Debating on selling my Selmer SBA alto..

[Shaun SS]

I'm thinking about selling my SBA Alto to get something with a little more modern keywork. It's serial number 41,341.

I believe it to be the original lacquer do to the engraving on the bell being very crisp and clean. A few different shops / repairman in the area also believe it to be original. However, I was going to sell it to someone on E-bay about 1 1/2 years ago and once he received it, he fealt it was not original due to a few runs on the keys. They keys match the body in color so I am not 100% sure. It does still have 80-90% of the lacquer on it.

There are no dents or dings. It looks like there was either a loose solder job or a re-solder to one of the lower key guards at one time.

Horn plays great up and down.

I was thinking of asking around $3000. The question is, should I sell it or should I keep it? Comparing it to my soprano and tenor c-ball, it is not all that comfy. The action is great and free and it plays in tune and awesome. Help me make up my mind. Thanks

[Saxydude]

Shaun- My advice is to play the SBA side-by-side with whatever modern horn you're thinking of picking up. I'm about to purchase a SBA alto from Dave Hoskins (you can check it out at www.junkdude.com) and it looks hideous but plays SO sweetly. The keywork doesn't bother me at all, but that's me. Also, I'm selling my unlacquered YAS-82Z to get this SBA. I've always thought the SBA keywork to be a fairly modern design, I believe it was only slightly reworked for the Mk VI and the VI is the bench mark of most all keywork on modern horns. I'm sure someone will correct me and tell you exactly how the SBA keywork is different from a modern horn though :) . What you might gain in comfort on a more modern horn you'll probably (depending on what sound you like) lose in sound. SBA altos are great horns and I'm sure you won't have a problem selling it, but think twice and play it along side whatever you're planning on buying. Good luck in your search!

[JL]

I'll second Saxydude. You'll probably regret it later if you sell that horn. The keywork on a modern horn is not really any better, just a bit different. Plus, as saxydude points out, the standard for modern keywork was set by the SBA and the MK VI. Just as an aside, IMO the emphasis on keywork is misplaced. You can adjsut to keywork. Tone is everything.

[hodges1]

my own opinion is that if you have an sba, don't sell it. you will really wish you hadn't. i feel these are the very best horns that were ever made, though many like the mark vi's as the best. you can go out and get a brand new 82z, or whatever, but you will never replace the rich tone quality and sound that you enjoy now. if you go to a really good tech person they can work with the action to improve it a little. it is not worth selling. i made the mistake a while back of selling a selmer because i was low on funds for a few months thinking that a few months later i would turn around and buy another selmer. when i turned around a few months later, the prices on selmers were outrageous and it has been a struggle to find a replacement that i can be happy with. now i am waiting longer to save up for the replacement horn that i really want. in the meantime i have to be content with a yamaha 23 stencil. a 82z may have sleek action and all, but you will never replace the beauty and timbre of a sba with it. sbas are rare and i would give my arm and leg to own one. you are very lucky to own one and it is worth far more than you want to even ask for it. as far as the action, you have enough talent to compensate for any differences in action that you feel are different between this and a more modern horn. this is like comparing a stradivarius to something less. i see the new reference 54 horns, and all the new modern horns on the market and they are just awesome, but you can never replace an original. the original is always going to have an edge over any re-issue in value.

[Razzy]

I agree with Hodges. If I had an SBA, I'd definitely hang onto that horn, if I decided to purchase a modern horn too. It's the perfect combination of the wonderful action of the BA (I LOVE the feel of the BA, but a lot of people don't) and the sound and intonation of the VI. It's also the most characteristic of the old Selmer horns I think, has more personality than anything newer. Of course, your horn could be an exception, but every SBA I've played has been like a dream. If you feel your horn is exceptional, you should probably stick with it. I think tone and intonation are paramount; if a horn has superb tone, and you can play it in tune, then work with it! The only thing is that the SBA tends to have a darker sound; if I had one I'd probably install some noyeks.