just got my hands on a pmst66 tenor, but!

[newjazz]

it seems to be a lot less resonant than the 66r or the 76. so much so that I find myself not liking it. to me it feels a modern horn with the treble turned down, what I was looking for was a horn a little darker than my old falling apart mark6 but with a lively flexible sound....did I get a lemon or is it a quality of the pmst66?:cry:

[Morry]

The 66 is a much different horn than the 66R.

[Yellowhorn]

Newjazz -

You got what you ordered: According to the PM website, the 66 has a "more focused vintage American sound", i.e., as Morry pointed, one that is not as dark as the 66R and the 76.

Anyone interested in PM horns should visit its website, www.pmauriatmusic.com, and click on the sound bite(s) of each model (or horn) before buying it.

[davidanthony411]

quick man...send it back and get the66R..most awesome horn! Dark & rersonate just like you want..and a looker too! I have had mine since last xmas ( a sneeky way to get a new horn "but honey-it's christmas...")

To all P. Players..rock on!

[Pete Thomas]

I doubt whether one pmst66 would sound very different from others so unlikely to be a lemon, but if you are after something specific like darker thasn MK VI but with a lively and flexible sound, why not just try out lots of saxophones, and buy the one you like the best?

[Morry]

I doubt whether one pmst66 would sound very different from others so unlikely to be a lemon, but if you are after something specific like darker thasn MK VI but with a lively and flexible sound, why not just try out lots of saxophones, and buy the one you like the best?

The 'R' version actually has different bell and bow geometry, so they are quite different sounding horns. They really should give them completely different model numbers.

[GAS_Wyo]

As you stated, you got the PMST-66...these have a narrower bore in the bell section. The PMST's bell is considered "normal size". The PMXT has an oversize bell which gives it that great lower end and a darker sound than the Mark VI.

[Pete Thomas]

The 'R' version actually has different bell and bow geometry, so they are quite different sounding horns. They really should give them completely different model numbers.

Quite, but I meant comparing a 66 too another 66, not a 66 to a 66R

[newjazz]

hate to sound negative(pun intended) but, I have a confirmation that the pmst 66 is definitely more rigid sounding compaired to my mark6 and my 1927 chu. I haven't given up on the p.mauriat yet.I've heard there is a distributer in belgum I will go there and play the 66r and the 76 to be sure. I did notice how much heavier it is compaired to the both vintage horns. hey, wouldn't that have an effect and is the 76 lighter than the other two models seeing its was designed to come closer to the sound to the mk6?

[Morry]

hate to sound negative(pun intended) but, I have a confirmation that the pmst 66 is definitely more rigid sounding compaired to my mark6 and my 1927 chu. I haven't given up on the p.mauriat yet.I've heard there is a distributer in belgum I will go there and play the 66r and the 76 to be sure. I did notice how much heavier it is compaired to the both vintage horns. hey, wouldn't that have an effect and is the 76 lighter than the other two models seeing its was designed to come closer to the sound to the mk6?

That's funny because I remember thinking how much lighter the Mauriat was than my Keilwerth. :-)

[rispoli]

hate to sound negative(pun intended) but, I have a confirmation that the pmst 66 is definitely more rigid sounding compaired to my mark6

I had a Mark VI and a P.Mauriat 66R tenor a while ago: no matter what P.Mauriat marketing says they are in very different leagues and the 66R has completely another type of sound and response (easier down low, downsized treble as you also noticed, resistant up high).

If you like the Mark VI sound and don't want to have a different one, the P.M. is a wrong choice.
I'd suggest to return it, if that's an option, and get instead a The Martin which is pretty much in the middle of the 2 tone-wise, at least IMHO, or a 10M.
If it has to be a modern sax, get a serie III or 82Z (the Z being in the same price league with some dealers...).

[Morry]

I had a Mark VI and a P.Mauriat 66R tenor a while ago: no matter what P.Mauriat marketing says they are in very different leagues and the 66R has completely another type of sound and response (easier down low, downsized treble as you also noticed, resistant up high).

If you like the Mark VI sound and don't want to have a different one, the P.M. is a wrong choice.
I'd suggest to return it, if that's an option, and get instead a The Martin which is pretty much in the middle of the 2 tone-wise, at least IMHO, or a 10M.
If it has to be a modern sax, get a serie III or 82Z (the Z being in the same price league with some dealers...).

I agree. I haven't tried the Jazz VI neck, but the 66R that I had with the standard neck sounded nothing like a Mark VI to me. It is much more in the tonal neighborhood of a Ref 54 tenor, IMO.

[newjazz]

I do like the sound of my old worn out mark6 but, I also really like the sound of conn 10ms and I a fan of dexter, ben webster. my only criteria was that it wasn't too bright and its sound was flexible and lively. I'am not that picky, i just find the pmst 66's sound was lacking color. ok, I admit I'm a bit upset.... I have a horn that looks great, awesome intonation but dam stiff sound

[rispoli]

I have a horn that looks great, awesome intonation but dam stiff sound


That after a while was also my impression with the 66R.

Just as a curiosity, did you overall prefer the Cannonball Big Bell you were selling a few weeks ago?

[newjazz]

actually, I still have the cball I just couldn't bring it with me here to france. if I can remember the cball was more lively just way too bright. maybe I'am wrong but personally I think most new horns are too dam heavy. probably to get more volume at the cost of having a instrument that plays like its made of stone at least compared to vintage. for me its way more interesting to play a horn that has a mailable quality . weather its bright or dark is secondary

[rispoli]

Light + Malleable ? Buescher Aristocrat probably qualifies. The one I owned had both qualities.
New maybe a Yani T901?

[drewdavies]

hey - just one point i bought a 66r two months ago and when i got it i was not that happy, but after a change of mpc and two months of getting into it, I think it's probably the best horn i've ever played, I know it's a risk seeing as after two months you probably won't be able to return it, but I think most horns take a little time to get into

[newjazz]

hey, guys I got my pmst66 troughly checked out by a repairman, and all I can say "F##k" all of a sudden it came to life!!!! I can't believe how p.mauriat let this thing go out the factory so badly setup. I have been really upset since I bought it and up until this week thought I had pissed away 2 grand. now I can finally say that I am a satisfied p.mauriat convert. it just took almost 4 month to find out.;)

[The Meat]

Newjazz,

What did your repair guy change/fix? What were the benefits? I am curious if my horn could use a run through.

[HUTMO]

Newjazz,

What did your repair guy change/fix? What were the benefits? I am curious if my horn could use a run through.

Meat,

I do not think it is one thing in general that a tech can do although at times it can be just one thing.

I purchased a 54 that I thought was very ordinary when it first arrived. I sent it to my tech and he totally went over the horn: checking for leaks, setting spring tension ect ect

The cumulative effect of these adjustments on my Reference was remarkable. The horn is a beast.

HUTMO

[danarsenault]

hey, guys I got my pmst66 troughly checked out by a repairman, and all I can say "F##k" all of a sudden it came to life!!!! I can't believe how p.mauriat let this thing go out the factory so badly setup. I have been really upset since I bought it and up until this week thought I had pissed away 2 grand. now I can finally say that I am a satisfied p.mauriat convert. it just took almost 4 month to find out.;)
There's a lesson in this. This forum is crammed with instrument comparisons, good, bad, bright, dark. To me they are all pretty much hooey. How a horn is set up is what counts the most.

[rabbit]

Yes maestro, yes. I'll be hauling her down soon.

newjazz,

Congrats on your 'new' new horn.

rabbit

[Pinnman]

This sounds like another case of factory set-ups being inadequate. It happened to me with a Selmer Serie 2, and I only found out how good it was nine years later when I too it in for an overhaul. There have been so many posts on this point over the years, it really is scandalous.

[newjazz]

as i mentioned in the beginning of my post that i wanted a axe that was a little darker than a 6. the mistake i almost make was to buy the horn without playing the actual model. I discovered a mauriat 66r while visiting my brother in washington dc and a couple days later I tried the system 76 in new york city and both of which really surprised me.
oh, as for the comparison all my friends here play either 6's or balanced so I have a pretty good gist of how this horn compairs next to them, and its sound definitely isn't selmer and for me thats all good!!!.what was wrong with the horn was that almost all the pads in the upper and lower stacks were slightly leaking and the timing was a little off.

[newjazz]

its only been two weeks since I've been playing the 66 and I'am already getting a bit use to it. I still feel like the treble is turned down a little, but it still very rich and balanced. it has a totally different flavor compairing it to any selmer. today I played next to a buddy who has a super balanced and he confirmed that the p really had a "tres bon son". once I remember hearing a sound guy mention "power comes from the mids and the bass not treble" which made me rethink about my own sound on the sax a little differently.:D