Saxophones The Martin Tenor, circa 51/52

jeremyjuicewah

Senior Member
Seen a couple of these around, one on ebay for 1350 usd or maybe offer. Seems like a good buy, even with shipping. But is the horn as good its cracked up to be? I do not have a clue, but l read good things about them. Anyone know?
Cheers
Mike
 
FWIW, I love mine - once I'd played one, I sold my Selmer S80 ser.II in favour of a 1947 The Martin tenor, then bought an alto as well.

Both of mine were bought from ebay - the alto was in better shape than the tenor, needing only 1 pad replacing to be perfectly playable, but even the tenor wasn't a problem - just a bit tattier. Could do with a good overhaul at some point, but as I only play it occasionally these days it's not an issue.

Lovely big sound, and for me the ergonomics are good as well - although some people that have tried mine haven't got on with them.

The only thing I would consider replacing them with would be a pair of Super 20's, but that's only after my lottery win...
 
I like Martin saxes. I don’t say is the best sax, it just fits me well. But I wouldn’t buy a Martin without play/inspect it before, unless you know the seller or the seller is a well-reputed shop. The Martin saxes are a construction from the late 40’s.

The good things (IMO):
Well built saxes. Thick walls, that makes them sturdy.
Even scale/good intonation.
Ergonomic. Rh thumbrest adjustable, neck angle is good, good strap balance.
Neck. One of the best std necks that’s ever been made. They were also even in size (most necks varied in size on other American saxes), thick wall and the combined sax neck (E.J. Gillespie patent from 1946?, one of the member in Martin company committee) with a good fastening to the body.
Soldered tone holes. They were made with less tolerance.
Easy to find mouthpieces to a The Martin …. .
Quick key action. The low sat keys gives fast action.

The less good things (IMO):
The LH pinky cluster. I find it tricky and also hard/stiff.
Soldered tone holes. A leak can cause you(tech) lots of efforts. Expensive and not every tech can or will deal with this. Selective Galvanic Corrosion.
Octave key on neck. Construction of the neck fastening might do that you use too much power to get it off . Don’t grip over the octave key.

Some very personal thoughts:
Great low tones. Maybe the the “polyconical bore” (another Martin patent from 1947 and the last/latest on American saxes). It helps up to give those nice fat low tones?
The Martin saxes have also got a reputation to not play so well in tune. Selmer SBA sat the standard for how a sax should sound. Selmer had nickel plated resonators and Martin had plain pads wo resonators. Another factor was the thick wall body construction takes longer time to warm up the saxophone. With resonators and a real warmed-up sax The Martin saxes played in tune.
The low sat key heights gives Martin a fast action and distinct tone. A The Martin with a small/medium chamber mouthpiece with some kind of baffle is a real piercing Rock & Roll Saxophone. A sax that get along well with the electric guitar.

Thomas
 
Morning all. Bids close in ten minutes. I tried a cheeky offer of 1000 usd but was told to +#@+ #!!! out of it. Automatically. Too much money and not enough time to think and cant check a sax thats in the usa so have to let that one go. Thanks for feedback, I'll look out on yardsale for something that suits me or wait till another comes along.
Mike
 
There are lots of other saxes that are good. The Jericho saxes seems to be good. It can't go wrong with that money!. Her is a Corton Deluxe (Yanagisawa made) tenor for 3800 s e k (c £380.00) and B&S 1000 for 4700 s e k. A service and I think they are good players. I use to search saxes among stencils. You can find really good saxes for less money. I bought a Klingsor (Hammerschmidt)-56, New King (Keilwerth) -68 and a Diamond (Dörfler & Jörka/Keilwerth) -63. All saxes tenors and they didn't go over 2500 s e k/sax. If you can re-pad yourself then you have good saxes for less money.

Thomas
 
Seen a couple of these around, one on ebay for 1350 usd or maybe offer. Seems like a good buy, even with shipping. But is the horn as good its cracked up to be? I do not have a clue, but l read good things about them. Anyone know?
Cheers
Mike

I know its too late for this particular one, but the 'The Martin's might be the best value saxophone out there. Great big smooth sound, great intonation, really clean, fast action, solid construction. They also seem to sell for less than good 10Ms or Super 20s. The only drawback is the left hand bell keys, and that an old horn might need more work than a new one to get it into top playing condition. I can think of a dozen new horns you can get for more money than these that aren't even close in quality.
 
"I use to search saxes among stencils"

Hi Thomas, sorry, dont understand that, but would like to?
Mike

A stencil sax is a saxophone that don't have the manufactor name stamped on the sax. I think Keilwerth started to sell thier under thier own name in mid or late 80's (post-war). Before that they stamped thier saxes with New King, Tone King, Wikena... . And before Yanagisawa started to sell saxes under thier own name in Sweden the Yani's werer stamped as Corton De Luxe. They were imported and distrubuted by Hagström (guitar and accordion manufactor). So you can find good saxes among stencils. Maybe not as good as the real thing but on the other side they use to go for less money.

I don't think The Martin saxes were made as stencils. I'm not sure about the Reynolds saxes, but I think the were made by RMC and they were more like the Medalist/Imperial saxes/level. I'm not sure.

Thomas
 
A stencil sax is a saxophone that don't have the manufactor name stamped on the sax. I think Keilwerth started to sell thier under thier own name in mid or late 80's (post-war). Before that they stamped thier saxes with New King, Tone King, Wikena... . And before Yanagisawa started to sell saxes under thier own name in Sweden the Yani's werer stamped as Corton De Luxe. They were imported and distrubuted by Hagström (guitar and accordion manufactor). So you can find good saxes among stencils. Maybe not as good as the real thing but on the other side they use to go for less money.

I don't think The Martin saxes were made as stencils. I'm not sure about the Reynolds saxes, but I think the were made by RMC and they were more like the Medalist/Imperial saxes/level. I'm not sure.

Thomas

Tone King (pro range), New King (student/intermediate range) etc. were Keilwerth brands/models, not stencils. A stencil carries another maker's or a dealer name (e.g. Keilwerth Student models were made for them by Amatia, and are Amati stencils. ). Original maker may or may not be shown - e.g. the early Yanagisawas carry the Yani emblem. Many stencils can be identified from construction details/serial numbers.

Martin did stencil saxes - e.g. the Dick Stabile, Lyon & Healy.

There's a stencil makers list here: http://www.saxgourmet.com/stencil_makers.html
 
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Tone King (pro range), New King (student/intermediate range) etc. were Keilwerth brands/models, not stencils. A stencil carries another maker's or a dealer name (e.g. Keilwerth Student models were made for them by Amatia, and are Amati stencils. ). Original maker may or may not be shown - e.g. the early Yanagisawas carry the Yani emblem. Many stencils can be identified from construction details/serial numbers.

Martin did stencil saxes - e.g. the Dick Stabile, Lyon & Healy.

There's a stencil makers list here: http://www.saxgourmet.com/stencil_makers.html

Kev,

You're right with the Keilwerth made saxes. If Keilwerth was the branholder then they should'n be called stencils.

Have you seen a stencil made from "The Martin ...." (Comm III)? Lyon & Healy, Dick Stable, Sorkin, Olds Super .... , were Martin stencils but I don't think they stencils from The Martin ... (Comm III) model.

Thomas
 
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