1950 Selmer Super Balanced Action Tenor Saxophone Silver Near Mint SBA 43,xxx
43,xxx Selmer Super Balanced Action tenor saxophone with original silver plating. The condition of this sax is superb. There are no signs of previous repair. The neck is in perfect condition, never having been pulled down. Even at the contact points, there is very little wear, indicating that this horn spent most of its life in its case. The action is superb on this horn. It feels light and nimble, and very tight for a 65 year old horn. The pads are all very good and all have metal resonators. The horn was just cleaned and regulated, so everything seals absolutely perfectly from low Bb to high F. This is a world class horn that plays like it.
The SBA is arguably the best tenor Selmer ever produced. This was the first model to really get the ergonomics right, and the tone of a great SBA is incomparable to anything else out there. After getting this back from my tech and playing this horn for an hour or so, I am stunned by how great of a horn this is. There's a purity of tone that a Mark VI can't even touch. There's an extra power and presence to the tone, perhaps due to the silver plating. Getting the low notes out requires almost no effort, they easily pop out of the horn. I am blown away by this sax, and if it doesn't sell quickly, I may just keep it as my main axe. This horn is without a doubt, the best tenor I've ever played.
Many of today's top saxophonists own and play silver SBA tenors including Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, David Sanchez, George Garzone, and others. Playing this horn for just 5 minutes will make you a believer that these horns are absoultely special. They have an undeniable presence and power that one rarely finds in a saxophone.
