As promised, here's my review:
Here's what I could get as far as background info. They're a Series II copy, made in Taiwan with French Brass. That's about all I know.
So I played one of the altos today, a PMSA67. I'm sold. Here's why:
The low end resonates better than any horn I've ever played. Blowing a low C is as easy as blowing a middle C. It really resonates well, with no stuffiness, no gurgling, nothing, just the note that Adolph intended.
The high end (specifically the palm keys) aren't thin like most other horns. They really have a great fat sound to them. Even into the alt range.
The intonation on these horns is dead-on. The lower RH stack is a little flat, but not bad, easy to lip up. The mid C-C#-D is REALLY well in tune. I was amazed while watching the tuner, I'm used to working a lot harder.
They respond (and overall play) as well as, if not better, than any other horn that I've ever played. And at the price that they're being offered, they're a steal, I feel like I should be paying twice as much for the horn as I am. They also come with a pretty nice BAM-style flight case.
I'll be getting my alto in mid-Jan. Tim over at Sax Alley has sold about 40 of these this year, their first year of production. Roger Greenberg (recently retired from UNC) switched to these horns, and that man is a serious player.
I'm really considering going all Mauriat with my horns. I've owned two Keilwerth SX90R's, a low-digit Mark VII, a Buescher 'Big B' Aristocrat, and a Conn Chu Berry. This horn blew them all away. It's suitable for both classical and jazz playing. This (as well as the above statements) are what make this horn different from the Cannonballs. Those are manufactured the same way ('cept they use Taiwanese brass), but I've always felt that the Cannonballs aren't really made for a classical setting. These things have the subtley for any classical playing, but I slapped my jazz piece on, and it wailed. I could probably tear down walls and small third world countries with this horn.
I'm making the switch, and like I said, I've played a lot of the big names out there, if that means anything to you.
If any of you have a chance to play these horns, GO FOR IT, you won't regret it.
As far as I know, Tim at Sax Alley and some place in Denver are the only places that carry the horns in the US. Tim's prices (as usual) are significantly lower than the place in Denver, and S&H is included in his cost. If you're interested, you might want to pick one up, the prices are going up after the 1st of the year, right now he's selling the alto for (I think) $1590. Check out his site
www.saxalley.com
P. Mauriat horns are fine quality, and cost effiecient. What more could you want in a horn?
Chris S