[Pakriff]

Hi, everybody,
how much would you pay for a '46 The Martin tenor in original silver plate with gold wash bell? Someone over here is selling one in excellent condition, great sound, for $2,200. It'll need some minor adjustments, but it looks stunning. Should I go for it??

Thanks for your help,
Daniel

 

[Jorns Bergenson]

I've seen The Martin Tenors in original silver plate sell for $2500 to $3000 from the vintage sax shops (junkdude.com and worldwidesax.com). If it is in great condition and only needs minor repairs, in my opinion, $2200US is a decent price.

For that kind of money, I would spend as much time as possible with it to see ee if it is really your "dream tenor". I've got a Martin Magna tenor that was supposed to be my main horn, but I end up spending more time playing an older Martin model that is worth less than half what the Magna is.

 

[1saxman]

If you could just put that sound in a Selmer action....I love my Martin but it literally hurts my hands to play a whole gig on it.

 

[Neil Sharpe]

Silver-plated Martin Tenors tenors of this vintage in good but not great condition generally have averaged around $1450-$1550.00 on Ebay during the last two years.

A near mint, silver-plated Martin Tenor that had been completely restored by Gayle Fredenburgh of vintagesax.com sold on Ebay, via a resale, for $2275.00.

 

[EastCoastGhost]

considering your not in the US and you can play it/chx it out i think thats a pretty good deal
I mean how many of these can there be in the whole country maybe a handfull

 

[Pakriff]

Thanks everybody for your insights. One more thing: is this vintage desirable in a The Martin?, someone told me that mid 50's models play better. I now play a '34 Conn Tranny, which is punchier, but the The Martin has a sweeter low register, I basically want it as a backup.

Thanks again,

Daniel

 

[Budget Explosion]

If you are looking at the one at Sax Oasis being sold by Les here, I can vouch that it is a KILLER horn. I have owned a Magna and 3 other the Martins and I liked this silver plated Martin better.

 

[bruce bailey]

I have been looking for a silver plate Martin of ANY series and they are quite rare. Go for it.

 

[markm]

Silver Martin Tenor

$2200 sounds right, if you've played it and can assess it's condition. How many will you be able to play-test in Argentina? A great vintage-horn tech in Washington, DC area is selling a completely restored silver-plated US Marine Corp -'The Martin' tenor. It is gorgeous. He rebuilt it -with love and respect, flawless condition with original USMC case for $2600. I don't think Eric 'does email' - he's old school. But if you're near Wheaton, Maryland, it's worth a look at Washington Music Center (AKA 'Chuck Levins').

 

[albertur]

silver plated Martin

They have a silver plated Martin at saxquest.com for $ 2.300.
The Martin has been there for a long time and it is still there, while all of a sudden most of the MKVI there have been sold (all over $6.000). I guess it must be because of the exchange rate USD/EUR and because in Europe we trend to value MKVI more than other great horns as Martin.
Cheers.