WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY
2525 East Douglas Avenue
Wichita, KS 67211
Telephone (316) 684-0291
FAX (316) 684-6858
Email wbic@wichitaband.com

RARE SML ALTO SAX, ORIGINAL GOLD LACQUER, MADE IN PARIS BEFORE 1950.

Vintage French saxes from Selmer are always in our collection in Wichita, but this one’s rather unusual, not expensive and a very good player. The original dark lacquer finish is worn less than twenty percent, it’s never sustained any major dents and it’s clean and in excellent mechanical condition. Rare alto sax from the Strasser-Marigaux-Lemaire “SML” workshops, #7461, made in Paris about 1948. Original dark lacquer finish is worn about 15-20%, but the sax has never sustained any serious dents or damage. Minor dings to the end-bow and bell have been burnished out in our shop. This particular instrument pre-dates the “Gold Medal” series that was named for SML’s receiving an award at the 1956 Brussels Worlds Fair. It does have full rib construction, rolled tone-holes, extended key arms over the pad-cups, adjustable G# to C# lock, set-screw for the articulated G#, removable key-guards and elaborate engraving on the bell and bow, plus SML’s “jam proof” rollers for the low B and B-flat. The sax differs from the later GM models by not having stack adjustment screws, solid (not swivel) left-hand thumb rest and the normal neck lock. The sax has had all pads and corks replaced in our shop, using Conn “Reso-Pads”, as they seem to work best on rolled t-holes. There is minor etching to the brass around the right hand thumb-rest, but the sax is original and generally quite good. The instrument is available with either the original “Vogue” case or a new one. The sax is also sold with a bill of sale (as a used instrument ?) from Mel Bay Music Company in Missouri, dated September, 1956. The instrument is solid and a good player, but might not be appropriate for a younger saxophonist who might prefer something a little more shiny and new.

Note the superb engraving pattern to the bell and the SML logo above the neck tenon.

Pads and corks are new on the instrument and the keywork is still tight, pearls still sharp.

SML is still in business in Paris, of course. Today the company is part of Gerhard Meinl’s “Ja Musik” conglomerate. The vast majority of their current production is of “Marigaux” oboes: they’re absolutely the best quality and are the oboes of choice of the pros in Japan, France and Switzerland.

I’ve visited the SML workshops several times and imported a few of their instruments in the early seventies. In my early years with Wichita Band, I repaired and padded several GM saxes that belonged to local musicians. By the late sixties, the rolled tone-holes had disappeared forever and the line had been cheapened somewhat. I believe the last saxes produced by SML were from the late seventies, perhaps the early eighties. Although there was nothing wrong with the later SML saxes, it’s our opinion that earlier instruments were superior.

If you want a big and funky Yakkity-Sax instrument, this one’s definitely not for you. But if you’re looking for a dependable French instrument that plays well, something like a late Balanced Action Selmer, this one’s perfect.

”Buy it now” price on this one is a mere $1650.

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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 seven 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!

Here’s what we do to all used saxes we sell:

The instrument is taken apart and everything washed clean. We don’t believe in chemical dips, but do use plenty of soap and water! Dings are next burnished from body, bell, end-bow and neck. With a little effort, we can make things look “like new” again. After the body-shop work’s been completed, we swedge hinge-tubes tight again and re-fit to the sax body. Finally, pads and corks are replaced and the instrument play-tested. Most customers tell us that our saxes are then actually “mechanically better than new”.

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. 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 and credit card 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.

Please email us for a full listing of our new, reconditioned, and vintage instruments. Pro quality new, used and vintage saxes from Selmer, Buffet, Buescher, Conn and King are our specialty!

We’re happy to correspond with musicians, players, parents and enthusiasts of all types. Written appraisals are always available, but 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.

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.