Selmer MK VI 81xxx original lac. US engr. Apex HT overhaul Pretty condition

 

This is a wonderful special vintage original 81xxx 1959 tenor.  I’ve given this the complete restoration treatment, a full overhaul.  It is original US lacquer and engraved, and setup with a slightly harder treated pad and mostly original nickel plated brass Tone-x resonator set as well.  The tone is in the middle on the dark-bright spectrum, slightly on the focused side in the context of 80k tenors, and features an exceptionally fast and commanding airspeed and projection, with a significant edge on the sound.  It has both power and a great capacity for beauty.  The key action is tight, fast, and exceptionally comfortable.  This is an apex MK VI for the discerning pro player, and the condition is on the edge of minty as well.

It HAS lived a bit, some brass smoothing has been done on the side of the bow and left side (chair area) of the body.  The neck is completely free of any pulldown or significant damage, tiny pings only.  The bell flare, bow cap etc very very nice. Old horns are mostly not 100% perfect but this one is in quite nice condition with normal scratches and signs of professional preference and use.

It is a highly enjoyable player and ready to make works of art in music at the highest level.  Below the seductively pretty pics are the stages of the overhaul process as well.

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Selmer MK VI 1967 ‘Sanborn’ Medium Bow Model

Here, yet another in a line of reliably great 140-something thousand altos.  These 140k medium bow altos are probably the best, most versatile players they ever made for altos.  The earlier 5 digit medium bow altos are also great but not quite as loud and cutting as these.  I have had a number of these from 139-149k and I have yet to play one that was not great.

This 148xxx is a player’s horn, not a museum piece.  It has lived, had some dents, dings and scratches and lacquer wear.  The horn has had a full overhaul with fresh pads and everything else and is currently in very good playing condition. All original lacquer and US engraving.  The photos below are before the overhaul, so it’s a bit cleaner and nicer than shown.

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Woodwind Co. (Dukoff) Stubbie Original 6* .100 Exceptional Rarity

This is a lifetime of vintage mouthpiece hunting treasure, Woodwind Co. finished and branded Stubbie at .100.  Woodwind Co. had it’s own precision facing outfit, and many vintage Otto Links from the 1950’s were taken there for custom facings.  Their finishes were usually better and more precise than Otto Link of the early period, and they were FAR better than Dukoff finishes. Woodwind brand are the best of the Stubbies with good facings and very nicely finished tips, unlike Dukoff and much worse, Zimberoff.

This one is an original 6* that measures right at .100 and the original finish is beautiful with rather thin and even tip and side rails and a moderate baffle.  The chamber is of course slightly large heading towards Link Tonemaster but the floor is higher so it is a faster mouthpiece with a bit of punch and buzz as well. There are a scant number of Stubbies out there for sale, but there are nearly no Woodwind models, and as far as I have seen, none at .100, ever.  I am not keen to sell this and may not, but even if I part with it I will be quite picky as to who gets it.  I would hate to see this altered.

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Otto Link Double Ring NY .100 Marinated & Excellent Rarity

Here we have a very rare and wonderful tenor piece; Otto Link NY double ring with the outlandishly long biteplate.  Who’s idea was the long biteplate?!  That long biteplate is the reason these pieces are the least common to be opened up to large sizes (or any sizes) by ambitious refacers.  Of course that can be a good thing, meaning there are still some originals left out there, or at least some pieces that are not huge sizes.  it is pretty common for people to mess them up or just tear them all open to huge sizes because currently only a few people know how to play 5-6 facings like the old days when these were made.

I very careful restored and optimized this to .100 (7) from the original dinged up 5 and it’s really quite a player.  Slightly darker and wider than a FL double ring, it has a beautiful complex tone and an ease of play that is extremely satisfying.  Good luck finding early (New York) double rings that are not totally destroyed or play in any kind of near decent way.  This is definitely among the best!


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Selmer Super (balanced) Action ‘SBA’ 48xxx Original US Lacquer, Near Mint With Excellent Setup

SBA 48xxx as rare as it gets.  This horn is in 99-100% original US lacquer and Elkhart engraving.  It has original resonators and a truly wonderful playing setup with quite new pads etc.  It needs nothing and is ready for the gig out of the case.  There are only minor dings and scratches to be found, no repairs that I could find, wonderful responsive neck with original matching number.
The pearls are brand-new sharp, the case is old and the zipper does not work but it is sturdy.

The response is exceptionally fast and fluid and the sound is very warm and kind of bouncy and expansive while still being focused as SBA’s are. This is a very loud and open feeling SBA, yet definitely not of the later design that feels a bit more like a MK VI, this is not at all like a MK VI.

 

I could keep writing but in the end, anyone looking for the SBA of a lifetime find would run with this after playing it for 2 minutes.  It IS that good, best SBA I have ever played, no contest.  Of course these are very rare, desirable and expensive, just the way things are now.  No complaints, this horn sounds and plays that great.

 

 

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Selmer “Super Sax” 14xxx Baritone, beautiful early Bari (on hold)

Wonderful early Selmer Bari, “SuperSax” in fine condition.  I cannot say if the lacquer finish is original or not but it’s a nice color and looks correct.  This horn has seen some life, easily at this age, but it is also in quite good condition for its age.  It has some normal dings, not very significant.  Someone, sometime in the past fabricated really nice extra supports for areas on the upper bows.  These supports appear to me to be silver, or nickel silver and they have quite nice rounded contours.  It appears to me that these were preventative rather than the result of any damage, just due to the size of them and the high quality of workmanship.

The original neck is present as is the case.  The pads are OLD and will absolutely need work.  I would not call this ‘playing’ at the moment at all, but everything is present, and in quite good condition.  I think most folks know these early Selmer Bari’s have a specially great warm tone.

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Otto Link FL USA 8 near mint original EXC Player

Very clean FL USA Otto Link 8 original facing in very clean condition.  This kit includes original box, lig, and cap.  Normally I play below 7* and 8 would feel a bit more work to play but this one played very easy for me and surprisingly bright as well.  Add the hugeness of an 8 opening and the tone + response is quite compelling.  I tried it on a number of horns and it was friendly to them across the board.  Overall it is surprisingly good for an original of the shelf FL Link with an untouched facing.  I cannot complain and could be happy with this piece as a main blower.

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