P.Mauriat P Mauriat 20th Anniversary Limited Edition – Tenor Saxophone

Celebrating 20 years of excellence, P Mauriat introduces a top-of-range beauty!

Based on their highly successful 66R rolled tone hole series, P Mauriat has developed a striking-looking black nickel-plated model complete with an elaborate fully hand-engraved finish.  P Mauriat is now a well-established manufacturer of highly regarded professional instruments, famous for their big vintage-inspired sound, but coupled with modern-day keywork and mechanism.  Considered their flagship design by many, it seems fitting that P Mauriat should choose the 66R model to use as a template for this standout celebration saxophone.

P Mauriat has a long list of big names who play their instruments, but perhaps none more so high profile than Kirk Whalum, who has been a long-time advocate of the 66R model.  This model features the premium-level Kirk Whalum neck that has caused a stir prior to the release of this Anniversary saxophone.  The coupling of this neck and the 66R body creates an incredibly expansive and powerful sound, assisted by the integrated rolled tone holes, expanded bore size, and enlarged bell.  It should also be noted that Kirk is now playing this Anniversary sax!

The huge warm sound that P Mauriats are capable of achieving is in part due to the bore specifications which include a wider tapered neck and body than on your average horn – this geometry can often lead to more resistance, but P Mauriat horns are far from resistant and one of the big factors that help to deliver such a free-blowing sound is the make-up of the brass alloy. 

Using old-school manufacturing methods such as hand hammering to shape the body and bell adds an extra resonance to the tone, as has been well documented throughout history with many of the key vintage saxophones having used this approach.

To top it off, the Anniversary model has stunning aesthetics.  Black Nickel plating is always an eye-catching finish, but when coupled with beautiful hand-engraving across the extent of the bell, bow, lower keys and neck you know you are in for a treat.  Engravings always stand out tenfold when they are set against a black backdrop as the gold really pops out in contrast to the black, and this is most certainly the case with the 66RBX.  Additionally the key mechanism is gold lacquered as is the highly polished internal bell surface, all adding to the mouth watering array of colour contrasts!

Features

• Material: Brass
• Finish: Black nickel plated
• Key Touches: Mother of Pearl
• Neck: Kirk Whalum Super Jazz VI
• Engraving: Hand-engraved neck, bow, lower keys, and bell
• Case: PM Touring Case
• Mouthpiece: Mauriat plastic mouthpiece
• Free Professional Set Up & Free Check over within a Year
• Recommended for: Room Shaping, big epic vintage tones

STAFF REVIEW

‘The new 20th anniversary has tweaked the 66R in a more contemporary direction with its brighter, bigger sound making it perfect for any pop/session context. It definitely feels slightly more resistant than the standard 66R and therefore takes a little more air to play but this pays off in giving you a thicker, warmer core to the sound and a higher ceiling dynamically.’ Chris – SAX London