My thoughts of the P .... *warning* pic heavy

[Daktion]

I was going to post into my other thread but I wanted to link a few pictures and didn't want unsuspecting passerbys to suffer a huge bandwidth drain.

Anyways here goes.

So, I got my sax today yay! and have played it for the last 3 hrs. I'm going to be pretty honest here so there will be pros and cons. Oh yea, I'm using a S80 D with a vandoren blue box 3 and rovner light... if anyone is interested.

Review on the physical aspect:

As before, I do like the look of the case here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/case.jpg

Notice the imbedded pocket which imo is more protective then the outer pockets that actually stick out. It holds quite a bit of things btw.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/outsidepocket.jpg

Here is a shot of the case inside. I like the extra space for accessories.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/showpocket.jpg

Notice the seatbelts, which is pretty horrible. I don't think I'll be using it at all. However, feeling the inside of the case, it isn't that sturdy. The sax "will" move around abit. I suggest you get a real case that will give you the additional support if you'll be travelling alot with it. At most for me, I'll do local gigs so I'll keep it around till I cant stand it anymore lol.

Here is a shot of the logo that is attached to the case.... looks pretty but too bad it's plastic. I wonder what it'll look like when it gets some wear on it :twisted: Imo they should've sprung for a metal engraving.... it sticks out so it'll definately be rubbing alot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/plogo.jpg

Here is another shot of the sax... notice the white pearls. The feel of the sax is very nice. Very solid and the springs feel good. The finish as mentioned before is very sweet. Some people told me they think it's a bit overdone but I like it. The only finish (in terms of look) that I think might be a tad better is the antique finish on the ref54. The RTH is very nicely done. Worth the extra $$ imo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/overallpic.jpg

Next up is a pic of the standard mpc and lig. The lig is finished in the same way as the sax.... it's actually not too bad. I think i might use it sometimes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/mpcstuff.jpg

However, the mpc is pretty bad. It looks like it's been used and frankly, it looked gross. My lips won't be touching that... well unless it took a long disinfection bath... actually I still probably wont heh.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/mpctop.jpg

Notice the two scratches right on the tip.. and nope, it isn't smooth on the round side.... over-all the mpc was very sub-par. I rather they took the mpc out and charged me less for the horn.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/closeupmpc.jpg

I also picked up a neckstrap from Dave. I'm really loving it. This one is fo alto/soprano. It is very comfortable and the best part about it is the hook. I'm not a fan of the clips and the open hooks are kind of dangerous. So this worked perfectly.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Daktion/neckstrap.jpg


Review on the sound:

Alright the sound is possibly everything I can ask for in a sax. The lower notes sang out in a dark and bold tone.... was I ever pleased. I spent a lot of time going over songs that stayed in the lower range and heck I can still hear it now.... it's just that good haha. I love the ease to hit the higher notes or go low. Some of the keys were alittle stiff but a small adjustment job fixed that. The upper range is also very good with the P. The middle range I thought was only abit better than average. But wow.... the sax can really take whatever you give it. The altissimo went off easily and I'm very suprised at how in tune the sax was. I do think i'll bring the sax into a tech (any recommendations from fellow torontonians?) to get it checked over. Although Dave did some adjustments, the sax did go awol on me for 3 weeks.... I want to be sure :)

I have an 82z with me atm but not for long as I'll be returning it :) . The yamaha key layout is a bit better however, the sound of the P blows it away. The strength I've always found with yamahas is that the high quality build and engineering of the horn lets us get a good sound out easily. So for alot of people it'll be perfect and with the ergonomic setup, they can achieve quite a bit. But to me, I've always thought the sound lacked a bit of depth, especially in the lower notes and it doesn't sing out as well as I would like. The P here beats the 82z hands down. I don't mind working a bit harder for the note if the sound is much more full and rich. Mind you, the P. played effortlessly aswell hehe.

I tried like four ref54 when I was shopping for a sax. Overall, I think the sound of the 54 in the middle range is better than the P. But I really didn't like the 54s in the lower range. It took abit more effort for me to hit the lower notes. Did I mention how much I liked the sound of the Mauriat especially in the lower range? I might take the P. into L&M and try it side by side with a ref54 to get a better impression. But as of now, the P wins. After shipping, customs, brokerage fees, etc etc. The P. is still less than half the price of a 54. With the $$ saved I can pick up the 66R and have it shipped as well.

Also, I love how I can feel the horn with every note. It's like driving a car and feeling it hug the corners as you accelerate through a turn. Just beautiful.

I think P. Mauriat has something special here and I hope they keep up the good work and build up their reputation. They definately need to be focused on the long term objectives and dont get caught up by the short term gains. Also, they need to be more clear on what they are offering. Dave found out that they do have engravings but will cost more, which is fine but they never told us till we asked. Also, they didnt do the white pearls on purpose. The impression Dave got was that they started the Rs with the whites but will phase into the turqoise later. The turqoise pearls saxes we see now are probably in a later production run or was done earlier for promotional purposes. Of course if you have a definate answer, feel free to correct me :)

Anyways, that's my not so quick review of the sax so far. Maybe I'll record something and post it in the future to torture you all 8-).

[Randall]

Dakt,
Thanks for that...I will be interested to hear what you think of the middle range when you get onto a different mp and reed combo (if ever) than what you have now....something more open and with a softer reed....

The case is interesting to me. I like the design idea; it is just too bad it is not sturdy.
The belt thing is somthing I actually like as an extra measure of security, rather than the main means of keeping the horn in one place.

[thehighend]

I'm going to be pretty honest here so there will be pros and cons.... Some of the keys were alittle stiff but a small adjustment job fixed that.... The middle range I thought was only abit better than average.

Lots of gushing pros and only 2 negatives (aside from the cheap case and mpc)? That sounds like quite a horn. It is certainly hard to believe that the Taiwanese are now making a horn that beats the Reference 54, and at less than 1/2 the price.

My initial thought was that the Ref. 54 you played must have been set up poorly, but then I noticed that you did try four different Ref. 54's. So, it's hard to say what's going on.

[saxamaphonegirl]

Yeah, it's seems that Selmer has more anomalies than a circus sideshow these days.
I tried 6 Ref. 54's before I found "the one". Even then, I had to have it professionally adjusted. Also, the low end isn't a problem after the neck is recorked. For some reason, all the corks on all the 54's I tried were uneven and let the mouthpiece leak, causing the low notes to gurgle. (That's what the tech told me.) Now I have no problem with them.

I'm really glad to see there's a horn that is half the price and plays well. Great for the player and even better for the players pocketbook.

As far as better/worse ergonomics of the horn, a player can adjust to it after some time. This horn sounds like it's really making some progress in the area of Taiwanese made horns. :) The thought is scary at first, but hearing so many glowing reviews makes me happy to see there is actually a company there that makes a good sax.

I like the case idea of the embedded pocket and th seat belt straps for the sax. But as Randall said, too bad the case isn't sturdier.

Have you tried a metal moutpiece on it yet? Any issues with cork size? Any extra key play? Any weirdness in the second octave G area?
Are there any really picky tiny details you want to change about it other than ergonomics?

I like the finish too. I don't think it's overdone.
Congrats on the new horn! Enjoy. :)

[Neil Sharpe]

If you're looking for a great sax tech -and an exceptional alto player- in Toronto, go to Ken Forentran, 849 1/2 Bloor Street West, 416-516-6445.

[58tenor]

Great report. I think that if we can be truly objective,there are great saxes from many different sources these days. And it's only beginning. A high price and a certain brand name do not guarantee happiness on a thing so subjective as a musical instrument. Nor should the new and unfamiliar be discounted automatically. I remember when people made fun of Honda motorcycles in the early sixties. If there is passion,fine products can be made anywhere. It is the best of times for saxophones,I think. Going to practice now. Peace.

[Daktion]

Thanks for the comments so far guys :)

Dakt,
Thanks for that...I will be interested to hear what you think of the middle range when you get onto a different mp and reed combo (if ever) than what you have now....something more open and with a softer reed....


I thought about your reed comment and tried a 2 1/2. The midle range suddenly came out smooth as silk, without losing on the lower and upper range. I've been talking with Dave and I'm contemplating on getting a morgan jazz large... but of course, these things have like a 5 wk wait period hehe... so we'll see.

Have you tried a metal moutpiece on it yet? Any issues with cork size? Any extra key play? Any weirdness in the second octave G area?
Are there any really picky tiny details you want to change about it other than ergonomics?

I havent tried a metal mpc on it yet. Maybe I should. I've never been much of a fan of them but hey I've got a new horn and I want to push it to its limits. :) The cork is very nice. The mpc slides in easily and is very even so there is no air leak. I havent detected anything weird yet... but I'll definately need more time with it before I can tell hehe. One thing that I would change is that the neck is a very tight fit on the sax. Dave said that most of the problems with the P that he has gotten from customers is that the neck wouldnt fit or just way too snug. Luckily mine fits but it does require more effort. Hmmm another thing I would change, being supper picky here is the thumb rest heh I'm going to have to slip in a little thumb protector. I'm a bit worried about the quality of the finish. The antique layer is done very nice but I think the dry brushed darker contrast finish isn't as well done.... time will tell i guess. The worse thing that can happen is the darker finish wears off and I get myself a ref54 matte finish clone haha

Oh btw. I'm really warming up to the larger bell sound of the 67R. After listening to Ghawk's rendition of amazing grace I had to try and play it myself. Since most of the song is of the lower range.... I'm going to have to ask. Think my gf will get jealous if I told her I am also in love with something else? :D

Lastly, for all you tuning experts out there. I went through all the notes and 95% of them were dead on intune or very very close. However, the middle D is way sharp. The E or the C is still intune but once I hit the D it goes sharp. I have to really adjust my embouchure to compensate for it and force it intune. Any other tricks you guys know that might help solve this problem? perferably something about the the sax I can tweek? The low and high D is intune.

[Jbroad572]

I just got mine is as well and am loving it. These P. Mauriat's are definitely winners.