Selmer Mark

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Selmer Mark

This is the firstborn illustrated history of the horns that have specified jazz since the 1920s and intensified more recent pop and rock music with their distinctive, classy sounds. Offering superb, particularly commissioned photography and inviting descriptive text, The Sax & Brass Book tells the distinguishable 70-year story of these instruments. Exquisite, color pictorials included all around heighten elaborated historical profiles of master brass and woodwind manufacturers, including Buescher, Buffet, Conn, Holton, King, Leblanc, Martin, Sax, Selmer, Yanagisawa and Yamaha.

Selmer makes a heap of saxophones and their line once included the legendary Mark VI. Their recent models have returned to design ideas that the Mark VI had.

Company: Selmer

Founding Date: Early 1900s

History:

Selmer was founded in the early 1900s by Henri and Alexandre Selmer. In it is early days, they focalized on clarinets, as both of it is founders were clarinet players. Although Henri and Alexandre begun by building reeds and mouthpieces for clarinets, the company would finally grow to include a wide range of woodwind instruments, including the saxophone.

Selmer’s most successful saxophone, the Mark VI was introduced in 1954. The saxophone was made in France, and in the first place imported to the United States in elements to keep away from import tariffs. The Mark VI was produced up until the end of 1973 when it was substituted by the Mark VII- supposed to be an “improvement” but not so much in reality. Selmer’s most recent professional horns, the Reference 54 and the Reference 36, were introduced in 2005. These models are based on 1954′s Mark VI model and 1936′s Balanced Action model.

Who Plays the Brand:

Selmer is one of the huge four saxophone makers and has a big stable of artists who prefer the brand. A short list of these artisan includes Phil Woods, Paul Desmond, Bob Berg, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, John Coltrane, and Lee Konitz. Owing to the popularity and reputation of the Mark VI horn, this list is only a snippet of the big body of artists that proudly use a Selmer for their performances.

What They Are Known For:

Although the Selmer name has invented successful models for as long as they have been devising saxophones, the Mark VI is not only the firstborn model players think of when they think ‘Selmer’, it’s the primary model a lot of players think of when they think ‘saxophone’. The horn is genuinely legendary amongst jazz musicians, and is played by numerous of the best in the business.

Perhaps because the Mark VI set such a high standard, Selmer took a wrong turn with the introduction of the Mark VII which most saxophone players agree was a step backwards. The Reference 54 and Reference 36, however, are profiting a very decent reputation.

Interesting Stories About Them:

A recent reviewer at Musicians Friend had very kinds words to say with regards to the new Reference model saxophones and how favorably they compare to the horns they seek to recreate:

“Playing the Reference 54 tenor was an illuminating experience. I knew at once I had an extraordinary instrument in my hands. It had the richness of tone, the warmth, and the punch and projection I loved in my Mark VI, but was a little brighter.

finally put down the Reference 54 and picked up the Reference 36. It had the same ergonomic key feel as the 54 but it is own tonal coloring. It is based on the Balanced Action model Selmer introduced in 1936 and has that instrument’s rich open sound. Like the 54, it is an extraordinary instrument. If I had to choose among the two, I’d have a hard time making up my mind.”

Price Ranges:

Sopranos range from $895 for a student model to $5,499 for a professional model.

Altos range from $1,602 for a student model to $5,229 for a professional model.

Tenors range from $2,160 for a student model to $6,199 for a professional model.

Baritones range from $4,479 to $9.329 for a professional model.

(Prices current in June 2009)

Selmer Mark Photo

Selmer Mark Image

Selmer Mark Image

Selmer Mark Picture