selmer 156A bari

[andrewc]

Hi,

I've been looking to buy a durable bari sax that will last me through college. One of the several models I've considered is Selmer's 156A bari. I know I can get one locally for a decent price, and I trust Selmer for quality, even though it is not a "Paris" model. However, I have a question about the design of this bari- Why are the bell keys on the back of the bell and not protected by any guards? Every other bari that looked at has guards to protect the bell keys. Furthermore, all Selmer model altos, tenors, and Selmer's professional baris have bell key guards. It seems to me that the keys on the 156A would be more prone to damage. Could anyone explain this? :?

Thanks,
Andrew

[MonchMan]

These Baris are based on the tooling, if I'm not mistaken, of the Beuscher 400 line of saxes.

http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/buescher/400_series/series2/baritone/36599x_wws_b400/b4001_small1.jpg

(Photo from http://www.saxpics.com/)

[Pinnman]

Take a look at www.saxgourmet.com where you will find the original patent for the back bell keys (as on the 156). The interesting point us that Buesher claimed that these keys would NOT catch on clothing, etc.

[retread]

I have an Aristocrat bari with the back bell keys, no key guards. It's lasted about 45 years with no apparent problems.

[1saxman]

We picked up a used low A Selmer bari like that for the bari player in our band. As already stated, this line is direct clones of the Buescher 400 bari. The exposed keywork for the bell keys was constantly catching on clothes or closing the keys unexpectedly when the horn was played to the side while standing. To the question, though, keyguards are not required on these horns with the protected bell keys - they're out of the way of most danger, and the keyguard is not needed to stop the key from opening because of the linkage design. If you get a used one, have a good tech solder on a removable wire guard to protect the key linkage on the left side. This line of baris has only one thing going for it - a huge, vintage sound. The keywork was so clunky that he sold it in favor of a Taiwan low A bari which has been performing very well. I would much rather have a Jupiter Artist bari than one of these Selmer nightmares.

[danodownunder]

I have modified the right hand key work on one of these and I am a tech and player and this bari is louder and kills all the others that I repair for tone. I moved the thumb hook up the horn and shortened all the right hand side keys and its a bomb. And it has NEVER EVER fouled the bell keys in my clothes WHAT are you people wearing LOL.

[MusicMan]

Buescher put the tone holes to the back of the bell not to prevent clothes from fouling them, but so that the sound would not be muffled by the clothing. I think they succeeded...these horns can ROAR!

[m_flanag]

I just thought I should add, I'm stuck with a Selmer 156a and I cannot stand it. The ergonomics of the horn are from the stone age and the intonation of the low notes vs. middle register is inconsistent with other horns I've played. I would strongly recommend NOT buying a Selmer 156a unless you know what you are getting into, perhaps they could be modified to be playable. But get yourself a Taiwan horn and learn to play that way if you can't afford a paris or japan model.