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RARE MINT SELMER SUPER BALANCED ACTION SBA SOPRANO SAX

100% ORIGINAL SILVER PLATE, ORIG. CASE, EXTREMELY RARE
Item number: 230030450235
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Starting bid:US $4,999.00 

End time:Sep-25-06 19:00:00 PDT (6 days 11 hours)
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Item location:Wichita, Kansas, United States
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Starting time:Sep-18-06 19:00:00 PDT
Starting bid:US $4,999.00
Duration:7-day listing
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Seller:wichitaband( 1458Feedback score is 1000 to 4,999) Member is a PowerSeller
Feedback:99.2% Positive
Member:since Dec-20-97 in United States
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Description
Item Specifics - Item Condition
Condition:

Used


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.

























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    RARE MINT SELMER SUPER BALANCED ACTION SBA SOPRANO SAX
    Item title: RARE MINT SELMER SUPER BALANCED ACTION SBA SOPRANO SAX
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