The P. Mauriat Venus Tenor: Elegance, Alchemy, and Mysticism
A member of P. Mauriat’s cutting-edge professional-class 600 series, the PMST-600 Venus tenor saxophone blows a breath of rarified air into the company’s distinguished saxophone lineup. Flaunting soft pink hues accented by gleaming silver-plated keys, exotic black pearls, and elegant hand engraving, the design is inspired by the classical Roman goddess of love. But the uniquely hued metal also conveys a sonic clue: There’s alchemy at work here. Instead of traditional brass, the Venus — as do all 600 series horns — uses a brass alloy with a very high copper content of 95%, which imparts a luxurious warmth to your every note. Outfitted with P. Mauriat’s excellent Super VI neck, the PMST-600 Venus is a free-blowing horn with a big, assertive tone and a heady aura of mysticism that captivates the player and audiences alike. 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.
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Performance and value
The P. Mauriat PMST-600 Venus is built around the body of the company’s much-lauded Model 67 tenor, but incorporates strategic modifications that differentiate the sound and give the Venus its unique sonic character. Instead of the 67’s rolled tone holes, the Venus employs straight ones. While both approaches have their adherents, the consensus is that the sonic differences are subtle. Another differentiator from the Model 67 is the Venus’ standard bell size, as opposed to the former’s enlarged bell — another matter of personal player preference. The synergy that informs the design of every P. Mauriat saxophone scrupulously matches and balances the sonic contribution of each component to yield optimal performance. One such component that the PMST-600 Venus shares with many of P. Mauriat’s acclaimed horns is its Super VI neck.
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 handcrafts instruments in the French tradition, emphasizing 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. Handmade 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 PMST-600 Venus Features:
- Professional-class Bb tenor saxophone
- Brass alloy with 95% copper content
- Super VI neck
- Straight tone holes
- Standard bell size
- Silver-plated keys
- Exotic black pearl key touches
- Elegant hand engraving
- Includes mouthpiece, ligature, accessories, and PM touring case
