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Since debuting on the
American market, Taiwanese saxophones have gone from being a
band-room joke to a serious alternative to the higher priced horns
coming from Selmer, Yamaha, and Keilwerth. Their improvements have
been so noticeable as of late we are seeing major companies such as
Selmer producing saxophones in Taiwan (e.g., the La Voix). So when I
tried the new
System-76 and rolled -tone-hole saxophones from P.Mauriat I was
expecting to play two nice horns. What I didn't expect was to play
two saxophones that could easily redefine the way we as saxophonists
view horns from Taiwan. Like most companies, P.Mauriat boasts of having the " vintage" sound for which people search. Unlike most other companies, I believe they might have just found it. So what does that mean for us skeptics who still cling to our old relics, enduring the antiquated key action and the green tinge of un-lacquered brass? It means we no longer have to compromise sound quality of the vintage horns for the ergonomic feel of a modern instrument. |
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From the very first note
any player will notice that these two models are serious saxophones.
They are fun to play and after playing them you will find yourself
windswept as if you have been taken for a ride on a vintage
motorcycle. Both saxophones produce a larger, full, centered sound with amazing scale and pitch. The System-76 is a larger bore horn that is slightly freer blowing, producing a brighter sound. The System-76 comes with a Super Jazz VI neck that aids in this production. This neck is also available for the rolled tone hole models for an extra charge. The rolled tone hole models were my favorite saxophones, producing a larger, darker and more centered sound. Altissimo was absolutely effortless. The PMXA-67 R alto was so even and effortless in the altissimo register I felt like I have an extra octave key. |
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The PMXT-66R rolled tone hole tops the list however. It is a monster saxophone that plays so effortlessly that might be fooled into thinking you are a better player than you really are. My test model was a special order that did not have have a high F-sharp key To be honest this horn is so close a reference to my 1957 Selmer Mark VI that when I picked it up it felt like the horn I have been playing for 15 years. Because the key action and the ergonomics are comfortable, there us something oddly familiar about this tenor. Both saxophones came in the "antique" finish that is so popular now. The System-76 has more "bling" for the buck sporting beautiful engraving and fancy pearl on the octave thumb rest. The tolled tone hole models look like well-worn, vintage horns. Also the rolled tone hole model offer abalone pearls imported from Indonesia. They are beautiful and fell very natural. Both horns have fill body bracing and strong solid posts. he key work is very meticulous and exact. In fact. The pieces fit so precisely that my repairman and I thought these horns used spring-loaded rods, It took us a while to realize that the fit was so accurate that it was air pressure from within the rod itself which gave the illusion of a spring. The key guards are solid and offer outstanding protection. I accidentally banged the tenor against a wood railing in my home. Not a dent was to be found anywhere on the saxophone. The same could not be said fro the railing. The System-76 has some added double bracing on the low B and C keys as well as an added body brace that protrudes from the saxophone allowing it to be set safely on a table. The placement of the palm keys and articulated side keys fir the hand very nicely. I would have liked to see more of a tilt on the low B-flat and C keys on the System-76 had been more in line with the body. Too often it felt like my pinky was wandering off. The System-76 offers traditional drawn tone holes while the PMXA-67R and PMXT-66R feature true rolled tone holes that are drawn and rolled from the body and not caped like some horns on the market. Additionally. the bell is slightly larger and more flared on the rolled models. ¡@ |
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