VINTAGE 1950 MARTIN "COMMITTEE" / "THE MARTIN" TENOR, ALL NEW PADS,GOOD PLAYER!.

Description

WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY
2525 East Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67211
*** A GOOD “ COMMITTEE”
OR “THE MARTIN” TENOR SAX BY MARTIN (ELKHART), MADE IN THE USA IN 1950. ***
In the early to mid sixties, before Martin ceased production in Elkhart, our company sold a number of these good instruments.
For a time, we were the only Martin dealer in the area.
Martin’s catalog called their best model “Committee”, but that name didn’t appear on the post-war saxes.
“The Martin” was engraved on the bell and so many collectors today use that name.
The entry-level saxes (for students) were stamped “Indiana by Martin”.
There was a mid-range for trumpets engraved “Martin Imperial”, but that name never appeared, as I recall, on their saxes.
Paul Richards “RMC” acquired the firm in the late fifties, introduced a “Magna” model….the same as the Committee but with jive trim.
A few pro players did use this model tenor.
Tex Beneke (tenor with the Miller band) always played Martins, as did the mickey-band leader Freddie Martin.
I remember listening live on the radio to Freddie back with I was a kid, in the early fifties.
Our tenor came to us with absolutely no lacquer on it.
Lacquer’s main function is to protect the brass and since I’m not happy selling an unlacquered sax that’s ugly as sin, we decided to give this one a LIGHT polish before I sprayed it with two coats of Nikolas 2105 acrylic lacquer.
That means you can see a nick or two on the body, minor spots that we could have easily removed.
But to do so, we’d be obliged to sand the area smooth and……that means you’d lose brass.
In tenors, heavy brass gives better resonance;
thinner brass results in a tinny thin sound.
Top quality Ferree’s pads, with resonators.
Never any serious dents, a number of minor dings have been burnished out by our sax technicians.
Keep in mind that it’s not a modern sax. No high F#, no bright and cutting tone-color.
But the low notes always speak easily, the intonation is spot-on and (once you get used to the feel), the keywork is easy and smooth.
Perfect for “Big Band”, especially if you’re in a Miller-revival group.
Or a Shrine Band or a church group.
Or keep it at home and play along with recordings from the forties and fifties.
Saxophone questions?  Email me!  I'm always happy to correspond with any and all sax-o-people!
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Wichita Band Instrument Company is a small musical instrument emporium located in the center of the USA. We’ve been in business since 1953 and have had the same owner since 1963. Originally we were a repair shop that specialized in woodwind and sax restoration. Today we have 16 employees including FIVE of the finest repair technicians in the country. Virtually ALL the items we sell have been fully reconditioned in our own shop, although we do sell the occasional unrestored historical instruments each year.
Wichita Band’s service warranty is the same as it’s been for more than thirty years:
ALL new and all used instruments sold by Wichita Band Instrument Company come with our 24 month service warranty. It’s in addition to any factory guarantees. For two full years, we will repair or replace, whichever in our estimation is the more advisable, pads, corks, springs or other parts required, at no charge to the customer. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance charges. Cases and plating finishes are not covered by our service warranty but are sometimes covered by factory guarantees.
Wichita Band’s service warranty does cover dents and dings to your sax. If your instrument sustains damage to the body, end bow, neck or bell, we’ll burnish out the dents and make it look “like new” again. The cost you is absolutely nothing except shipping and insurance charges.
Wichita Band Instrument Company maintains a repair department capable of restoration work of the highest quality. Even though repairs are essentially free for the first two years, after that period has expired, we remain at your service to maintain and repair your musical equipment forever. It’s our “service after the sale” promise and has been since 1953!
In the event that a customer requires service under factory guarantees or Wichita Band’s service warranty, the item must be returned to us and not directly to the manufacturer.
Anything we sell can be sent to you for a short approval period without obligation. We collect NO SALES TAX, unless you’re lucky enough to live in Kansas. The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance and must pre-pay back to us any freight charges on returned equipment. International shipping is available. Returned items will be refunded within 2 weeks of receiving the item. We’re happy to send any instrument “on approval” for five days, but ask the prospective buyer to pay shipping both ways and to please reimburse us for clean-up and restocking charges (2.95%) on any returned instrument.
Ebay authorized payment methods:
PayPal or credit/debit card processed through our internet merchant account.
Buyers outside of the USA are responsible for all import duties and customs clearance charges in their respective countries. We may refuse paypal and/or credit card payments from some countries.
We’re happy to correspond with musicians, players, parents and enthusiasts of all types. Written appraisals are always available, but please don’t write or telephone and ask “what’s granny’s baritone sax worth?” Do an Ebay search and you’ll learn more than we could ever tell you.
Feel free to call or e-mail for any additional information.
Wichita Band Instrument Co.
800-835-3006 payment line (USA and Canada),
316-684-0291 outside the USA and Canada order line, and info line.