Tim's Picks

This page is dedicated to products that I have come across that I think are worthy of special mention in the saxophone world.This edition features the products of P. Mauriat Saxophones,  SR Technologies Mouthpieces and Vandoren Saxophone Mouthpieces.

 

ANDREAS EASTMAN SAXOPHONES

The new Andreas Eastman saxophones are making a big splash in the saxophone world!  The "52nd Street" alto and tenor are fantastic with a huge, warm sound quality, rolled tone holes (soldered on) and an un-lacquered finish.  We sold an alto to the lead alto with the Air Force Falconaires who likes it better than the Selmer Reference 54 he has been playing!  The alto also plays more even from top to bottom and with better intonation than the similar P. Mauriat alto!! 

Eastman Music EAS-652-RL "52nd Street" Professional Alto Saxophone, Rolled Tone Holes, No Lacquer

The tenor is now being played and endorsed by Bob Mintzer who is also playing the straight, one-piece soprano which he says is the most in tune soprano he has ever played!  Even with rolled tone holes these play with more center and focus than the rolled tone hole Mauriat models and slightly prettier sound as well.

Eastman Music ETS-652-RL "52nd Street" Professional Tenor Saxophone, Rolled Tone Holes, No Lacquer

Eastman Music ESS-642-GL Professional Soprano Saxophone, Straight One-Piece, Gold Lacquer

There is also a straight tone hole 640-VL (Vintage Lacquer) series alto and tenor that play more centered and focused if that is what you like.  Either don't play quite as big as the 52nd Street models, but have a warmer sound and would work very well for classical saxophone or for someone who does not like the slightly more spread sound of rolled tone holes.

Eastman Music EAS-640-VL Professional Alto Saxophone, Vintage Lacquer

We believe these are VERY good instruments and you need to check them out if you are looking for a serious new saxophone that will do what you want it to for a very reasonable price!!

Thanks Eastman for putting another REALLY good saxophone out there that we are thrilled to endorse and sell at Sax Alley!!!

 

P. MAURIAT SAXOPHONES

Sax Alley is the #1 dealer in the U.S. of the P. Mauriat, Professional saxophones. These fine instruments are made out of French Brass by an excellent Taiwanese manufacturer, which gives them the warm sound quality that, before the P. Mauriat saxophone, has been missing in Taiwanese made instruments. I played these next to what I believe is the best major Taiwanese brand and the sound was very obviously warmer, richer and better overall. Keywork is similar to the Selmer Series II and the price is great, making them a super playing instrument that is affordable.

The dark lacquer alto and tenor have an antique, vintage finish, much like the Selmer Reference 54 only with a nicer texture and are now completely hand engraved as well. Roger Greenberg, Professor Emeritus of the University of Northern Colorado, is now endorsing and playing these instruments. Dealers are being added weekly, but we are still selling more than anyone else in the country. These instruments are getting great reviews in "Jazz Times" and "Downbeat" magazines and many great players are now playing and endorsing these great instruments including James Carter (picked up a bari from Sax Alley in June 2006 to go along with his 66R tenor), Aaron West (Carson Daly Show and Mariah Carey) and Darren Rahn (Smooth Jazz Artist and Producer). I think you will be impressed with the sound and quality of this very well made saxophone. People come in and compare the Mauriat Saxophones with the major brands and they end up purchasing the Mauriat, not because of the price, but for the sound!

The PMXT-66R and PMXA-67R, rolled tone hole, tenor and alto have been a big hit. Both have a bigger, warmer sound than the straight tone hole models (PMSA-67 and PMST-66), but with a bit less focus.

The newest, unlacquered models, PMXA-67R UL and PMXT-66R UL are absolutely out of this world . They have more presence than the dark lacquer horns and still have that same huge sound. The alto, played next to a vintage Mark VI, had a very similar sound quality, but with a bigger bottom, more responsive middle D and more power in the palm keys as well. The tenor has more of the vintage VI sound as well, but with a fatter core due to the rolled tone holes.

The new System 76 Soprano is the best soprano Mauriat has offered to date. Some of the slight problems in the previous models have been overcome in this model. The response is even from top to bottom, the intonation is very good and they play the way a soprano should at a much lower cost than the other major brands.

Mauriat just keeps making them better and better and their instruments are right up there with the "Big Boys" in terms of playability, but with a lower price. My thanks to Alex at Mauriat who set out to make a GREAT new saxophone and succeeded!

 

 

PHIL-TONE, Hand Crafted, SAXOPHONE MOUTHPIECES

Phil Engleman is making a wonderful alto mouthpiece, the "Solstice", which plays with extreme ease.  It has a slightly smaller chamber than a standard hard rubber, medium chamber Meyer.  The first alto piece he sent me (a .071" tip) played so easily with the same reed I was using on my Selmer S80 C* test mouthpiece, that I decided to keep it for myself!  He also just sent me his "Meridian" model alto which has a bit more warmth than the "Solstice" and plays equally well. 

One of his tenor models, the "Eclipse", is very Link-like and plays with more ease than any standard hard rubber Link I have played recently.  Phil-Tone Eclipse Hard Rubber Tenor Mouthpiece

Phil also does excellent refacing work and has numerous models available in his line of hand-crafted mouthpieces.

Check out Phil's web site to see what is available and don't hesitate to ask us if you would like a model different than what we are currently offering.  http://www.phil-tone.com/

My congratulations to Phil and I trust he will keep up the good work. We are very proud here at Sax Alley to be able to offer Phil's mouthpieces.

 

 

VANDOREN

The Vandoren mouthpieces are the best mass production mouthpieces out today. They are what they say on the box, a standard that other mouthpiece manufacturers might want to consider. The facings are accurate and the pieces are very playable.

Do you play a Keilwerth saxophone? Consider the classical "Series 5" mouthpieces for players who own a Keilwerth and can't get that Selmer C* to work with it. The Keilwerth requires a round chamber mouthpiece that is shorter in overall length than the Selmer. If you are having intonation problems playing classical saxophone with your Keilwerth and it is getting more flat in pitch the higher you go, then you should try a Vandoren "Series 5" mouthpiece.

The new "Optimum" classical saxophone mouthpieces for alto, tenor and bari are also a great choice. I have had some great classical players try these out and they were very impressed.  Many classical players are now switching to this mouthpiece due to the flexibility of the round chamber and slightly different sound than you get with other classical mouthpieces. 

The V16 Metal Tenor has not been one of my favorites, but I have found it to be an excellent match for a King Super 20 tenor. If you own a Super 20 and don't like a vintage metal Berg Larsen, try the V16 Metal Tenor. You will be glad you did!

My compliments to Vandoren for striving to make consistently high quality, accurate mouthpieces and actually achieving that goal!

 

OTTO LINK "NEW VINTAGE" HARD RUBBER AND METAL TENOR MOUTHPIECES

The works new and vintage in the same sentence seems to contradict each other, but Babbit is putting out these really fine mouthpieces that are copies of mouthpieces that Otto Link produced in the past.

The hard rubber version is a copy of the old "Slant Signature" hard rubber tenor made in the 50's and 60's.  They are made from an old design and play very nearly the same as the mouthpiece they are emulating for a fraction of what you would have to pay for the same mouthpiece in a true vintage model.  These seem to work well with players both young and old and very free-blowing.

Otto Link New "Vintage" Hard Rubber Tenor Mouthpiece

The metal version, although it is supposed to copy the old "New York" model previous to the ever popular "Florida" model, plays much like a vintage Florida link.  I do, however, have to warn you.  This mouthpiece is not for most young players.  The only players I have found that really appreciate this mouthpiece and can make it sound great are players who are quite experienced and are used to vintage "Florida" model tenor pieces.  Price is a bit higher on this model than the rubber version, but still a fraction of what it would cost you to purchase a true vintage "Florida" or "New York" model.  We won't be stocking these since they are not something many young players will be able to use, but will get them for you on special order especially if you are a seasoned veteran who needs a good back up to their vintage "Florida" Link.

Otto Link New "Vintage" Metal Tenor Mouthpiece

I am thrilled that J. J. Babbit dug out some old designs and made some great tenor mouthpieces that are reasonably prices and real joy to play!!