Selmer Saxophones - Models, Players, History (2023)

When it comes to the history of jazz, the saxophone has played a crucial role in many of the most popular styles and movements.

But dig a little deeper and you'll find that one manufacturer in particular - Selmer - is responsible for providing many of the greatest musicians with the instrument of their choice.

In this article, we look at the history of Selmer saxophones and their role in the development of jazz...

Founded in 1885, Henri Selmer Paris has a long history of making quality brass and woodwind instruments, but perhaps its most important contribution to the world of jazz is the legendary Selmer saxophones.

The list of jazz musicians who have favored Selmer saxophones over the years is quite extensive.

From the original greats like Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane tomodern stars like Branford Marsalisand Michael Brecker, it would be nearly impossible to name a list of the greatest jazz albums without encountering a bunch of these horns.

Of course, in the saxophone community, theSelmer Markus VIis the Holy Grail for most players.

Produced for just 20 years, from the mid-50s to the mid-70s, it fell into one of the most prolific periods of development in jazz history (hard bop, cool jazz, avant-garde, modal...)

But despite this, Selmer has proven its quality with other amazing saxes before and after this golden age of MKVI sax making.

We've already included Selmer at number 1 in ourbest saxophone brandsof the world, but in this article we will go into more detail.

Let's run through some of the most famous Selmer saxophones - from the beginningmodels 221922 to the highly respectedmade today - and check out some of the top musicians and important albums they appear on.

If you're a saxophone fanatic and have any additional information you think we should include, feel free to use the comments section at the end.

Model 22 - the birth time of Selmer saxophones

While Henri Selmer Paris had been building his reputation as a woodwind builder since the late 19th century, even making saxophones using the classic Adolphe saxophone model, he made his first serious mark on the saxophone world in 1922 with the introduction of the Selmer Modele 22.

Henri and Maurice Lefevre had spent the previous 2 years developing tools and manufacturing methods in a new factory in the French town of Mantes and in 1922 the new saxophone was launched.

sea ​​of ​​selmer"This new technique simplified manufacturing, eliminated sealing problems with welds, and allowed for better standardization of manufacturing."

Although the keyboard and design were far from later models - and the tuning often difficult to control - the Modele 22 nevertheless laid the groundwork and foreshadowed Selmer's future success as a maker of the world's finest saxophones, setting them apart from other of their American counterparts. at the time.

While jazz as a genre was still in its infancy when theModel 22, its C Melody version(Made along with the rest of thesaxophone familyafter the success of the old version) became popular with jazz musicians at the time.

Mostly American musicians and bandleadersFrankie Trumbauermade this type of saxophone famous, and perhaps that's why the great Coleman Hawkins started playing the C-melody sax.

Super "Cigar Cutter" and Super Saxophone 1930

In 1929, with his newfound international fame as a saxophone maker, Selmer purchased theAdolf Sax & Ciacompany that grants him the exclusive rights over this legacy of instrument making.

During that time, the beginningSelmer Super-SaxAssortment that was divided into different models. Perhaps the most famous was the onecigar cutter. Named for the Americans for its octave clef design, it also incorporated several other design updates and refinements from previous models.

In terms of jazz musicians at the time, Zoot Sims reportedly played a cigar cutter, as did Coleman Hawkins on some of his earlier recordings.

Of course, the history of vintage saxophones doesn't end there; For example, this video showsChris Potter Big SaxophoneTry an SSS Cigar Cutter

Selmer (Super) Balanced Action

If you want to pinpoint exactly when the "modern" saxophone as we know it today was built, your best bet is probably the mid/late 1930's with the introduction ofSelmer balanced actionSaxophone.

According to the company, the origin of the name Balanced Action is in its balanced work of keys and weight distribution.“The basic prototype of the modern saxophone and most of the changes incorporated into it have survived to this day. The keyboard has been completely redesigned. The bass B and Bb keys have been moved to the right side of the bell, allowing for easier operation of the keywork.”

Overall, the resulting horn was easier to use; lighter, faster and more comfortable - all of which gave the player the freedom to perform with advanced technique and greater flexibility.

while thebalanced actionlaid the groundwork, the Super Action (or Super "Balanced" Action as it's known) introduced in 1948 refined things even further.

In particular, the hole work has improved intonation and the overall sound.

Ben Webster quickly upgraded to aSelmer balanced actionwhen they were released and how we describe them in our article about themthe horns, mouthpieces and reeds of the great saxophones, John Coltrane famously played a Selmer Super Balanced action early in his career.

The modern jazz saxophonistlike Joshua Redman, Mark Turner and Seamus Blake are also fans, with Redman saying:

“There's something more vulnerable about it, a little bit more poignant and a little bit more inflection room. The Mark VI has a slightly more focused and powerful sound, but maybe not as expansive.”

Selmer Mark VI – Legend of the Saxophone

If you know anything about Selmer, you've certainly heard of the Mark VI. The Selmer Mark VI saxophones, introduced in 1954, have gone down in folklore as the greatest saxophones ever made.

Se obalanced actionIn previous years, the MK VI paved the way for modern saxophone design, the MK VI refining many of the features and combining them withOI am mágico.

The $40,000 Saxophone

Owing its name to the fact that it was the 6th model since the original Modele 22, the particularly coveted horns of that era (stopped production after just 20 years) can command impressive volumes.

Comment on Pitchfork,New Yorker Saxophonladenbesitzer Roberto Romeosaid he rarely sells a Tenor Mark VI for less than $8,000 (contraltos can be cheaper) - and this one once sold one that was never played for $40,000!

It is estimated that Selmer produced between 150,000 and 200,000 Mark VIs, most of which still exist today.

Why is the Selmer Mark VI the best?

This is a good question, and without an easy answer!

Of course it was child's play for many jazz musicians at the time due to technological advances. But even as modern production methods advance, it retains its legendary status.

Sometimes the stars align and the real result is much more than the combination of a few technical advances. The mix for the brass alloy (a closely guarded Selmer secret), the people working on it in the factory, the materials available at the time.

But some also feel that timing is important.

The Mark VI was manufactured and used during the golden age of jazz in the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the best albums in jazz history were recorded during this period, as were the Mark VIs that played on many of them.

If the solos of John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and Sonny Rollins are part of your jazz training, why not take the opportunity to play the same sax model as them?!

Who played Selmer Mark VI saxophones?

Well, the list is quite extensive considering the tenor saxophone greats since the mid-1950s!

John Coltranewas one of many players to switch from a Selmer Super "Balanced" Action to a Mark VI as soon as it was released.

Sonny RollinsApparently, he bought his Mark VI at a New York saxophone shop in the 1970s and has been playing it ever since.

And according to Selmer himself“a limited edition loud with a locA was also out on the Mark VI label, which had fans like Ornette Coleman.”

More recently, saxophone giant Michael Brecker upgraded to a Mark VI mid-career, and today, over 40 years after the last Mark VIs were made, there are modern day musicians like Kamasi Washington who are vocal supporters of the Mark VI.

Selmer SuperAction 80

In the early 1980s, Selmer released the first of 3super action 80Saxophones (Series I, Series II and in the 1990s Series III)

This instrument followed the less popular introduction of the Mark VII and aimed to bring together the technological developments of that experience with the ergonomics and feel of a Mark VI.

It's still made today and is a popular choice for many horn players who want to combine Selmer's jazz history with a more modern, easy-care horn.

Although this model is available in all popular sax sizes (the first prototype was actually a baritone), it is the alto version that has been most celebrated and used.

In fact, according to Selmer, it is"undoubtedlythe most popular professional alto saxophone in the world.“

Of course, as a saxophone released in the 1980s, it doesn't have the same roster of jazz legends as previous models, but there are actually a variety of modern greats who play it, including Mozambican jazz saxophonist Moreira Chonguiça ("a of the best representatives of the innovative and original jazz of Africa").

Selmer reference 54 and reference 36

In 2000, Selmer announced the release of two new saxophone models inspired by two of their greatest vintage horns.

As the name suggests, the Selmer Reference 54a modern saxophoneinspired by the original 1954 Mark VI horn, while the Selmer Reference 36 harks back to the Balanced Action of the 1930s.

The legend of these two saxophones (especially the MKVI) has not diminished in the years since production ceased, so it only seemed logical for Selmer to try to recapture some of that magic with a more modern (and perhaps more humor-friendly) approach!

Just like the original MKVI, the Reference 54 has a full, rich sound and is ergonomically smooth. It even goes through an oxidation process to give it that vintage look.

According to a review by Tom Christensen for Jazztimes magazine, it is“Noticeably heavier than the Mark VI. This is likely due to the more extensive key work on the new horn, which includes additional brackets for the longer bars and thicker metal for the keys. The buttons on the horn body and the little fingers on both hands look very close to my Mark VI.”

You canCheck out our comparison test of the 2 benchmark saxophones here.

Photo	products	characteristics	Preis
	Selmer Paris Reference 54 Tenor Saxophone	Truly built in the spirit of the Mark VI pure sound quality	Check the price on Amazon

Likewise, the Reference 36 takes elements of its 80-year-old counterpart and gives them the precision and action that 21st century production makes possible.

The response to these horns has been largely positive, and while there will always be saxophonists who crave "The Real McCoy" of years gone by, many others have embraced these modern hybrids.

Modern musicians who recommend these horns for Selmer include Jean Toussaint (who founded Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in the 1980s) and Chico Freeman, and we've included this model in our list of the best saxophones for jazz.

Photo	products	characteristics	Preis
	Selmer Paris Reference 36 Tenor Saxophone	Better playability and comfort Leather pads for warmer sound Rich game quality	Check the price on Amazon

Thanks for joining us on this little story through the legend of the Selmerbrand saxophone!

If you haven't tried it yet, we highly recommend it! If you have any comments you would like to share, feel free to use the comments section.

If you're ready to dive into more saxophone-related content - both in terms of the instruments and the player - you canYou can find all our saxophone items here.