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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Selmer saxes / Is it balanced or super balanced? help!

chippy
User ID: 9614573 Dec 15th 2:10 AM
I've recently bought an old selmer alto and I'm trying to establish whether it's a balanced action or super balanced action. Can anyone help?.

chippy
User ID: 9614573 Dec 15th 2:30 AM
Whoops, forgot to mention it's silver plated & serial no. 36XXX.

Tom
User ID: 9335603 Dec 15th 6:22 AM
I would need a little more information to tell which model it is.

My guess is that it was made in 1948 right about the time of the introduction of the 'Super Action'.

I have a B/A but not an SBA. I'm trying to remember some of the differences between the 2 models so that I can give you something to look for.

......

I think that most of the differences are in the lh pinky spatula and the way the rods run down the body to actuate the B, Bb, and C# keys...

I can't come up with anything that I am really sure about so I'll let someone else jump in to help you.

Sounds like you have copped a great old horn though.

beezer
User ID: 9704903 Dec 15th 9:51 AM
If the bow is attached with a soldered ring. it is a BA. If it is attached with a split clamp with two small screws, it is a(n) SBA. Front left and right hand toneholes are offset on SBA.
Cheers, Dave

amasax
User ID: 0401124 Dec 15th 10:46 AM
w/serial of 36,xxx it's most likely an SBA. As beezer mentioned, easiest way to tell is if the tone holes line up all the way down (left hand and right hand), it's a BA. If the right hand tone holes are offset from the left hand, it's an SBA. If clamp under low D key, is an SBA. If solder only on the ring below the D key, it's a BA.

Don't be misled by the serial number game too much, as there is overlap between different models of Selmer saxes. And, it was typically possible to order an older model horn after the new model came out, so you do get some retro stuff occasionally.
Also, there is one dealer on the web who continues to misrepresent a horn he's had in stock for a long time as some sort of 'transitional' ax, when it's pretty obvious from the common clues as to what it is.

Berg-Man
User ID: 8548253 Dec 15th 6:52 PM
Selmer actually called the late Balanced Saxes simply Super Actions, not SBA'S. Th SBA was coined later buy players/collectors.

beezer
User ID: 9565813 Dec 16th 12:29 PM
The name SBA was coined when the first SA80 was introduced about 1980. Up till then they were always known as SA's. Re. Tom above, I don't think that there was much difference in the pinky keys, although the 'hold down bottom C#' mechanism was slightly different.
Cheers, Dave.

chippy
User ID: 9614573 Dec 16th 1:18 PM
Ok, it turns out to be an SBA, as the tone holes are offset & the bow is attached with a split clamp. Wow that was EASY. So now if anyone ask's me what I'm blowing, I'll be able to tell them!(Although, I got it because of how it felt & played when I picked it up) Thanx for the response people.

beezer
User ID: 9565813 Dec 16th 3:27 PM
Chippy - you're a lucky guy. The best blowing alto that I ever had was an SA. It had been relaq a million times and looked a dog. It went a bit wild at the top end, but what a horn! I got it off Dick Parry who did the Pink Floyd things, and didn't have the heart to turn him down when he wanted to buy it back a few years ago!
Cheers, Dave.

amasax
User ID: 3362054 Dec 16th 7:04 PM
well, for what it's worth, imo, the Super BA altos are the best of the vintage Selmer altos; better than BA, with a modern key layout. So, you 'done good'.

Tenor-wise, some of the earlier stuff(BA, Super Sax, etc.) are just as good, but a bit different than the Super BA tenors...

PB
User ID: 9600383 Dec 16th 8:40 PM
when your deep B reaches for the D flat it is an BA . i`m already a little bit drunk, so forgive me. the only difference between both models is, that the bell is a little bit longer on the SBA. all of the BA models have too short bells(and so the earlier models). so on: the very low notes tend to be a little bit sharp. the only thing selmer tried is, to bring their horns more in tune. the sound selmer wanted is the same till the Mk6! P.S. enjoy your horn....

chippy
User ID: 0074284 Dec 17th 4:37 PM
Enjoy my horn,I can't put it down!, I've got lips like Pamela Anderson. Thanx again, it feels sooooo good!.

SelmerSaxMan
User ID: 9488873 Dec 18th 1:05 AM
hahahahaha....better be careful i said something like that earlier and I got blocked.

chippy
User ID: 0074284 Dec 18th 6:33 AM
Oh come on selmer, let's not lower the tone!. My sax is nothing like pammy, it's in original condition & can be a bit sharp at times!.

chippy User ID: 9614573	Dec 15th 2:10 AM I've recently bought an old selmer alto and I'm trying to establish whether it's a balanced action or super balanced action. Can anyone help?.
chippy User ID: 9614573	Dec 15th 2:30 AM Whoops, forgot to mention it's silver plated & serial no. 36XXX.
Tom User ID: 9335603	Dec 15th 6:22 AM I would need a little more information to tell which model it is. My guess is that it was made in 1948 right about the time of the introduction of the 'Super Action'. I have a B/A but not an SBA. I'm trying to remember some of the differences between the 2 models so that I can give you something to look for. ...... I think that most of the differences are in the lh pinky spatula and the way the rods run down the body to actuate the B, Bb, and C# keys... I can't come up with anything that I am really sure about so I'll let someone else jump in to help you. Sounds like you have copped a great old horn though.
beezer User ID: 9704903	Dec 15th 9:51 AM If the bow is attached with a soldered ring. it is a BA. If it is attached with a split clamp with two small screws, it is a(n) SBA. Front left and right hand toneholes are offset on SBA. Cheers, Dave
amasax User ID: 0401124	Dec 15th 10:46 AM w/serial of 36,xxx it's most likely an SBA. As beezer mentioned, easiest way to tell is if the tone holes line up all the way down (left hand and right hand), it's a BA. If the right hand tone holes are offset from the left hand, it's an SBA. If clamp under low D key, is an SBA. If solder only on the ring below the D key, it's a BA. Don't be misled by the serial number game too much, as there is overlap between different models of Selmer saxes. And, it was typically possible to order an older model horn after the new model came out, so you do get some retro stuff occasionally. Also, there is one dealer on the web who continues to misrepresent a horn he's had in stock for a long time as some sort of 'transitional' ax, when it's pretty obvious from the common clues as to what it is.
Berg-Man User ID: 8548253	Dec 15th 6:52 PM Selmer actually called the late Balanced Saxes simply Super Actions, not SBA'S. Th SBA was coined later buy players/collectors.
beezer User ID: 9565813	Dec 16th 12:29 PM The name SBA was coined when the first SA80 was introduced about 1980. Up till then they were always known as SA's. Re. Tom above, I don't think that there was much difference in the pinky keys, although the 'hold down bottom C#' mechanism was slightly different. Cheers, Dave.
chippy User ID: 9614573	Dec 16th 1:18 PM Ok, it turns out to be an SBA, as the tone holes are offset & the bow is attached with a split clamp. Wow that was EASY. So now if anyone ask's me what I'm blowing, I'll be able to tell them!(Although, I got it because of how it felt & played when I picked it up) Thanx for the response people.
beezer User ID: 9565813	Dec 16th 3:27 PM Chippy - you're a lucky guy. The best blowing alto that I ever had was an SA. It had been relaq a million times and looked a dog. It went a bit wild at the top end, but what a horn! I got it off Dick Parry who did the Pink Floyd things, and didn't have the heart to turn him down when he wanted to buy it back a few years ago! Cheers, Dave.
amasax User ID: 3362054	Dec 16th 7:04 PM well, for what it's worth, imo, the Super BA altos are the best of the vintage Selmer altos; better than BA, with a modern key layout. So, you 'done good'. Tenor-wise, some of the earlier stuff(BA, Super Sax, etc.) are just as good, but a bit different than the Super BA tenors...
PB User ID: 9600383	Dec 16th 8:40 PM when your deep B reaches for the D flat it is an BA . i`m already a little bit drunk, so forgive me. the only difference between both models is, that the bell is a little bit longer on the SBA. all of the BA models have too short bells(and so the earlier models). so on: the very low notes tend to be a little bit sharp. the only thing selmer tried is, to bring their horns more in tune. the sound selmer wanted is the same till the Mk6! P.S. enjoy your horn....
chippy User ID: 0074284	Dec 17th 4:37 PM Enjoy my horn,I can't put it down!, I've got lips like Pamela Anderson. Thanx again, it feels sooooo good!.
SelmerSaxMan User ID: 9488873	Dec 18th 1:05 AM hahahahaha....better be careful i said something like that earlier and I got blocked.
chippy User ID: 0074284	Dec 18th 6:33 AM Oh come on selmer, let's not lower the tone!. My sax is nothing like pammy, it's in original condition & can be a bit sharp at times!.