Another detail many players overlook is that the Selmers John Coltrane or Stan Getz played were not off the rack instruments. They were built to absolute perfection by the craftsperson just for that musician. each tone hole ground for best pitch, mouthpieces hand cut and modified carefully for a distinctive sound that the player wanted. Often times Gold plated for a rich sound. Palm key mods for the tricky fingering combinations, and on and on. Back in the 40s and 50s you did not walk into a random music store and see 50,000 or more guitars stuck all over the walls. Saxophone was a very hep instrument and manufacturers were competitive as such.
I’ve worked with saxophonists for years as an audio engineer, some of which used Selmer’s saxophones, others using competitors. I can honestly tell you that there IS a difference in sound. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
When I first started playing sax in 6th grade in 1991, the first instrument I got was a Buescher alto, which I still own today. When things started getting really serious for me as a player in high school, I rented but never bought a Selmer Super Action 80. Along with having the additional high F# key, it was a higher quality instrument with a noticeable difference in sound and tone quality. I stopped playing seriously during college and returned the Selmer to the store I was renting it from. While I don't really play my Buescher that often, I do miss the high F# key because I struggled with the altissimo register.
"As a saxophonist, I love videos like this. While I personally prefer modern horns, I have enjoyed the mark vi saxes I’ve tried. There’s just something amazing about holding such a major piece of history in your hands.
You could probably 3D print a silicon/rubber 'stump' to bang stuff on but it probably would be very difficult to replicate the rebound you get from the stump"
I’m almost positive my jazz band teacher had an old one of these. It had a beautiful patina on it. You could almost imagine its history coming from a smokey Kansas City night club in the 1940s
I never played sax, but I played a Selmer 40 EEB Contra-Alto Clarinet for a number of years. That was a beautiful instrument and surpassed anything I'd used up until that point.
"I'm a saxophonist. Selmers are great horns without a doubt some of the best. My personal favorite is my Canonball horn though but I do agree that there is a subtle difference in sound that sets selmer horns apart.
Obviously, it’s the sound quality and the quality of the instrument. This is not some fleeting fashion and lifestyle statement. Greatest respect for Selmer instruments! There are a few creations that are as noble as a tool to produce music.
I bought a Selmer Serie II alto brand new in 2006. It has been a great instrument and well used as I played it during my 4 years in the Marine Corps bands.
Also the clear answer to ""which is better, vintage or modern"" is clearly modern. What we had was great but what we have now is also great. No need to hang on to the past. Put Coltrane's saxophone in a museum (or give it to his kid) and lets move forward."
Selmer is still cashing in on the reputations of saxes they built over 45 years ago. I have owned quite a few of them. Today I play an inexpensive Yamaha.
.6mm-.7mm brass, reminds you why you have to be careful, I remember a few brass instruments falling or getting dropped in HS marching band, one fell from high up bleechers to the ground, it was a tuba pancake. Fortunately I don't think anyone was marching around with these Rolls Royces of Instruments. It's thinner gauge than most car skins, and a much softer metal too!
Selmer Paris stopped making trumpets about 2010. The last two models, the Chorus 80J and the twin tube Concept TT, were as good of trumpets as any ever made. It would be nice if someone brought them back.
So people say just have a cheap one but my grandfather doesn't believe so. My grandfather has a Mark VI and he loves it a lot! I bought a $150 one to practice and its slightly different sound makes me surprised. I give it to my grandfather and he realizes its poor sound immediately without playing. He says that the good one with help me learn better, I can easily fix my mistakes, and fully enjoy my skill improvements. Therefore, you should have a good-quality instrument if you what to master it.
"SWITCHED from yamaha to selmer recently. selmers cost more, and for me, was initially took challenges to ""break in"" (instrument and technique) but have heft and edginess that i could not get at yamaha. yamaha has better intonation, but i found selmers to be more responsive and more fun to shape tones with. ymmv, but to me, i am glad to make the switch.
Compared to many other instruments saxophones are not that expensive, and compared to many other woodwinds the mechanisms are an imprecise collection of compromises. It’s not just good, it’s good enough. They supposedly spent a decade on ergonomics of the new model, but refuse to get rid of the spring loaded pivot screw design (from the 1980’s) which bakes in a limit to how precise a tech can get the mechanisms.
i purchased a used silver plate non engraved s80 ll tenor for £1100 a fixer upper , done all the work and i much prefer it over the supremes i tried , no way would i pay £9000 for one of those
I'm not against Selmer or anyone else however I did buy a new Super 80 tenor about 20 years ago. Paid a lot of money for it compared to my Jean Baptist that I was playing. All I can say is everything was just plain harder to do. Most of the keys did not line up with the tone holes, Mid G was almost impossible to intonate. Altissimo notes were erratic and unreliable at best compared to my JB. My hands would tire quickly from squeezing the silly keys shut. Took it to a pro repair man to make it play and he did help it some but it never played as nice or sounded any better than my $1200.00 unit.
I've been buying new Selmer saxophones since 1980, the company makes terrific saxophones, the Supreme is one of the best ever, but their saxophones leave the factory with poor pad work and setups. I don't know how they get away with it, they need to improve their quality control.
Shocked they didn’t mention the obvious reason. It’s entirely because of French retirement plan laws. Companies HAVE to pay former employees who were with the company for more than I believe 20 years in retirement. This accounts for some 30%+ of Selmer’s costs. This is also why other major French fashion brands are so expensive. It had absolutely nothing to do with Selmer’s products taking more time to produce, the Japanese produce just as good if not a far better saxophone now, and at a far cheaper price.
Video is copied from a French documentary. Sound track is a brass ensemble. Why not saxophone music for a saxophone documentary? Guess what! Germany, Italy, Japan, and China (Taiwan) make good saxophones too. But wait! There are other French makers besides Selmer! Take the money you saved to buy and an old Selmer Mark VI and buy something new from one of the other makers. Keep the faith, my sax brothers and sisters!😇
Not going to watch the video… I’m just going to tell you why… it’s because someone keeps buying them. It wouldn’t be worth anything if nobody bought them
Another detail many players overlook is that the Selmers John Coltrane or Stan Getz played were not off the rack instruments. They were built to absolute perfection by the craftsperson just for that musician. each tone hole ground for best pitch, mouthpieces hand cut and modified carefully for a distinctive sound that the player wanted. Often times Gold plated for a rich sound. Palm key mods for the tricky fingering combinations, and on and on. Back in the 40s and 50s you did not walk into a random music store and see 50,000 or more guitars stuck all over the walls. Saxophone was a very hep instrument and manufacturers were competitive as such.
I’ve worked with saxophonists for years as an audio engineer, some of which used Selmer’s saxophones, others using competitors. I can honestly tell you that there IS a difference in sound. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
When I first started playing sax in 6th grade in 1991, the first instrument I got was a Buescher alto, which I still own today. When things started getting really serious for me as a player in high school, I rented but never bought a Selmer Super Action 80. Along with having the additional high F# key, it was a higher quality instrument with a noticeable difference in sound and tone quality. I stopped playing seriously during college and returned the Selmer to the store I was renting it from. While I don't really play my Buescher that often, I do miss the high F# key because I struggled with the altissimo register.
"As a saxophonist, I love videos like this. While I personally prefer modern horns, I have enjoyed the mark vi saxes I’ve tried. There’s just something amazing about holding such a major piece of history in your hands.
You could probably 3D print a silicon/rubber 'stump' to bang stuff on but it probably would be very difficult to replicate the rebound you get from the stump"
I’m almost positive my jazz band teacher had an old one of these. It had a beautiful patina on it. You could almost imagine its history coming from a smokey Kansas City night club in the 1940s
I never played sax, but I played a Selmer 40 EEB Contra-Alto Clarinet for a number of years. That was a beautiful instrument and surpassed anything I'd used up until that point.
"I'm a saxophonist. Selmers are great horns without a doubt some of the best. My personal favorite is my Canonball horn though but I do agree that there is a subtle difference in sound that sets selmer horns apart.
Obviously, it’s the sound quality and the quality of the instrument. This is not some fleeting fashion and lifestyle statement. Greatest respect for Selmer instruments! There are a few creations that are as noble as a tool to produce music.
2:12 Kudos to whoever animated this segment! Snappy, fluid and stylistically district! Just amazing work!
"I own three of these instruments. They really are beautiful and a joy to play.
"I like how there's all this modernised machining equipment but there is still a place for the venerable stump in the workshop!
I bought a Selmer Serie II alto brand new in 2006. It has been a great instrument and well used as I played it during my 4 years in the Marine Corps bands.
Also the clear answer to ""which is better, vintage or modern"" is clearly modern. What we had was great but what we have now is also great. No need to hang on to the past. Put Coltrane's saxophone in a museum (or give it to his kid) and lets move forward."
Interestingly, they spent a segment on the mouthpiece quality, but the featured musician was playing a Vandoren.
Selmer is still cashing in on the reputations of saxes they built over 45 years ago. I have owned quite a few of them. Today I play an inexpensive Yamaha.
I posted that exact same message to a different upload of this --advertizement-- video some weeks ago. Wft?
I have a SA 80 series II tenor. Beautiful instrument.
.6mm-.7mm brass, reminds you why you have to be careful, I remember a few brass instruments falling or getting dropped in HS marching band, one fell from high up bleechers to the ground, it was a tuba pancake. Fortunately I don't think anyone was marching around with these Rolls Royces of Instruments. It's thinner gauge than most car skins, and a much softer metal too!
Love this series. It's how TH-cam used to be - interesting and well paced - no flashy hyperactive editing. Man, what happened?
Never knew this many people were this much dedicated to this object.
Selmer Paris stopped making trumpets about 2010. The last two models, the Chorus 80J and the twin tube Concept TT, were as good of trumpets as any ever made. It would be nice if someone brought them back.
06:15 “for the common mortal” is savage
"""if there is less of something, the value goes up""
I’ve waited for them to make a video on saxophones for years.
Thank you for your uniqueness and originality. Your videos are a breath of fresh air.️
Your videos are always a joy to watch. Thank you for your skill and creativity!
"Thank you Geek Inter" we all say in Unison
So people say just have a cheap one but my grandfather doesn't believe so. My grandfather has a Mark VI and he loves it a lot! I bought a $150 one to practice and its slightly different sound makes me surprised. I give it to my grandfather and he realizes its poor sound immediately without playing. He says that the good one with help me learn better, I can easily fix my mistakes, and fully enjoy my skill improvements. Therefore, you should have a good-quality instrument if you what to master it.
"SWITCHED from yamaha to selmer recently. selmers cost more, and for me, was initially took challenges to ""break in"" (instrument and technique) but have heft and edginess that i could not get at yamaha. yamaha has better intonation, but i found selmers to be more responsive and more fun to shape tones with. ymmv, but to me, i am glad to make the switch.
Very interesting approach to the topic! Thank you for such an informative video!
They needed to vet the pictures and videos they used. Some of those players didn't/weren't playing Selmers
Everything sounds so jazzy
Vandoren next please!
Very interesting and informative video! Thank you for your hard work!
Really enjoyed it! Looking forward to more videos from you!
Awesome! Thank you for your hard work and talent!
What are the numerical qualifications for high quality brass versus low quality brass? What are the specs?
good info
I am just starting this video and more shocked Geek Inter is even covering this topic.
Well made informative video, great documentary. Thank you.
Could you do one on Alexander French Horns?
Great video."
AWSOME ️ VIDEO
Charlie Parker is playing a Conn alto in this picture, 1:09
"Selmer Paris, yes. Especially vintage.
Love this!
Good info
Wow finally a so expensive episode where I own a product!
French accent is on point
That narrator can come and read me bed time stories anytime
“For the for the common mortal” he really is a supervillain. Look and all
Do Tubas next. Miraphone, Meinl, B&S or equivalent.
Who chose the brass quintet background music? Interesting choice...
7:19 He looks like Jürgen Klopp meets SNL Alex Trebek (played by Darrell Hammond)
Selmer needs to upgrade the final set up for the keys a bit. Without leaks in the first week of playing and tonal deviations…
MY KING GEEKS INTEREST
Compared to many other instruments saxophones are not that expensive, and compared to many other woodwinds the mechanisms are an imprecise collection of compromises. It’s not just good, it’s good enough. They supposedly spent a decade on ergonomics of the new model, but refuse to get rid of the spring loaded pivot screw design (from the 1980’s) which bakes in a limit to how precise a tech can get the mechanisms.
"Oh Yeah Baby...
"Sax-o-mo-phone, sax-o-mo-phone
i purchased a used silver plate non engraved s80 ll tenor for £1100 a fixer upper , done all the work and i much prefer it over the supremes i tried , no way would i pay £9000 for one of those
11:38 Bach Saxophone Suite #2 ;-)
I'm not against Selmer or anyone else however I did buy a new Super 80 tenor about 20 years ago. Paid a lot of money for it compared to my Jean Baptist that I was playing. All I can say is everything was just plain harder to do. Most of the keys did not line up with the tone holes, Mid G was almost impossible to intonate. Altissimo notes were erratic and unreliable at best compared to my JB. My hands would tire quickly from squeezing the silly keys shut. Took it to a pro repair man to make it play and he did help it some but it never played as nice or sounded any better than my $1200.00 unit.
Coming soon to Temu for $2.99
she called it a craftsperson who makes it- yet no woman has ever made one. Call it a craftsman.
I’m kicking myself for not buying a Selmer Mk VI for the bargain price of 3k years ago.
Saxamaphone...saxamaphone.. Homer Simpson
I've been buying new Selmer saxophones since 1980, the company makes terrific saxophones, the Supreme is one of the best ever, but their saxophones leave the factory with poor pad work and setups. I don't know how they get away with it, they need to improve their quality control.
so the type of varnish and finish effects the tone, yet they test the tone with protective film all over the horn? doesnt seem to make sense to me lol
Uhh they do sterilise them after the "playtester" is through with it, no?
and yet they still need setting up after they have left the factory ,leaks fixed etc etc ,
8:41 Yaaas Daddy
Okay
Craftsmen......
Kenny G is not important enough to mention as a saxophonist who uses Selmer Mark VI?
$100K for this one."
I heard John Coltrane is almost as good of a sax player as Bill Clinton
Governments:,, yeah let's print more money so we can keep our Lifestyle"""
No way geek inter did a vid on saxophones.
Shocked they didn’t mention the obvious reason. It’s entirely because of French retirement plan laws. Companies HAVE to pay former employees who were with the company for more than I believe 20 years in retirement. This accounts for some 30%+ of Selmer’s costs. This is also why other major French fashion brands are so expensive. It had absolutely nothing to do with Selmer’s products taking more time to produce, the Japanese produce just as good if not a far better saxophone now, and at a far cheaper price.
I wish I had a job people working always look so fulfilled damn I hate being in a third world country
7:04 chk
What's a craftsperson? Why not just call him a caftsman?
They are expensive because of high labour cost, if they are using machine then how is it even handmade
Selmer stopped being SELMER decades ago. They are now satisfactory in comparison to the new giants on the block
If this video shows some Saxaphone made in China like this, some politician in USA will call for sanction.
So it’s because they’re handmade in France instead of China.
Create more musical instruments
and yet chinese saxes are not bad, costing 1/50 of this price
But Selmer USA horns are mid."
Translate to Vietnamese"
Video is copied from a French documentary. Sound track is a brass ensemble. Why not saxophone music for a saxophone documentary? Guess what! Germany, Italy, Japan, and China (Taiwan) make good saxophones too. But wait! There are other French makers besides Selmer! Take the money you saved to buy and an old Selmer Mark VI and buy something new from one of the other makers. Keep the faith, my sax brothers and sisters!😇
You couldn't PAY me to take one of their saxophones! Not after what the French did to Haiti and many countries in Africa!
"
Why are we so infatuated by the British accent? Isn't it time to stop behaving like England's colony? It's an inferiority complex we keep buying into.
Not going to watch the video… I’m just going to tell you why… it’s because someone keeps buying them. It wouldn’t be worth anything if nobody bought them
hahaha these bots really love saxophones i guess
why? you made artificial intelligence that made music cheap
7:04 chk
"