Chubb
01-13-2006, 04:29 AM
I come to you all in search of validation because, as those having first-hand experience with the SML and its charms, I thought you might be somewhat more understanding of the quandary I faced than the Selmer chauvinist types who might be more inclined to call me nuts (which I probably am anyway, but whatever...). So, as someone afflicted with the syndrome common among the semi-employed which involves poverty, debt, and balances due, I made the decision to sell one of my three saxophones. It's a Balanced Action tenor, which I love and am more than a little attached to because it took several years to find a suitable replacement for the first real horn I ever owned, which was itself a beat-up Balanced Action (despite being beat-up, cranky, and frequently leaky, that horn had a beautiful sound that I pined for after it was stolen from the trunk of my father's car one day while we were eating lunch; even now, the memory of opening the trunk to find an empty space is painful). This horn has the rich, colorful sound that I had missed in my old horn-- with the added benefit of being in much better shape-- and I'm certain I'll wind up missing this one as well. But, I'm selling it, and here's why...
I'm selling it because the alternative was to sell one or both of my other horns, which I also love and which are a matching pair of Coleman Hawkins Specials, a tenor and an alto. I actually made up my mind several times to sell the SMLs instead of the Selmer, but I always wound up talking myself out of it. I'd be decided, but then I'd pick up one of the SMLs, admire its shiny silver beauty, start to play, hear the sound pour out of that huge bell, and end up calling myself an idiot for even considering selling them. Also, it just didn't seem right to break up the pair or sell them to some random fool who might not properly appreciate them. I've had these horns for a few years now, but from time to time I still find myself in wonder at the tone they produce. This is the part that I think you all can probably appreciate the best. What it came down to is which decision I thought I would regret less (there is no actual happiness in this choice), and I guess my final choice was based on the unique qualities of the SMLs. I mean, nothing really sounds like that, you know?
On the down side, the tenor weighs a ton and sometimes makes me feel like Wile E. Coyote with a cartoon anvil hanging from my neck. I guess there are probably exercises for that, though.
So anyway... tell me I made the right decision. You probably would have done the same... right?
I'm selling it because the alternative was to sell one or both of my other horns, which I also love and which are a matching pair of Coleman Hawkins Specials, a tenor and an alto. I actually made up my mind several times to sell the SMLs instead of the Selmer, but I always wound up talking myself out of it. I'd be decided, but then I'd pick up one of the SMLs, admire its shiny silver beauty, start to play, hear the sound pour out of that huge bell, and end up calling myself an idiot for even considering selling them. Also, it just didn't seem right to break up the pair or sell them to some random fool who might not properly appreciate them. I've had these horns for a few years now, but from time to time I still find myself in wonder at the tone they produce. This is the part that I think you all can probably appreciate the best. What it came down to is which decision I thought I would regret less (there is no actual happiness in this choice), and I guess my final choice was based on the unique qualities of the SMLs. I mean, nothing really sounds like that, you know?
On the down side, the tenor weighs a ton and sometimes makes me feel like Wile E. Coyote with a cartoon anvil hanging from my neck. I guess there are probably exercises for that, though.
So anyway... tell me I made the right decision. You probably would have done the same... right?