There is one thing for sure in the land of saxophones: Slap a Selmer label on anything, and the asking price—even if not the value—goes up exponentially.
Case in point: this vintage box of Selmer Soloist alto saxophone reeds, which when new, contained 12, #3 reeds. Now however, there are 10 alto reeds in the box, as well as one for clarinet. Here’s the problem though: they’re used!
The seller on eBay doesn’t let a little thing like chipped tips or dirt dissuade him from flogging his Selmer-labelled wares though. On the contrary, the fact that these grungy, 45-year-old used bits of cane—which someone else had in their mouth—are stamped with the brand name Selmer, is supposed to impress us.
Source: Washington-Winds on eBay.com
Furthermore, despite the Selmer label being nearly worn off the box, again we’re supposed to be wowed by this find. Wowed enough to part with our hard-earned cash, and want to own this bit of vintage Selmer-branded junk for ourselves.
Source: Washington-Winds on eBay.com
The value of the Selmer label run amok
This is how the seller describes these vintage bits of kindling:
Hers’s [sic] a box of 1960’s Selmer Soloist alto saxophone reeds that came along with a 1967 Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone. Many of the reeds in this box appear to have been previously used, and there appears to be an old clarinet reed thrown in there. Look closely, and you’ll see that the tips on several reeds are damaged. However, the box is in great shape, and some reeds in this lot appear to be in good working order. Some may have never been used, but of course, I cannot guarantee this.
You gotta give the seller full marks for honesty at least.
Now how much would you pay for a box of used, Selmer Soloist #3 alto sax reeds? But wait, before you answer this, take a look what else you’re going to get…
You’re also going to get Selmer’s information sheet about their reeds…
Source: Washington-Winds on eBay.com
But wait, there’s more… You’re also going to receive these two, possibly unused, alto saxophone reeds as part of this set. (Of course their condition cannot be verified without DNA testing—the cost of which will be up to the new owner.)
Source: Washington-Winds on eBay.com
You’re also going to receive four sheets with plastic clips, each of which holds three reeds.
Source: Washington-Winds on eBay.com
Now how much would you pay for this bit of 1960s Selmer-labelled nostalgia?
So in total you get 10 Selmer Soloist alto saxophone reeds—two of which may be unused (it is up to the buyer to independently determine this for him/herself); one clarinet reed; a Selmer information sheet about their Soloist reeds; four reed holders with plastic clips, each of which holds three reeds; and the authentic, vintage Selmer cardboard box that these items came in.
Now before you decide you much you’re willing to pay for all of this stuff, make sure you look over the rest of the high-quality images the seller provided…
How much would you play for all of these bits of 1960s Selmer-labelled nostalgia? If you’d pay $10.00 you’re outta luck. Do I hear $25? You’re still outta luck. How about $40? Nope…
If you’re willing to pay $55 for these grungy, 45-year-old used bits of cane, which someone else had in their mouth, and all the extras that come with them, then you’re just the buyer that Washington-Winds is looking for. Hop on over to their eBay sale and pick this little gem up.
If used reeds aren’t your thing, perhaps one or another of their other Selmer-labelled items might appeal to you. Check out their store, they have lots of items that they’ve slapped the came from a case of a Mark VI label on. And yes, the prices reflect this supposed pedigree.
Using the value of Selmer label for my own evil purposes
You know, someone here suggested this before, and I’m starting to think this might be a lucrative idea. I’ll start buying up old stuff on eBay, throw it into one of my Mark VI cases, and carry it around for a year or two. Then I’ll photograph the accessory in my case, along with my Mark VI of course, and list it for a stupid-ass amount of money back on eBay. Hey, a girl has to finance her retirement somehow! 😆
Seriously, if my idea sounds stupid to you, then you’re likely not going to fall for the hype of: it came from a case of a Mark VI. If however, my idea doesn’t sound ridiculous, then IMHO, I think you need to rethink it again. You work hard for your money. Be wise on how you part with it.
The blind acceptance of label names can be labeled as brand name simplicity.
But there is nothing simple with brand names.
For instance: do you prefer brand named medicine or generics?
My first thought with the Selmer labeled reeds and reed box is that they are not the prime Selmer products.
You don’t want to buy a car made by Sandoz.
Therefore the label has not much value.
My second thought was that using these reeds is yacky, but not a serious hygienic problem.
Microorganisms do not live long on cane.
Still it is important to clean the mouthpiece and neck of a saxophone, there they survive better.
And where are the mark i, ii, iii, iv and v?
Is the mark vi label maybe a homage to the Conn 6M?
Or is it just a name that sounds more valuable than mark vii?
Is there a sound micro economical reason for this name?
The value of the label is a good question Helen, it makes me think.
I took the Selmer logo off my Mark VI case and sewed it on the ass of my jeans. Couple of questions: 1. How valuable does it make my ass now? 2. Does it make my ass look fat, since it came from my bari sax case? Damn, maybe I should have used the label from the alto case. 😆
A1: priceless (British law of 1833)
A2.1: no
A2.2: the Bari label is more steam punk like
Q1: That would depend on if you keep your jeans on.
Q2: Pictures, or it didn’t happen.
:smoke:
:hair: :roflmao:
:devil2:
Hi Helen,
I find this blog post very interesting because you have cast the question as a matter of label (bzw Etikette), rather than a question of brand (bzw Marke).
FFS, one needs to examine the label skeptically. On the other hand, one needs to think critically and make a useful distinction between blind acceptance of a brand, and the reputation for reliability of that brand based on the evidence.
Peace,
paul
+1 Paul. Yup… Now, having said that, I’ve got used neck strap from a Mark Vi. How much would you give me for that? 😈 I’ll let you have it for the low, low price of only $150 Cdn. Hey, that’s a bargain… I might even be tempted to through in the the original chamois… used of course… :roflmao:
Would you consider the metal link neck strap from a Wirgin Edixa-Mat Reflex Mod. D-L with genuine nickel plating an even trade?
I could throw in an expired cartridge of Kodak Gold 200 to sweeten the deal. :cheers:
Tempting, but no. Had you said it was a Leica strap, you might have had a deal. 😉
You mean like one of these?
(http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Leica-Finger-Loop-for-Handgrip-M-Large-14648-5882-/111747403304?hash=item1a04aa0e28:g:yNYAAOxyJX1TCC7-)
Oddly enough, a quick search today on the evil-bay returned results indicating that Leica-branded neck straps are one of the few accessories that are not priced out of line with their quality.
Prices for lens caps, body caps, “never-ready” cases, lens hoods, bespoke grips, etc. are just ludicrous.
Speaking of which, they may have jumped the shark with their latest model: (http://www.dpreview.com/news/1245580748/leica-launches-m-d-typ-262-full-production-digital-rangefinder-with-no-rear-screen)
Essentially, they are charging an additional €500 to remove the LCD screen and the red-dot™ trademark.
:wtf:
Mmmm… Leica prices are insane, aren’t they? It had been a few years since I looked at the vintage Leica stuff. I just did a search for vintage M3 stuff on eBay and was shocked what just the camera bodies were selling for. Add all the stuff that comes with it (my dad got his in ’61, years before I was born), and that camera of dad’s is worth more than some of my saxes.
I know I had toyed with the idea of buying a digital M series at one time, and then F-it, I’ll buy a sax instead. The Pansonic cameras that have, whose lenses were made in partnership with Leica, are good enough. The images are good enough for what I do. I can get some amazing shots if I take the time and set things up properly, and use the right gear (tripod, lighthing, etc that we have actually have).
Speaking of cameras, my mom had a nice one as well. I have put it away safely in a box, so can’t remember the model, but when she worked in the accounting department of Zeiss Ikon, she bought a lovely rangefinder camera—which lives in a minty leather case of course—for one of her trips abroad. It is in absolute mint condition. It has more accessories with it than my dad’s M3 does. Since it’s a Zeiss, it will never be as valuable to collectors as a Leica, but it too takes amazing pics with it Zeiss Ikon lense.
While I completely agree with the fact that, aside from being seriously unhygenic, that trying to sell used Selmer reeds for a premium is a bit out there.
On the other hand, when it was time to go hunting for a good case for my “Made in the Orient” Super Action 80 alto knock-off, the only case that I ever considered was a Selmer Vanguard series wooden case with the leather case cover. Why? Because it’s built like an absolute tank and doesn’t look like an Anvil-style flight case, nor does it weigh as much. Do the people that I play for or with care that it’s not a Selmer being toted around in that case, not one bit.
As far as the other Selmer accessories go, I think their mouthpieces are pretty nice, but not at an astronomical price – think I have S80s for nearly every sax I own (except the Bari) as well as S90s, Soloists and the metal ones for the Altos and Tenor. Might spring for a new neck for an Alto or Tenor, but I can’t say that I’ve seen anything else Selmer-branded that tempted me to make a purchase.
Hi Andrew. Welcome to my website.
So you play a Selmer knock-off. Mmmm…. The prices of the Selmer cases has gone up so much so, that it wouldn’t surprise me if the case with cover cost as much as your horn—depending on make of course. I bought an alto case cover alone years ago, and it was $60 (and that was a sale price), but it is heavy-duty vinyl with large zippered compartment on the front side. I bought it because I used to fly a lot with my Mark VI, and the original minty case was starting to get scuffed up in the overhead compartments.
I think there’s a difference between new and used Selmer accessories. Sure, buying an original Selmer-labelled item costs a bit more, and some of that is name-based, but a lot has to due with the Euro. We saw that with BAM cases a few years ago when the prices for those shot through the roof. Another factor are of course labour costs. Workers in Europe get paid more than those in China. To my knowledge, Selmer has not started outsourcing its various bits and pieces to China yet… If an when that happens, that will be a very sad day indeed.
What I have an issue with, is sellers like this store in my article, who try to cash in on the mystique of the Mark VI, and attempt sell what really amounts to junk, for high amounts of cash. My hope is that by writing articles such as this, and discussing it here in the comments, we can get would-be buyers to re-think potential purchases before they happen.
I’m sometimes extremely glad that I collect pictures, not saxophones. Arguably, my wife should be too, as collecting pictures costs a lot less :).
I do think the “clips” are moderately interesting looking, but I think a Reedguard is better designed.
FWIW, I’d like to contact whomever buys this and find out the reason why he bought it. That’d be a good interview topic.
I suspect you’re going to have to wait a while yet Pete. It’s still for sale. 😈