The annual NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) wrapped up yesterday in Anaheim, California. While I’m sure there were hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of new products being premièred over the 4 day event, 1 new saxophone in particular caught my attention.
The Julius Keilwerth Company, now part the Buffet Group, chose the NAMM show to unveil its new MKX saxophone. According to Julius Keilwerth’s post on SOTW—this always cracks me up, since Julius’ ghost is unlikely to be using a computer—this new sax will not be replacing the current SX 90 R. The new MKX is a new model that the JK company is adding to its current production.
This is how Julius Keilwerth describes the new horn on SOTW:
The Julius Keilwerth MKX Series marks the next evolution of the saxophone for this historic brand. By combining tonal characteristics of the legendary SX90R along with physical characteristics reminiscent of vintage saxophones, the MKX Series allows the player to have the best of both worlds; a modern sound with a vintage feel.
The name MKX was chosen to pay tribute to those who have contributed to or inspired the development of this new line. The letters “MK” represent Markneukirchen, the historic town in the same region of eastern Germany where the Julius Keilwerth brand began in 1925. Boasting a long history of musical instrument makers and manufacturers, Markneukirchen is now home to the factory and skilled workers who carry on the traditions of their forefathers, and whose craftsmanship is essential to the quality of this instrument.
In honoring the kinship to the legendary Julius Keilwerth SX90R Series, the letter “X” reminds us of the influence and inspiration from those who paved the way for our success. While the MKX and SX90R series do share some characteristics, they can be likened to cousins who share a common blood line, but have individual qualities and personalities that allow them a unique voice of their own.
With retail prices for Alto at $5,599 / Tenor at $6,233 the MKX will offer competitive pricing to Yamaha, Yanagisawa, and P. Mauriat while being the only European made instrument in its class. Players can choose alto or tenor saxophones in either Gold Lacquer or Antique Brass finishes.
The Julius Keilwerth MKX Series is a professional level saxophone that will offer German quality engineering and manufacturing at prices competitive to the global scale, and allow a new generation of musicians to use Keilwerth Saxophones in bringing their voice to the world stage.
North America release at NAMM 2013.
European release at Frankfurt Musikmesse 2013.
Delivery in spring 2013.
And in his next post JK goes on to say:
This does NOT replace the SX90 series. Rather, Is is a complement to it. so YES they will co-exist!! The SX90R series is still available and in production!
The “vintage” characteristics are primarily in the way the horn feels in your hands. Many who have tried it compare it to an old Mark VI or Conn –
however the way it blows and feels to play is all JK.
bow, bell and neck are all similar to SX90. But the body tube is slightly different, and tone holes have been adjusted (in size and location) to improve pitch.
straight tone holes, standard palm keys (non adjustable), metal thumb button, pisoni pads, metal resonators.
The tone and projection is a bit more direct than SX90. But the horn will take all you can give it without spreading or breaking up.
It seems Keilwerth USA used their Facebook page to hint that this horn was going to be premièred at NAMM. On January 14, JK had a posting on their Facebook site that said:
Be sure to visit us next week at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Visit the Buffet Group USA booth to try the new Dave Liebman Series soprano saxophones – AND – something else BRAND NEW from KEILWERTH!!!!
JK has since posted some videos to Facebook, of famous players like Ernie Watts, Don Menza, and Brent Birckhead play testing the new MKX. (BTW, JK’s real website mentions nothing about the horn yet.)
If you’d like to see some photos of this new sax, check out the other SOTW thread on the horn. There you’ll find a couple of pics of both the alto and the tenor.
Personally I’m happy to see the company producing a new model horn. It gives me hope that the European saxophone industry isn’t dying out completely. Nothing would make me sadder than to think that all of our future saxophones are going to come from Asia, and be assembled by people who, for the most part, are working for pennies an hour. That is just wrong on so many levels.
It will be interesting to see how the MKX is received by the public when it is released into the wild later this year. I’m sure there will be lots of positive things that will be written about it—just as I’m sure there will be some who will be sniping about this or that.
But at the end of the day, we have to applaud JK for coming up with a new saxophone design that builds on its rich history, and manages to keep its specialty workforce engaged.
