P. Mauriat PMXA-67RG Gold Plated Alto Sax
From the moment you pick it up, this gold plated Mauriat alto sax feels right. The way the weight is distributed evenly across the instrument, the position of the palm keys, the solid action and a superb factory setup give the player bags of confidence together with a real feel good factor. Like all Mauriat horns, the build quality is second to none with solid joints (particularly at the head) and strong, well balanced springs. The 67RG comes with rolled tone holes that make the notes pop out clearly and precisely – the intonation on our sample was spot on. This horn blows so easily it’s untrue.

The tone is clean and centred, while the unlacquered gold plating produces a bright sound but with a tremendous warmth and depth. The flexibility in the sound dynamics is also really. I particularly liked the positioning of the table keys that gave easy access to the low Bs and Cs, while at the other end we found that the faultless action of the palm keys made the high notes really easy to pitch.

The instrument is supplied with a quality Mauriat hard rubber mouthpiece and a couple of Rico Royal reeds and comes in a preformed Pro-Tec zippered semi-hard case, with a useful large zippered front pocket, optional shoulder strap and “grab” handle.

D’Addario T2 Titanium Strings
String manufacturer D’Addario has spent some time searching for an alternative to the standard nylon string for the classic and flamenco guitars that would increase projection and give a brighter tone, yet at the same time would respond to the touch in a similar way to the nylon model. They have found the answer in a dense monofilament material with a translucent purple hue and have recently launched the T2 Classical Guitar Treble Strings. Not only do these strings respond in a similar way to the traditional nylon product, they are undoubtedly brighter, with a defined edge and clarity of tone that will cut through cleanly in almost any format.

Like all D’Addario strings, intonation characteristics are excellent and we were particularly impressed by the 3rd G string that offers an almost seamless transition between the bass and the treble strings. Available as singles in three tensions and multiple gauges, these strings may be designed for the classical player, but offer the nylon playing jazz player a new dimension and a dynamic range well beyond what has previously been possible. 

Istanbul 25th Anniversary Ride Cymbal
If you’re looking for a ride cymbal that has all those dark, hand hammered chracteristics, then look no further, this Istanbul 25th Anniversary 20 inch ride is as cool as they come. Thin and flat, this cymbal has a special process applied to the finishing on the outside of the cymbal that gives it a distinctly blue hue and seems to limit the amount the cymbal will open up producing a more unified sound.

With a very low pitch, it has a dark, deep tone with a wet, splashy character and a shimmering crash that is not too “pingy”. We really liked the stick sound. But beware, this cymbal is a true jazzer and won’t thank you for getting really stuck in, as the wash will quickly build up to a roar and could easily swamp the sound. Treat it nice and gentle and you can be sure it will deliver all those subtle old ‘K’ type characteristics that you’ve been looking for.