Keilwerth vs Selmer

[Tears June]

1) Which Keilwerth tenor (modern horn) is consider the same level with SELMER 36 & 54?

2) Which Keilwerth tenor has dark & rich sound?

3) Many people said Keilwerth's keywork is different with normal horn, not comfortable. Is it?


:cry:

[Riff]

Selmer now makes 4 top line tenors. The SA80II, the Series III, and the Reference 36 & 54.

1. Keilwerth makes only one top line tenor. The SX90. It is available with tone hole rings (SX90R) and comes in a large choice of finish options.

2. All the Keilwerths are considered to sound darker than the Selmers.
Perhaps the biggest difference in sound relates to what many refer to as "compact sound" Vs. "spread sound".
The typical Selmer sound is often referred to as "compact". It seems to have a focus the comes from inside the bore, such that the sound remains within the sax.
The Keilwerth is more "spread". It seems to "spread it's sound" outward into the room.
You really need to play the horns side by side to understand this concept.

3. The Keilwerth keywork is no different from any other sax except that the finger pearls are very large and concave. Your fingers really nestle down inside the pearls and this feels quite different from other saxes. The pearls are also spaced farther apart than most saxes. This gives the illusion that you need big hands to play a Keilwerth but as you get used to the location of the finger pearls that illusion goes away. After playing my SX90R for about a month I found that I liked the layout of the pearls better than other horns. Now, after two years, I wouldn't want to go back to the Selmer layout. It feels too small!

[mostly alto guy]

Keep in mind that the SX90(R) comes in many flavors, including the straight model, which can be had for less than either of the Selmer Reference horns. As an SX90R owner (alto and tenor), I can't imagine buying a Ref when I could have a straight JK for equal dosh.

[Kosma]

The Keilwerth tenor does have a longer reach around the horn than a Selmer. But it also has adjustable palm keys, which makes it easy to custom fit your hand. Well, the left one anyway. My friend with small hands plays the crap out of his sx90 tenor, but I have heard him complain about the right hand reach.

[Ritchie]

The black nickel finish would be the candidate for the darkest sound on a Keilwerth SX90 or SX90R. If you want a darker sound, try to combime it with a copper neck.

[Lenny]

I thought teh gold laquer nickel plate was darker than the black, but ditto on the copper neck - warm and full.
JK's are really a different feel than a Selmer. Both are great, but different - you've got to try them yourself.

[spaddy]

I had an SX90 tenor and the reach on the right hand keys was bigger than I prefferred. In terms of darkness, I had a plain gold one and it was pretty bright with an Otto Link hard rubber. I could never play the overtone series or altissimo on it so I swithched to a Ref 54. It plays easier, for me. It is not as loud as the SX90, but the Ref 54 is the sound that I have in my head, as well the all of the overtone series pops out as does the altissimo (I did have the horn set up and checked a few times by an excellent tech) I believe the SX90 is physically a bigger horn and takes more air. I had been playing alto for the last 20 years so the smaller 54 was better suited to ME. I am sure that others on this list prefer the SX90 and that is great. Thankfully there are choices so all of us can be happy :D

[GaryLee]

I just play tested an SX90R and a series III tenor today. The room I was in was small with hard walls so both horns sounded a bit harsh. I tried the Keilwerth with a Runyon Custom and an old Morgan mouthpiece. The tone was more mellow with the Morgan. The series III was generally brighter than the SX. The Morgan was too loose on the cork to try it with the Selmer.
For me the JK was generally easier to play and responded better than the Selmer especially on the low end. I am more confortable pushing a large volume of air and to not having to blow so hard. I actually liked playing an old very worn SA80 (series I) I tried a while ago better than the III so it could be that this horn was just out of adjustment. Adjustment could also be responsible for D2 on the Selmer being very, very stuffy.
I have long fingers and I much preferred the keywork on the Keilwerth, best palm key setup I have ever played. On the other hand the Selmer had a less flimsy feel than the JK.
As far as intonation goes neither horn was as good as a Yamaha Custom I tried a few months ago. The JK was worse with my large chamber Morgan than it was with the Runyon.
Much as I liked the JK I didn't think either horn was worth $1500+ more than a Yamaha 875. Unfortunately I was too late to get one of the 3 new 875B's they were selling at closeout for $1995 :cry:

[Morry]

Gary,

I'm testing an 875B, a 62II and a SX90R currently. If I don't keep the 875B, you are welcome to it if you want. If I send it back to WWBW, it might be a crap shoot as to who ends up with it.

[Dr G]

Morry, if you sell it to someone for what you paid, they are not getting the same value - unless the warranty is transferrable. Something to consider...

[Morry]

Certainly, that is something to consider, although at $1999, that is 63% below the retail already. You would be hard pressed to find a normally used 875B for that price.