[craisycraze]

Im an intermediate alto sax player and i really want to get the Reference 54. I have not yet decided whether to get a vintage or lacquer finish. Im gonna order soon on the Prowinds website. The sax comes with a great selmer super session mp and i think it's a great deal.
But i've heard recently that vintage saxes have this "certain" sound to it and that the new ones are never as good as them...
Anyways, should i get a Selmer Reference? considering all the factors. how does it compared with vintage and other new saxes such as yanigasawa and kelswerth??

 

[CountSpatula]

Go find a store and try them out. They're good saxophones, very resonant and dark. Good intonation and altissimo sings! But of course it's all very subjective...

 

[Martinman]

Make sure the horn comes with the mouthpiece they say it does...

Also, I agree, try stuff out if at all possible.

 

[DXCamp]

When the opportunity presents itself then by all means go modern and get a new Ref 54. It just might be among the best buys you could ever make.

 

[Dave Dolson]

I have a Ref 54 alto - terrific horn. A friend of mine who is a new player bought one and he loves his.

I own modern and vintage altos and I choose the Ref 54 for gigging now. As to dark or bright, I agree those terms are subjective. I think the Ref 54 is fairly dark in tone yet a friend of mine played it and thought it was bright.

I also think the Ref 54 series is as consistent in sound as I've heard out of any model. DAVE

 

[Hurling Frootmig]

There's no substitute to trying it out. If you connect with a horn then buy it.

 

[DXCamp]

I own a Selmer Paris SA80 II alto sax and not long ago had the chance to play along side a proud owner of a 2006 Ref 54 tenor sax. He had the "antique" finish but got a good deal. When the sounds of both Selmer Paris horns blended, I couldn't help but be reminded of a George Harrison tune called "Savoy Truffle," recorded by a band Harrison was in called the Beatles. Yeah, it had that sound. Would that be a vintage enough sound for ya'?

 

[AMASAX]

be sure you try out multiple necks. I have a friend(!) who picked up a Ref alto a while back and the neck was a real dog; deadened up the sound quite a bit.
I loaned him a Series II neck which really fixed things up, and he now has a nice alto. Based on his experience, I'd recommend you also try a Series II neck on the Ref during your trial and see what you end up with.