P. Mauriat Black Pearl Finish - a definitive answer

[drsaxman]

Hello All,

What a cool forum here. I've been meaning to post for a while - just returned home from a trip to Asia and wanted to post regarding the Black Pearl finish. It is a nickel silver horn like the P. Mauriat Model 60NS but with a black nickel plating over top - and of course the keys are finished with a gold laquer. My apologies for the error in my review - it was an oversight and you guys are correct - the horn is plated - not laquered. The correction has been made on the P. Mauriat website and I'll update the review on my website also as soon as I can.

Also - FWIW - I used to own a Black Nickel Keilwerth and have played the shadow. While they are both good horns in my opinion - the P. Mauriat Black Pearl is definitely much different in the way that it feels and sounds for me.

Lastly - I noticed a couple posts regarding endorsing and I can let you know that I am playing P. Mauriat horns exclusively now. I do not get paid to endorse these horns - I truly do love them - and truly play them live and in the studio. I started with the tenor and have now moved to P. Mauriat on alto, soprano and Bari as well. I'm more satisfied equipment-wise than ever and consider myself blessed to be playing such wonderful horns. In fact, I've sold of all my previous horns except my Mark VI alto which will be going up for sale soon.

All my very best - Darren Rahn

[GAS_Wyo]

Which bari do you play? I'm really thinking about a 300DK. I hear they kick a** (butt).

[drsaxman]

Yup - the 300DK - KILLER Bari man!!!!!! :D

Bari was my first sax it was as big as I was :)
This is the nicest playing Bari I've ever played - A really beautiful sounding horn.

I actually have all my equipment listed on my website at www.darrenrahn.com

Best - Darren

[Joe Jazz]

Darren, we had exchanged emails earlier and you were kind enough to answer my questions about the black pearl tenor and your mpcs. Welcome to SOTW! I'm still waiting for Bestbuy.com to get two of your cd's in(can you say extended back order?). I may just give up on them and get the cd's from one of the other places you suggested. Hope you stick around here, love your sound! :)

[Yellowhorn]

Darren -

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the black pearl, or PMT-500BX, here with us. I've just got words from PM that mine has been shipped to Jakarta, where I am. So, I can't wait, gents, for this beaut to come.

Of course, a few pics and a thorough report will be posted here, as I have promised Joe Jazz. Just a note: When you see this horn, don't be surprised if it looks just like the JK Shadow because I have asked PM to customize it with silver-plating on the keys instead of gold-lacquer.

[Joe Jazz]

That's nice of them to do that for you! Bet you can't wait!:)

[Russ]

I'm still waiting for Bestbuy.com to get two of your cd's in(can you say extended back order?). I may just give up on them and get the cd's from one of the other places you suggested. Hope you stick around here, love your sound! :)

Joe,

I had the same problem getting these CD's in the UK, so I downloaded them from i-tunes until the 'hard copies' become more readily available over here.

You WON'T be disappointed ! Nice work Darren ;)

[Joe Jazz]

Russ, I ended up getting them from a place in Denver that Darren suggested. Very nice stuff!

[Joe Jazz]

YHB- was it extra to get the silver plate instead of the gold plate(we previously confirmed it was gold plate rather than lacquer)?

[Yellowhorn]

Joe -

Yes, I had to pay extra $$$ to get the silver plating as opposed to the gold one (yes, I remember we have previously confirmed that it is plating rather than lacquer).

If you are interested in having the silver-plating option, just ask your nearest PM dealer (in your part of the world, it is Roger Greenberg, I think).