Selmer Paris Signature Alto Saxophone - Antiqued Lacquer

Completing the lineup of the modern Selmer range, the Signature is released!

Selmer are notorious for their rich tradition of producing classic saxophones over the years.  We have seen legendary models come and go, but one thing has always remained – the constant evolution.  The Signature is now part of that evolution, taking the Super Action 80 Series II and Series III saxophones, making improvements both acoustically and ergonomically, while benefitting from recent innovations applied to the Supreme model.

Drawing inspiration from the Super Action 80 Series II

The Series II alto has been an absolute favourite among professionals for many years now, so surely it would be a mistake to get rid of it?  That's why Selmer took the decision to take the best of this instrument and develop it further, applying all the latest innovations and improvements, thereby creating a perfect sax, particularly for those players who have loved playing the Series II.

Fundamentally, we have the same bore structure as the Series II, but Selmer have developed a new neck bore which has the effect of improving the pitch accuracy around the left hand notes and upper register, plus facilitating a better response in the lower range.  Beyond this we see many of the innovations from the Supreme including the new neck receiver system with a three-point concentric clamp.  The Signature has a strong aesthetic identity with its striking Art Deco engraving, paying homage to generations of Selmer Paris artisans and their various techniques over the decades.

If you have ever enjoyed a SA Series II alto in the past you will absolutely love the Signature as it has the same sound identity, but with improved intonation, sound quality and ergonomics!

Acoustics, Mechanics and Ergonomics

The Signature brings us the same acoustic qualities the Series II - a warm, round and full bodied sound, but the re-designed neck now opens up the low note response, offering more comfort around this area, plus it corrects the octave relationships from the left hand stack area up through the palm keys.

The Signature includes the new Octave key system with Teflon supports, offering a lighter action, reduced wear-and-tear and noise.

Natural mother-of-pearl key inlays and leather pads with riveted metal resonators add class to the setup, while left and right-hand fine gold gilt metal thumb supports offer a refined feel and look at these crucial contact points.

Features

• Material: Brass
• Finish: Antiqued lacquered
• Key Touches: White mother of pearl
• Neck: Selmer Signature
• Engraving: State-of-the-art machine engraving
• Case: Black ABS shell Signature case, designed by BAM
• Mouthpiece: Selmer Concept
• Made in: France
• Free Professional Set Up & Free Check over within a Year
• Recommended for: All serious sax players

Staff Review

I was fortunate enough to pay another visit to the Selmer factory recently and I was struck by the many advances in technology beyond what I had witnessed on my only other visit, many years before this one.   For example, they have taken metrology to new heights using a 3D scanner to be able to judge slight variations from one part to another in order to be able to control consistency.  We now see much more automated control of machining tools.  The most impressive sight was the use of a 'robot' to lay down the highly intricate engravings!  But at the other end of the scale, you could still witness traditional methods - the hand hammering of baritone bells for example!  Everywhere I looked I could see Signature saxes in various stages of production - it was a sight to behold!

Selmer have now completely set out their stall for the years, or maybe decades, to come - they now have a three-tiered range, starting with the Axos, progressing to the Signature and culminating in the Supreme.  I think what is key to understand here is that Selmer are essentially recognising what has been hugely successful over many years and rather than starting over with a new design, they are making improvements on tried and tested models.  The Series II has always had a great sound on alto - now tuning and response is optimised; the Series III has always been the one on tenor - now acoustically improved too.  And then it makes sense to bring in some of those features included in the Supreme just to give them that extra finesse.

These are beautiful sounding horns, with a perfect build and mechanism - there's really nothing to criticize.  All I can say is, come down to our store, give it a blow and see if it speaks to you!

Jim Cheek