SML soprano articulated G# ??

[chising]

Hi Everyone,

Which model of SML soporano got the articulated G# mechanism?
I asked an online seller at Germany, he said the rev. D model did not have it, how about the Gold Medal and King Stencil model?

Thanks,

George

[issac86]

I have 3 kingmarigaux sopranos #21*** #24*** #26***.
they all have not any articulated G#.
and I have seen NOT A FEW SML soprano rev.d and gold medal 1, they also didn't have it.
as far as I know,SML didn't make any soprano which had articulatrd G#.

[hafuch]

Hey Issac86,

You mentioned that you have seen/owned (or maybe still own?) an SML Rev D and Gold Medal 1 soprano sax. I previously posted a question about whether SML produced Gold Medal sopranos (see thread here: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=49770), and I was wondering whether SML's Gold Medal 1 model soprano differed from their Rev D model in any way (bore size, key layout, engraving, features, etc.)? Since you seem to have some experience with them, I was hoping you could perhaps shed some light on this question. I, and I'm sure many others, would very much appreciate any insight you might have on this question.

Thanks,

SMeLmer

[Enthusiast65]

I have just acquired an SML soprano, unquestionably a professional model, with a serial number of 163xx.

I suspect this is a rev D design, though a couple of thousand into the GM run.

There is nice engraving around the SML marque, but no obvious GM features such as rolled tone holes and stack adjusters etc. It was bought by a jazz player in '59 at the same time as a Gold Medal tenor, with all the 22 trimmings. They were bought as comparably pro instruments at the time. I bought the sop off this original owner, so can verify its history.

It came in brown and green from saliva acid, and I have spent a day cleaning it up, with the loss of some lacquer, but no more horrible gunk. It was played tremendously hard for 20 years. Apart from the green and brown deposits whihc cleaned up fine, there are no signs of wear on this old sop. Indeed rods are snug as anything.

I played it off the bat before stripping all the keys off, and intonation was extr-ordinary, as good as a good alto.

Ugly though it was was it come, and though there is no more than 60% lacquer left, it is a superb instrument. It's history and circumstances leaves me to conclude that this is as close to a GM sop as SML got, and rather like Selmer did with Mk 6s, carried the rev D sop design over into the GM production run, at least for a few years.

[Drumroll]

How do SML sopranos stack up with their altos and tenors?Do they have the same big lush tone and great response? Intonation as good as the altos and tenors?Can they project well if pushed?

[hafuch]

Yup! They do ... and very nicely.
Sweet sound, excellent intonation, comfortable ergonomics.

In a word: Impressive

Hafuch