USA selmer alto and altissimo??

[mattdzero]

Has anyone had any problems popping their altissimos out on one of these horns? Are they considered to be a professional horn?

Matt

[hodges1]

Matt,

I have not had any problem. I have a 100, which is one of their dis-continued pro horns. Their 200 series are their intermediates and their 300 series are their student levels, while their 240 and 250 series are what they call their current level pro or advanced level pro horns, which are made in the far east. The 100 and 110's were made in the USA, and in my opinion were the best they ever made. My 100 plays every bit the part of a $2,000 horn and does everything a pro horn is suppose to do. I have absolutely no problems getting the altissimo notes out and they sound better than with my Yamaha 62.
Selmers upper number series, ie, 500, 600, 700, 800, LTD, are all far east models and not as good as their predecessors in my opinion. Selmer USA has been outsourcing for about a year or two now. They look just like the $200 horns I see on ebay that are all the same with dozens of different names on them that all look like Selmer Paris copies.

[mattdzero]

Thanks for the info!!

I still don't have an alto but would love to get one!! I have a super action 80 tenor!

[davevillajr]

Watch ebay, as100's come up every now and then for great low bid "prices".

I really love my horn and can't wait for it to come back from my tech.(replacing a split high E pad)

I've owned mine since new(1993) and have enjoyed every minute of playing it. Altissimo notes have not been a problem, the problem lies in lack of practice on my part.

dv

[edhara]

I used to own a Selmer USA a loooooong time ago (must have been around the summer of 1986 - have no idea what model it was). I seriously cut my semi-pro teeth on that horn HARD. I NEVER had a problem with altissimos and man, I played that thing till half the laquer was gone. As a matter of fact, I probably had better control on my altissimos on that than just about any other horn I've owned since.

It's a shame, though: I eventually sold it to some high school kid going into college. The repairman he took it to have it checked out told him it was a Selmer that was made in the 60's (presumably thinking it was a Mark VI). I tried telling him otherwise and that I bought that thing brank spanking new and it even said "USA" on the side, but I think he was too enamored with the concept of getting a vintage Selmer for $1,000. I feel really sorry for that guy.