[tillburkert]

Hi,

I bought my Reference 54 alto only about six weeks ago and have played it maybe 20 hours since then. Now the lacquer on the octave key starts to deteriorate . I consider my thumb to be pretty normal, and the octave key of my Yamaha that I sold after 3.5 years looked just perfect. Does anyone have similar experiences with a dark-lacquered Selmer?

Best, Till

 

[tjontheroad]

Either you're sweating battery acid or you should look into the horn's warrantee. Are there any other places you're loosing lacquer?

 

[tillburkert]

No, only on the octave key. I wouldn't have bothered if this had happened after five years, but a couple of weeks is kind of fast. Maybe I can sell it as a vintage horn in a couple of weeks...

Till

 

[joelsp]

al least one one will ever see the octave key while you are playing!

 

[bruce bailey]

I would contact them in Elkhart and send a photo of the key. They should send you a new key to have your tech install. That way you won't be without the horn for an extended time.

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

I agree. Several top name instrument makers are recently being far too scruffy with their plating and lacquering.

 

[tillburkert]

al least one one will ever see the octave key while you are playing!

Actually, I was more worried about the rest of the horn than the look of the octave key. An instrument which is that expensive shouldn't loose lacquer after only 20 hours of playing, not even at the spot that has most contact with my fingers. I'm no sure if changing the octave key is enough, maybe the lacquer on the whole horn is bad???

Till

 

[Seasax]

jeez,
my 50 year old Selmer still has better condition (%) lacquer than my 275 which i had for 3 years!
maybe give it another 2 weeks and play it heavily, see if the lacquer in other places is bad, if so, act on the warranty.

good luck

 

[DaveKessler]

Hi,

I bought my Reference 54 alto only about six weeks ago and have played it maybe 20 hours since then. Now the lacquer on the octave key starts to deteriorate . I consider my thumb to be pretty normal, and the octave key of my Yamaha that I sold after 3.5 years looked just perfect. Does anyone have similar experiences with a dark-lacquered Selmer?

Best, Till

You should contact the dealer that you bought it from.

 

[Saxaholic]

Anyone seen a bare brass Reference 54 alto yet.....?

Saxaholic

 

[Morry]

Anyone seen a bare brass Reference 54 alto yet.....?

Saxaholic

At this rate, Till will have one in a couple of months.

 

[tillburkert]

At this rate, Till will have one in a couple of months.

Working on it. Noticed today that the palm keys started loosing lacquer, and there're some other spots as well.... Go in contact with my dealer, but he's on vacation. Let's see what Selmer says when he's back.

 

[Sigmund451]

I have a couple of years on mine. The only lacquer wear is on the clothes guard and the screws that hold it on. Keys are as good as new...or close anyway. Maybe they mixed up watercolors instead

 

[tillburkert]

I talked to the dealer, according to him Selmer's lacquer is known to be bad. Selmer's german distributor offers a new octave key. They think it's kind of fast that the lacquer falls off but still blame my fingers. Two local dealers that have experience with Selmer told me more or less the same. Selmer's lacquer is, e.g., very different from Yamaha's which seems to be the "best". Also, it seems that the lacquer is no covered by warranty. One of the local dealers recommended to get in touch with Selmer in Paris, he said that they use to be ambitious about satisfying their clients. I'll probably start with the german distributor. If they don't offer me anything better I guess I'll have to go with the octave key, just to see if that detoriates at the same pace or not. If not, that would proof that the lacquer on my horn was bad.

Till

 

[DaveKessler]

I talked to the dealer, according to him Selmer's lacquer is known to be bad. Selmer's german distributor offers a new octave key. They think it's kind of fast that the lacquer falls off but still blame my fingers. Two local dealers that have experience with Selmer told me more or less the same. Selmer's lacquer is, e.g., very different from Yamaha's which seems to be the "best". Also, it seems that the lacquer is no covered by warranty. One of the local dealers recommended to get in touch with Selmer in Paris, he said that they use to be ambitious about satisfying their clients. I'll probably start with the german distributor. If they don't offer me anything better I guess I'll have to go with the octave key, just to see if that detoriates at the same pace or not. If not, that would proof that the lacquer on my horn was bad.

Till

Till,

If you email me a picture of this lacquer, serial number & a copy of your purchase receipt, I will forward your information to Selmer Paris for you. No promises obviously but you should not be seeing lacquer wear. Your dealer needs to take care of this because it IS a defect.

You can email that directly to me at [email protected]

Dave

 

[saintsday]

Till,

If you email me a picture of this lacquer, serial number & a copy of your purchase receipt, I will forward your information to Selmer Paris for you. No promises obviously but you should not be seeing lacquer wear. Your dealer needs to take care of this because it IS a defect.

You can email that directly to me at [email protected]

Dave

Dave, with this post you just went to the top of my list if I ever buy another new horn. Well done.

 

[DaveKessler]

Dave, with this post you just went to the top of my list if I ever buy another new horn. Well done.

Thanks for the compliment. I just cant stand how these dealers are taking care (rather not) of their paying customer. This is obviously a problem that should have been taken care of by the dealer immeidately.

I had a customer here in the USA who had a Reference 54 lacquered tenor that after a year and a half, was getting some serious acid bleed. Even though the horn was out of warranty, Selmer (USA) REPLACED his horn no questions asked.

Granted, that was Selmer USA, but considering that the horn is virtually a new horn, this is something that I am 99% sure Selmer Paris will take care of.

 

[semipro]

Yeah and the Lacquer is covered according to the warrantee card against defects. I would say six wks. sounds like a defect.

 

[tillburkert]

Good news! The german distributor called me yesterday morning to let me know that Selmer Paris will re-lacquer my horn! Given the fact that the person responsible at Selmer came back from vacation yesterday the decision was taken quickly. It seemed that Selmer didn't have any doubts after they looked at the pictures that I'd sent. Now I'll be without my horn for a couple of weeks, but I'm happy that I haven't given up after the first reply from the german distributor (they said it's my sweat and offered a 1% percent reduction).
I'm grateful to Dave Kessler who volunteered to forward my claim to one of his contacts at Selmer (note that Dave didn't earn a cent, as opposed to the shop where I bought the horn...).

Till

 

[semipro]

(they said it's my sweat and offered a 1% percent reduction).

Till

Did this reply come from Selmer Paris or someone in the distribution chain?