PMXT66R - stretching for low Bb

[SysSax]

I played a P. Mauriat PMXT66R today at a music store. The tenor played very nicely and produced a rich tone. The only negative for me is the left hand pinky cluster. I really had to stretch to play low Bb. Is this something that is adjustable on these horns?

[SysSax]

I have seen posts here regarding the fine qualities of the P.Mauriat PMXT66R tenor. What does the lack of response to my question indicate? Does it mean that no one knows whether the left-hand pinky cluster is adjustable on the PMXT66R? Does it mean that readers consider my question just plain stupid?

When I said "stretch" I truly meant it. I'm a full grown man, 6' tall, with fairly normal size hands. To reach the low Bb key, my left hand position had to be changed sufficiently that the palm keys were no longer under the arch between my thumb and first finger, and my third finger was barely on the G key.

[OOlufoks]

I am a relatively small guy, and have the smallest hands of any grown adults I know. I don't have the described issues with my PM 66R, but the Bb on my T991 is more difficult to reach compared to the PM.
Based on my visual inspection of the PM, I don't think the pinky cluster can be adjusted without mechanical changes to the rods.

OO

[Il Padrino]

Having played the said model a few times, although I do not own one, I do not think that it is adjustable. Such a detail would be advertised on the website etc. and from other players I believe, if it were to be the case. Personally, my hands are on the small side, and I didn't have a problem with either of the saxes I played (both 66R's).

May I ask what you have been playing prior to this? The reason I ask this is because when I switched to the alto PMXA-67R, I had (and still do) have problems with the high D l.h. palm key. The top of the bend digs into my palm if I am playing high E, F# and/or harmonics involving these keys. Going back to other models to compare, I noticed that the Yanagisawa A991 and Yamaha 62 are positioned higher and without the slight sticking out part of the key. Perhaps the Bb problem is typical of the sax, but very different from what you are used to on the previous horn.

That said, you may well have a horn that is set up slightly odd.....? Hopefully someone else who owns the instrument also can give you a comparison to other models. It is indeed a beautiful sax! The only reason I haven't gone for it is that I find the sound almost TOO big....I prefer the focused sounds on a tenor.

Best of luck sorting it.

Il Padrino.

[kavala]

I haven't seen one of the sax's you describe,
but there's a trick you can do on the Mk VI Selmers and others,
whereby you sorta palm the left hand cluster.

On my sax, and with my hands, the back of the knuckle joint for the
LH pinky finger can crunch down on the LH cluster and close
off everything down to Bb. The G# and C# do not open because
of the other interlocks.

You just play a low B and then crunch down with the back of the
knuckle joint. This is a good way to go chromatically from B - Bb - B.

Does it mean that readers consider my question just plain stupid?
And don't be so sensitive. The world does not revolve around your navel.

[SysSax]

Kavala,
I did as you described.

The Guardala tenor I have been playing allows me to very precisely press the appropriate key lever with the tip of my left-hand pinky finger. This makes the tenor no more of a reach than playing an alto.

I only asked this question because I read about new saxophones that adjustable keys, though I have never seen this.

The P.Mauriat PMXT66R was pleasurable to play and hear.

Thank you for your responses.

[kavala]

Did it work.

I know that some brands of sax, you cannot do this,
because of the way the interlocks work.

This is a problem for me when I try to play another sax,
as I have a habit of doing this.

You said you used the tip of your pinky finger on your current horn.
I'm just curious, but can you do what I suggested on the PM sax ??

I should have clarified my previous post. When I said the back of
the knuckle joint, I was meaning the palm side.