[rsclosson]

I just got a Selmer USA Tenor on trial. (S.N. 823xxx) I have been playing it side by side with my Aristocreat Big B. Despite everything I have read on the Forum, I like the Selmer better. Fatter, more complex all the way up to the palm keys. My wife, listening from another room, consistantly liked the sound of the Selmer better than the Buescher. Her words: "More powerful and richer sounding."

Am I nuts?

 

[danarsenault]

Probably, but that is beside the point. How leaky are each of the horns in question? Setup can make all the difference.

 

[martysax]

Those have got to be the scariest two starting avatars I have ever seen!







Seriously, I got a new $85 Ebay horn to sound pretty good out of the box. I'm scared to take it on a gig though. Remember what happened to Cinderella's coach?

 

[rsclosson]

Probably, but that is beside the point. How leaky are each of the horns in question? Setup can make all the difference.

Good point! The Buescher is actually set up better than the Selmer USA. My tech had gone thru the Big B a few months ago and replaced some pads and gave it a thorough set up and regulation. (And she is excellent.) I haven't had a chance to have her go thru the Selmer yet. Even at that I like the Selmer better.

 

[rsclosson]

Those have got to be the scariest two starting avatars I have ever seen!

Why do I ALWAYS get that reaction to my baby picture?

 

[Randall]

Those have got to be the scariest two starting avatars I have ever seen!

Marty man, make it three! And I ain't talkin' about mine! :twisted:

 

[saxmanglen]

You have the Selmer USA Omega 164. It truly was an attempt of Selmer USA to build a pro quality horn. They are good horns. I wish I didn't sell mine.

 

[martysax]

Marty man, make it three! And I ain't talkin' about mine! :twisted:

I've got a Japanese expression I could use for your picture, but I would be banned from most internet activity including this forum. I once uttered it to a Japanese Trumpet player on stage. It dropped him to his knees. He later told me that the dirtiest of men in the nastiest of places wouldn't say what I had just said. I learned it from a Japanese friend while at Brandeis. It seemed appropriate there at the time.

 

[nobhead1]

I've got a Japanese expression I could use for your picture, but I would be banned from most internet activity including this forum. I once uttered it to a Japanese Trumpet player on stage. It dropped him to his knees. He later told me that the dirtiest of men in the nastiest of places wouldn't say what I had just said. I learned it from a Japanese friend while at Brandeis. It seemed appropriate there at the time.

Marty, go on tell me, I'll buy it off you - name your price

 

[Grumps]

Am I nuts?

If it was an alto maybe...

 

[rsclosson]

If it was an alto maybe...

Wow! Now I know I am in trouble. I had the same situation last year with a 140 alto compared to an Omega. (825xx) The Selmer USA won that one too!

 

[Grumps]

Oh, the Omega is in a class by itself. Very sought after horns. But hey, I played a Signet alto for decades (but that was based on a Buescher!).

 

[Randall]

Marty, I will go ahead and spoil it for everyone. The Japanese word you want to use to describe my avatar is urayamshii, or in English....."envy".

 

[Enviroguy]

I just got a Selmer USA Tenor on trial. (S.N. 823xxx) I have been playing it side by side with my Aristocreat Big B. Despite everything I have read on the Forum, I like the Selmer better. Fatter, more complex all the way up to the palm keys. My wife, listening from another room, consistantly liked the sound of the Selmer better than the Buescher. Her words: "More powerful and richer sounding."

Am I nuts?

Sometimes you get lucky and get a horn that plays better than it is supposed too. Long ago I worked in a pressed hard-board factory testing board strength. I noticed that every once in a great while, everything would come together and a few boards would be produced that almost had the strength of aluminum. Other days, the boards had the strength of toilet paper. I could never predict which way it would go.

I figure saxophones are not that different. I'm sure that every once in a great while, a Selmer USA horn is made that can rival the tone, response and possibly even the durability of a Mark VI. And you may have accidentally found that one horn.

Also, the Selmer USA horn is a more modern design and may sound livelier than the Buescher. It may take a different mouthpiece to liven the Buescher up. But it can be done.

 

[ShedShark]

I feel the same way, I just got a Selmer USA 82xxxx on trial today and love it. I specifically sought it out because I happened upon an 82xxxx alto a few weeks ago for 100$ (yes, one hundred dollars) in playable condition. I handed to a few players who're much more expensive and they couldn't get over how well it played and still have Selmer USA on it. I've done my homework over the past few weeks and it turns out that these horns are *killin* and overlooked by people in general.

 

[ShedShark]

One other thing, it's the "early omegas" that are good (162 -alto, 164 - tenor) and *not* every Omega. If you find one with the serial that starts in the 'millions stay away, those are poop from what I've heard. In fact, check out this link, it goes into detail about it:

http://www.saxmaniax.com/snsax.htm#Selmer(USA)

Check out what it says about the defining characteristics...

wait, what am I doing? uhm these horns bite stay away.. so I can buy them all. But seriously, I'm going to be buying another alto of the same batch as well as another tenor both for backup horns. You can find them at different price ranges. pmwoodwinds has two from 1500 to 2100. One has a very solid endorsement with the guy saying it's one of the best blowing usa's he's run across. I've seen them at saxquest, milesaheadmusic (that's where I got mine from) and ebay.

 

[stevesklar]

The Selmer USA horns were on my short list when I was looking for a new tenor. The short list included SBA, mk VI, mk VII, early SA80s, and the early USA model .....

hey .. what can i say .. the Selmers ended up on top (okay, the list also included Yamaha 61, early 62, early 875, Yani 880)

but $$-wise the SBA, VI, 875s were knocked out.

My super short list was early 62, mk VII, USA and early SA80

I was attempting to get a USA model until i came across a fantastic deal on a mk VII. The uSA models are very nice sounding, though some of the visual workmanship was a bit visually cheaper. but as long as it holds up and play great who cares.

http://www.saxmaniax.com/Gallery/SelmerVIITenor.htm

The VII table keys are replaceable though - with a little work. The mk VI AND the USA table keys are a fit for the VII, and can replace their own respectibly too for spare parts.

 

[wersax]

If the Selmer USA works better for you then forget the Buescher; every horn's different IMO. And the Selmer USA/Omega horns, as well as the MK VII's, are a good deal if you can find a player.

 

[stevesklar]

....... I handed to a few players who're much more expensive .....

Matt - do you mean more experienced ?? or they charge more than you ?

 

[ShedShark]

Meaning, they won't talk to me unless I pay them. In fact, occasionally I get an invoice in the mail for 20$-50$ with the 'item' listed as "Name Dropping". I check into it and find out that they heard I said their names. One guys phone number is a 1-900 and his biz card says "operators are standing by". It's a weird scene here.



[side note - 'experienced']