P. Mauriat’s Influence Tenor: Enhanced Performance, Big Tone
With its unique performance-enhancing features, the P. Mauriat 66R was a game-changer upon its debut several years ago. The model not only made a lasting impression on the pro saxophone community, but it also elevated P. Mauriat into the echelon of world-class sax manufacturers. The top-of-the-line 66RX — appropriated dubbed the Influence — features oversized solid nickel-silver key touches for enhanced tactile feedback and resonance. Another noticeable feature of this magnificent professional tenor saxophone is its enlarged bell, which helps deliver the instrument’s gloriously fat, bold, overtone-rich sound. Meanwhile, its rolled tone holes offer several performance and sonic benefits. The PMXT-66RX Influence tenor also comes with the excellent Super VI neck, which features a wide taper for freer blowing, adding to the sonic charms of this most impressive horn. As with all P. Mauriat saxophones, stunning aesthetics and exceptional build quality are baked in, with precision ergonomic keywork, excellent responsiveness, and superior intonation yielding an instrument that faithfully conveys every nuance of expression in your playing.
Related Videos: PMXT-66RX Influence Tenor Saxophone - Dark Vintage Lacquer
The benefits of rolled tone holes
Among professional players, rolled tone holes are generally considered a very desirable — if not somewhat exotic — saxophone feature. Indeed, many pros make a point of only playing horns with rolled tone holes. P. Mauriat’s proprietary technique involves the tone holes being individually drawn from the body and rolled over in a painstaking process that involves no soldering. As the rolled edge is of one piece with the shaft, rolled tone holes constructed this way provide superior reliability, remaining true for a leak-free, airtight fit. As rolled tone holes provide a larger surface area for the pads to make contact with, you’ll also enjoy longer pad life. Many experienced saxophonists feel horns with rolled tone holes deliver distinct sonic and performance advantages over instruments that have straight tone holes. These include a broader sound with faster response across all ranges, as well as increased projection and enhanced resonance throughout the entire saxophone.
Oversized bell for big, assertive tone
When designing the PMXT-66RX Influence tenor, P. Mauriat examined the construction techniques used to produce sought-after vintage instruments, leading to a significant performance-enhancing upgrade. The Influence features an oversized bell, which, like the body and neck, is hand hammered by P. Mauriat’s expert craftspeople. Together with the instrument’s slightly enlarged body bore, the larger bell provides impactful bass tones and allows the sound to bloom while opening up the horn’s overall tonality. Plus, the bell features graceful hand engraving with a delicate design that accentuates the instrument’s natural beauty and evokes P. Mauriat’s tradition of old-world craftsmanship.
Super VI neck: free-blowing design with wide bore taper
Experienced sax players know that neck design is critical to a saxophone’s playability and expressiveness. Together with well-developed wind control and embouchure, a good neck design serves to shape, focus, and project the sound, as well as provide a defined landing zone for intonation. For all these reasons and more, P. Mauriat’s Super VI neck is a favorite among experienced and professional saxophonists. The Super VI’s wider bore taper delivers a big, broad, bright tone and a responsive feel. With its free-blowing design, the Super VI gives you total control over the dynamics and timbral variation of your horn. Growling, raspy, breathy, or sweet — the Super VI neck allows you to explore the full voice of your instrument, and you can push it as hard as you want with the confidence you’ll be rewarded with a commanding sound.
Instruments that exude timeless character
The French brass and other metals used in P. Mauriat saxes are remarkably resonant due to the company’s arduous hand-hammering process, in which a saxophone body is hammered up to 400 times before moving on to the next artisan for final shaping. Tone holes are drawn from an instrument individually to ensure the precision and uniformity necessary for superior response and intonation. At P. Mauriat, lacquer is applied in three separate layers in order to achieve timeless, vintage visuals that will stand the test of time. Beautiful hand engraving is artfully performed with a simple hand tool and years of expertise. Once finished, each P. Mauriat saxophone is meticulously inspected and tested by one of the company’s roster of quality-control artists to make certain you receive a perfect instrument that will go the distance in your career.
Handcrafted vintage-inspired modern saxophones
An industry leader in vintage-inspired modern saxophones, P. Mauriat crafts its instruments in the French tradition with an emphasis on full-bodied vintage tone and optimized modern playability. To achieve these goals, P. Mauriat employs proprietary manufacturing techniques that result in instruments of outstanding quality and precision. The company’s zealous focus on fine craftsmanship produces saxophones that are highly prized among professional saxophonists and advancing players alike. Fastidiously crafted to highlight the intrinsic characteristics of each individual model, the aesthetic beauty of P. Mauriat saxophones mirrors their vintage-flavored tone. Sweetwater is delighted to bring you P. Mauriat’s line of extraordinary instruments.
P. Mauriat PMXT-66RX Influence Features:
- Professional-class tenor saxophone
- Premium French brass
- Oversized solid nickel silver key touches
- Super VI neck
- Rolled tone holes; large bell
- Hand-engraved bell and bow
- Includes mouthpiece, ligature, accessories, and PM contoured soft case
