An Ideal Alto for Advancing Students and Doublers
The design of the P. Mauriat PMSA-185 intermediate alto saxophone makes it perfect for beginning and advancing students. Featuring fully ribbed construction and optimized ergonomic keywork, the 185 alto is ideal for advancing students who love the instrument for its easy playability, great intonation, and classic, rich sound. Band directors, on the other hand, appreciate its rock-solid build quality, which keeps it in the classroom and not in the shop! These attributes also make the 185 an ideal horn for professional tenor players who double on alto. The PMSA-185 is also a fantastic value — a performance champ that’s ready to tackle any musical challenge, in the band room or on the road.
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A horn that brings out your individuality
Saxophones designed for the up-and-coming player should provide a smooth transition from your student model while introducing professional features that enhance the myriad of playing techniques, from wind control and embouchure to fingering, that collectively produce the unique sound you are developing. As accessible as it is exceptional, the P. Mauriat PMSA-185 is an ideal intermediate alto saxophone. Its post-to-rib construction makes the horn blow with moderate resistance while delivering a solid fundamental with rich tonal color. Although this presents a slightly increased initial resistance, it effectively gives you another level of resonance — an extra “gear,” if you will — to blow through for additional dynamic range and expression. Simply put, you can push the P. Mauriat PMSA-185 further, and it will go exactly where you want it to go.
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 saxophones 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. On higher-end models, 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.
Vintage-inspired modern classics
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 PMSA-185 Features:
- Intermediate-class Eb alto saxophone
- Premium French brass construction
- Super VI Neck
- Fully ribbed construction
- White mother-of-pearl key touches
- Elegant hand engraving
- Hardshell case, mouthpiece, and accessories package included
