Will this be a C Melody, a Home Model or a Tenor?

[synchro]

I am going to look at a horn on the weekend. This is all the info I can get so far by phone. They don't know saxophones real well. (Its a 2 hour drive from where I live)

I was told its a silver 1925 C Melody thats been repadded. The serial # is 511xx. It has flower engraving, and the words Handcraft Elkhart Industries and low pitch engraved on it. It has a mouthpiece but they don't know if its the original. They are asking $750.00 Canadian for it.

So will this likely be a C Melody, one of the strange "Home Models" or a Tenor? What kind of reeds and/or mouthpiece should I take?

[dingfelder]

call them and ask them to measure the length. it will determine if it is a C-Melody or a Tenor.

Tenors = 29.5"; 2) C-Melodies = 24"; 3) Altos = 22"

see the cybersax site for more info http://www.cybersax.com/QA/Q&A_Identifying_Saxophone_Types.html

[cmelodysax]

Those sizes are, of course, without the neck - just the body. Or get them to measure the length of the case, that will be 25 to 26" long if it's a C-Mel.

If it's a 'home' model, it will have missing top and bottom keys, think they go from C-C, therefore no lh palm keys, or B/Bb bell keys - maybe ask how many keys in lh 'pinkie cluster', but this may take a bit of explaining if seller has no sax knowledge. 'Home' models are rarer, may even be worth buying for the investment, maybe not at that price tho'.(see below).

Take any or all favourite tenor & alto mpcs & reeds & ligs you have, and try the lot - tenor HR Otto Link or Berg Larsens etc. work especially well on my Martin C-Mels. Plus maybe some ptfe tape to pad out neck cork with, in case the cork is compressed. Oh, and a good sling just in case....

CAN$750 may be a little on the high side, unless it's really special, and in tip-top condition, and being sold by a dealer who can offer follow-up services etc.. Haggle. Check ebay, search on 'C-Mel' using 'completed items' search parameters - but don't forget these will be US$ prices - you'll have a good idea then of what Martin C-Mels sell for - usually a fair bit less than CAN$750. It'll give some haggling space.

Martins are fine horns, and luckily haven't got too expensive - don't forget that the Martin C-Mel won't have an aux-front-F key, that's all I miss on mine...

Good Luck.... Regards, Alan.

P.S. just realised that you haven't ever said 'Martin' - but I've assumed it is a Martin because of the 'Handcraft' engraving (should also have 'MARTIN' in big letters in the engraved shield on the bell). If it's a stencil however, then it will have less value.

[synchro]

Thanks for the help so far.
Alan, yes it is supposed to be a Martin horn. :)

[synchro]

Well I went and looked at the horn today. It is a C-Melody! Serial # is 511xx. It is a silver plate and has been repadded. It is just about mint condition. I purchased it for $650.00.
I tried it before I bought it. I can't figure out what kind of mouthpiece it is. Its not an alto. And its not a tenor. There has been kind of a shank put around the cork so the mouthpiece would fit.
I brought it home, it was filthy! I have polished about half of it and it looks like new! Intonation seems pretty good. Sound seems a bit muffled though but I think its because there aren't any resonators in it. The tone holes are quite different though. They are beveled.

[Sigmund451]

Do experiments with mouthpieces. The old C melody MPC's could just suck at times. You can put both alto or tenors on a C. Just play around and you will find the right combo. The lack of resonators makes only a moderate difference, if its real muffled its the mouthpiece.

[cmelodysax]

Congratulations, just keep that cleaner off the pads - glad you haggled.

Agree wth "if its real muffled its the mouthpiece", you may have to go quite 'bright' with mpc/reed, depending on what final sound you have in mind - but the trials are worth it.

Let us know how it works out.

Regards, Alan.

[stitch]

The tone holes are quite different though. They are beveled.

Bevelled toneholes are a distinguishing feature of Martin saxes - if it didn't have them you should worry! :lol:

[synchro]

Thanks for all the input!
The only real weird thing is this plastic shank thats been glued(?) around the cork. (Not sure if the cork has been cut away or is there underneath) The mouthpiece that came with the horn fits right onto this. It looks like a modified alto piece that has been drilled out on the bottom. Its in poor shape, the rails are chipped, etc.
A normal alto or tenor mouthpiece won't slide onto this setup at all. I don't know if I should remove the shank or not.