Olds "Studio" Alto sax

[tomobari]

Folk,

Just recently I have procured an Olds "Studio" Alto sax. It has the typical Martin bevelled tone holes so I presume it's a Martin stencil. The thing is loud, especially with my metal Otto Link!

Does anyone know to what Martin type this sax is comparable and does anyone own one as well. How do you like it?

It is exactly the same type of sax as featured in Pete's saxpics 'Olds' gallery...

Thanks,
Marc, Holland

[The Martin]

Lastig, Lastig... 8)

Could be a Indiana, Imperial or Medalist stencil...
Some keywork is different though..

Difficult to say..

[tomobari]

Thanks Edwin (denk ik...)

Marc

[bruce bailey]

e-mail me if you want to get rid of it!!!

[Stencilman]

I had a Studio alto come through the shop and found it to be identical to my F.E. Olds Ambasador stencil except for more elaborate engraving on the Studio model. Both are derived from the Indiana but have key guards and some key work that seems to have been designed by Olds. The key guards are actually interchangable with the Olds Buescher 20A stencils. Olds seemed to switch back and forth between Buescher and Martin for their various sax models. I have an Olds catalog that shows a Martin stencil for their entry-level Ambasador and a Buescher 20A for their semi-professional Studio model. Funny to me, since I consider the Martin a better horn than the 20A. The catalog also shows their "Parisian" Opera models to be their top of the line over the American made saxes. These were made to compete with the Selmers and other French saxes that were becoming popular in the 1950's.

Although the Olds horns are a bit different in key work, they have the same body tube as a Martin Indiana and play much the same. I don't think Martin changed their acoustic design much, if any, from the late 1920's up to THE MARTIN.

Ok, rambling over. These are just observations based on the horns that I've owned or worked on over the years, please correct me if I'm wrong. I hope someone finds this stuff interesting besides old Stencilman :-)

[tomobari]

Thanks for all input!

Again, I have learned a lot....

Marc

[newking70]

HEY Stencilman which company made the opera sax for olds?

[Stencilman]

No, I've never dabbled in European horns. One stencil list says that the Opera was made by Buffet, but if you snoop around you'll read that they might have been made by lesser-known manufacturers: Beaugnier, Mallerne, Pierret.

I do believe that at one point Olds was stencilling "The Martin Alto" for their Opera model. If my memory is correct, there is a picture of one in the Martin "Misc. Stencils" area of www.saxpics.com.

BTW, if anyone is interested in a primo Martin/Olds alto, I have it listed in the F/S section.