WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY
2525 EAST DOUGLAS AVENUE
WICHITA, KANSAS 67211
TEL: 316-684-0291
FAX: 316-684-6858
Email : wbic@wichitaband.com
RARE AND SUPERB SELMER SUPER BALANCED ACTION SOPRANO SAX, 100% ORIGINAL SILVER, PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT!
New and vintage saxophones from Selmer are usually in our
collection in Wichita, but this one’s super rare and absolutely
pristine. The original bright silver finish is 100%…no wear at all,
anywhere. It’s never sustained any scratches, dents or dings of any
kind. It’s absolutely perfect !
The sax was recently acquired by us as part payment for a couple Paul Reed Smith guitars.
Selmer “Super Balanced Action” soprano #394xx, made in the first
half of 1950. Selmer didn’t make many sopranos in the late forties and
their 1950 American catalog doesn’t even list them. Altos, tenors and
baritones, yes…but sopranos aren’t even in the brochure.
Selmer-France referred to the saxes of that time as
“Super-Action” models. Because the Balanced Action gradually evolved
from the mid thirties until the 1954 introduction of the Mark Six, we
call the saxes of the early fifties “Super Balanced Action”. They’re
distinguishable from the earlier BA models by having the stacks
slightly offset rather than in the same row. Tone-color is always just
a shade darker than the Mark Sixes and the low notes a little better in
tune.
Some of us are of the opinion that the SBA saxes of the forties were the best that Selmer ever made.
SBA sopranos are rare indeed, and we’ve seen only two others in
our shop in the past decade. The last one was a good “9.9 on a scale of
ten” and went to an East Coast dealer. This one’s BETTER .
Here’s the condition report !
Body is very straight, has never been dented or dinged. Original
strap-ring shows NO wear at all. The edges of the posts, thumb-rest,
strap ring and especially around the lyre-holder are all sharp, never
touched to a buffing wheel.
Excess solder flash on most saxes today is removed by an acid
dip. When this soprano was built, Selmer-France was still hand-scraping
solder flash. And you can see evidence of the hand-scraping on the
posts, especially the low B, B-flat and C-sharp posts.
All pad cups are straight, all pearls are original and still
very sharp, still pristine. The pearl cups show no over-polishing or
buffing traces.
We are absolutely certain the silver finish is original. We
note that there is no wear, pitting, scratches or etch marks under the
silver in the places that first show wear: around the strap ring and to
the left of the thumb-rest area.
Case is the original Selmer-France case and is perfect.
Original 1950 Selmer C-star mouthpiece is still with the sax. It looks like it’s never been played.
You’re seeing this beauty exactly how it came to us on September
18. It still wears the original French pads, with rivets to the
centers, but without tone-boosters or resonators. The sax is scheduled
for a full repad next week and successful bidder can, within reason,
select which pads to be put on the sax.
Photos are “before restoration”…exactly as the sax came to us
today.
It’s scheduled for a light polish and re-pad next week. Key swedging
won’t be necessary, as the hinge-tubes show NO wear at all.
The padding work will be done by Jesse W. Ray. He’s our top
saxophone restorer, has been with our company nine years and has
restored more than one-hundred vintage Selmer saxophones. This week,
he’s finishing the pad work on a late Mark Six alto. After that comes
an SBA alto from 1950, then soprano #39,472. It should be ready for
play-testing by September 27 or 28.
The bottom line is that this one is absolutely superb, the
finest soprano we’ve had for several years. A cheaper soprano is always
possible, but you’ll NEVER find a better one than this beauty !
********************************************************************************************
Wichita Band Instrument Company is a small musical instrument
emporium located in the center of the USA. We’ve been in business since
1953 and have had the same owner since 1963. Originally we were a
repair shop that specialized in woodwind and sax restoration. Today we
have 18 employees including six of the finest repair technicians in the
country. Virtually ALL the items we sell have been fully reconditioned
in our own shop, although we do sell the occasional unrestored
historical instruments each year.
Due to the heavy demand for our services, we do no school repairs, and very few “walk-in” repairs.
It’s sometimes possible to buy a good saxophone on Ebay for a
lower price, but unless that instrument wears all new pads and corks
from a reputable shop, you won’t know how it plays until you spend
another five to seven hundred to have it mechanically overhauled. With
a saxophone from OUR shop, you know it’s in the finest condition when
it arrives at your home!
Wichita Band’s service warranty is the same as it’s been for more than thirty years:
“ALL new and all used instruments sold by Wichita Band
Instrument Company come with our 24 month service warranty. It’s in
addition to any factory guarantees. For two full years, we will repair
or replace - whichever in our estimation is the more advisable - pads,
corks, springs or other parts required, at no charge to the customer.
In the event of cracked or damaged wood sections, we will repair at no
cost to the customer or replace the section and charge the customer
only for our net costs for the replacement section. Often, wood
replacement parts are supplied from the manufacturer at no charge. The
customer is responsible for shipping and insurance charges. Cases and
plating finishes are not covered by our service warranty but are
sometimes covered by factory guarantees.”
Wichita Band’s service warranty does cover dents and dings to
your sax. If your instrument sustains damage to the body, end bow, neck
or bell, we’ll burnish out the dents and make it look “like new” again.
The cost you is absolutely nothing except shipping and insurance
charges.
Wichita Band Instrument Company maintains a repair department
capable of restoration work of the highest quality. Even though repairs
are essentially “free” for the first two years, after that period has
expired, we remain at your service to maintain and repair your musical
equipment forever. It’s our “service after the sale” promise and has
been since 1953!
In the event that a customer requires service under factory
guarantees or Wichita Band’s service warranty, the item must be
returned to us and not directly to the manufacturer.
Anything we sell can be sent to you for a short approval
period without obligation. We collect NO SALES TAX, unless you’re lucky
enough to live in Kansas. The customer is responsible for shipping and
insurance and must pre-pay back to us any freight charges on returned
equipment. International shipping is available. Returned items will be
refunded within 3 weeks of receiving the item. We’re happy to send any
instrument “on approval” for ten days, but ask the prospective buyer to
pay shipping both ways and to please reimburse us for Ebay charges (if
you pay with credit card, about 2.95%) on any returned instrument.
VISA/MASTERCARD/DISCOVER/MONEY ORDER/CHECK/WIRE TRANSFER
ACCEPTED. Credit cards not accepted from some countries. We must ship
to the credit card billing address with exceptions made only at our
discretion.
We’re happy to correspond with musicians, players, parents and
enthusiasts of all types. Written appraisals are always available, but
man, please don’t write or telephone and ask “what’s granny’s baritone
sax worth?” Do an Ebay search and you’ll be able to figure it out for
yourself.
And please don’t ask “…does it play in tune?” Man, it’s a SAXOPHONE!
Ebay rules prohibit us from posting our web address link to this
listing, however, those that see our ebay screen name would not have
any trouble finding it!
Please note: Many scam artists are now sending fake “Ebay
second chance” offers to second and other bidders on closed and active
ebay itemes. If we send you a “second chance offer” it will be from
wbic@wichitaband.com. You can always call us on our 800 number
(800-835-3006) or email us directly at wbic@wichitaband.com, to verify
and speak or wtite to us in person about any auction, and please verify
any second chance offers from us.
Customers wishing to use US Postal Service: Please be advised
that we will be happy to send your item by the US Postal Service if you
so desire. However, please be informed that if your item is lost,
stolen or damaged in transit, it could take one year or longer to
finalize the claim with the US Postal Service. Therefore, we cannot be
responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items when shipped with the US
Postal Service. Because of this problem, we cannot recommend the US
Postal Service for anything other than inexpensive items.
Please see our other auctions: Current E-bay auctions.
Feel free to call or e-mail for any additional information.
Wichita Band Instrument Co.
800-835-3006 order line (USA and Canada),
316-684-0291 outside the USA and Canada order line, and info line,
e-mail: wbic@wichitaband.com.
)
