"Adolphe Sax" models (Selmer)

[silver-sax]

Can anybody inform me how much "Adolphe Sax" models (Selmer) is worth ? :roll:

Thanks

[AMASAX]

not exactly sure what you mean here...

* IF the horn is one of the first 750 or so that Selmer stamped their PARIS logo on(not to be confused by American stencils) before coming out with the Modele 22 in 1922, you probably have a collector's item...nothing a player of today would wanna use, but a nice display item, tho.

* price could be all over the map, depending upon condition, finish(lacquer, plated - silver/gold/nickel, so is hard to know without pics or detailed examination.

* have seen 2 or 3 on ebay over the last few yrs, don't remember pricing...


take a look on the bell and see if it has the scripted 'Henri Selmer, Paris' stuff on it and report back here...plus, grab a serial and post details of condition, etc.

[singlereed]

I agree, of interest mainly to collectors, but unlikely to attract a premium price, I would think $1000-1500 maximum, assuming good original condition, but then I am not a collector! Would also depend on what you've got - if it were something unusual like a curved soprano or a bass then it might generate more interest than if it were and alto or tenor.

[saxtek]

The Adolphe Sax saxophones that were made at Selmer came after the Modele 22 and Modele 26.

The earliest ones incorporated leftover Adolphe Sax (Junior) parts, such as keyguards. After a few years the Adolphe Sax instruments were increasingly similar to the Selmers that were being produced at the same time in the same factory. Best estimate is that Selmer/Sax saxes were made from 1929 to 1935.

The later Selmer/Sax instruments had simpler keyguards than their Selmer counterparts (sometimes none at all on side F#). The Adolphe Sax octave mechanism during the years when the Cigar Cutter octave mechanism was being used on Selmers still resembled the Modele 22 octave mechanism.

Prices quoted in this thread are probably in the ballpark. I have three of these Sax/Selmer horns - an alto, a tenor, and a baritone. All three are excellent playing, essentially modern horns. I've been limited in the choice of mouthpieces that work well for me on the baritone. It requires a large chamber "old style" mouthpiece, but I can get a modern sound on it using a 1950s Meyer. Tha alto plays like a "Super" (not bad at all), and the tenor is one of my all time favorite saxophones. I usually use a Link on it.

[km]

I have recently acquired an "adolphe sax" silver baritone - serial number 331: engraved "rue myrnha, paris"

the bell tone holes & the crook are both reversed - the tone holes are on the left, not the right, and the crook goes in the opposite direction to more modern crooks

were they all like this? any comments on the unusual lay-out

it does sound wonderful - but it is a little awkward to play with the key-guards against the outside of my left thigh!!!

km

[km]

for "left thigh" read "right thigh"

KM

[saxtek]

I have a baritone like the one mentioned above. The upper "loop" on the Adolphe Sax baritone that goes the "wrong" way is common on many early baritone saxes. The early Selmer baritones were made that way, and the very early Conns were also. Of course, the very first baritones made in the 1800s by Adolphe Sax himself were all made this way.

The left side bell keys are common on lots of saxes well into the 1930s.

The most interesting thing about the Sax/Selmer baritones (and some early Selmers too) is the lack of a side Bb tone hole. The side Bb touchpiece opens the Bb tone hole in the left hand row of toneholes (top stack).

The Sax/Selmer baritones play great, with a very modern sound if you try the right mouthpiece. I've had the best luck with a vintage hard rubber link or a vintage Meyer - lots of power and pretty good intonation.

[km]

thanks - I hadn't noticed the lack of Bb tone hole - but you're absolutely correct

I have a selmer rubber mouthpiece which came with the horn: the markings are "Selmer C 5 80 D"

the "C" is in larger script and written around the "5 80"

the "D" is below the "Selmer"

I have no idea how old it is - it looks pretty worn but it plays fine, to my ear: I think I will stay with it for a while before experimenting with others - any suggestions for sources of the kinds of mouthpieces you mentioned?

km

[saxtek]

Old Meyers and Links are getting expensive. Just try everything you can find that is in your price range and check the intonation with a tuner. The neck is rather short, so something with a big chamber will allow you to push the mouthpiece on farther. The palm keys are a little flat and the Meyer seemed to help, but I'm sure other mouthpieces will do the same.

[Arlequin]

ah...nostalgy...
my first alto was a 1900th year Adolphe Sax... i sold it for 350$,`cause i urgently needed a new sax... the thing about those saxes is that their sound is UNREAL! their sound is somehow hallucinating... the only (big) problem is technical part of the sax-old and uncomfortable...

i`ll try to find out who`s playing on that sax now and buy it for myself again :) just to remember the first steps and to understand what is the nice sound of saxohone...