Saxophones Selmer Alto Reference 54 Vs Original Selmer MKVI Alto 1954

[Two Voices]

It's funny the things we find to stress over!

I know! Crazy isn't it

How's your Tenor Sax hunting going?

 

[TomMapfumo]

FWIW I personally wouldn't bother with a metal mouthpiece on alto particularly - there are better ones out there - Barone Vintage HR (from Bill Lewington sale - £99), Phil-Tone Vintage HR (Custom order from US - about £125), Ponzol Vintage HR (www.sax.co.uk - about £100), Morgan Fry ( about £200)and others - following on from original Meyer mouthpieces. Or even a Francois Louis (less than £140 from Thomann).

Glad you like the Yani A901 - sounds like a good value purchase too!

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Fraser Jarvis]

4K is way, way to much for a 6 alto, 5 digit or otherwise, judging by your sig, it looks like you have pretty well covered yourself with regards to modern stuff.
If you really want something thats vintage and good why not look at something like a King super 20 ( which has the modern style keywork that you will already be used to) .

 

[Two Voices]

FWIW I personally wouldn't bother with a metal mouthpiece on alto particularly - there are better ones out there - Barone Vintage HR (from Bill Lewington sale - £99), Phil-Tone Vintage HR (Custom order from US - about £125), Ponzol Vintage HR (www.sax.co.uk - about £100), Morgan Fry ( about £200)and others - following on from original Meyer mouthpieces. Or even a Francois Louis (less than £140 from Thomann).

Glad you like the Yani A901 - sounds like a good value purchase too!

Kind regards
Tom

Thanks Tom! The Yani A901 has a great sound plus the keywork is really comfy (and is great value as you say )

I'll check out some of those mouthpiece suggestions. The Ponzol Vintage HR looks good.

Question: why don't you like metal mouthpieces on the Alto (I've not tried one yet)?

Many thanks,

Paul

 

[Two Voices]

4K is way, way to much for a 6 alto, 5 digit or otherwise, judging by your sig, it looks like you have pretty well covered yourself with regards to modern stuff.
If you really want something thats vintage and good why not look at something like a King super 20 ( which has the modern style keywork that you will already be used to) .

Hi Fraser, I totally agree with you. In fact the modern keywork on the Yani A901 is the most comfortable I've found and was one deciding fact not to get the Mark VI.

If I could find a good Super King 20 Silver Sonic Tenor, for a decent price then that would be a horn I'd like to own

 

[4 5 and 6]

Question: why don't you like metal mouthpieces on the Alto (I've not tried one yet)?

Howdy all-

Forgive my intrusion but there is no reason not to try a metal mouthpiece. Some of the greatest altoists have played metal pieces including Bird, Sonny Stitt, Jackie McLean, and Lee Konitz. In fact, some of the best current altoists are playing metal pieces as well including Loren Stillman and Mike DiRubbo.

And, a Link is a perfectly good choice. A much better choice for alto in my opinion than the countless Meyer copies that abound.

 

[TomMapfumo]

I'll get my coat..........! I've not played a metal one myself but just go on much of what I read online - Saxophone Forum, and Sax On The Web - which do not rate the Link metal much at all - The Meyer and Link Tone Edge HR pieces have a much bigger following. Phil-Tone and Ponzol Vintage HR pieces are very highly rated on SOTW, and my hero, Gilad Atzmon plays a Morgan Fry alto piece. 4,5 & 6 may have a valuable contribution to make, though Bird generally liked his Runyon 22 HR.

Kind regards to you both - I'll stick with my Phil-Tone for now.
Tom

 

[4 5 and 6]

...though Bird generally liked his Runyon 22 HR.

Hi Tom. While I have no reason to doubt this Bird's performances on a metal Selmer 'England' have been well documented throughout his later career.

I'll add Ornette Coleman and John Handy to my list as well.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Cheers, Matt!

I've started a thread about metal alto mpc's on "Breakfast Room" -sorry if my previous comment sounded doubting - it was just a playful aside.

Kind regards
Tom

 

[Two Voices]

... I've started a thread about metal alto mpc's on "Breakfast Room" -sorry if my previous comment sounded doubting - it was just a playful aside...

Excellent! Looking forward to hearing peoples thoughts about this!

 

[VirusKiller]

How's your Tenor Sax hunting going?

Slowly. I want to get down to sax.co.uk in Denmark St. soon, but I'm sussing out my new PPT8* which is really different to my metal Yanagisawa #9. Reed problems too, which I now think are the result of not taking Legere's guidance and rotating three reeds.

So Plan A is still on track (buy a tenor around November after a year's return to the sax). Plan B would be buying a sax on my first visit to sax.co.uk!

 

[Two Voices]

Righto bitten the bullet and ordered myself the Yani A901 with a 92 Neck! Nearly opted for the A991 but I do actually prefer the sound of the A901 with the 92 neck slightly better. Also the keywork is just that bit different between the A991 and the A901 - I suppose I prefer the A901 as I've have the T901 even thought the A991 feels lighter and faster!

Well, I think I've finally found my set-ups that I enjoy apart from the mouthpiece on the Soprano which will have a Brancher Metal J15 when finances allow!

So taking the lead boots off and easing off the GAS! )) Anyone got the sheet music for Hallelujah Hallelujah ))

 

[Two Voices]

Oh, and for those interested the guy sold his 1954 five digit Selmer Mark MK VI to a guy for a staggering £5,800!

 

[kevgermany]

That's a lot of money. Too much.

 

[Two Voices]

That's a lot of money. Too much.

I agree! Think I made the right decision and saved a bundle!

 

[singlereed]

Oh crikey! I paid £2300 for my daughter's and £3000 for mine. I reckon that was about as much as I'd want to pay - they are great horns, admitedly not as 'vintage' as a '54 but the idea is to use them and I would hope not to lose anything on them over time. Anyway, more importantly, you have what you are happy with so get on and play!