Can you help me identify this tenor sax?

[Nancy]

Hi. I have acquired a tenor saxophone. The only engraved marking on it is "Dexter." I have searched and searched and can find nothing on the net about Dexter saxophones. Could it be the original owner's name? Other than this there are no markings on the sax except for a serial number, #14791. It's got a case but there are also no markings on the case. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Nancy

[Gandalfe]

Dexter Gordon was one of the founding fathers of modern jazz saxophone. His translation of the bop idiom to tenor sax influenced and inspired important tenor players such as Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. After much success in the U.S. through the 40s and 50s, Dexter settled in Denmark in the 60s. This horn could be made by any company that just wanted to use Dex's name or it could be a custom instrument. Can you post a pic?

[Nancy]

Thanks for the reply. Here are some photos, if you need others just let me know. Everytime I did a search of Dexter saxophones Dexter Gordon was all that came up. I was thinking this sax may just be a cheap, no name sax used by a student in high school?? Opinions?? The bottom photo shows the Dexter engraving, other than the serial number it is the only engraving on the sax. Thanks!!


http://members.cox.net/vanr1/sax1.jpg
http://members.cox.net/vanr1/sax2.jpg

[markieg]

My guess is that it was made sometime in the 70's or very close to. Buffett has a SN# chart that lists this number as '68. That would make it a Super Dynaction. Look at http://www.saxpics.com and compare with others on there. SML had a similar SN# date, but the pictures are nowhere close. Also look up Kielworth/H Couf. I was looking at those and they seemed to be similar. Also are there any distinguishing layouts of keys or anything? Is the left pinky key arrangement strange? I noticed the low C# comes through the curve in the bell. That's pretty interesting. Also the high E palm key seems longer than normal. You might also want to get a better pic of the keyguard arrangements. Is there an emblem on the goosneck octave key mechanism? That could give some more info. But I think that Buffett is your largest possibility. Good luck!

[Nancy]

Thanks for the info! Not so sure about it being a Super Dynaction, looks like too many differences. Do you think it's possible that it is just a really cheap sax? But even still, some company had to manufacture it. Very strange that it's only marking can't be traced to a company. I have taken some more pictures. I'd love to solve this mystery! Thanks for any help!!

http://members.cox.net/vanr1/sax3

http://members.cox.net/vanr1/sax4

http://members.cox.net/vanr1/sax5

[Jeff Foster]

I used to have an Acme Master alto that looked just like it. Mine was a stencil horn that, best I could figure came out of the Evette factory. What they would was, rather than destroying defective instuments, either stencil or engrave an offbrand on the bell and sell them for cheap. I bought it when I was in High School to use for marching band to save wear and tear on my Mark VI. Best I could tell, it was a factory reject because it was out of tune with itself. The spacing between the upper and lower stack was just a little off so that, if you got G, A, B, etc. in tune F, E, D and so on would be flat. I'm wondering if yours might be some kind of stencil horn as well.

[Pete]

The Acme French-made stencil and this horn are Malerne stencils.

I do not yet have much information on the Malerne company, but they were purchased by SML (Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire) in 1975 (see http://www.sml-marigaux.com/english/societe.asp).

I have a picture directory at www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/malerne/

[Imonatrip]

Hey, thanks, SAXPICS - I just identified my old Getzen tenor - it's a Malerne, too!

[morgan]

Hmmm, best I can remember the "Pierre - Martin" that I saw awhile ago looked an awful lot like that Dexter. What was going on here? Did they give each individual sax a new name?

[spiderjames]

How do the Malerne horns play? I just picked up a malerne alto. Haven't received it yet but for $60.00 I figure I couldn't go wrong. Or could I?

[lescooper]

i just bought a malerne tenor
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2555130459&category=16 234
for my daughter as a reward for getting 9 'A's in her gcse exams.
it really sings. if she hadn't earned it, i would steal it!
how is the alto, spiderjames?

[spiderjames]

Haven't got it playing yet. Needs a repad and the neck tenon soldered. Doesn't look too bad. the key work looks a little crude but I love the keyguard design.

[Deirdre]

Hi, I tried to compare my Getzen alto with the Malerne pics at Saxpix, but unfortunately I see some differences (I have no sideflaps on the bell)
So I still don´t know where my Getzen comes from...
see topic "Getzen"