Selmer Super Balanced Action Alto Saxophone 1949

A chance to own a piece of saxophone history….

This is a 1949 Super Balanced Action alto sax. This was the immediate predecessor to the Selmer Mark VI and some contend that it is the true “best saxophone ever made”. Wherever that truth may lie, this instrument has been lovingly cared for and has the warm, vintage tone for which the SBA is renowned. The instrument has the gorgeous, original, honey laqueur with no dings or dents. And if angels could play the alto saxophone this is the sound they would make. Very free blowing and in the words of our Saturday guy, John, “If I hadn’t just moved to a new house with refurbishment issues, this would be mine already.”

Let’s hope that a customer gets in there before John finishes his new kitchen!

Here’s the tech stuff, courtesy of saxophone.org:

“The Selmer Super Balanced Action is considered by many to be the design that set the tone for the modern saxophone. Originally called the Super Action model, it is now known as the Super Balanced Action (SBA) to differentiate it from the newer Super Action 80 model that came much later. This was the first Selmer saxophone to feature offset tone holes in the upper and lower stacks. On previous models, the tone holes were all in line along the front of the sax. On the SBA, those in the bottom stack are now offset slightly to the right, making for a much more comfortable feel. Players loved it, and pretty much all modern horns are based on this idea now.”

All we have to add is: it’s beautiful!

Comes with original leather covered Selmer case.