[skeller047]

I currently play a Selmer SBA from 1951, and I love this horn. But I need a backup, as I want to have some work done on the it, and with my new 10M Fan Alto Madness piece, I don't want to be without an alto for a couple months. I am considering a Yanagisawa, a Selmer of some kind (Series II ?) or maybe a Yamaha. Budget $3K. So probabably used.

I'd like to hear from folks who have actually played a SBA alto, I have played this horn since 1975 and it will probably remain my main squeeze, but I'm willing to try a different flavor for expressive reasons.

So you can understand where I'm coming from, here is a clip of me on the SBA, 10M Fan Alto Madness mouthpiece, and an old Rico V-3 1/2 reed. (Well, it's a new reed, but from a box I bought in 1983.)

https://soundcloud.com/skeller047%2Fskylark
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[HeavyWeather77]

I've never owned or used a Balanced/Super Balanced alto as my main horn, but I've played several (and thought they were very nice). In your budget, I think a good used Series II would probably be very easy for switching back and forth. Series IIs can be as good as any Selmer ever made, in my opinion.

Alternatively, a Yanagisawa AW01 would be great. Those are killer horns.

 

[skeller047]

Thanks - that matches my research findings.


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[milandro]

You can buy plenty of horns within that budget ( a rather substantial budget, especially for a back up horn) and these days cash brings you way further than it did before.

You best bang for the buck will be a Yanagisawa, they are even new, cheaper than Selmers.

An older model A5, A6, A800, would deliver great quality for less money.

SA 80 II ( and I) are very good but tend to be difficult to acquire in some places , in Europe they are generally more easily available than in the US.

Yamahas are great horns too . You could go “ vintage” and find a good 61 or a later 62.

There are many “ outsiders "which can be equally interesting and priced way cheaper than your budget allows . B&S, Keilwerth, Buffet, Rampone & Cazzani, .... the list is very long if you have any available try them

 

[rzzzzz]

you know what you want and you got the bread. QED. (personally, i'd track down a good deal (ie. bargain price for something in good condition) on a Buescher or maybe a Martin. replacing one great vintage with another. yeah, the pinkie cluster, but that ain't no big thing for a month or two.

 

[bruce bailey]

Don't overlook the Mark VII as some are quite good and not as expensive.

 

[Reet McVouty]

I've played a couple SBA altos and they were very nice. Truly the first modern horn made. I've never played a Yanagisawa so I have no opinion except to say everyone says they are great horns. I do play a YAS-62II and I love it. Best alto I've ever owned, and I've had one of every major brand over the years. Anyway, I mention the 62 because you can buy a brand new one with your 3K budget.

By the way, you sound great on your SBA. Happy horn hunting!

 

[soybean]

I would get a Serie II before the Yanagisawa because the sound is more like your SBA.

 

[zorroperro]

Wow, nice playing there. Congratulations.

I would go for a Series II because I love those horns but, I do not sense your horn too resistant. Maybe I am wrong. And Series II is a horn with quite a resistance feeling as you play. If you want a more free blowing alternative, the Series III might be good to give it a try.

I currently play a Selmer SBA from 1951, and I love this horn. But I need a backup, as I want to have some work done on the it, and with my new 10M Fan Alto Madness piece, I don't want to be without an alto for a couple months. I am considering a Yanagisawa, a Selmer of some kind (Series II ?) or maybe a Yamaha. Budget $3K. So probabably used.

I'd like to hear from folks who have actually played a SBA alto, I have played this horn since 1975 and it will probably remain my main squeeze, but I'm willing to try a different flavor for expressive reasons.

So you can understand where I'm coming from, here is a clip of me on the SBA, 10M Fan Alto Madness mouthpiece, and an old Rico V-3 1/2 reed. (Well, it's a new reed, but from a box I bought in 1983.)

https://soundcloud.com/skeller047%2Fskylark
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[skeller047]

Wow, nice playing there. Congratulations.

I would go for a Series II because I love those horns but, I do not sense your horn too resistant. Maybe I am wrong. And Series II is a horn with quite a resistance feeling as you play. If you want a more free blowing alternative, the Series III might be good to give it a try.

Thanks! Compared to the Mark VI I had before, the SBA is definitely a little freer, and "sings". It is not as free blowing as my tenor though.

So you are saying the Series III is more free blowing, and brighter than a II?

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[skeller047]

Don't overlook the Mark VII as some are quite good and not as expensive.

Thanks for the suggestion. Others have said this too I'll add this to the possibilities list.

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[skeller047]

I've played a couple SBA altos and they were very nice. Truly the first modern horn made. I've never played a Yanagisawa so I have no opinion except to say everyone says they are great horns. I do play a YAS-62II and I love it. Best alto I've ever owned, and I've had one of every major brand over the years. Anyway, I mention the 62 because you can buy a brand new one with your 3K budget.

By the way, you sound great on your SBA. Happy horn hunting!

Thanks, the Yamaha 62 is definitely on my list.

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[10mfan]

Gorgeous tone!
I like the Selmer Series ll altos. Can’t go wrong there.

 

[JayeLID]

Thanks - that matches my research findings.

So, if I may ask, your intention (or a possible option is probably a better way to put it) is to buy one without having playtested the model first ? Or are these suggestions you are soliciting with the intention of creating a shortlist of horns you are gonna go out and try to playtest ?

 

[skeller047]

So, if I may ask, your intention (or a possible option is probably a better way to put it) is to buy one without having playtested the model first ? Or are these suggestions you are soliciting with the intention of creating a shortlist of horns you are gonna go out and try to playtest ?

I would want to play test first. Just kinda seeing where everyone's head is on this issue. Where I live, there aren't a lot of stores around, and in these times it's difficult at best. I would be willing to buy online with a return policy, but that's difficult with a used instrument.

To be honest - I'm of two minds. I've ALWAYS played Selmer horns, except for soprano, and part of me wants to stay in the same playground. BUT, part of me wants to try something different too... it's a dilemma.

A few years ago, I took a chance with a Phil Barone tenor, which ended up being a good backup instrument, and in some ways, better than my Mark VI. But I still feel more comfortable with the VI. I like the Yanagisawa soprano that I have, but I only just like it. I also have a Viking soprano that I like playing better, but it's obviously not as well made as the Yani. My SBA alto speaks to me, and I am looking for a second horn to create a unique voice, but still in the same section.

I guess I'm a waffle....

Part of my reasoning (well, magical thinking really) behind putting this post up in the first place is that I kinda expect the universe to play its role, and an answer will become clear. I'm not in a rush. That's what happened when I got the SBA in the first place (that's another story altogether), and I've had similar experiences with other instruments, good and bad, so I'm willing to wait for an answer. But I'm certainly asking the question ....

 

[skeller047]

Gorgeous tone!
I like the Selmer Series ll altos. Can't go wrong there.

Thanks Mark. It's all your fault.

Lot's of people say the same about the Serries II, so I'm looking hard at them.

 

[J-Moen]

Sadly, no SBA experience here and I know you said you preferred that. But seeing that you played a Barone Tenor and Viking soprano, I feel like you would be doing yourself a disservice to not try out the Eastman horns - specifically the Rue St Georges and 52nd Street model altos - as they are phenomenally built horns that would probably surprise you and can be had well under your budget used.

 

[zorroperro]

Absolutely, the III is more free blowing. But it is very bright IMO. So try it first, because it can be too bright for some standards. Also what is very popular is to have II with a III neck... But the Series II once you are into blowing it hard delivers great sound.

Thanks! Compared to the Mark VI I had before, the SBA is definitely a little freer, and "sings". It is not as free blowing as my tenor though.

So you are saying the Series III is more free blowing, and brighter than a II?

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[zorroperro]

Agreed, gorgeous tone is that... and the Series II is IMHO the very best.

Gorgeous tone!
I like the Selmer Series ll altos. Can't go wrong there.

 

[andre251]

It will of course be crazy hard to have a backup to an SBA that is anything like that horn! I have owned an SBA and a VI alto for vintage Selmers so I have a pretty good idea what their thing is.i would argue it is even harder to backup an SBA because more modern horns are closer to a VI in resistance and pitch.
So what I would recommend would be the Yanagisawa route, but particularly the post to body construction horns. They will be closer in weight and resistance so they will “blow” more similar. I see people suggesting Series II and I honestly feel like that would be a *huge* change in how it feels to play in order to stay within the Selmer sound. The only other famous horn that I can see taking more work to change is something like a Keilwerth SX-90R!
Changing from an SBA you are going to have a sound change either way, so you might as well attempt to make it more comfortable and easy to change horns.
So back to Yani, I do like the new WO1 and recommend it to a lot of people. That might be a good route for you and in your price range, sometimes even buying new and definitely used. But I am thinking more of what would be closer in weight and closer in sound will be to get a 800 or 900 series horns. The 880 is quite popular as well as the 990. This is sort of where they had legitimate pro models and are not in the 991 realm yet. Then the 880 has the post to body 800 and the 990 had the post to body 900. 900u is moving to the 991 realm.
With those models you get the more vintage feel and sound, the lighter horns, and the post to body construction. I honestly think these will be the least amount of work to transition horns if you ever need to use your backup horn.
For me, the nightmare is having to switch horns mid gig or mid tour and having to relearn how to play everything to get it just right.
Lastly, these will definitely be in your price range and should be quite reliable with Yanagisawa’s famous build quality.
Just my thoughts.