C Melody Saxophone Forum

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C Melody Saxophone Forum / C-Tenor (C-Melody) Saxophones / Selmer Paris balanced action C Melody

Next 20 Messages

Castaway
User ID: 9182423 May 15th 6:56 PM
My uncle in Connecticut (USA) has in his possession a Selmer Cigar Cutter C melody. It is Satin Silver and looks almost new. It was given to him by my grandfather. It is in the original case, which also looks like new. He is thinking about selling it to me because I groveled and begged himto after I saw it on a recent visit. I got dizzy and almost collapsed when I saw it. It playes perfectly in tune and sounds like heaven. I am not a Selmer person, but this horn is like some sort of Holy Grail I am told. My uncle doesn't even have a computer, so he doesn't have the slightest clue to the value. He doesn't even play the saxophone. I have been dreaming about this horn since I played it. I MUST HAVE THIS HORN. I will do any devious thing that I have to short of burglarizing his house to get it.

Castaway
User ID: 9182423 May 15th 7:33 PM
I am sorry about the mistake on the title. It IS a Cigar Cutter as the text above professes, not a Balanced Action. Please accept my appology. I understand that there are balanced action C Tenors out there. But this is not one of them.

Castaway
User ID: 9182423 May 15th 7:36 PM
Sorry again. I forgot to mention that this is a Paris, France made C Melody. Not a Selmer New York. I'm so freaked out about this horn that I can't think straight or even get all of the correct information on one post. Forgive me.

bruce bailey
User ID: 9670323 May 15th 11:54 PM
Quite rare! Does it have the actual Cigar cutter in the octave system? I know a few tenors had this and a lot of altos so it will be interesting. What is the serial number?
I know how you feel when you find something so nice.

ukebert
User ID: 9906923 May 16th 10:14 AM
Yeah, I would recommend getting it even if it sours your relations with him for ever more... i know what you mean, it's happened to me before with a rather nice flageolet that my grandfather has/had.

Captain Muggles
User ID: 8945823 May 16th 10:16 AM
Castaway....You lucky son of a gun!

jazzbug1
User ID: 1836024 May 16th 11:53 AM
That's quite a find. Early 1930s. The Selmers for export to USA often had some elaborate engraving. The son of my teacher still has his Cigar Cutter alto. I have played Selmers of this era and they are beautiful concert-oriented horns. They tend to be quieter than the American horns of the time and unless there is a great jazz mouthpiece that works well with them, I find them too polite sounding for a lead alto in a section. Many of these horns were gold plated. A C melody of this era is exceedingly rare. I'm guessing $2000-3000.00 if gold plated. Bit less for silver. Hope you can obtain it. Good Luck.

Castaway
User ID: 9182423 May 16th 1:59 PM
The finish on the horn is satin silver (like new). The serial number is 1437 or 14370. My uncle said that my granfather bought it new in 1931 0r 1932 in New York City.

JJ !@#$%^*( )_+
User ID: 8332933 May 16th 2:27 PM
Castaway - You have a once in a lifetime opportunity in front of you. But you don't have to burglarize your uncles house. Just get someone else to do it. (Just kidding). Then again, maybe not.

alan (uk)
User ID: 8200143 May 16th 4:31 PM
... it's up to you what you pay. If you're keeping it in the family, as it was your grandfather's, then as long as your uncle is happy with the price - go and haggle with a clear conscience. After all, who plays C-Mels these days ? :-))

Obviously if you ever sold it outside the family, you'd give him a share of the fortune........

jazzbug1
User ID: 1836024 May 17th 6:31 AM
I'll trade you even for my Selmer vegetable cutter. It makes any salad look great. I'll even throw in some lettuce and carrots.

Captain Muggles
User ID: 8945823 May 17th 8:54 PM
Castaway....If you get that horn. Email me at captainmuggles@aol.com. I have a great deal for you where you will get a great Conn C melody in like new pristine condition and a substantial amount of cash! Please let me know one way or the other.

Castaway
User ID: 9182423 May 18th 7:35 AM
Everyone: I got the horn yesterday. My uncle said he would give it to me for free, if I promised never to sell it. I could not make that promise in good faith. So I gave him $500.00 for it. He was elated. I was overjoyed. Captain Muggles: I have sent you my email address. Your proposition sounds interesting. I will mull it over after I play this horn for a while. It came with a Selmer metal mouthpiece and the horn looks all original to me. It looks almost brand new. So does the original case. It plays right on and in tune. I made a few minor adjustments to it and it is ready to gig with. Since I payed for it, I can now sell it with a clear conscience if I so choose. It is a beauty.

Castaway
User ID: 9182423 May 20th 1:26 PM
It looks like the Captain is going to get a great Selmer C melody. He presented me with an offer that I couldn't refuse. Another C melody in as he says "pristine condition". Plus a substantial amount of cash. I'm not a Selmer man anyway. I'm sure glad that I paid my uncle cash for the Selmer, rather than accept it for free. Now I don't feel guilty about selling it to Muggles. I hope he enjoys it.

ukebert
User ID: 9906923 May 20th 1:27 PM
Congratulations Captain Muggles! :-))

JJ !@#$^%*( )_+
User ID: 8332933 May 20th 2:21 PM
Muggles - I thought you hated Selmers. (Or at least, disliked them immensly). But I am jealous. You lucky dog.

jazzbug1
User ID: 9990163 May 20th 9:48 PM
I hope you and your horn are very happy together. The only Selmer I ever lusted for was the Balanced Action, but a C Melody of early 30s vintage is certainly an item. It should play something like a Buescher, as the Cigar Cutter bore was equal to or smaller. I just sold a Chu model Conn C Melody for $611 fully re- padded and nicely set up, but I would have offered something like you did. Happy Honks, Mugs.

Captain Muggles
User ID: 8945823 May 21st 9:36 PM
jazzbug1...Believe it or not. There is such a thing as a Selmer Balanced Action C melody. I saw one in person years ago. It even has the infamous Selmer ring holding the bell against the body. So it is easily recognizable as a Selmer. The one I saw (and held in my hands) was lacquered, not silver. I believe it was made in the late 30's or early 40's. If you search the web you will find a few pictures of them. On the other hand. I am anxiously awaiting delivery of Castaways formerly owned Selmer Cigar Cutter C melody. Some of you might call me 2 faced because I constantly put down Selmers in general. But man, I couldn't resist purtchasing this Cigar Cutter because of its rarity and beauty, plus the rumor of its fine intonation and playing quality. Castaway says it is totally original and ready to play. The finish is satin silver. I know the horn I traded him is incredible. Both to look at and to play. I think we both made out. He also says the engraving is incredibly ornate and sharp. I will let you all know as soon as I get it. (It should be in a few days). It will probably be the only Selmer I will ever own, should I decide to keep it!

jazzbug1
User ID: 1836024 May 23rd 8:36 AM
My spiritual advisor has told me the meaning of life: "Posess cool things."

JJ !@#$%^*( )_+
User ID: 8332933 May 23rd 8:40 AM
jazzbug1 - How right you are. It makes you Feeeel Good.

Next 20 Messages

Castaway User ID: 9182423	May 15th 6:56 PM My uncle in Connecticut (USA) has in his possession a Selmer Cigar Cutter C melody. It is Satin Silver and looks almost new. It was given to him by my grandfather. It is in the original case, which also looks like new. He is thinking about selling it to me because I groveled and begged himto after I saw it on a recent visit. I got dizzy and almost collapsed when I saw it. It playes perfectly in tune and sounds like heaven. I am not a Selmer person, but this horn is like some sort of Holy Grail I am told. My uncle doesn't even have a computer, so he doesn't have the slightest clue to the value. He doesn't even play the saxophone. I have been dreaming about this horn since I played it. I MUST HAVE THIS HORN. I will do any devious thing that I have to short of burglarizing his house to get it.
Castaway User ID: 9182423	May 15th 7:33 PM I am sorry about the mistake on the title. It IS a Cigar Cutter as the text above professes, not a Balanced Action. Please accept my appology. I understand that there are balanced action C Tenors out there. But this is not one of them.
Castaway User ID: 9182423	May 15th 7:36 PM Sorry again. I forgot to mention that this is a Paris, France made C Melody. Not a Selmer New York. I'm so freaked out about this horn that I can't think straight or even get all of the correct information on one post. Forgive me.
bruce bailey User ID: 9670323	May 15th 11:54 PM Quite rare! Does it have the actual Cigar cutter in the octave system? I know a few tenors had this and a lot of altos so it will be interesting. What is the serial number? I know how you feel when you find something so nice.
ukebert User ID: 9906923	May 16th 10:14 AM Yeah, I would recommend getting it even if it sours your relations with him for ever more... i know what you mean, it's happened to me before with a rather nice flageolet that my grandfather has/had.
Captain Muggles User ID: 8945823	May 16th 10:16 AM Castaway....You lucky son of a gun!
jazzbug1 User ID: 1836024	May 16th 11:53 AM That's quite a find. Early 1930s. The Selmers for export to USA often had some elaborate engraving. The son of my teacher still has his Cigar Cutter alto. I have played Selmers of this era and they are beautiful concert-oriented horns. They tend to be quieter than the American horns of the time and unless there is a great jazz mouthpiece that works well with them, I find them too polite sounding for a lead alto in a section. Many of these horns were gold plated. A C melody of this era is exceedingly rare. I'm guessing $2000-3000.00 if gold plated. Bit less for silver. Hope you can obtain it. Good Luck.
Castaway User ID: 9182423	May 16th 1:59 PM The finish on the horn is satin silver (like new). The serial number is 1437 or 14370. My uncle said that my granfather bought it new in 1931 0r 1932 in New York City.
JJ !@#$%^( )_+ User ID: 8332933*	May 16th 2:27 PM Castaway - You have a once in a lifetime opportunity in front of you. But you don't have to burglarize your uncles house. Just get someone else to do it. (Just kidding). Then again, maybe not.
alan (uk) User ID: 8200143	May 16th 4:31 PM ... it's up to you what you pay. If you're keeping it in the family, as it was your grandfather's, then as long as your uncle is happy with the price - go and haggle with a clear conscience. After all, who plays C-Mels these days ? :-)) Obviously if you ever sold it outside the family, you'd give him a share of the fortune........
jazzbug1 User ID: 1836024	May 17th 6:31 AM I'll trade you even for my Selmer vegetable cutter. It makes any salad look great. I'll even throw in some lettuce and carrots.
Captain Muggles User ID: 8945823	May 17th 8:54 PM Castaway....If you get that horn. Email me at captainmuggles@aol.com. I have a great deal for you where you will get a great Conn C melody in like new pristine condition and a substantial amount of cash! Please let me know one way or the other.
Castaway User ID: 9182423	May 18th 7:35 AM Everyone: I got the horn yesterday. My uncle said he would give it to me for free, if I promised never to sell it. I could not make that promise in good faith. So I gave him $500.00 for it. He was elated. I was overjoyed. Captain Muggles: I have sent you my email address. Your proposition sounds interesting. I will mull it over after I play this horn for a while. It came with a Selmer metal mouthpiece and the horn looks all original to me. It looks almost brand new. So does the original case. It plays right on and in tune. I made a few minor adjustments to it and it is ready to gig with. Since I payed for it, I can now sell it with a clear conscience if I so choose. It is a beauty.
Castaway User ID: 9182423	May 20th 1:26 PM It looks like the Captain is going to get a great Selmer C melody. He presented me with an offer that I couldn't refuse. Another C melody in as he says "pristine condition". Plus a substantial amount of cash. I'm not a Selmer man anyway. I'm sure glad that I paid my uncle cash for the Selmer, rather than accept it for free. Now I don't feel guilty about selling it to Muggles. I hope he enjoys it.
ukebert User ID: 9906923	May 20th 1:27 PM Congratulations Captain Muggles! :-))
JJ !@#$^%( )_+ User ID: 8332933*	May 20th 2:21 PM Muggles - I thought you hated Selmers. (Or at least, disliked them immensly). But I am jealous. You lucky dog.
jazzbug1 User ID: 9990163	May 20th 9:48 PM I hope you and your horn are very happy together. The only Selmer I ever lusted for was the Balanced Action, but a C Melody of early 30s vintage is certainly an item. It should play something like a Buescher, as the Cigar Cutter bore was equal to or smaller. I just sold a Chu model Conn C Melody for $611 fully re- padded and nicely set up, but I would have offered something like you did. Happy Honks, Mugs.
Captain Muggles User ID: 8945823	May 21st 9:36 PM jazzbug1...Believe it or not. There is such a thing as a Selmer Balanced Action C melody. I saw one in person years ago. It even has the infamous Selmer ring holding the bell against the body. So it is easily recognizable as a Selmer. The one I saw (and held in my hands) was lacquered, not silver. I believe it was made in the late 30's or early 40's. If you search the web you will find a few pictures of them. On the other hand. I am anxiously awaiting delivery of Castaways formerly owned Selmer Cigar Cutter C melody. Some of you might call me 2 faced because I constantly put down Selmers in general. But man, I couldn't resist purtchasing this Cigar Cutter because of its rarity and beauty, plus the rumor of its fine intonation and playing quality. Castaway says it is totally original and ready to play. The finish is satin silver. I know the horn I traded him is incredible. Both to look at and to play. I think we both made out. He also says the engraving is incredibly ornate and sharp. I will let you all know as soon as I get it. (It should be in a few days). It will probably be the only Selmer I will ever own, should I decide to keep it!
jazzbug1 User ID: 1836024	May 23rd 8:36 AM My spiritual advisor has told me the meaning of life: "Posess cool things."
JJ !@#$%^( )_+ User ID: 8332933*	May 23rd 8:40 AM jazzbug1 - How right you are. It makes you Feeeel Good.