Couesnon Monopole II alto saxophone
Origin:
France
Guide price: From £450 (a steal!!!)
Weight: -
Manufactured: Early 1960s
Reviewed: August 2007
A pro-spec alto from a vintage maker that very
few people have heard of...yet
You'd think, wouldn't you, that if you bought a tenor by 'Brand X',
liked it very much indeed and then decided you had need of an alto - the
one made by Brand X would be a safe bet. After all, the tenor floats your
boat - stands to reason that the alto should too.
As it happens, it's actually not that common to find a player who has
a 'matched pair' of saxes. In fact, where the brands do match you're more
than likely to find that the model numbers differ (I, for example have
a Yamaha 23 tenor, and a Yamaha alto - but it's the 62 model).
The simple reason for this is that what works well on one sax might not
work well on another - so whilst the tenor of a particular make and model
might have a fat, lush tone...the alto might be rather more brighter in
comparison.
The sole reason that this particular alto appeared on the bench is that
the owner had previously bought a Monopole
II tenor, and liked it so much (as did I) that he promptly bought
an alto - sight unseen, unplayed and untested.
Quite a risky proposition, only made less so by the fact that this vintage
brand is relatively unknown and the prices are subsequently quite low
(for the time being...).
The big question is - did he get a peach...or a lemon?
I shan't dwell on the mechanical details too much - the alto follows
the same pattern as the tenor...if you're interested, just click the link
above for a breakdown of the build details.
A couple of details differ; the position of the sling ring is a
little suspect - it's fine when playing the horn whilst seated,
by when standing the horn tends to hang to the left. This isn't
a huge problem, but it can become a little fatiguing to not only
have to support the horn's vertical angle but to keep it in line
as well.
Fortunately it's a relatively easy fix - just have the ring repositioned
(you will lose a little of the lacquer though, and have a mark where the
ring used to sit).
The other minor point is the position of the low C guard stay post
(note that the alto bell key guard is a one-piece affair, unlike
the tenor which has two guards to span these tone holes) - it's
right up against the low C tone hole. In the event of a knock to
the guard of sufficient strength to put a dent in the horn, the
stay post will drive the tone hole completely out of level. Given
that, like the tenor, the tone holes are of the rolled variety,
this could be a big problem. Care will be needed when handling this
horn - and some time and money spent on selecting a good case will
pay dividends.
Like
the tenor, the alto features the double-socket crook.
It's worth drawing attention to this feature if only to point out that
you're advised to check that this joint isn't loose when buying one of
these horns.
It's not that it's an impossible fix, it's just rather involved and could
cost rather more than it costs to have a standard crook tightened.
Beware in particular of cracks or evidence of filing/sawing around the
slot (as closed by the screw) - both indicate that work may be needed
to ensure a properly snug and well-sealed crook joint.
The keywork is much the same - the geometry is obviously different as
it's a smaller horn, and this helps to resolve a couple of issues found
on the tenor. Thus, the front F key is better placed on the alto and the
palm keys are a little more accessible.
There's also the unique switchable articulated G# mechanism, and whilst
the bell key spatula action is rather lighter and more responsive than
that on the tenor, it's still noticeably better when the articulation
is switched off.
Still, as with the tenor it's nice to have the choice...as long as you
remember what it's set at before you take a solo!
But enough of all that...the sole reason the client bought this horn
was because of blowing qualities of the tenor.
Similarly I approached the alto with pretty much the same hopes whilst
still being mindful of the fact that I've made this kind of comparison
many, many times and been rather disappointed...
Well, I blew barely five notes on it and wouldn't have been at all surprised
if a gospel choir had appeared out of nowhere behind me and began to sing
in exquisite and glorious harmony.
This little alto just oozes soul.
Just like the tenor, the tone of the alto seems to capture the very best
of the vintage genre and blend it seamlessly with the brighter, punchier
contemporary tone. The final result is a tone for all seasons.
But surely, if you're a jack of all trades you're a master of none?
Not so...this alto has so much flexibility that it takes a mere tweak
of the embouchure to lay the tone back or kick it into overdrive. It is,
frankly, stunningly articulate. Tonewise it's a little more even than
the tenor (as altos tend to be) - the low/mid D is cleaner - and I didn't
notice any tuning problems.
What can I say? I was delighted and enthralled by this cheeky little
alto, and even more delighted to find that it stands shoulder-to-shoulder
with the tenor in terms of playability.
For me its biggest appeal is its ability to span the tonal genres - and
whilst I realise that not everyone will consider that to be a quality
worth having, I'm certain that no-one will disagree that it's no mean
feat for a manufacturer to successfully pull it off.
As per the tenor, horns from this marque are relatively unknown and can
still be bought for a price that's frankly ridiculous when you consider
what they're capable of. That's likely to change once ebayers and the
like start finding reviews like this...so if you're after a sweet little
blower with an individual touch, get one while the going's good.
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