Selmer MK VI tenor 98xxx one very special horn.  Everyone who has tried this one has loved it.  It is a very powerful, balanced and full player. It has plenty of weight to the sound as well as a forceful edge and depth.  The US lacquer and engraving are all original and in show several color variations, seems to be still darkening over time.  The neck, bell, bow all are structurally spotless with no previous damage nor repair of any kind. There is minor lacquer speckle on some keys but thats all really. It’s a near mint original, the pearls are quite sharp.

I’ve given this the absolute excellent setup with custom treated pads and large 5-digit original Selmer ToneX resos. It plays exactly as great as it should. This horn is special enough that the listing may be removed – quite likely, but its here for the moment. It is for the treasure seeker and will not be cheap as it is very hard to find a player like this in this condition as well.  I honestly don’t know what to write- its among the best.

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Here is a wonderful and extremely rare original 21xxx Balanced Action tenor.  The vast majority of remaining Balanced Actions have all been refinished, as they are just quite old.  Some of those very early 1950’s relacquers were done at the factory and are stunningly good, many will fool many wish-to-be experts.  Actual originals though, are extremely elusive, probably nocturnal, reclusive and nearly extinct, not adapting to human civilized expansion.

This one is a very rare find in that it is in excellent condition, minimal repairs and plays exceptionally well.  It has all the early mechanisms, and extensive artistic engraving that is still very sharp and crisp.  It plays with a huge, wide and rather brash on-stage type of sound that was engineered for a time when microphones were not common.

It has an added strap ring in the modern position for much more comfortable playing and arthritis prevention protocol, one resoldered guard foot at the low C, and some repair to perfection of the neck angle. It has had everything done to set it up to tight tolerance and optimization, fitted with original (if I remember correctly) Selmer ToneX resos hoarded from SBA’s.  Original Balanced Actions had no resos (true).  It plays like a million$$ under the fingers and is a super flexible and expressive.  It won’t cost a million but if it seems like this should be a bargain it’s probably best not to ask.  It’s been decades since original Balanced Action were freely galavanting the countryside and it’s never going to happen again.

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A beautiful old horn made in 1955 for sale in UK, this has original lacquer and engraving.  It has that warm gold color finish that has not darkened much. The body and neck are in very good condition with no apparent repairs.  The lacquer where present is in very good shape, some spots of wear in normal areas.  Included is the original British Selmer case that looks absolutely fab along with the original sales guarantee from Selmer.

I’ve just done an extensive restoration on this horn, soldered the body to bow joint (as the American models had) all new custom treated pads with a set of vintage 1950’s Selmer US ToneX nickel plated brass resos from SBA and early MK VI, and full tonehole dressing and key fitting.  This now plays very precise, fast and tight.

It’s got the tonal poetry, the subtle super expressive quality that sort of disappears after the very early VI’s.  In this case, possibly uniquely this horn turned out really edgy, focused and powerful, a bit unexpected for sure.  This has a focused air column that really makes me think it has an SBA body, but it has more elasticity and spread than SBA normally has, basically the stretch of an early VI.  I feel this horn is really a transitional model of come kind.  Be warned, although it has a lot of richness of tone that may be specific to 60k and earlier models, it is really aggressive and cutting.  If anyone was holding the fantasy that really earlier Selmers were spread, dark and mellow this one will surely shatter that.

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This horn exudes character and lyricism.  It has the ‘that look’ in droves and it sounds pretty much like it looks in my opinion- just one of those horns.  The serial number is 87xxx, US engraved and lacquered and it is has lived a lot.  It has dings, dents, repairs, blemishes etc.  If you are looking for a mint collector’s item this is definitely not it, but it IS a player.  It very much has a certain complex sound, I would say a darker core and then a shimmering warm edge on top of the sound, and the very quick response that is typical of this model period.

The neck is not the original but is an earlier VI model with the low octave saddle, possibly European market earlier VI.  That is what came with the horn and by the look of it, it has likely been with this horn a long time.  I have experimented with late 80k necks on this horn and I have liked this neck better on this one; it has a certain focus and speed that is beneficial and somehow seems to let the proper character shine.  I have recently put an old 95k neck on this as well and that is super as well.  I will give the buyer their choice of necks, add a little more cost with the 95k neck if chosen.

I am not enamored of the pads and resos, but I’ve gone through the horn and got it playing quite smoothly.  I can only imagine how amazing it would be with a proper treatment, but it’s going well at the moment and the pads are not old at all.  These mid-late 80k horns are very rarely available now, most who have them are not willing to sell them and everyone is looking for just this serial number.  Collector’s condition examples are extremely expensive, so this, given the serial number is a serious bargain these days.  If this is what you are hunting, don’t sleep.

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This is a fairly early (no USA) slant signature Otto Link with the large chamber.  It was stamped 5* with a bit of a thick tip finish,  I was inspired to open it to .063 with a traditional Link facing and a good rail contour.  This plays very big, and wide with a warm darker tone that also has a very fast and concise response. It has a unique singing quality that I think only these have.  I felt that this piece did well with intonation as well, for whatever reason.  It’s a very pretty sound.

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This is what this is, no cracks, nice shape all original. Tip measures right on .080 on my tools.

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Super rare and desired 1960 MK VI Low A baritone, 88xxx – magic numbers!  This horn is original and amazing.  Pro owned, pads still have some life but old.  Being as baritones are this has normal bumps and bruises around the bow but but most of this will smooth out in the hands of a skilled technician as they are normal and non-critical. I have just cleaned up a bit of amateur solder on the low Eb guard feet (seen in last photos,) again non-critical issue but leaves some cosmetic evidence; it is nice and smooth and sturdy there and the patina will come in time.

Original serialed neck included in very good shape.  original US engraving, this horn just has a wonderful feel in the hands.  New arrival I’ve just played it, and I am not a great Bari player, but what would one expect from an 88k low a original US Bari?  -amazingness of course!  These are VERY hard to find.

Includes a very excellent SKB travel case with wheels, super convenient.

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This horn is a wonderful piece of vintage precision craftsmanship.  It only feels ‘vintage’ because its intonation is not rigid and therefore tonally stifled by modern computer engineering.  Such as it is, the notes are far more flexible than modern engineered horns and the tone is much more complex and malleable.  That said, this still has a precise feeling and it is extremely loud and powerful with particular mouthpieces.  It has very much a shimmering silver-ish quality to the sound, plenty bright.  It is no doubt a wonderful horn.

I set this up with large brass flat resos, and excellent pads, it rings like a bell. Everything is tight and optimal. It has very minimal lacquer wear, minor to invisible brass work- if you can even find it and just generally in amazing condition. Case is original and includes a clarinet and flute situation. Latches still mostly work.

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This is a custom Marin Spivack setup vintage piece that starts with the same blank used for the Dukoff/Zimberoff “House of note” Supersonic model.  This blank was used by Zimberoff, Selmer, George Bundy, and several others names as well from probably the early 1950’s to the 1970’s.  It is a very good blank very much akin to the Otto Link Slant signature Tone Edge of those time periods.  It has a round chamber with scooped walls and yet not an extremely large chamber, which is why (if setup properly) they will have a similar power to a Slant Link or a straight sig FL Link.

This is the later version of the blank which features a slightly longer shank, as the early shorter ones tend to play a bit sharper and have to be pretty far out on the cork.  This is the same inside (and mostly outside) but solves that issue.

This one was custom set up from the ground up to a tip size of .100 and a medium shelf baffle.  it plays with a  very fat and solid booming tone with just the right amount of edge for clarity.  I would say it may be a bit brighter than most stock Florida Slant signature Links, but I would not consider this extremely bright either, a very nice balance with a lot of clarity and a solid tone one can lean into.

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This is a beautiful 24k Balanced Action alto in original lacquer and US engraving, a very rare find.  This horn has an absolutely beautiful sound but will requires some attention to function at 100%.  Pads will need help and some solder joints at the bell brace that are traditional weak-points for old Balanced Actions may warrant some review as well, although they are currently stable.  The sound is unrivaled and the condition is very good and difficult to find.

Original case and mouthpiece included!

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