Eastman | P. Mauriat | Signature Custom - Vintage Inspired Tenor Saxophones

Jim tests out our three most popular "Vintage Inspired" tenor saxophones.
Signature Custom Raw XS - sax.co.uk/prod...
Eastman 52nd Street - sax.co.uk/prod...
P.Mauriat PMXT-66RUL - bit.ly/33SB0QT

[@furtherdefinitions1]

For my ears, the P. Mauriat had the fuller, little more robust tone than the other two, and when you pushed it, it still sounded full instead of shrill.

[@Ryan-ok8lk]

Thanks for uploading, this is a helpful comparison that hasnt been made before to the same level of quality. Personal favourite of mine before watching would've been the signature custom, but all 3 sound just as capable.

[@mariogordon4125]

They all sound good. The Signature Custom was a little brighter sounding. The Eastman a bit darker, or warmer. I have a P. Mauriat 66R; love it! I also have a 1946 Selmer Balanced Action alto that I wouldn't part with. Some people down the new horns made in Taiwan, but they are making some great horns now. If you don't have a vintage pro horn (or $5k) there are excellent alternatives. It's not the horn than matters so much anyway. It's how you play it..

[@spiketaterman5181]

yo! I have a Mark VI that is frankly a little "tired". Has that sound though...how do you think the P Mauriat compares to the Mark VI?

[@richardjones990]

To my ear the Signature was the brightest of the three as well as very musical, sweet sound. The Eastman sounded somewhat stuffy or muffled. Definitely didn’t sound as nice to me. Then we have the P. Mauriat it’s a fine instrument and tested against the other two is a middle of the road kind of sound. This horn has great range, top to bottom. The P. Mauriat has a fantastic hand finish to it as well. The pick between these three, with your M.P. And reed combo would be the Signature.

[@alejolopez27]

Thank you for that wonderful video! I hope one day you will compare the P Mauriat 66RUL vs 76UL.

[@ryanschooley8883]

I would absolutely love that. Lets hope thats their next video

[@ldever3]

I would enjoy a similar video with the altos.

[@cliffwhite2812]

Time markers are 1:55 Signature, 3:47 Eastman and 5:43 P Mauriat.

[@MARKLINMAN1]

Those Eastman horns are AWESOME.

[@towerclangamingclan1328]

Quick question...sorry it’s so late. How do these Eastman horns do for classical music?

[@marks.6656]

From the listener side, I think you sound the best on the Sig Custom XS. That's the tenor out of the three that could easily be mistaken for a particularly exceptional SBA or VI. The Eastman sounds very subdued with that mpc.

[@ronhowe5933]

You know what. I think a lot of us convince ourselves that we want a fat dark sound and the Eastman and Mauriat deliver that but, after listening to the Sig they sounded weak ... a little flat. The Sig is full sounding and that little brightness just cuts through nicely. However, the newest lightened Eastman you tested recently, is something else ... brighter and richer in sound.

[@ajwilliams2310]

Signature Custom Raw XS: 1:55 Eastman 52nd Street: 3:47 P. Mauriat PMXT-66RUL: 5:42

[@rhrh2025]

I've heard good things about the P. Muaratt. I almost bought one, but I decided to stick with a Yamaha 62iii! I really enjoy the Yamaha 62 soprano, and that probably had a great deal to do with my decision. I am still curious though! When I was growing up, Selmer was it! Then Yamaha, and now good horns are everywhere!

[@ksmooth1973]

You cant beat a Japan horn compared to a Chinese one for sure. You made the right choice.

[@ryanschooley8883]

I want to see an alto version. Or one with the opposite side of the spectrum like saxes meant more for funk or pop

[@BGroveski]

All saxes are made for pop and funk if you play them right(;

[@Filippo-Parisi]

Eastman. No doubt

[@James-gk8ip]

I want to love a modern horn, I really do. The ergonomics are awesome. But ultimately they all sound like MIDI to me. So regular, so flat, so machinelike somehow. Still, I'm sitting on the cash, and if I ever hear a modern horn that sounds like it has a living personality, the manufacturer and dealer can have the whole stack. Still haven't heard a single one. Best world would be a stripped Conn 10m with completely modern ergos.

[@FerCarranza2]

I'm a Conn New Wonder tenor and my taste in this video goes with the Eastman....

[@tabiApo41013]

I'd go with either Signature or Eastman..

[@bobblues1158]

Mauriat for me. I have one. However quality control from Mauriat is really lacking. And they do not honor their guarantee.

[@choikafai123]

P Mauriat is awesome.

[@FernandoFerreira-kf6kz]

Man that mauriat sounded really good to me.

[@SuperJemser]

How would you rate a King Super 20, circa 1943 manufacture please?? I have one of those since 1970, bought second hand, and it is still playing perfectly. I am told it is one of a kind, with pearl keys, and some drawings on the low pad holders.

[@Rabittsfoot1]

Jim, I would love for you to do a review on the Canonball Vintage Reborn and comparison with other modern vintage Alto and Tenors horns.

[@fodemhousegaming]

Please do a Vintage Inspired Alto sax showdown !!!

[@cgktheking]

Nice!!

[@cslfung]

Does Jim test the Conn-Selmer Premiere 380V Tenor Saxophone? Any comment and test video on this model?

[@joshhu1465]

I think the raw and Eastman link are other way around

[@Mixi664]

No Cannonball Vintage Reborn?

[@ghawk78]

That would be interesting. I recently played a VR Brute and an Eastman along with 3 Mk VI's. The VR was my favorite and I felt that it had a sound similar to the best of the VI's because of that really strong core sound. I liked it a lot.

[@Chemical_Sax]

They don't sell cannonball saxes, cannonball only sell through certain suppliers

[@ghawk78]

@@Chemical_Sax They did a review of one that Cannonball made custom for them so I assumed that they carried the Cannonball line.

[@chrizze5062]

Matt K they do sell cannonball horns

[@blackie8083]

@@ghawk78 There's no VR that can even come close to a sound similar to the best of the VI's, sorry!

[@bethevoice-thelifeofsteve6354]

You sat on the fence, come on, which one would you walk out of the shop with?

[@stevepovey2489]

How would a Yamaha 875 compare?

[@JRNL75]

P Mauriat

[@seankuo4519]

whats the set up?

[@MegaRas73]

What mouthpiece please

[@willistaylor4077]

Are these Intermediate, or Professional models ?

[@aidancrouso2358]

Willis Taylor these are all professional saxes

[@esl.mooresongs7993]

I'm sure all the horns can get the "vintage" sound, but this fellow is a modern player and it shows in his playing: tendency to play in the higher register, not much in the way of growly, gutsy or bendy blowing. No honking (heavens no), no peppering with Bb or C "bombs." They just sounded like modern horns to me. Not a criticism; just an opinion, and I think that in the hands of an authentic "vintage" player, they'd reach what their player was aiming for. When I think vintage I think there's more bottom, less facile change running. Gutsy and growly, stuttery, and you know he/she has lungs. Maybe the artist is more of a determining factor than the ax. Very nice horns, tho.

[@djtroublesome3749]

True when you're testing horns like these!

[@spiketaterman5181]

well said!

[@garrettbabcock9024]

As someone that plays "vintage" and "modern" sax music I appreciate this comment cuz I know with one of these horns I could easily accomplish both depending on the gig.

[@boobsax]

Too much playing. All you need to do is give each horn a few seconds .....sounds good though . How do they compare to a M6 as far as size and weight? One of the great things about Selmer is how small and light they are. Many of the modern horns are pretty big and heavy.

[@pimeye]

Agreed. Nobody ever mentions the weight of these Taiwanese horns. The ones I’ve played feel much heavier than a MkVI. Interesting to know what the Lupifaro Platinum weighs as it is made in in Italy in comparison to the Taiwanese horns. I don’t think sax.co.uk stocks it any more but Chad LB sounds great on it.

[@blackrachmaninov]

first :-)

[@mikestang679]

I'll stick to my MK VI, but nice try.....

[@elsaginuts9808]

Please do!

[@kenherbst9460]

Yes, don't let us stand in your way.

[@mikestang679]

@@kenherbst9460 Salty trolls

[@kenherbst9460]

@@mikestang679 ; )

[@Lucia-kk4kn]

Those are unlaquered standard asian horns thats it!....

[@PaddieFunk]

Made in Taiwan

[@brunocyclist]

That's where the best saxophones come from now, definitely in terms of value for money. They have a great instrument manufacturing tradition there.

[@PaddieFunk]

Well I’m not hating, I own one of these

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

All three are made in Taiwan.

[@1dotele]

P Mauriat