SELMER "SUPER" ALTO SAX

SELMER SUPER SAX ALTO
"Cigar Cutter"
16,136
1932
Silver plate with a Gold Wash bell & neck
Near Mint Condition

Tested with Brilhart rubber mp, recorded on iPhone

This Selmer is a great example of the 1930's Golden Age of Saxophone making.
The tone is rich and full and with a wide dynamic range (listen to the recording).
It actually has a greater dynamic range than my Mark VI! - (although I am more used to my VI).

The pads are like new and seal from top to bottom with no resistance;
Master repairman Wil Grizzle just checked everything and made fine adjustments.
The pads are the same red color Emilio Lyons uses, although I have not asked Emilio yet if he did this horn.
One thing is for sure; the pads are soft and supple, so this horn was NOT played long after the repadding!

No dings or repairs; the tube is pristine,
although I photographed it outside and it picked up reflections of everything around it.

The plating is uniformly good with the exception of some spots here and there.
I polished the bell using Wenol and a super-soft t-shirt to see how it would come out;
If you disassembled and polished the whole horn it would sparkle.
If can get Wil to do this before shipping, if you like, for a minimal fee.

The Ergonomics are good; I don't even mind the LH pinkie stack.
The pearls have been worn down a little; they are a bit flat but they feel good and there are no metal edges.
The palm keys have two of those risers that look like Oleg's; I did not try to take them off.

THE TONE
Big, beautiful, rich, luscious. Nothing like it today (not even modern Selmers).
It is the POLAR OPPOSITE of a modern Asian horn -
you can give it as much air as you like and it keeps giving you more tone - it never sounds thin.

The case is original and in good condition.
The right latch needs work and the left latch is finniky.
I am throwing in the case cover to protect the case from opening.
If I were you I would refurbish the case, store it and use a modern case.

I would have a tech go over key heights (cork) to fine tune intonation.
T hat's all it really needs, to my mind.

$3,750 + Shipping
SOLD