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-TH
02-20-2008, 04:30 PM
Couldn't find any thread discussing this.. so here it goes! I just bought a Selmer SA I alto and the S-letter on the neck is RED, not blue us usual. What's up with that? Is that only on Series I horns?

-TH
SearjeantSax
02-20-2008, 04:47 PM
that is on the necks of reference horns i think
Reedsplinter
02-20-2008, 04:47 PM
My Ref. 36 has a blue S.
Martinman
02-20-2008, 04:55 PM
I know at least the Kookabura has a red "S". It could be an aftermarket neck, or just painted.
SuperAction80
02-20-2008, 05:15 PM
A red S is not typical of Serie I horns.

Can you post some pics? Does the neck differ in color from the body in any way? Does the neck look a little "too perfect" for a horn that is 23+ years old?

My initial thought is that it is a Reference Kookabura neck. Actually, with 23+ year old lacquer mixed with the dark lacquer of the Reference, it would probably be very difficult to tell. Other possibilities could be that it is painted as Martinman stated, or the octave key is from the Kookabura (least likely).
Dave C
02-20-2008, 05:43 PM
My understanding is that Selmer are providing the red logo's on the Ref limited edition horns, i.e. Humming Bird, Kookaburra, Flamingo.

If you buy the vanilla Ref horns or the Serie II or Serie III you get the blue logo.

Just another Selmer marketing ploy.

So your horn maybe has a replacement neck?
-TH
02-20-2008, 05:57 PM
Here are some pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.fi/tuomashei/SelmerSaIAltoSax

I believe that the neck is original. What do you think?
SuperAction80
02-20-2008, 06:03 PM
It is indeed the original neck and octave key by the looks of it. It's a pretty clean paint job by the looks of it too. Could have been a special order product, or someone really did a good aftermarket job.

Well...how does it play? Looks like she was played to hell and back...that's cool.
-TH
02-20-2008, 06:14 PM
It is indeed the original neck and octave key by the looks of it. It's a pretty clean paint job by the looks of it too. Could have been a special order product, or someone really did a good aftermarket job.

Well...how does it play? Looks like she was played to hell and back...that's cool.

It is this horn:
http://www.saxquest.com/productDetails.asp?productcode=378607SeriesIAlto

As Saxquest guys said it's a phenomenal player and that's true! I just got the horn today and that's the best alto that I've ever had. Gotta blow!

-TH
SuperAction80
02-20-2008, 06:18 PM
Awesome. Welcome to the S80 club.
Ike Webkins
02-20-2008, 07:07 PM
my flamingo tenor has a red paint logo...
Canadiain
02-20-2008, 07:46 PM
It is this horn:
http://www.saxquest.com/productDetails.asp?productcode=378607SeriesIAlto

As Saxquest guys said it's a phenomenal player and that's true! I just got the horn today and that's the best alto that I've ever had. Gotta blow!

-TH

Interesting that they made no mention of it, and shot the photos carefully to not show it....


Ok guys, so how does the colour of the enamel affect the tone...:twisted:
Dr G
02-20-2008, 08:19 PM
If the color denotes that it is a Reference neck rather than the original SA-80 neck, it may be an issue of the color affecting the intonation. :twisted:
SuperAction80
02-20-2008, 09:11 PM
If the color denotes that it is a Reference neck rather than the original SA-80 neck, it may be an issue of the color affecting the intonation. :twisted:

Sounds like we need a poll on the topic.:D
Graftonsax
02-20-2008, 10:20 PM
We need a poll. I have a vintage MKVI neck I painted the 'S' in blue, if we find out red or black has better intonation I will repaint it. Maybe I should redo it in white? Pink? I am just not sure. HELP ME!!:?
rogcwilliams
02-21-2008, 10:46 AM
We need a poll. I have a vintage MKVI neck I painted the 'S' in blue, if we find out red or black has better intonation I will repaint it. Maybe I should redo it in white? Pink? I am just not sure. HELP ME!!:?

What about sky blue pink thats meant to be good for Jazz :):D
JimD
02-21-2008, 10:57 AM
Don't forget the yellow dots.
rogcwilliams
02-21-2008, 02:57 PM
Don't forget the yellow dots.

wow sky blue pink with yellow dots that would just make ur eyes go like :shock:
SneekyJones
02-21-2008, 03:18 PM
Hi -TH,

I am happy you found a great example of the series I. Pro's have been in "the know" about these (SA 80 I) for some time now. It hasn't been until recently (2005-pres.) that others are starting to take notice!

Regarding your neck. Now that you're in the club, you should know:

SA80 I horns are excellent. They become even more excellent with a "VI" neck period. This even holds true in some cases for alto (thus the 54 neck swap), but mainly on the tenors. Therefore, along with SuperAction80, I believe your horn has had some sort of neck alteration. Could very well just be an octave pip swap as previously stated!

So in the spirit of Tim Price:
"WHY SAXQUEST DID NOT MENTION THIS, NOR SHOW THE RELEVANT PICS OF IT, IS DISTURBING".

Do not worry -TH, the neck swap, alteration, whatever, was probably for the better. Just don't like how that business did you is all. Honesty is the best policy..... not: "if they don't ask, don't tell".

Sneeky
-TH
02-22-2008, 06:40 AM
SneekyJones: Thanks for your reply! I also think that these horns are "sleepers"! I've been through a bunch of altos lately and this alto is really the winner!

I took the risk of buying a horn without testing it first because I really trust Saxquest's descriptions of their products. I had a brief e-mail conversation with the guys there and I knew that this was the horn I've been looking for! I got it few days ago and it's really what they said it was.. and more!

I've become "obsessed" on intonation and that was my first concern. I checked it with a tuner and it's as great as on my friend's Yani 991's. I've struggled with intonation problems in the past, mostly with vintage horns, and that was the reason to get a modern horn. We had a studio session sometime ago with our little big band where I play the lead alto and the theme of one standard was in the range of F#2 - F#3 (quite typical lead alto range). That was duplicated in unison with the tenor sax. It was impossible to play in-tune with my other (vintage) altos so I had to borrow my friends Yani 991 for that session.. and the problem solved! I'm sure that you can learn to live with the intonation quirks of some vintage horns but maybe I'm so lazy that I want a horn which is easier to play in-tune.

I just A-B'd that Yani 991 alto vs. my new Selmer. They're quite similar in terms of intonation and ergonomics but the sound is where the Selmer shines. I hate to say this (as a Yanagisawa fan) but the Yanagisawa sounded too clear and bland compared to the Selmer although I love to play the Yani alto too!

-TH
Jimmy Dorsey
02-22-2008, 09:08 PM
I like the red on my Kookaburra! Blue is good and some old horns that have nothing are great too. I think that Selmers are so damn good that it dosen't matter hat color the neck is!:D
AMASAX
02-23-2008, 01:13 AM
as i recall(been a lonnnggg time), Selmer went through a phase painting the necks red. I'm not aware of any differences between these and any other vanilla Selmer neck.

I wouldn't get too jazzed up by the neck color; there's many other things to obsess about in regards to your sax & what comes out of it :)
mortonn
05-19-2008, 01:52 PM
I have a Mark VI with the red logo on the neck