Brass Rescue

The Selmer Modele 22  (also known as Modèle 22 or Series 22 in its earliest form) was Selmer's first saxophone model, introduced in 1922 and produced through around 1926. It was an early, foundational design with innovations like an automatic octave key, but it had limitations in tuning, ergonomics, and power compared to later Selmer models (like the Balanced Action or Mark VI). The tenor version was available in both Bb and C (C-Melody) variants, with the C-Melody being part

The Selmer Super Balanced Action  (SBA) alto saxophone, a legendary vintage horn from the late 1930s to early 1950s, pairs beautifully with mouthpieces that complement its dark, rich, complex tone and excellent projection without overpowering its inherent warmth. Vintage Recommendations Vintage options from the era often shine on the SBA due to similar design philosophies and materials. The classic short-shank Selmer Soloist  (often in C* or slightly opened to D/E equivalents

The Selmer Super Balanced Action (SBA)  tenor saxophone, produced roughly from the late 1940s to early 1950s, is celebrated for its warm, rich, vintage tone with excellent projection and complexity—qualities that p air well with mouthpieces emphasizing roundness, darkness, and focus rather than extreme brightness or edge. Vintage Recommendations These older pieces often complement the SBA's inherent dark, singing character, evoking classic jazz eras (e.g., swing and bebop inf

The Selmer Balanced Action  (often called Balance Action) tenor saxophone, a vintage model from the late 1930s to mid-1940s, is prized for its warm, dark, and expressive tone, especially in jazz contexts. Mouthpiece choice greatly influences how it responds—vintage horns like this often pair well with pieces that emphasize roundness, core, and control without excessive brightness. Vintage Recommendations These draw from the era's popular designs, often favored for their compa

The Selmer Balanced Action  is a classic vintage alto saxophone from the 1930s–1940s (produced roughly 1936–1947), known for its warm, resonant tone, excellent intonation, and balanced keywork that was revolutionary at the time. It's a French-made Selmer horn prized by collectors and players for its dark, vintage character—often described as having a rich, complex timbre with great projection and flexibility. Mouthpiece choice depends heavily on your playing style (e.g., clas

The Selmer Modèle 26  is a vintage tenor saxophone from the late 1920s (part of Selmer's early Paris series, pre-Balanced Action era, often with a smaller bore and more resistant feel compared to later models like the Mark VI). It was originally supplied with specific vintage mouthpieces, such as the "Rudy Wiedoeft" model (a hard rubber piece from around 1927–1928, made in the USA for Selmer's early line). For modern recommendations, players of vintage Selmers (including earl

The Selmer Modele 26  is a vintage alto saxophone from the late 1920s (part of Selmer's early "Super Series" or "Large Bore" era, produced around 1927–1928). It's a classic French-made horn with a distinctive, lighter, more classical-oriented tone compared to later Selmer models like the Mark VI—often described as brilliant yet flexible, with good projection for its time. Recommended mouthpieces for a Modele 26 alto depend on your style (e.g., jazz, classical, or modern playi

The H. Couf Superba II  alto saxophone, a professional-level instrument built by Julius Keilwerth in Germany (often described as having a dark, powerful, and versatile tone with excellent projection), pairs well with a variety of mouthpieces. Recommendations from players emphasize pieces that complement its characteristically fat, dark, and spread sound while maintaining good intonation and response. Common Recommendations Stock/original H. Couf mouthpieces : Many Superba mod

The H. Couf Superba I  alto saxophone, a professional model manufactured by Julius Keilwerth in Germany (with rolled tone holes and a distinctive dark, powerful tone), pairs well with mouthpieces that complement its bold, spread sound and large bell design. Players often report it responds best to large-chamber pieces  for a fat, dark timbre, though brighter options can add edge depending on your style. Recommended Mouthpieces Stock H. Couf Artist mouthpiece  (often a 6* tip

The Buffet Super Dynaction  (SDA) tenor saxophone, a vintage French horn from the 1960s–1970s, is known for its warm, round, dark, and rich tone with excellent intonation and a "big" sound when properly set up. It often pairs well with mouthpieces that enhance its natural depth without making it too bright or thin. Recommended Mouthpieces These are commonly suggested by players and sellers who own or have tested the horn. The SDA can be somewhat mouthpiece-sensitive (metal pi

The Buffet Crampon Super Dynaction (SDA) alto saxophone is a vintage professional horn from the 1950s–1970s, known for its dark, mellow, and robust tone with excellent intonation and a somewhat large bore. It often pairs well with large-chamber mouthpieces that enhance its natural warmth and depth, though it can be somewhat mouthpiece-selective—certain setups (like bright or small-chamber pieces) may not bring out its best qualities or can affect tuning. Recommendations: Otto

The Selmer Reference 36  alto saxophone, modeled after the vintage Balanced Action  from 1936, features a rich, open, and spreading tone with vintage character but modern keywork and intonation. Mouthpiece choice is highly personal, depending on your style (classical vs. jazz), desired brightness or darkness, and reed strength, but common recommendations from players pair well with its warmer, broader sound. Recommended Mouthpieces Selmer Soloist  (especially E or F tip openi

The Selmer Reference 36  tenor saxophone, modeled after the 1936 Balanced Action, features a rich, open, warm, and projecting tone that's particularly favored in jazz . Mouthpiece choice is highly personal and depends on the desired sound (e.g., darker vintage jazz vs. brighter modern), reed strength, and playing style, but several options pair especially well with its acoustic design. Recommended Mouthpieces Common recommendations from players include: Selmer Super Session  

The Selmer Mark VII  tenor (produced 1975–1980s) is often described as brighter and more powerful than the legendary Mark VI , with a larger bore, different taper, and sometimes a "whiny" high end. Many players seek mouthpieces that darken  or warm  the tone while maintaining projection and response. Recommendations overlap heavily with those for the Mark VI, as both are Selmer Paris horns, but focus on versatile or darker options for the VII's character. Popular recommendati

Recommended Mouthpieces for Selmer Mark VII Alto Saxophone The Selmer Mark VII  (produced 1975–1980s for alto) is closely related to the legendary Mark VI , with a similar bore but refinements for better intonation, a slightly more focused and brighter tone, and updated keywork (e.g., larger pinky keys). It pairs well with many of the same mouthpieces as the Mark VI, though some players note it responds better to pieces that add warmth or edge without high baffles. Popular re

The Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone  (produced 1954–1981) is legendary for its rich, focused tone, excellent intonation, and responsiveness, making it a favorite among jazz players. Mouthpiece choice is highly personal—depending on desired tone (dark vs. bright), genre (classical vs. jazz), and tip opening/reed strength—but certain models pair exceptionally well with the Mark VI's versatile character. Popular Modern Recommendations These options suit various playing styles: Sel

The Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone  (produced 1954–1974) is legendary for its versatile, rich tone and excellent intonation, making it a favorite among jazz players. Mouthpiece choice is highly personal—depending on desired sound (dark/warm vs. bright/edgy), genre, and playing style—but certain models pair exceptionally well with the Mark VI's responsive, centered character. Recommended Mouthpieces Otto Link Super Tone Master  (metal or hard rubber): Often called the "classic

The Conn New Wonder I (also known as the early "Chu Berry" or pre-Series II model from the 1920s) is a vintage alto saxophone famous for its big, dark, spread tone with plenty of power and complexity. These horns tend to respond best to mouthpieces with medium to large chambers, as smaller or high-baffled modern pieces can cause intonation issues (e.g., sharp midrange or stuffy notes) or make the low end warble/gurgle. Recommended Mouthpieces Meyer hard rubber (5M or 6M tip o

The Conn New Wonder Series I (early 1920s vintage "Chu Berry"-era predecessor) tenor saxophone has a large bore and chamber, producing a big, dark, spread tone typical of early jazz horns. Players widely recommend large-chamber mouthpieces to match its acoustics, enhance intonation, and unlock its full warm, powerful sound—small-chamber or high-baffle modern pieces can make it stuffy, sharp, or uneven. Popular Recommendations Otto Link hard rubber (vintage Tone Edge, Super To

The Conn New Wonder II (often called the "Chu Berry" model, though the nickname originates from the tenor version) is a vintage alto saxophone from the late 1920s known for its big, dark, robust, and spread tone with excellent projection. It pairs best with mouthpieces featuring medium to large chambers to complement its design, enhance intonation (especially with the microtuner neck), and avoid stuffiness or sharpness issues that can arise with small-chamber or high-baffle m

The King Super 20 Silver Sonic tenor saxophone (especially models with the sterling silver neck and bell) is known for its powerful, bright, projecting tone with a big core and excellent response. It's often described as "loud" and flexible, pairing well with a wide range of mouthpieces depending on the desired sound— from classic jazz to more modern or edgy styles. Mouthpiece choice is highly subjective and depends on your playing style, reed strength, and genre, but based o

The Conn New Wonder II (often nicknamed "Chu Berry," though not officially) is a vintage tenor saxophone from the 1920s-early 1930s known for its big, dark, complex tone and large bore. It pairs best with large-chamber mouthpieces to enhance its natural spread and power while maintaining good intonation—smaller chambers or high-baffle pieces can cause tuning issues or make the horn sound stuffy/thin. Top Recommendations Otto Link hard rubber (vintage or modern large-chamber m

The Conn 6M (often called the "Naked Lady" model due to its bell engraving) is a legendary vintage alto saxophone known for its big, dark, powerful tone with excellent projection and flexibility across jazz styles. It's notably mouthpiece-friendly compared to some other vintage horns, working well with a wide range of pieces, especially those with medium to large chambers that complement its broad sound. Recommendations: Meyer (especially 5M, 6M, or 7M) — A classic choice fo

The Buescher Aristocrat Series III (also known as the Model 156, produced around the late 1940s to early 1950s) is a highly regarded vintage alto saxophone known for its warm, focused tone with good intonation and versatility. It's often praised for being mouthpiece-friendly, meaning it pairs well with a wide range of options without major tuning issues. Mouthpiece recommendations depend on your playing style (classical, jazz, or versatile), but players on forums like Sax on