Sky Alto Saxophone

Early Martin Saxophones are standard with vintage saxophone gatherers because of their high quality sound and their handsome looks. If a gatherer or a website refers to “The Martin” saxophone, that means it had “The Martin” engraved on the saxophone’s bell, and the type of sax (baritone, tenor, alto, etc.) engraved above.

Martin saxophones made up to the late 1960s are in particular prized by collectors. One model in peculiar is the Master “Typewriter” baritone sax, whose keys resembled typewriter keys, and which was known for a rich, full sound quality. In the 1930s Martin made the Master series, the Handcraft series, which included the Handcraft Imperial and the Handcraft Troubadour. Models introduced in the late 30s and early 40s had names like Lion and Crown, Searchlight, and Sky-line.

The official Music Man came along in the 1960s, around the same era as the Magna. These were all professional models, and all still have their truehearted fans. Martin did make student saxophones, too. You may tell if a Martin saxophone is a student model if it is an Imperial, Indiana, or Medalist. These are good saxes too, just not as highly coveted as the professional models.

In 1961, Martin was united with two other instrument manufacturers, Reynolds and Blessing. These Martins have a “RMC” marking. In 1964, Wurlitzer purchased the trademarks, copyrights, engineering records, tools, and patents that had belonged to Martin. Rights were sold again in 1971 to a French company called LeBlanc. They use the Martin trademark on Yanigasawa built saxophones.

Martin saxophones, while they are fine instruments, do not seem to have the mythology built up around them the way the Bueschers and Yamahas do. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less deserving of a good reputation. But their lack of prominence in the vintage market may make them – in particular the early “Typewriter” models – good buys for vintage collectors. There aren’t as some of these as there are of Bundys and Yamahas, so their rarity adds to their relative value as vintage instruments.

Sky Alto Saxophone Pic

Sky Alto Saxophone Picture

Sky Alto Saxophone Picture

Sky Alto Saxophone Pic

Most helpful client reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful.
Worth each penny, and then some.
By E. De La Cruz
I purchased this sax for my son four months ago. This is a beautifully crafted sax with a actually nice finish, the pads are tight and the keys are very smooth with pearl inlays. So far, my son who is a beginner has been capable to formulate a great deal of genuinely nice sounds. This is a quality sax comparable to higher priced saxophones. Highly recommended, buy with confidence.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful.
pretty good for an off brand
By John F. Temmerman
I have a student with one of these models. His mother had purchased him this rather of getting a rental, which would have been $500 or more a year.

His instrument has nice projection and is very free blowing. Intonation is not perfect, but it is reasonable. It’s genuinely rather good for an off brand, galore of which are out and out junk. He’ll need a better one come high school but, for now, this one will do.

10 of 11 humans found the following review helpful.
Look Elsewhere
By Chestoozo
I purchased this sax for my 12 yr old son last year and am very disappointed by the overall quality. Although my son has played the sax for over a year, he was struggling with it from day one and it wasn’t until his private tutor (a professional musician) gave it a whirl that we realized that the notes were systematically flat. I don’t recognise whether this was an apart case of a bad instrument slipping through the quality assurance process, or whether it’s indicatory of a problem with this level of sax from this company. At any rate, if you’re looking for an entry level sax just do not forget that you get what you compensate for.

See all 11 client reviews…