Selmer Paris Tenor Pre-Balanced Action Great Deal!

Description

This horn is a great deal for someone who wants an early Selmer Paris tenor that plays well for not much money. This horn comes from one of the better saxophone collections that I have see. It has been in that collection for at least 40 years. It was saxophone tech-owned, and a true player’s horn, and was one of the main horns that actually got played out of the collection.

People usually call this a ‘cigar cutter’ tenor, or a Super, but Selmer was not so concerned with model names and labels at this period, and this horn comes before the SSS stamp that I would consider the mark of a Super. This horn is from late 1931, and it should probably be called a New Large Bore / Super transitional, but that’s hopelessly nerdy. So I’m just calling it a Pre-Balanced Action, because the RI/Balanced changes mark a substantial turn in Selmer tenors, in my opinion.

This horn has been relacquered, and it has had some minor dents removed throughout, I think. Also some the chromatic F# key guard is resoldered. The pads are pretty old, so plan on an overhaul soon. But since this was tech-owned, the keywork does not have a lot of play in it, and is pretty nice and tight. It plays well enough now to say that it will be a very satisfying tenor to play with new pads. The tone is darker, punchy, and spread. More wide and mellow than any modern saxophone. The keywork feels nice and surprisingly modern under the fingers, despite the absence of modern ergonomics. The price is great too, so buy this and you will be into a hard-to-find vintage Selmer tenor with this beautiful dark, rich tone for less than a used modern Selmer.