P. Mauriat PMXA-67R - It's a Great Alto!

[GAS_Wyo]

I've had this horn in my arsenal for about a month now. I've held off reporting much about it until I had a chance to put in a few hours on it. Well, I've put in around 10 hours on this horn and I'm totally impressed.

The setup by SaxAlley was superb. I had it regulated to the same key heights and a little lighter to the touch. I love the color of the antique finish. The horn is heavy and solidly built although the key guard screws now show marks (maybe a little softer metal on the guard screws?) from the setup. This is my first brand new horn so there isn't a scratch or ding anywhere.

The sound is dark and spread with my Link Tone Edge 7*. As with all PM's, it has a bigger low end than most horns, especially my Selmer SA80-II (although I love that horn too!). The intonation is something I am getting the hang of right now. I think it plays very evenly throughout the range...the Link played a little flat on the Selmer in the upper end. This horn allows me to not change embrouchure so much to get the palm keys and above in tune. If I'm not careful I can actually go sharp above A2, odd for me. I can go from this horn to my YBS-52 Bari without really squeezing the upper notes...in other words they both play with their mouthpieces pretty evenly.

What have others experienced with their 67's? I'd like to hear your impressions.

[Daktion]

hey Greg .. i had posted my first impressions of the 67R awhile back. Ever since the posting I've got a couple hundred hrs logged onto the hour. I must say that I'm really loving it. It's got quite a gorgeous low end (lol don't they all) and the finish, parts.... everything seems to be holding up very nicely.
It flew with me to HK and survived the 15hrs (each way) nicely. It didn't suffer any jetlag unlike its owner :(

[GAS_Wyo]

Daktion,
Do you find yourself playing in the low end more with this horn than others you've played? I do! Since I'm playing with Keyboard, Grand Piano, Bass, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, I end up on low C# and B a lot! These notes play on this horn with NO EFFORT. None of my previous altos did this, even after a few trips to good tech's.

Besides the tone in the low end, what are your impressions of it in the middle and high notes?

[Jbroad572]

Hey Gas_Wyo, tell me how your D2 is. I believe myself and another member noticed that D2 and E2 can be quite sharp (beyond 20 cents). I had mine resetup locally (not to say Tim's setup wasn't good), but a lot changed. I could control D2 much better after the setup. The other member said another lig helped him get it under control. Even now, my D2 has a bad sound to it. I will have to post a recording to show what I mean, but it's completely different from E2 and F2. When I use the pal D with no octave it sounds as though it should.

[BBJQSAX]

Just got my 67R. Best sounding horn I've ever played, and I've played a bunch. Can't decide if I like the Vandoren A9 medium or chamber or small chamber better. Both sound AMAZING. Medium Chamber gets to a deeper, Kenny Garrett-ish space, while the small chamber hits a sound very reminiscent of Cannonball's sound on "Live at the Club". The intonation is very manageable, and the altissimo is ridiculously big in tone. If you're looking for a super-bright, thin alto sound, this is NOT the horn for you. I'd say its definitely a jazz specialist's horn, though with the small chamber A9 it certainly is quite suitable (more than bright enough) for gospel, salsa and funk. As someone who also plays a lot of tenor, this horn is the most comfortable alto I've ever played in regards to the acceptance of all of my air and response throughout all the registers.

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BIG, DEEP, DARK SOUND.

peace,

Rahsaan

[Jimmy Dorsey]

I'm planing on buying 67r soon!:D I herd great stuff about this horn but the laquer seems that it will just scrape off or flake off!:? what do you think?

[Jbroad572]

I'm planing on buying 67r soon!:D I herd great stuff about this horn but the laquer seems that it will just scrape off or flake off!:? what do you think?
I think not... from personal first hand experience. The finish should hold up fine.

[Sethdood91]

wow!

I just bought a 67R tonight (well, more like last night because it's 1 in the morning) and I must say I am quite impressed. I played it in the store for more than 2 hours against a beautiful Conn 6m and a transitional, as well as a few Cannonballs, and I instantly found it much more impressive. I love the nice dark tone that you usually don't find in other horns. Plus, it was almost half as much as a few cannonballs that i played, not to mention a mark VI. I've played a few Selmers too, and compared to many of them, if not most, the response is equal if not better, and the tone is stunning! And, i would take this over most other saxes any day! Highly recommended for someone who is a professional or is seeking to become one!
Great tone, response in all octaves including altissimo, and projection. Plus, you can't not love the engraving and abalone keys!!

-Seth

[Saxaholic]

Get a digital tuner and let us know about the horns intonation. Thanks!

Saxaholic

[GAS_Wyo]

I will weigh in again with that comment. It's just as impressive on intonation. These horns are dark enough that a bright player will have to look for an equally bright mouthpiece to keep from being lost. My Otto Link Tone Edge couldn't be played on the 67R as it would not cut at all...a rather dull sound. By contrast, that mouthpiece was awesome on my SA80-II.

I miss mine at this point...I wouldn't have gotten rid of it were it not for a huge GAS attack where I won a Ref 54 alto on Ebay. Truthfully, I don't regret it, but I still miss the tone of the PM.

[CandyHearts]

It hasn't arrived yet! But I can't wait to play it! I still haven't sold my vintage Martin stencil alto yet (listed here on SOTW) ... but I have heard clips and also heard many great things about this P Mauriat, so I decided I would go for it ... in Like New, Mint Condition, not a scratch or blemish ... but costing about $440 less than the "new" price on the online stores I've been to. (There are no local PM dealers in my area, so it was either drive a great distance, or buy one online.)

I hope I will like mine as much as everyone here seems to like theirs! I am pretty excited about it!

Candy

[Tonysaxriley]

Get a digital tuner and let us know about the horns intonation. Thanks!

Saxaholic
Hi Saxaholic - I recently bough a mauriat PMXT 66R tenor and love its sound and action. I have now bought a PMXA 67R alto and found the intonation pretty good. I have checked it against a chromatic tuner and I did find the top D upwards a little sharp and as I have small hands I have to be careful about not opening the top lef hand side keys by mistake. I've put a palm riser on the side D and this helps. I use a Dave Guardala Studio mouthpiece and that just gives it a little more edge. Have you bought one yet? Tony

[Alexwan84]

My friend just bought a 67R and Wow!!! the horn really sing...:shock: The sound of the horn really blew me away. I really didn't thought that it will sound soooooo gooooood! It sound really dark and mellow and most of all sing beautifully...Even he is just a beginner on sax (should be only a year or less on the sax). I also try it myself on the same horn and it sound so good as well. I'll get one as well if I have the money to buy though I rarely play alto and thinking of getting a PM tenor. Soprano(yani s901) is my main instrument but I really moved to get a alto since play on it. So i think you won't make a mistake if you get this horn!!Well done, PM:D

[Alexwan84]

And I aint no pro at all...just playing sax for 3 years...Happy playing:)

[Randall]

I got my hands on one of these yesterday.....Yowzer is right! Fantastic horns!
I am gonna have to have one.

BTW, the salesman said they are made in the SAME factory as the Cadesons.
This is the 4th salesman here in Japan who has said this.

[BariSaxzinger]

Im not a fan. WAY to dark for my taste. But Happy playing!

[wogeax]

Perhaps the Cadesons are less expensive? Though I have nno idea where they sell them in states.

[Beginner's mind]

What you all are describing sounds like what I tried in the store the other day. Abalone touches, vintage finish, amazingly easy response on the low notes. The only "issue" I had with the horn was the angle or placement of the low 'C' spatula. I just couldn't seem to hold it down with out really stretching my right pinky and using all it's strength. I really liked the horn and plan to try it out again but I have concern about this. Any thoughts on the matter?