Enthusiast65
12-08-2007, 10:34 PM
'When I dove into the Styrofoam packing peanuts and pulled out the alto, I gasped audibly. The case on the horn was so luxurious that it could have had a Gucci or Coach tag on it. A coffee-colored leather with elegant white stitching and brass latches. It was heavy as an anvil.
I opened the top. The horn could have been gold jewelry resting on plush blue velvet. The original packing tissue was still in place. The sax came with a "Steel Ebonite K5 Meliphone Special" mouthpiece, brass ligature and cap. Also included were a can of Alexandre cork grease, a simple neckstrap and screwdriver.
The bell engraving is elaborate, but not quite as baroque as the engraving on the "Gold Medal" models that came a few years later. However, the clothing guard on the horn is engraved, which is unusual.'
This describes exactly, to the letter, Alexandre grease incldued, what I saw and how I felt when opening up the case and cast my eyes on a recently acquired SML alto on ebay. I had been told it was an estate sale, and that it was in pretty good condition, but nothing had prepared me for an as new, essentially playtested-only saxophone, from a 1955 (122XX) timewarp, with every millimetre of lacquer looking like the day it first arrived at a shop somewhere in North America 52 years ago (Meliphone K5 Steel Ebonite mouthpieces were made by the Woodwind Company in NYC).
This Rev D is finished in a rose gold coloured lacquer, and has mother of pearl keytouches with pink tingeing. The pads are from '55, still soft but thin and prone to damage. The backing board to the pads is quite pliable. The original resos appear to be of or aluminium or a soft metal alloy, rather small. The action is fantastic, crisp and quick.
Having stripped it down and reseated a half dozen pads, it was ready to play, and a very round, attractive sound it is too, less cutting than a GM Mk 2, and with excellent intonation.
Just wanted to log this exceptional instrument with the SML community, and share my very good fortune....
I opened the top. The horn could have been gold jewelry resting on plush blue velvet. The original packing tissue was still in place. The sax came with a "Steel Ebonite K5 Meliphone Special" mouthpiece, brass ligature and cap. Also included were a can of Alexandre cork grease, a simple neckstrap and screwdriver.
The bell engraving is elaborate, but not quite as baroque as the engraving on the "Gold Medal" models that came a few years later. However, the clothing guard on the horn is engraved, which is unusual.'
This describes exactly, to the letter, Alexandre grease incldued, what I saw and how I felt when opening up the case and cast my eyes on a recently acquired SML alto on ebay. I had been told it was an estate sale, and that it was in pretty good condition, but nothing had prepared me for an as new, essentially playtested-only saxophone, from a 1955 (122XX) timewarp, with every millimetre of lacquer looking like the day it first arrived at a shop somewhere in North America 52 years ago (Meliphone K5 Steel Ebonite mouthpieces were made by the Woodwind Company in NYC).
This Rev D is finished in a rose gold coloured lacquer, and has mother of pearl keytouches with pink tingeing. The pads are from '55, still soft but thin and prone to damage. The backing board to the pads is quite pliable. The original resos appear to be of or aluminium or a soft metal alloy, rather small. The action is fantastic, crisp and quick.
Having stripped it down and reseated a half dozen pads, it was ready to play, and a very round, attractive sound it is too, less cutting than a GM Mk 2, and with excellent intonation.
Just wanted to log this exceptional instrument with the SML community, and share my very good fortune....