Selmer ALTO SAX Comparisons! Mark VI (1972) vs Signature vs SA80 Series II

In this video Sam & Simon checkout a range of Selmer Alto Saxophones and compare them. This includes a 1972 MKVI, a brand new Signature model and the classic SA80 Series II. To shop a range of Selmer Alto Saxophones please visit www.dawkes.co....
1:41 - SA80 Series II
3:27 - Signature
6:10 - Mark VI (1972)
Dawkes Music are the UK's leading Wind & Brass specialists. Our award-winning staff are on hand to help you choose the best equipment to enhance your playing. Our store has multiple specialist testing suites, the UK's largest Wind & Brass technical department and workshop. Check out www.dawkes.co.uk for more info.
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[@zvonimirtosic6171]

Signature not only readily replaces any of the Selmers from the past, but it has even more character than Supreme. What a fine instrument!
Thank you Dawkes and Mr Bates for your time and always excellent demos.

[@joekappes8648]

Wow, I grew up on a mark six of around the same vintage as Simon’s horn, and I really had my mind blown by both the differences and similarities in these three. All of these horns definitely have what we call the Selmer sound. But they all have their own thing. And the signature I liked best of all.

[@francistaylor5097]

Lovely vibrato on that last note, Simon!

[@jaleelshaw]

Thanks for these reviews. I’d love to hear a comparison of these horns by maybe playing slow ballads or whole notes. It would make it easier to hear the quality of the tone of each horn.

[@petegalindez9961]

I felt the same way with my Series III alto before I got my Mark VI (silver 1972 vintage)…the Series III felt “sterile” is the term I would use…Series III is as GREAT horn, played so well from bottom to top and above, but sterile…

[@mirosawlewandowski7865]

The second one has a lot of shine, a modern sound. Even across the scale.

[@nickpilgrim1966]

Interesting that quite a few reviews put the signature on par with the supreme. I wonder if Selmer have misjudged that and killed the demand for the supreme?

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

Cost-wise, I think they are nearly identical saxophones, they use the same necks, same brass, same development technology, etc. It costs them same to produce. The price difference is just a psychological treatment to justify one model's name.
The audible difference is that Supreme has a way more controlled output, and can't be pushed as hard or as wide as the Signature, even if you change mouthpieces. You can't colour Supreme's sound easily, it likes to impose itself over the player, as if it has some sort of "limiter". And that makes the other model, Signature, a more versatile and expressive instrument, no doubts. I think that’s the main reason why Simon prefers Signature over all modern Selmers.

[@SaxSith]

Mmmmmmm,Selmer sound…..gooooooood😊

[@benhostetler268]

I love the late Mark VI altos they’re the most in tune and the most free blowing imo.