Vintage Noblet alto: Wow!!

[Saxaholic]

I just purchased a vintage Noblet alto. After playing the horn for about 15-20 minutes, all's I can is that I'm VERY impressed with the quality of this horn.

The engraving is nice and the lacquer is original. There is a spot of wear on the bell, but overall its in nice shape. There were only two dimples in the bow that I could find.

All the pads were replaced 7 years ago and the sax has hardly been played since then. Most of them are seating wonderfully; it does have a few leaks but that's expected and I'll fix it up with a local tune-up from my tech.

The tone: wow!!! Sweet, dark, lush sounding horn, with great intonation! The action is nice too...it can really play! High notes are in tune, and thick sounding. This is a great professional horn!

With a tune-up and some minor adjustments, I think this could really be a great playing alto saxophone. Anyone else ever play these great horns? It's not as good as my Reference 54, but it's worth mentioning!!

Saxaholic

[Carl H.]

SSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ! ! !

There are still a few sleeper horns out there. Don't wake the people up. :twisted:

<edit spelling :oops: >

[Russ]

French ?

If so, is it pronounced Nob-LET or Nob-LAY ?? :?

[DanY]

How about: No-blay?

[bruce bailey]

Better than no-play!

[HC]

I have heard good stuff about their clarinets but never knew they made saxes.

[Russ]

Take a look at this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16232&item=3776308 056&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

The engraving looks strikingly similar to my Buffet SDA.

A stencil perhaps ?? I remember reading somewhere that they were connected with Vito. Nothing conclusive though.

[Saxaholic]

Yes, they were connected through the Leblanc/Vito company back in the day. That is a much nicer looking example than mine...although I'm willing to bet that pads aren't all that great. Mine has good pads with just some minor adjustments needed.

Great, great horn. I can't wait to have her tweaked.

Saxaholic

[JMac]

I think Noblet may have stenciled horns from the various manufacturers in that 'woodwind hotbed' outside of Paris (Mantes? Nantes?). The alto on e-bay right now looks like a Beaugnier stencil (IMHO), judging by the pinky cluster. From a listing at junkdude.com on a Beaugnier tenor (and probably on Pete's site too...) ..

"The Beaugnier factory was a small saxophone only factory in France which produced hand-crafted saxes in very small numbers. The company was owned by the LeBlanc who eventually was forced to close the Beaugnier factory because production costs were too high...these are not cheaply made horns."

[GT]

Sorry for the late reply, but I missed this thread, somehow.....

I've had a Noblet alto 13,XXX for about 25 years and mine is just as you describe yours. Some time ago some of the other members labeled it as an intermediate horn and it may well be. But I really like mine. It has great original lacquer and it's straight as an arrow.

Regards,
George

[Don Oatman]

I recently purchased a Noblet Alto Sax on E-Bay. The serial number is7544, and, based on limited information I can find, I think the horn is fifty to sixty years old. I love it!

Here is what I have unofficially found out about Noblet saxophones: After two centuries of making quality clairnets, the last of the Noblet family died with no heirs. The company was left to LeBlanc of Wisconsin. At that time, Noblet had just begun to make quality saxes. Since LeBlanc owned the quality Selmer name, they made student saxophones under the Noblet label, thereby tarnishing the Noblet name--as far as saxes were concerned. Someone lucky enough to have a pre-Leblanc Noblet sax has a good instrument.

I have found that information on Noblet saxes is scant and even unreliable. If anyone know more than I do, I would like to hear from them.

I also own a Holton C Melody (1911) and an Oxaco C soprano.

[retread]

Leblanc owned Selmer? When?

[Don Oatman]

Sorry, I should have re-read my message before sending it. I meant to say Martin instead of Selmer. However, according to web site, www.gleblanc.com/history/index.cfm , Leblanc is now run as a division of Conn/Selmer.

[retread]

Leblanc is now run as a division of Conn/Selmer.
:(

[GT]

Don,

Does your Noblet have nickel keywork? Mine does, which kind of gives it that student look but it is much more than a student horn.

Regards,
George

[Don Oatman]

George,

My Noblet has silver-colored keys that I assume are nickel. I am a person who loves to play sax, but I am lacking in technical knowledge. I really like this horn, but not as much as my Holton C Melody. Maybe it's because I learned to play on the bari sax and became accustomed to lower notes.

Don

[10rsax]

Just joined SOTW, great site! Just received a Noblet alto #81xx in very good condition, 85% laquer from ebay for barely over $100, and after a little tweeking, I had a jaw dropping earful of pure vintage France! I have played MK VIs since 1964, and this horn almost brought tears, what a find! Like you, I am curious of the year, if anyone gets info, please share. Mike

[Don Oatman]

There is a site with some good information on Noblet saxophones. Go to http://c-melody.com/ Then, click on C-Melody until you get a chance to click on General Saxophone Discussion. There you will find a good discussion on Noblet saxophones.

[nausaxgirl]

I recently purchased a Noblet Alto Sax on E-Bay. The serial number is7544, and, based on limited information I can find, I think the horn is fifty to sixty years old. I love it!

Here is what I have unofficially found out about Noblet saxophones: After two centuries of making quality clairnets, the last of the Noblet family died with no heirs. The company was left to LeBlanc of Wisconsin. At that time, Noblet had just begun to make quality saxes. Since LeBlanc owned the quality Selmer name, they made student saxophones under the Noblet label, thereby tarnishing the Noblet name--as far as saxes were concerned. Someone lucky enough to have a pre-Leblanc Noblet sax has a good instrument.

I have found that information on Noblet saxes is scant and even unreliable. If anyone know more than I do, I would like to hear from them.

I also own a Holton C Melody (1911) and an Oxaco C soprano.

Ok, that clears some things up for me. My favorite horn ever is a Noblet tenor, serial number 7888, dated somewhere between '54 and '57. I'm pretty sure that's before the LeBlanc company got to them. Collectors seem to really like my horn, but dealers keep trying to get me to trade my "student" model in for a pro horn. I just kept thinking, as long as it plays better than other intermediate horns, I'm going to keep playing it. Now I know why there's a discrepency there... Thanks...:treble: :line0:

[spokenwar]

saxophone

[saintsday]

Welcome to SOTW, Spokenwar. Of course you're nuts. You should fit right in.

You paid close to the top of the market for one of these, but if a pad and a few bucks makes it work, you may have a much better horn than is typically bought for that money.

Now spend another 300 on a decent mouthpiece and some lessons and you'll be sounding just like Charlie Parker in no time.;)

[spokenwar]

saxophone

[saintsday]

There's a local retired band teacher (out of work) that I wish would take me as a student. I've also met a couple of working band teachers here that I would be contacting for lessons if I lived closer to them. (Qwerty and Graysax) And I started playing saxophone in about 1962.

[rs1sensen]

Yeah, you may be surprised some of the experience those out of work band teachers may have! I was lucky enough that when I was in high school, both of my band directors had studied with some of the big names (Larry Teal, Kynaston, etc.). Remember, no matter how good a person may be at the sax or jazz, or whatever, that doesn't make them a good teacher. I firmly believe that they are two separate skill sets, and there are some awesome musicians out there who can't teach.

[spokenwar]

saxophone

[rs1sensen]

points taken.

a couple of the places gave "trial lessons."

thanks

Great idea. I think it's very important to find a teacher whose style and personality you feel really fits you. It will inspire you to practice more and to improve. If you post your location, some of us may be able to recommend teachers in your area.

Whoever you settle with, I'd have your teacher test play your horn. They'll be able to give you a pretty good idea of what shape it's in, and how much tech work you truly need to have done on it. They'll also be able to recommend a mouthpiece or other accessories that would work well with the horn.

Good luck!

[spokenwar]

saxophone

[saintsday]

points taken.

a couple of the places gave "trial lessons."

thanks

You are welcome. I really like that concept of trial lessons.

Once you get the basics down, if the teacher no longer feels like a good fit, there are a few good teachers here that do on line lessons.

If you use the search function, you will find endless threads about mouthpieces. There are lots of good choices under 50. Your alto is in Eb. B

Better your girlfriend thinks that you are out of your mind than boring.

[spokenwar]

saxophone