Selmer Super Action 80 Alto Saxophone, Just Serviced
Selmer Super Action 80 alto saxophone, s/n 347543. Here is a 1980’s vintage Selmer that was made shortly after the Mark VI and VII horns. Some refer to this model as a Series I, but its official name is a Super Action 80. It’s in excellent original condition.
These are fabulous horns that are a bit overlooked, since relatively few were made. It’s an interesting playing horn that is unlike any other Selmer model. They tend to have a more focused and compact sound than a Series II, but are on the darker side. For this reason, I think they make a fabulous crossover horn that can do both classical and jazz equally well. It’s as easy to make this horn sing with a New York Meyer as it is with a Selmer Concept mouthpiece. Few horns can do this as well as a Series I.
My repairman just serviced this horn, replacing 8 pads and 5 key corks. The other pads appear to be the originals, but everything is sealing very well and the horn plays effortlessly down to low Bb.
Here's a video of another Super Action 80 that recently came through the shop. It should give you a great idea of what this model sounds like.
