (which i have) or a rev d. (which i sold) because i can get more tonal variation out of the super. the ergonomics are not quite so good. i have recently got a gold medal 1 tenor which is INCREDIBLE and MAGNIFICENT. one day i am going to have to learn to play. alto SML's will fetch between £700 and £1000 in good (playable) condition - gold medals (and the 'king marigaux', which is a gold medal mk 2) may achieve more. i have seen some ambitious folk trying to get over £4000 for a gold medal tenor.... half that is possible.

 

[Jazzaferri]

I own and play SML GM1 tenors. One is a real collector piece in mint shape and only gets played a bit at home.

My working GM1 tenor is only 400 serial no's apart. They have a very big distinct voice of their own. I have heard others say they are like a cross between a S1 super 20 and a MK6. I am not great at these sort of comparisons as no matter what I play I still sound like me to me.

Value today of a mint GM1 Tenor with all 23 features and the deluxe engraving is getting close to $4,000 USD. Adjust from there Brian at Getasax, who I managed to convince him to sell me the collector level one, wants to buy it back.

As the saying goes, they will pry my SML's from my cold dead hands.

 

[Ivan]

As the saying goes, they will pry my SML's from my cold dead hands

Very Charlton H

 

[peterpick]

i agree with jazzaferri. i'm currently adding to my collection of SML tenors with a rev d and another gm 1. such wonderful horns.