Martin Committee II Alto 1940

Description

The Martin Committee II alto saxophone from 1940 is a rare, pre-WWII vintage American horn produced in Elkhart, Indiana, featuring a distinctive “Lion & Crown” bell engraving, warm sound, and an estimated value between $1,000 and $3,500 depending on condition. 

Design and Build Characteristics

• Serial Numbers: A 1940 model typically falls in the roughly 133,000 to 139,000 serial range.

• Engraving: Distinctive art-deco lion and crown graphic stamped on the bell.

• Mechanics: Includes an adjustable thumb rest, solid nickel-silver keywork, and an advanced octave mechanism with pitch adjustment for second-octave C#.
• Tone Holes: Employs tapered, beveled tone holes characteristic of vintage Martin craftsmanship.
• Construction: Thick-walled brass body giving it a robust build, though delicate original lacquer often shows wear or burn. 

Tone and Playability

• Sound Profile: Known for a big, warm, and refined dark tone rather than a loud, aggressive commercial tone.
• Intonation: Balanced scale and reliable intonation across registers, making it popular for jazz ballads and small groups

Condition
We rate each horn’s condition. Any defects are noted here. Each criteria is on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being poor condition and 10 being perfect.

• • Body (dents, deep scratches, etc.) – 10 Perfect, no dents or deep scratches
  • Finish (lacquer, silver plate, paint, etc.) – 10 No lacquer, beautiful patina
  • Previous repairs (soldered posts, dent work, etc.) – 10 None noted
  • Accessories (case, mouthpiece, etc.) – 9 Minimal wear on case
  • Playability (leaks, sticky keys, etc.) – 10 Freshly rebuilt plays like new.