The better tenor?

[Dave dix]

I have a great 1956 The Martin tenor but have not played a committee 2
so which one is the best?

[Bootman]

I prefer a the Martin to a Comm II in alto. I have a great Comm II alto here but would trade for the right The Martin alto.
Any takers with Mid 50's The Martin alto for sale or trade?

I have a similar vintage tenor to yours which is the best RnB tenor I have ever owned or played. Nothing else comes close when pops, splits tones, honks and sheer power is concerned.

[Dave dix]

I must agree with you. I have owned (and still own) many tenors and The martin tenor is far better for r/r,r/b etc than the rest !!!!!
Dave

[pepper]

slightly off topic, but what would you say defines the sound of martin horns ?

a lot of people say they're great for real raw r & b stuff, but i've always found my comm II particulary good for a sweet pretty sort of sound (not that it cant handle the rawer stuff mind you).

any thoughts ?

[cmelodysax]

Totally agree pepper, my 'The Martin' tenor can be as raunchy/edgy as I like, but, with the Lawton 8*BB mpc that I use, if I relax back I can produce gentle 'breathy' jazz tenor sounds - that's the quality of those horns.

My 'Martin Magna' alto is the same, but with a different mpc setup.

Regards, Alan.`

[Sigmund451]

So I have a 58 The Martin Tenor...did I pick the wrong horn for jazz...I keep hearing how good it is for RnB....or is it just a matter of finding the right mpc, reed, and technnique combo for jazz?

[Thomas]

You picked a fine horn for all styles. the Comm II is an extremely versatile tenor. I play small group-just jazz and use my Comm II much of time. Haven't had any complaints-they favor large chambered mpcs to go towards the tone you're seeking.

[Sigmund451]

I dont have a comm II....its The Martin model...or is that what you were getting at and I missed it? I do have a large chamber Morgan on order and waiting, waiting, waiting. Im hoping that Morgans are as good as many people say they are.

I currently play it with a Link NY current production and it just has more edge than I want for certain types of music. It can, however, peel the paint off the wall and split tones like a mother tho.

[Thomas]

Sig,
what I was getting at is that The Martin is a fine horn and is capable of working any style you choose to play. It too is a very verstile horn- as is the Comm II-it's really mainly up to you and mpc reed choice as to the tone you'll acheive

[BigDaddyJ]

Sigmund, I play on an unlaquered The Martin Tenor. I have a Morgan L and an EL. These pieces sound amazing on The Martin. I use my 9L most the time, and my 8EL when I need to cut through a little more.

[Sigmund451]

Thanks for the replies.