Selmer Modele 26 Alto Mouthpieces

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 playing), embouchure, and desired sound. Vintage horns like this pair well with mouthpieces that complement their bore and response—typically medium-chamber or round-chamber designs for warmth and control, rather than overly bright or resistant ones.

Classic/Vintage-Compatible Recommendations

These often match the era's sound aesthetic and work excellently on early Selmers:

• Selmer Soloist (vintage or reissue, e.g., C or C* facing)** — A horseshoe/round chamber gives a warm, rich, centered tone with good flexibility. Vintage Soloists (or "Soloist Style" reissues) were historically paired with similar-era Selmers and suit classical/jazz well.

• Meyer Bros. (e.g., 5M–7M or New York-style) — A popular "industry standard" for alto, offering balanced projection and warmth. Many players find Meyers enhance vintage Selmers' natural brightness without overpowering it.

• Otto Link Tone Edge (hard rubber, e.g., 5–6)** — Versatile for jazz; provides edge and projection while keeping things controllable on older horns.

Modern Selmer Options

These are designed for Selmer saxophones and often recommended broadly:

• Selmer S80 (C facing)* — Extremely popular, balanced, and homogeneous sound with flexibility—great all-rounder for students to pros.

• Selmer Concept — High-precision, rich/even tone with easy response; modern favorite for consistency across ranges.

• Selmer Jazz Flow — Newer jazz-inspired model (tribute to 1950s Air Flow); focused yet versatile, with good dynamics and projection—fun for contemporary/jazz playing.

• Selmer Soloist (modern reissue) — Echoes the vintage Soloist vibe: warm, modulated sound ideal for jazz/classical.

Other Strong Contenders

• Vandoren V16 or V5 — Good for jazz/classic crossover; warm and controllable.

• Yanagisawa hard rubber — Often praised for vintage Selmers due to smooth response.

Start with a medium tip opening (around .065–.075" or equivalent, like 5–6 in many brands) for control on a vintage horn—too open can feel resistant or wild. Test in person if possible (e.g., via trial from a shop), as mouthpiece fit interacts with the horn's bore, neck, and your setup (reeds/ligature). Pair with quality reeds like Vandoren or D’Addario Select Jazz for best results.

Famous Players

The Modele 26 dates to the late 1920s, a transitional era for jazz saxophone (pre-dating the swing boom and major adoption of Selmers by bebop-era icons like Charlie Parker or Cannonball Adderley, who favored later models like the Balanced Action, Super Balanced Action, or Mark VI). Direct endorsements or famous players specifically tied to the Modele 26 are rare in historical records, as it was a short-run model (total Selmer production in that era was small compared to American brands like Conn or Buescher).

• It built on the foundation of earlier Selmers (like the Modele 22/C Melody) used by pioneers such as Frankie Trumbauer (who popularized the C Melody sax) and Coleman Hawkins (who started on C Melody before moving to tenor).

  
  

• The Modele 26 helped cement Selmer's reputation, leading to later dominance in jazz. Many players of the era experimented with early Selmers, but no major alto icons are definitively documented as long-term Modele 26 users—unlike later models associated with John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, or Ornette Coleman.

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It's more of a collector's or historical piece today, prized for its vintage Selmer tone and rarity.

If you're aiming for a specific genre or have more details about your playing style, I can narrow it down further!