If you would dig the Martin threads you will find that this has been discussed before in various shapes and forms. Martin didn't have really " world famous " players playing them (there's also been a not very nice exchange -my take on it-of semi-insults with Selmer lovers in another thread) other than Art Pepper on alto. Louis Jordan played Martins too but some see him as R&B player.

 

Teddy Edwards, Hank Mobley and Dick Stabile (if you call him famous, other than the stint with Martin and Lewis) played Martins as well.

Great horns, you should definitely try them. I favor The Martin Committee and Magna models.

 

Oooooopppppppps :shock: Hank Mobley, forgot about him!:!:

 

Before I stopped buying horns on ebay, I made numerous purchases of rather misrepresented vintage saxes that I proceeded to sell with a collective substantial loss. The money issue aside, I didn't buy anything that I later regretted selling except for a Committee alto, which I let go for cosmetic reasons (I have matured slightly since). What a great horn!

I think the keywork on Martins could have been soldered better and their lacquering was obviously substandard but in terms of sound they are awesome and Martin was progressive with their design of keywork as well. It is too bad that they are not more appreciated because I believe that is the reason (along with cosmetic issues) why so many have been treated poorly. From my understanding, with their soldered tone holes, they are also harder to restore once the condition is poor.

 

Listen to Glenn Shambroom (The Love Dogs)! He plays Martin baris. He has a Handcraft from 30's, a silverplated The Martin from the 50's and a Magna to low A from the 60's. Great player and a very nice person. His CDs can be bought at CDbaby.

CDs: Make Room For Snappy, Include Me Out & Band Math

 

Bootman and Don Wise (Delbert McClinton Band) is also playing on Martins. Wise has two The Martins Tenors. One lacquered and one silverplated. Bootman is one of "Martin gurus" and he knows a lot about Martin saxes.

 

Chicago tenor legend Von Freeman played various Martins until the late 80's or early 90's. He now uses a Selmer Serie II.
I also beleive that Arnett Cobb & Earl Bostic played Martins for quite some time, as well.

 

You must have gotten ahold of a few rare lemons Brasscane, because the cadre of Martins in my stable are built like tanks. The keywork is solid as a rock, above most other makes/models.

 

Buddy Tate (at least according to Bob Ackerman, who could also be on the list himself?). In photos I've seen, however, Tate always seems to be playing what looks like a Conn (but could be a Handcraft Imperial).

Rory

 

John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
JT Brown (Elmore James...)
Buddy Lucas (The Band of Tomorrow, Edna McGriff...)

are Martin Honkers!

 

You must have gotten ahold of a few rare lemons Brasscane, because the cadre of Martins in my stable are built like tanks. The keywork is solid as a rock, above most other makes/models.

Ok, so I am wrong about the keywork but then the Martins (~10) that I have have had my hands on all have suffered abuse. At least this supports my point that these horns generally are not well appreciated (with Holland as an exception I am aware of) and hence not being preserved. This may have something to with the fact that relatively few widely known saxophonists have used them as their main instrument (to sort of stay on topic with my apologies for straying somewhat off above).

 

I play a Martin Committee "The Martin Tenor," and I love the sound. The action is not as good as a VI or modern horn, but I don't think I'll ever have a reason to get rid of this horn, even after I get an "upgrade" (sop, bari, alto flute, piccolo, bass clarinet gotta come first, cuz this tenor does the job fine). I'll post a sound clip up here tomorrow so you can hear it (a la Nefertiti's mouthpiece page)... just keep in mind there's nothing to compare it to, the limitations of my amateur recording setup, and I am not (unfortunately) Chris Potter.

 

The reasons why not many widely internationally known artists have been playing Martins or not, (which is the original question after all....) it is probably due to the lack of endorsement deals, perhaps Martin had lot less to spend or were already happy with the market they had. Who knows? I doubt it could be possible but it would be interesting if some historian could shed some light on the matter.

There's is no doubt, anyway, that these are professional horns of the higest of quality. My Committee alto, another alto, a baritone and two tenors of some guys who play with me are most definitely among the best sounding (and most beautiful) horns which I have ever heard (or seen). Granted, they are top instuments with some peculiarities , which is not unlikey for vintage horns in general.

The keywork (certainly of their top models and certainly not the altos ) isn't soft or sloppy or awkward at all! I am amazed at this suggestion! On the contrary! They are very precise, light and pleasant to play. I am thinking of having some springs replaced to make it just slightly more nippy but I find the keys and the action far superior to most horns even compared to more modern horns.

These horns have a specific identity and a character which modern (mostlly non descript personalities horns) horns are not anywhere near able to provide. So why weren't they all that popular among the top artists of the past, at least when it comes to people famous around the world and not only among American horn players (with few, already mentioned, exceptions)?

This is the real mystery.

 

Who plays/played a Martin ?

Many thanks to all contributors. Just the name of Hank Mobley, one of my all-time favourites, suffices to give me the hint I was looking for. By the way, Louis Jordan is quite a forgotten great blower too.
Any other suggestion welcome. I might join the Martin gang one of these days.

 

Don't forget Tex Beneke.

 

Don't forget Tex Beneke.

😄

 

Any other suggestion welcome. I might join the Martin gang one of these days.

Check out Bob Ackerman's website: he has an article there on "the advantages of the Martin saxophone."

My tenor is the Dick Stabile stencil--Committee model with Standard keywork--and I'm really very happy with it, especially now that I have gotten it properly set up. As far as I can tell, it does everything a good vintage tenor should do (at @ 1/3 the price of a good 10M).

Sotwer Rispoli had a nice looking Martin for sale a while ago.

Rory

 

Martin Tenors are increbile horns to play with fast, agile and light keywork. The thunderous tone in the bottom end and a powerful screaming alt range make these the best of the RnB saxes. The work well in Fusion and cotnemporary music too. It is my tenor of choice for sny Rock, Blues or Contemporary music gig.

It is definitely louder than the new Flamingo I bought recently, not better or worse but just different. I wont be parting with either horn because both are great in their own way. I have finally found tenor happiness!

I have a Magna Bari which is beign restored at the moment. This will roar again when I can get around to finishing it.

 

there are some great videos of Teddy Edwards on Youtube from the 1960s. I guess that's one of the older Committee tenors he's playing--because of the tightening screw on the neck receiver. Sounds awesome. Also, if you check out some of the later clips: same horn but maybe a new mouthpiece.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=teddy+edwards&search=Search

Rory

 

Buddy Tate (at least according to Bob Ackerman, who could also be on the list himself?). In photos I've seen, however, Tate always seems to be playing what looks like a Conn (but could be a Handcraft Imperial).

Rory

Tate was a Connquerer guy! He had a 30m tenor for years. Sometimes the octave-key on the 30m neck can look a bit like the octave-key on a "The Martin".

BTW, Teddy Edwards played a Selmer. A "Super" or RI vintage.

 

Don't forget Tex Beneke.

nice the cartoon on his life (and the Dutch article form a 1950 magazine)

 

Thanks to rleitch for this link to fantastic tracks by Teddy Edwards but...

Tate was a Connquerer guy! He had a 30m tenor for years. Sometimes the octave-key on the 30m neck can look a bit like the octave-key on a "The Martin".

BTW, Teddy Edwards played a Selmer. A "Super" or RI vintage.

.... I'm pretty sure Teddy's sax is no Selmer, unless they manufactured a serie with left-handed lower pads.

 

Thanks to rleitch for this link to fantastic tracks by Teddy Edwards but...

.... I'm pretty sure Teddy's sax is no Selmer, unless they manufactured a serie with left-handed lower pads.

All Selmers made before #20,??? had left hand bell keys. That is to say that the "Radio Improved", "Super", "New Large Bore", "Model 26 and Model 22", all had left hand bell keys.

Teddy Edwards, along with Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Coleman Hawkins and others, played on Selmer "Supers" or "Radio Improved" horns at one time or another.

I played in a saxophone section for a week with Teddy Edwards. He had an old Selmer "Super" and a Vandoren Java mouthpiece that he had worked on himself.

Old Selmer photos:
http://www.saxpics.com/selmer/sss.htm

 

Cool. I was just guessing. So who's left on our list (other than half the guys on SotW!). Hank Mobley?

Rory

 

Johnny Paris from the hurricanes recorded on a martin then bought a mk6. Crossfire was played on a martin
Dave

 

All Selmers made before #20,??? had left hand bell keys. That is to say that the "Radio Improved", "Super", "New Large Bore", "Model 26 and Model 22", all had left hand bell keys.

Teddy Edwards, along with Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Coleman Hawkins and others, played on Selmer "Supers" or "Radio Improved" horns at one time or another.

I played in a saxophone section for a week with Teddy Edwards. He had an old Selmer "Super" and a Vandoren Java mouthpiece that he had worked on himself.

Old Selmer photos:
http://www.saxpics.com/selmer/sss.htm

Thanks for this update. I'm nevertheless a bit disapointed: Teddy's sound on these Youtube clips was so good that I hoped it was not a Selmer... But let's not reactivate this decades-long religion war and let's admit it is another proof that the player makes the sound.