so who is p.mauriat?

[newking70]

where is the company located? who's behind the name p.mauriat?

[Morry]

where is the company located? who's behind the name p.mauriat?

I think the name is taken from French big band conductor Paul Mauriat. I assume the name was just licensed, and that he (I think he's still alive) has no real connection with the company. I could be wrong.

That's his picture on the www.pmauriat.com hom page.

[saxmanglen]

Here's a link to some further biographical information:

http://music.lycos.com/artist/bio.asp?QT=A&QW=Paul+Mauriat&AN=Paul+Mauriat&MID=17959&A=y&MH=

[deblcooper]

Yes, the name P. Mauriat is licensed.

They are made in Taiwan.

You can read the review in Jazz Times on our website...
http://www.godlyd.no/default.asp?page=61&article=61

Plus the review in DownBeat.
http://www.godlyd.no/default.asp?page=61&article=110

These guys in Taiwan have an American tech to make sure the quality is up to specs. Plus Roger Greenburg is a constant consultant who travels to Taiwan.... what seems like every other month from his emails we receive.

just a little blurb..
deb

[sinjarah]

The saxes are made by Albest Musical Instruments, Ltd. in Taipei, Taiwan. Albest has made horns for many different brands in the past, including Selmer USA and Cannonball.

[saxsociety]

the guy who design the "P" used to work as a technician in Selmer

[Harri Rautiainen]

Here's a link to some further biographical information:

music.lycos.com/artist/bio.asp?QT=A&QW=Paul+Mauriat&AN=Paul+Mauriat&MID=17959&A=y&MH=

This Lycos link (http://entertainment.lycos.com/music/artist.php?id=Mauriat%2C+Paul) works

[pth]

Paul (P?) Mauriat was the conductor for the Paul Mauriat Orchestra in the mid to late sixties. Presumably, he is the guy who licensed his name. He made a few albums that were best sellers. The orchestra, as I recall, had almost no emphasis on brass, and was primarly a strings orchestra. The music was about as cheesy as it get. His most popular album was "Blooming Hits" which included his famous "Love is Blue" hit. Think shopping in a large grocery store and listening to Muzak. That is what Paul Mauriat was about.

The Mauriat horns are good (especially if you like a dark sound), but I find the marketing strategy to be offputting. Licensing a name that sounds classy, which is what seems to be going on here, strikes me as rather adolescent - and worse for the fact that the person from whom the name was licensed has no connection to saxophones or saxophone music. Add to that the "London, Paris, New York" (no mention of Taiwan) on the bell, and three "different" serial numbers that are engraved on the body tube (a different one for London, Paris, and New York, which are identical except for the prefix letter) and the marketing feels about as cheesey as Paul Mauriat's music.

The horns are good - all the more reason I wish they hadn't taken this approach.

[Al Stevens]

...Licensing a name that sound classy, which is what seems to be going on here...
Jimmy Dean Sausage?
Elizabeth Taylor Perfume?
Billy Beer?

[Chris Peryagh]

I like the photo of the PMSA-2302 alto (at the bottom of the page) - the keys are all wedged shut!

[Grumps]

I liked the story from the poster who couldn't find one in France. Perhaps he didn't give Paul a call...

[Yellowhorn]

I feel compelled to quote Shakespear who said: "What's in a name? That which is called a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!"

It really doesn't matter what the name of a horn's maker is as long as it PLAYS well and gives or does what a player wants it to! If one's purpose of buying a horn to resell it as a second hand (which is hardly a way to make any money), then the name Paul Mauriat does not have (yet) the same resale value as the big four. But, I think it five to ten years from now, the PM horns will be up there with them. The proof is their prices are quite high for horns that are "made in Taiwan" because more and more professional blowers are playing and buying them. And the reason that PM horns are still hard to find in certain parts of the world is because it is a new (about 2 years old) brand.

One of the reasons folks put down the quality of Taiwanese is because it has the bad connotation of mainland China. But, there is no comparison here: the Taiwanese are far more advanced and sophisticated than their Chinese fellows in tecnology and economics.

I am sure Americans and Europeans used to laugh at Japanese cars and instruments (including two of the big fours, Yanagisawa and Yamaha) when they first came out. Look and what they drive and blow now?

As for Mr. Mauriat's music, it is not my taste either. But I don't think it is the reason why the company names its horns after him. Another Taiwanese company names its horns Cannonball - I assume after the great jazz altoist Adderly Cannonball - does that mean its horns are jazzy and good? I've read some bad reviews of Cannonball horns, but hardly any about the PM horns. Any reason, you think?

[gary]

It really doesn't matter what the name of a horn's maker is...
As for me, I just like the idea of PMS as a model nr. prefix, in and of itself.


But really, regardless of the item's quality, haven't we had enough of BS marketing that is filled with hyperbole, quibbling with the truth and that takes the general public for morons? 8-)

...the person from whom the name was licensed has no connection to saxophones or saxophone music. Add to that the "London, Paris, New York"...and the marketing feels about as cheesey as Paul Mauriat's music.

[spiderjames]

But really, regardless of the item's quality, haven't we had enough of BS marketing that is filled with hyperbole, quibbling with the truth and that takes the general public for morons?


The vast majority are morons

[GAS_Wyo]

I have double PMS...is that bad????

[Chris Peryagh]

I have double PMS...is that bad????


Wear incontinence pads and always keep a mop and bucket handy.

[HeavyWeather77]

I think their marketing technique is hilarious. Cheesey as it can be. So much so that it's really kind of creepy... yet intriguing...

Cannonball, by the way, are based out of Salt Lake City; their horns are manufactured in Taiwan, but the company itself is run from the States. I actually really applaud Cannonball's openness. They have their whole story for anyone to read on their website; they don't hide the fact that their horns are made in Taiwan, and actually make a good argument for it. I wish more companies would adopt this philosophy of full disclosure, because it really makes me feel like I can trust them.

Mormon companies always seem to set the standard for how to run a good business. Non-sequiter, you say? Not at all; check out the bios of the Cannonball company founders, and, specifically, where they went to school....

[Morry]

I actually really applaud Cannonball's openness

I agree, right up until they make a statement about how glueing a stone on the neck provides added "resonance".

[jaybailey]

I am sure Americans and Europeans used to laugh at Japanese cars and instruments (including two of the big fours, Yanagisawa and Yamaha) when they first came out. Look and what they drive and blow now?


Well, I still laugh at Japanese cars. Give me a German or Swedish car anytime! As for saxophones, Yanagisawa and Yamaha aren't bad, but I still prefer Selmer and Keilwerth. The only thing I own that is Japanese is my Honda VFR800. I guess there are no good American or European sport bikes out there! Call me old world I guess. :)

[Bernards20040]

Well, I still laugh at Japanese cars. Give me a German or Swedish car anytime! As for saxophones, Yanagisawa and Yamaha aren't bad, but I still prefer Selmer and Keilwerth. The only thing I own that is Japanese is my Honda VFR800. I guess there are no good American or European sport bikes out there! Call me old world I guess. :)


Em The names Buell and Triumph come to mind
(this from a guy whom rides a Kawasaki GPz900)

[semipro]

Em The names Buell and Triumph come to mind
(this from a guy whom rides a Kawasaki GPz900)

And Ducati? Now that is a bike!

[Swingtone]

Paul (P?) Mauriat was the conductor for the Paul Mauriat Orchestra in the mid to late sixties. Presumably, he is the guy who licensed his name. He made a few albums that were best sellers. The orchestra, as I recall, had almost no emphasis on brass, and was primarly a strings orchestra. The music was about as cheesy as it get. His most popular album was "Blooming Hits" which included his famous "Love is Blue" hit. Think shopping in a large grocery store and listening to Muzak. That is what Paul Mauriat was about.

The Mauriat horns are good (especially if you like a dark sound), but I find the marketing strategy to be offputting. Licensing a name that sounds classy, which is what seems to be going on here, strikes me as rather adolescent - and worse for the fact that the person from whom the name was licensed has no connection to saxophones or saxophone music. Add to that the "London, Paris, New York" (no mention of Taiwan) on the bell, and three "different" serial numbers that are engraved on the body tube (a different one for London, Paris, and New York, which are identical except for the prefix letter) and the marketing feels about as cheesey as Paul Mauriat's music.

The horns are good - all the more reason I wish they hadn't taken this approach.

I totally agree with your rationale for the marketing scheme; however, if they had just wanted to use a classier name than one in Chinese they could have just as easily sought out a great German sax player and bought his name for the product. The reason they sought out Mauriat is obvious--he has a French-sounding name, and it just so happens that the best saxophones ever made were made in France by a company called Selmer. (I personally don't believe this, and own mostly American vintage horns, but let's face it--that's the general consensus.) And if you're launching a new product in an industry that is dominated by long established firms, you have to position your brand as being the highest quality right out of the gate.

That was obviously the thinking behind the choice of the brand name.

The irony is that even Tawainese players might be influenced by such a scheme, since they seem to favor the French saxes, too. Ever looked to see the country of origin for winning bidders on ebay auctions for pristine vintage Selmers?

[cleger]

I guess there are no good American or European sport bikes out there! Call me old world I guess. :)

Hmmmm....

http://www.ducatistore.co.uk/images/ducati_superbikes/ducati_998.jpg

[racer-rob]

I played one of these saxophones at arts and music in houston. it was a soprano( i dont remember the model#). it played great, easy to blow from lowb to high e. I tried it with several mouthpieces. it felt like and sounded like a quality horn. It even has rolled holes. Anyway, regarless of maketing, go play one and make a real decision before talking bad about horns make in asia

[Morry]

I saw a report that Paul Mauriat just died this week.

[newking70]

meh, i guess he was based in japan:cry:

[Yellowhorn]

Morry is right: PM died last week, aged 81.

Meanwhile, I am counting down my receipt of a black-pearl PM tenor. This is what it looks like:

But mine is customized with silver-plating on the keys. So, I imagine that it will look like the Keilwerth "Shadow" tenor.

Will give you all a report once the horn comes next week (or so I am told by my PM salesman).

[Yellowhorn]

Sorry, I forgot the link:

http://www.pmauriatmusic.com/PMT-500BX-mainpage.htm

[Swingtone]

Morry is right: PM died last week, aged 81.)

That's right, and after reading his obit, it's even more obvious that he had nothing to do with the saxophones that bear his name--or even jazz for that matter. He just agreed to sell his name to a Taiwanese sax maker that wanted to sound French and not Taiwanese....

[singlereed]

Perhaps a better name to have licensed would have been that of the great famouse French flatulist or fartiste , Joseph Pujol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_P%C3%A9tomane), a.k.a. 'Le Petomane' :-)

It's all good marketing, though - Haagen Dazs is a totally made up name, too.

[The Meat]

[QUOTE=Swingtone]T ...it's even more obvious that he had nothing to do with the saxophones that bear his name--or even jazz for that matter. QUOTE]

Saxes are MUSICAL intruments, Mauriat was a MUSIC composer.

What does jazz have to do with your argument?

[The Meat]

...it's even more obvious that he had nothing to do with the saxophones that bear his name--or even jazz for that matter.

Saxes are MUSICAL instruments, Mauriat was a MUSIC composer.

What does jazz have to do with your argument?

Botched the last post, so heres a second try.

[Yellowhorn]

Good point, Meat!

Wuff, wuff!

[Grumps]

Yeah, excellent point.
Now I'm out to buy my Kobe Bryant Hockey Skates...

[whaler]

I'm going to get my Rex Grossman baseball bat today.