1938 26,xxx Selmer Balanced Action Tenor Saxophone, Video, Just Serviced
1938 Selmer Balanced Action tenor saxophone, s/n 26357. Here's a wonderful playing vintage Selmer which has that big, dark, velvety sound that this model is known for. My repairman just serviced the sax, adjusting the pads so that they seal well. The horn plays effortlessly in all registers. Like most horns of this vintage, the lacquer isn't original, but the engraving is crisp and doesn't show excessive signs of buffing. The pads have some age and are affixed with metal Noyek style resonators.
Selmer's attempt to recreate this Balanced Action with their Reference 36 doesn't do these older horns justice. There is a tonal expression that modern horns can't match. I think the Reference 36 is a great horn, but it's nothing like an early Balanced Action. My advice: save thousands and buy the real thing.
