Comm II vs The Martin tenor - ergonomics

[mark_m]

How do the ergonomics compare between a Comm II tenor and a The Martin tenor? The layout of my '54 The Martin bari is great for me, and I wonder how close I can get in a tenor, and whether I should consider Comm II's as well as The's.

[Bootman]

Comm II have a great LH spatula system, better than the later "the Martin" horns. The Comm II has a little less projection than a The Martin model. Each is a fantastic horn if you can find a good example of one. This is the challenge.

[mark_m]

I take it you mean The Martins have a bit more projection, yes? So better LH spatula, similar tonal quality and hand fit, yes? That would actually be great since I'm having some joint problems with my left pinky...Thanks Richard.

[garyinla]

I ditto what Bootman says. I have COmmII alto and THE MARTIN alto horns. The keywork design is arguably MORE ergonmic on the CommII than the THE MARTIN. As I have said on other posts, the entire sax was redesigned post WWII. The THE MARTIN has a somewhat bigger tone, and seems more massive in terms of brass thickness etc but the keywork on the pre WWII-- Handcraft Imperial, Comm1, CommII, arguably is better, for example it is solid nickel,lightweight designed for speed. That being said there is nothing wrong with the keywork on the THE MARTIN.
The left hand pinky cluster on these pre WWII models is very good, very good action, easy to use.

In terms of projection, I wouldnt say the CommII has less projection. I would say the THE MARTIn has a fatter more diffuse sound. The CommII project very well too, but the sound is more compact, and focused, more piercing than the CommII. This has generally to do with size of sax bore I believe. Smaller sax bore= more piercing, more compact sound, less diffuse and broad, but that doesnt mean it doenst project well.

The CommII sax is of smaller bore than the THE MARTIN.

I have recordings of me on both CommII and THE MARTIN and the CommII is a cleanier, edgier, more piercing tone. But both saxes have excellent tone and they each may be preferable in differnet situations.

They are both desirable horns.

I believe the Handcraft Imperial is somewhere in the middle between the two in terms of tonality.

[mark_m]

Very very interesting - thanks much for the detailed thoughts. I will have to get my hands on some of these to check them out. I had sort of written off the earlier horns, thinking they'd be clunkier than the "The" models. Very cool. Is the CommII left spatula setup better than that on a Comm 1? I really need to gather up all the details on the distinctions between these models. Thanks again!

[garyinla]

ITHe Handcraft Imperial, Committee I, and CommitteeII are basically the same horn with minor changes and/or improvements. The keyguards on the Imperial stick out a lot more. The CommII has art deco keyguards.
The keywork might be slightly changed. The engravings are different on all 3 models. They are the same basic horn.

If you like any of these horns, the differences between these 3 models are not very significant. You should just see what you can find in good condition.

[mark_m]

Thanks Gary. So even with the difference in bore, a Comm II will sound substantially similar to a The Martin, closer than to a horn of another family, say a Buescher, yes?

I will look for chances to play these - thanks again.

[garyinla]

All the models have a recognizable special Martin tone.
This goes back to the Martins to the 20's too I think.
I heard a soundclip of someone playing a 1920's Martin alto and it sounded like "my" Martin sound on the other Martin models.