[GT]

Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all safe and well!
So, I'm going to look a Martin tenor next weekend. So far I've only seen pictures and it has 'MARTIN' written vertically on the bell...so I'm guessing a Handcraft Committee 2?
Not sure of the condition as yet but the seller inherited the horn and doesn't play himself. He's asking $1,000.00. If this is indeed a Committee 2...are we in the ballpark?. I don't really want to spend a grand and then put a grand into an overhaul.
However, I hear good things about these horns and I'm not looking to flip it. I want to play it.
Any opinions?
Also, with the prevailing conditions, are there any precautions that need to be taken? Obviously I'll take my own mouthpiece.
Thanks to whomever can respond.
George

 

[GaSax]

Don't know anything about Martins but I would expect to pay some money for an overhaul unless the seller just overhauled it.

I would expect around $80 and up to get it in playing condition and $400 to $1200 for a repad and or overhaul.

Did they give the serial number on it?

 

[GT]

No, I don' think this guy even knows what a sax is for!

 

[Guto]

If he's asking $1,000 for it he must have asked/looked around.
I don't know what these are worth, but condition is the most important to evaluate at these price ranges. Needing an overhaul can easily double your expenses, as already said. Sales price should be reflective of that.

 

[milandro]

I think that an handcraft committee II would be rathe cheap at $1000 but a lot depends on playability (conditions as in dents, scratches, state of the lacquer, whether is a relacquer or not , pads) and generally speaking if it looks good and plays well.

If you need to have an overhaul then the price is not quite so good, unless you can have it overhauled cheap (we hear more and more of people in some parts of the states paying in excess of $1500 for an overhaul while others still pay less than $700).

Make sure your friend hasn’t played the horn for a few days, otherwise you may want at the very least to sanityse the neck passing a swab some good sanitizer (ideally non denatured ethanol witha minimum content of 70%)

Good Luck!

 

[GT]

Thanks, Guys!

André,
It is my understanding that the owner doesn't play. He said he had someone try it out several weeks ago so I'm guessing that's the last time it was played (he said I wouldn't be disappointed...FWIW...)
Thanks again for all of your advice!
George

 

[JayeLID]

Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all safe and well!
So, I'm going to look a Martin tenor next weekend. So far I've only seen pictures and it has 'MARTIN' written vertically on the bell...so I'm guessing a Handcraft Committee 2?
Not sure of the condition as yet but the seller inherited the horn and doesn't play himself. He's asking $1,000.00. If this is indeed a Committee 2...are we in the ballpark?. I don't really want to spend a grand and then put a grand into an overhaul.
However, I hear good things about these horns and I'm not looking to flip it. I want to play it.
Any opinions?
Also, with the prevailing conditions, are there any precautions that need to be taken? Obviously I'll take my own mouthpiece.
Thanks to whomever can respond.
George

It isn't an unfair asking price providing it is in good PHYSICAL shape...no major dents, no sign of any bellbrace impaction, neck not having any significant pulldown, and orig lacq (regardless of existing coverage).

If he is asking $1g ....he'd probably take $900 ....which is a fair ballpark price for one needing some padwork and a cleaning. On eFlay these as project tenors usually bid up to $700-800, and those are with the buyer never having an opp to hold the horn in their hands before purchase.

If your expectation is to walk with a Conn 2 Tenor which plays well for $1g....you should adjust that expectation.

Overhauled, I sell these for $1750 which is a very good price, actually. Most purveyors would price an overhauled one at $2500.

So if you wanna own one of these in good playing shape, realistically speaking your investment needs to be around $1400. If you escape below that, you lucked out.

If you buy it and you find local tech estimates exceeding $500....PM me as I can likely put her into good playing shape for around $275-300ish (plus ship which would add $120ish).

 

[GT]

Thanks, George!
Frankly, I have no expectations. I have no idea what I'll find next weekend but I wan't planning on offering more than $800.00. I also didn't really know what these would go for.
The one thing I'm missing on the advice I've received so far is opinions of this particular horn. So, does the Martin name engraved vertically on the bell always signify a Committee 2 and is this a desirable Martin?
Thanks again!
George

 

[Grumps]

This site was always a good resource for Martins:

The Martin Story - Which model do you play

The Martin Story, some hints to determine what model Martin saxophone you play

themartinstory.net

If it's got the Lion and Crown engraving, than yeah... it's a Committee II. Probably refinished, as Martin lacquer was never known to hold up very well. You might want to check the condition of the soldered toneholes to make sure they're in good shape. But if needs a complete overhaul, I wouldn't be ashamed of offering less than the $800 you're considering.

 

[GT]

Thanks, Mike.
I couldn't tell from the picture about the lion and crown but it did have 'MARTIN' written vertically on the bell. Did they do this on other models?

 

[bruce bailey]

Only on the Comm. II

 

[JayeLID]

Yeah, it is likely a Comm II , given the vertical aspect.

They are very good...IMHO the BEST Martin ever made (I prefer 'em to the III's, actually).

$800 is a... "fair offer", I mean it won't get one kicked out the door.

If it IS in decent shape and (mostly) plays, $850-875 would be a good take if the guy rejects your initial offer.

Hope it is still around by time you head there.

 

[GT]

Thank you, Bruce and thanks again, George! I made arrangements with the guy to check it out this coming Saturday...so I'm guessing it will be there. I think he's had it for sale for several weeks with no nibbles.

 

[GT]

Only on the Comm. II

Hey Bruce,
Do you concur on the desirability of this horn?

 

[mark_m]

I have a Comm III tenor and had a Comm III bari for 15 years or so. Wonderful horns.

I just picked up a Comm II alto a couple weeks ago for $1200. Wasn't sure what to expect but it's near mint condition with original pads, no resonators. As pretty a horn as I've ever seen, they are very cool visually. I was surprised by the sound and am still learning this horn and finding the mouthpiece/reed combination that I want. It is an inherently brighter horn than I expected, with a big rich voice, and my first impressions have been it's a keeper absolutely and I'm looking forward to really getting to know it. The pads look great, I reconditioned them a bit and they started seating again, took it to my tech and he fixed remaining leaks, oiled things and got the rollers rolling - it feels like a new horn! Loving it. It was an inheritance to a non-player as well.

I imagine the tenors are much the same. And would be looking for one if I didn't already have two tenors

Good luck with it!!

 

[GT]

Thank you, Mark...greatly appreciated!

 

[bruce bailey]

Hey Bruce,
Do you concur on the desirability of this horn?

My favorite of the Martins.

 

[GT]

Thanks, everyone!
You have made this so much easier.
Now...I have to evaluate it!
Thanks again!
George

 

[GT]

Hey Everyone!
Well...I went and looked at it today. And, as I sort of expected, it didn't play very well. It looked good, very straight, no dents, 2 or3 small pings, bow was beautiful. I didn't see any signs of buffing and the lacquer was mostly intact, although it was an ugly brassy/orangy looking color.

The tone holes looked very good at least to my eye. But, it was in dire need of an overhaul. Nothing below D1 sounded and the rest had to "blow through" the leaks. Keywork was kind of mushy and sluggish with no snap. Corks had seen better days. He doesn't play but said the guy at the local music store (which I'm pretty sure is a drum, guitar, keyboard shop) told him it was worth at least $4,000.00.

If I had hammered him some, he probably would have come down to $800.00 (from $1,000.00). But with an overhaul, I just didn't feel like I could do that right now. So, I came home without it.

Oh well, maybe I'll put some money into overhauling my Kohlert 57 tenor.
Thanks again to all for responding! Greatly appreciated!