P. Mauriat PM-350 bass sax for sale

Asian-made modern bass saxophones

Patent of a knockoff: the Jinbao bass

Jinyin Bass Saxes: a reference guide

Jinbao Bass Saxes: a reference guide

P. Mauriat PM-350 bass sax for sale

Well when it rains, it appears to pour. Not sure why, but what appears to be the same used, P. Mauriat, PM-350 bass sax is for sale by 3 different eBay sellers from Japan. And you guessed it, the prices are all different as well—although they are with a few hundred $ US of each other.

For this article I chose the description from the first seller I saw. It was only later that I noticed 2 others were selling the same horn.

So buckle up, and here we go. The seller (No.1 Field of Japan) describes this P. Mauriat 350 bass sax like this:

P. Mauriat PM-350 Bass Saxophone – Gold Lacquer, Complete and Ready to Play

How often do you see a bass saxophone come up for sale? Rarely – and even more rarely one this clean.

The bass sax is the instrument that makes a whole section sound bigger: that deep, round foundation under a sax quartet, a big band or a wind ensemble that no other horn can replace. This P. Mauriat PM-350 in gold lacquer is ready to take that place in your setup – no noticeable dents, no discoloration, and the complete set of accessories, including the original case and the floor peg you need to play a horn of this size comfortably.

Why this one

• A genuine P. Mauriat PM-350 – a brand known for its warm, rich sound
• Gold lacquer that still looks clean – no discoloration anywhere
• No noticeable dents – the most important thing to check on a large horn
• Everything you need is included – original hard case, detachable floor peg, mouthpiece, ligature and cap

Condition – honest and clearly shown

This horn has been played and cared for. You will find light surface scratches from normal use, but the body is free of noticeable dents and the lacquer shows no discoloration. For a bass saxophone – an instrument that is easily knocked simply because of its size – that is a very good state. Every photo shows the actual instrument, so you can see exactly what you are getting.

What’s Included

• Original P. Mauriat hard case
• Detachable floor peg
• Mouthpiece, ligature and cap

Safe delivery from Japan

• FedEx with tracking and full insurance
• A horn this size deserves extra care: it is packed with additional protection around the case, and checked again before it leaves Japan.
• Ships within the handling time shown in the listing.

Questions buyers usually ask

Q. Is it genuine?
A. Yes, a genuine P. Mauriat PM-350.

Q. Any dents?
A. No noticeable dents. There are light scratches from normal use, all visible in the photos.

Q. Is it complete?
A. Yes – original hard case, floor peg, mouthpiece, ligature and cap. You can start playing as soon as it arrives.

Q. Can you ship to my country?
A. We ship worldwide by FedEx. If you are in a remote area, please message us before purchase.

Q. What about import duties?
A. Import duties, taxes and customs charges are not included in the price and are paid by the buyer. Please check with your local customs office.

Q. Can I make an offer?
A. If you see the “Make Offer” button, please feel free to send one.

Returns
Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery, in the same condition as received with all accessories.

Bass saxophones in this condition rarely come up for sale. If this is the horn you have been waiting for, we would be glad to send it to you. Questions are always welcome – just send us a message.

Here is how the prices break down for the 3 sellers of what appears to be the same horn. I will leave it up to you to look at how the descriptions vary. The photos below however, are all identical in the 3 auctions.

Photos of this PM-350 bass sax

As I mentioned already, all 3 sellers are using the same photos. Why? Maybe the sellers are all connected in some way? Part of the same chain of stores in Japan? Or maybe this sale is a scam. Given eBay seems to have given up policing fraudulent auctions of late, it is at least worth considering before you plop down over 20K of your cash.

Is this really a good deal?

Disclaimer: We are going on the assumption that this is a true auction, and NOT a scam or fraudulent one. It is up to the potential buyer to determine this one their own.

I gotta’ be honest with you and say: I don’t think it’s a screamin’ hot deal by any means. Add shipping, taxes, etc. to the mix, and that is one expensive used horn—although admittedly a very good one.

But why is it for sale, and why do these used PM-350 bass saxophones pop up for sale relatively often, given that so few of them have been made?

I wrote a review of the PM-350 that Long & McQuade had for nearly a year in its Downtown Vancouver location. If you are seriously considering buying one of these, I seriously recommend you read my review.

It appears that as of today, a new PM-350 will run you between 25-35K US, depending on which music store you buy it through—assuming that their online pricing and stores are current.

As I noted in my review of this horn, I am simply not seeing the value in it when compared to its direct competition: a Jinbao-made short wrap, which could be had for <10K. To me, these PM-350 bass saxes are just not worth the extra $$. IMHO, if you want to spend that much, get a true pro horn: a Selmer, or a Keilwerth. Used versions of these pop up. You just have to be patient.