P. Mauriat’s “Vintage-modern” System 76 Alto
The first thing you’ll probably notice about the P. Mauriat System 76 professional alto saxophone is its oversized bell. Along with the horn’s generous bore, this plays an important part in the production of the instrument’s muscular, vintage-inspired sound. It’s a big, robust sound with a focused, compact tonal core that’s clear yet complex and rich with overtones. The System 76 also comes with P. Mauriat’s excellent Super VI neck, which features a wide taper for freer blowing, adding to the sonic charms of this impressive horn. As with all P. Mauriat saxophones, exceptional build quality is 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: System 76 Professional Alto Saxophone - Dark Vintage Lacquer Finish
Oversized bore and bell for big tone
When designing the System 76, P. Mauriat examined the construction techniques used to produce sought-after vintage instruments, leading to a significant performance-enhancing upgrade. The System 76 features an oversized bell, which, like the body and neck, is hand hammered by P. Mauriat’s expert craftspeople. Together with the instrument’s enlarged 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 floral 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
P. Mauriat outfitted the System 76 alto saxophone with their Super VI neck — 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 System 76. 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 their 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. Their 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 System 76 Features:
- Professional-class saxophone with vintage sound design
- French brass body tube and keys
- Super VI neck
- Hand-engraved bell and bow
- Big bore and bell
- Genuine Abalone or Black Pearl key touches (varies by finish)
- Pisoni leather pads with metal resonators
- Comes with mouthpiece, ligature, greases and oils, and microfiber cloth
- PM contoured case included
