Shall I or not: Selmer Alto series III

[aneider]

Help,

I´m just playing since four weeks. But I am so enthusiastic about Saxlearning, that I want to step up from my Keilwerth ST90IV to a Selmer III Alto. My dealer says, if I am really convinced to get into it, I have to choose a Selmer III.
What do you think?
Is there anybody in this forum who started with a Selmer III Alto?

Andreas

[Dave Dolson]

aneider: Asking a question like that (Selmer III?) is like asking someone to advise you about a BMW vs. a Mercedes (or other hi-end car). They are all nice and we all have our personal preferences for one brand or another.

A new Selmer III would probably be good, as would a new Yanagisawa A991/2, a new Yamaha Custom Z, a JK top-end model, or even a nice vintage saxophone.

I have both new and vintage in altos, and while my A992 is great, I prefer my early '20's Buescher TT. I once owned a silver Serie III soprano that was good, but my new Yana S992 is better (but that is but one example and may not be indicative of a whole line).

If you are set on a new Serie III alto, go for it, if you can afford it. Selmers have a reputation for NOT being so good right out of the box (mine wasn't good at first) and they may need some tweaking before they play well, but that doesn't mean they won't work for you. Good luck! DAVE

[retread]

Different brand of saxophones play differently. Individual saxes of the same brand may play differently. The best way to choose a sax is to play a number of them, then buy the one you like best.

Four weeks experience is not enough to know what sax you will like best as your skills increase. I suggest you wait a couple of years before buying the sax you will play for many, many years.
You will be more able to make a wise choice.

[DaveKessler]

If you are absolutely set on wanting a Selmer... then wait a few more months. Selmer is releasing the Selmer Referrence Alto that so far, the indications I have seen show it coming in only slightly more then a Series III and it will most likely be a better horn.

Plus, the Dollar is starting to clime back out of its slump. This means that if it continues to gain, a few months from now, you could save a couple hundred dollars possibly then buying right now.

personal call. You wont be disappointed with the Series III but you wont be disappointed with ANY of the Big 4's top pro models either.

[aneider]

Hi everybody,

today I got my first professional sax, the Selmer Alto III. I gave my Keilwerth ST90IV back and am now proud to learn with this famous and really enjoyable, lyrical easy to handle Selmer sax.
Are there others here in this Forum who have begun with a Selmer III?

Andreas

[MySaxophone]

how much will a selmer iii cost?

[aneider]

My Selmer costed me 2600 Euro, bought in Germany, without engraving, mouthpiece and case.

[MySaxophone]

quiet good one.I think I will try to purchase one when I start to earn money. could u tell me which mouthpiece do u use?i am a beginner 2.

[Lambik]

I don't know myself, actually, but I asked around (what sax I should get):

Sax & Clari teacher: Selmer Alto 80 II, and anything but a Serie III
Another sax & clari teacher: The upcoming Selmer, the 80 II, but a huge "NO" on Serie III
The first chair of my brass & woodwinds band: 80 II
The conductor (former clari, sax, oboe, bassoon & flute teacher): Yet again no III

The salesman himself said also not to buy a Serie III (although they cost more, ànd give him a bigger income) as their mechanics aren't that good. (and he gave me some technical details which were as comprehensable as a Scotsman in the morning to me)

So, I got myself the Serie II 80 yesterday, it was hell cheap (2378 €, case, mouthpiece, straps, ... included) and so far I'm adapting myself to it (the keywork is a bit different from a Jupiter (the F# alt. key especially)), but I'm a content man. Hope this helped anyway.

(I bought it in Ronse (or Renaix) on the Belgian language boundary, and I'm using the Selmer C** and C* mouthpieces, with a Van Doren 2 1/2 & 3 trad. reeds; I am just a amateur-schoolboy, so don't take this too serious)

[Cat]

I have a similar story, Lambic. I have played for a year and went to one of the most respected horn dealers around. I played a bunch of horns and was set on a Selmer. The salesman knew I would dish out the money for a Serie III but he told me to go with the II. He said I would get just as much speed and tome out of it as the III but save some cash. And so I did. I love the II. My playing has improved and the tone is beautiful.
Cat

[orions_belt27]

Andreas,

I would advice you to not pass on the Yamahas as well. If you intend to get the Selmer series III, you'd definitely have enough budget for a Yamaha. Give them a try~ especially the new alto YAS 82Z - which i'm currently using and absolutely in love with.

The Yamahas are noted for their consistency and great intonation. i doubt you'll go wrong with any of these~ but the choice is yours :) i'd advise you to try as many great horns as possible :) good luck with the new horn :D

ben

[Paul Coats]

While the Series III plays very well (and I played a Selmer show display model when they were first introduced, before many were actually sold here in the US) many report that the C# mechanism is trouble prone, and difficult to keep in adjustment. I felt this was a feature that fixed a problem that really wasn't. I notice this feature is missing from the Series III tenor.

My choice of altos in the current Selmer line is the SA80 Series II. The top line Keilwerths are excellent.

I really like the Yanagisawa 991, too, it has the lightest, fastest keywork (you can't play fast and precisely with stiff springs) and the double arms on the low notes make them stay in adjustment longer. I have liked every Yanagisawa I have played.

[Gordon (NZ)]

The more recent production of the Series III has polymer in the severely rubbing linkage to the extra key, along with unnecessarily copious amounts of grease. This polymer means that the mechanism will be considerably more reliable. I pointed out the misguidedness of the previously-used, poorly-glued natural cork in this linkage a couple of years ago in this forum.

Perhaps someone from Selmer does read this forum. A few other items on my list have received some attention also. However there is some way to go yet. How about stainless steel resonators and springs for a start. The increase in cost would be barely detectable.