Super Action 80 Series One Tenor

[captain blowhard]

What are the tonal characteristics of this horn known to be compared with the other Selmer tenors like the Mark 6, Mark 7 or the later S80 series? Just wondering . . .

[OANegrin]

Pitch on the original Super Action 80 tenor is better than the average non-worked-on Mark VI or VII.

SA80 tenor is a bit more flexible and has a darker tone than the Series III, but the keywork on the III is more advanced.

I prefer the III, but I can absolutely understand some saxophonists' preference for the original SA80.

Play them both. In fact, play the VI and VII too. They're all great horns.

OANegrin

[shmuelyosef]

I like the early SA80 because the keywork feels so much like the VI (mainly the less sculpted tables and pearl front F)...in my experience, the differences are pretty subtle blowing the horns, and are really dominated by the high variability in Selmer necks. If I get a VI here next to my SA80 and swap the necks back and forth, the character of the horns switches with the neck, not the horn. There are good ones and bad ones. The neck on my SA80 is a middle one (neither good nor bad) but the horn is well set up; I have experimented with aftermarket necks, but not found one a lot better yet. A buddy of mine has a VI with a neck that makes my SA80 'to die for'. Still like my JK better...

[DanF]

I have an 83 SA 80 that I use a Series 111 neck on. It's as good a horn as you'll find. The Series 111 neck gave it a "tad" more responce. Keywork and action are smooth and quick. Doubt if I'd trade it for anything.

[sessionsax]

I use a SA 80 I as well and will also say that the Series III neck really makes the SA 80 feel and sound MKVIish. I can't tell the difference between my SA 80 and an early 70s MKVI. I plays well with the stock neck, but I can really tell a difference with the Series III neck.

[madav]

In my opinion the SA80 has a tendancy to be a bit thin up around the palm keys. and boomy in thebottom. I think the serie II is a much better option and a really good all-round horn. I have played a Serie III and it was the brightest of the bunch, but I still prefer my VI to all others.

[shmuelyosef]

...that's interesting, because I would say the opposite, that my SA80 is fat in the top end, but not as 'big' down low as a JK or a King or even a SBA...very similar to a VI. Never done a good comparison with a Series II or III

[Dave dix]

I found the sa80 to be a bit thinner sounding than the mk7
Dave

[shmuelyosef]

Just curious what style mouthpieces everyone uses with these; I primarily play Links or other round-chamber pieces...curious if the 'thin' comments come from baffled mouthpieces, as I found it was very thin with Ponzol ML and Dukoff SPC (almost screechy) in the upper register...the horn did not like baffles.

[captain blowhard]

I've mostly been using a Berg 105/1 or a 105/0 on my SA80. Occasionally a Dukoff D7. For some reason my partcular horn always seemed slightly on the dark side, so maybe the Bergs help to overcome this. With a Link it sounded nice, but didn't seem to project sufficiently for my taste.

Could be the player though . . .