[queperknuckle]

Today, the alto arrived. The case was so beat up it wouldn't even close. Still, I was happy that Jean packed the hell out of the it. He packed it well. And I don't use the original cases anyway. When I took the horn out, I've got to say I was a little disappointed. The neck has a couple dings in it, and the body was a victim of two very damaging soldering jobs. Whoever soldered it dented the horn in the process. A brute force job, I suppose. But really, the body is in good condition given how old the horn is. I was more disappointed with the neck. Still, it is an attractive horn. All of the engraving is in tact.

So, I drove all the way home, got my mouthpiece, went outside and played that thing. Does the horn live up to stephen howard's hype? When I started to play it, all my dissatisfaction went away. This damn horn can f____ play! Howards review was right on. Unlike the selmer, which sounds dark and kinda edgy, this horn sounds lovely. It's not bright like a yamaha. It's just lovely. I mean, it's a pretty horn, and although the body has taken a beating, it doesn't miss a beat. The action of the left hand stack keys is really dead and needs work. Otherwise, the action is comparable to other horns I've played.

Am I gonna gig with it over the reference 54? The ref wins the beauty contest, but at the same time, there is something exiting about playing an old horn. It's just a rush. Really it is. Sound wise, if you put them side by side, it would be tough to call it. I mean, it's really that close. And I'm telling you. I played the hell out of the ref. I guess it's a conditional thing. For certain types of songs, you just can't beat the ref and I suppose this horn has a different niche. I love the edginess of the ref, and I enjoy how fun this horn can sound.

An interesting thing is that the ref won't fit into the Pierret case. Not even close. The Pierret is a small horn. Interesting...

 

[queperknuckle]

Unfortunately, this horn is in MUCH worse condition than I initially thought. If you look at Jean's picture and compare it to the picture of the horn that stephen howard reviewed, you'll see that the entire horn is twisted. The low c# key is in the wrong place. So the guys at A&G music were right. I'm wondering if this damage is irreparable. Also, there is a part missing on the horn. I'm sure a good repair man could replace this though. It's amazing that the horn can play so well, but, as you might expect, the low notes are totally off. One can only wonder what it would play like if it were repaired correctly?

Look closely at the low c#
http://web.mac.com/mjean2/Passions/Pierret_Artiste_Competition.html#5

And compare
http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Pierret_Competition_alto.htm

The horn has been twisted!!

I'm thinking that I probably paid more than the horn is worth in this condition, but now that I'm stuck with it (there is no chance I'm going to resell it in this condition - frankly, I think it would just be wrong to resell it), I'm going invest into try to get it completely overhauled and repaired. Hopefully, it is not beyond repair.

Do you think this horn can be repaired and restored??

 

[saintsday]

I'm not sure why you think the horn has been twisted.

Looking at both sets of pics, the B and C# look as though they are aligned well on your horn. The G# and Bb look like they could use a little bending.

How are the low notes "totally off?"

 

[queperknuckle]

I'm not sure why you think the horn has been twisted.

Looking at both sets of pics, the B and C# look as though they are aligned well on your horn. The G# and Bb look like they could use a little bending.

How are the low notes "totally off?"

Look closely at the low c# tone hole. In stephen's picture, the tone hole is on the "side" of the horn, in line with the low b and low b flat tone holes. On my picture, the c# tone hole is on the inside of the horn, as if that part of the horn had been rotated inward. I should have looked more closely before I bought the horn off ebay, but it's tough to spot the problem. I'll find out tomorrow when I go to Rufus's repair shop if it can be fixed.

 

[saintsday]

Now I see it. Does the bell to body brace show signs of soldering?

 

[HUTMO]

C# Hole twisted???

How can a part of the sax be twisted so much as to move the location of the c# tone hole? Perhaps a design change? Can you see damage to the surrounding areas? are the connection joints in line and clean?

HUTMO

 

[queperknuckle]

How can a part of the sax be twisted so much as to move the location of the c# tone hole? Perhaps a design change? Can you see damage to the surrounding areas? are the connection joints in line and clean?

HUTMO

I feel silly. I took the horn to saxology. Eric works there and is a true expert repair man. He looked at the horn and conjectured that is was stenciled by SML or Olds. But, he was clearly confused. He'd never seen anything like it. I had printed out stephen howard's review, but, he clearly wanted to figure out himself. Already, I like the guy. Just like stephen, he said the horn was cheaply and clumsily made. He quickly saw that there is nothing wrong with the low c# key. I'm so stupid! I never considered that Pierret would make two different designs for the same model! So, there you have it... All of their competition horns aren't of the same design. I've got to say, I'm REALLY relieved.

He commented that the horn and the neck were in very good condition. He even removed a dent in the horn and fixed the bent side high f key for free. Then, he said, the horn doesn't even need an overhaul. He'll just remove the dents in the neck and body, fix the bad soldering jobs,
and replace the missing part with a part made by selmer. So there you have it. This horn will soon look like a decent alto, and play great as well.

 

[Saxland]

Is the neck angle like a modern sax angleing upwards? I just read Stephen Howard's review, very interesting!!!!!

 

[queperknuckle]

Is the neck angle like a modern sax angleing upwards? I just read Stephen Howard's review, very interesting!!!!!

Yeah. It's a modern sax neck. The whole sax is of modern build.

 

[Seasax]

if the Selmer doesn't fit in the case could it be high pitched?
have you played with a tuner,

and do it anyway to check the intonation

 

[Seasax]

oh, sorry, looking at the pics it too modern to be high pitched, sorry
but stil check intonation since the neck has a few dings in.

 

[queperknuckle]

oh, sorry, looking at the pics it too modern to be high pitched, sorry
but stil check intonation since the neck has a few dings in.

I'll have to check the intonation. The tech said the neck is actually in incredible condition given the age of the horn. The intonation seems to be on based on a jam session I played at, but I'll have to use a tuner. The dents in the neck and body will be removed pretty soon.