Supreme vs Signature - The Ultimate Saxophone Showdown

[@paulhughes525]

Replaced my Conn Selmer PAS 380 Alto with a Supreme in January. I can say no more than it makes me sound a much better saxophonist than I really am. The band all immediately noticed an improvement in tone and I noticed an enormous improvement in tuning. I feel a bit like I'm cheating somehow, but it plays easier, sounds better and looks great. Yes it's expensive. My advice is try one.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Wow that’s great to hear. Congrats on your new sax👍

[@eclipse_978]

That's something I was afraid of lol, it obviously makes sense to have the best one possible, but I don't wanna feel like I'm being carried by my instrument

[@chuckwhite368]

I’ve played the Supreme Alto . It was simply the finest saxophone I’ve ever played . It had been fully setup. The sound , intonation and response was incredible . The octave key motion is about half any other horn of be played . The rest of the horn has a shorter key travel as well. That makes it the easiest horn I’ve ever played . If I could afford it I would buy it .

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Great to hear that. I’m sure a well setup Supreme is an impressive sax.

[@entysax]

Agreed - I have a Supreme alto and it is amazing. The action is outstanding. I was therefore eagerly awaiting the tenor and tried one at the Sax School Weekender (Sept 2023). Sorry to say I was underwhelmed with that one. Much prefer my Yamaha 82Z Atelier model.

[@robstevens9590]

Last year, when visiting the US I play tested a Selmer Signature alto. It was a pleasure. A local sax teacher heard me playing in the practice room and he came in to jam with me --- loads of fun.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cool! Did you buy the sax?

[@robstevens9590]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool No. Way too expensive, and my 45 yr old Amati is serving me well.

[@zabellesax]

I have a Selmer Axos tenor and its a fantastic sax, I love it. At the end of the day, its the player that makes the sound, not the sax. Providing the sax is in good working order.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Glad you’re enjoying your Axos Zabelle!

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

Quote: ".. its the player that makes the sound, not the sax. .." Mt Zabellesax, If you don't know how to play, and if your hearing is impaired and untrained, then any saxophone is fine for you because all will sound awful and you will be happy in your ignorance. So have your advice for your own content, please, and refrain from posting misleading, childish nonsense to others.

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

​@@zabellesax It has been proven in blind tests and by ears of conductors, audio engineers, top performers and demanding audiences, far more sophisticated than yours or of that dork you mentioned, and they attest that the same player sounds ways better on a better instrument. Pianists strive to play on highly sophisticated instruments that deliver all the nuances they imagined. The violinists strive to play on instruments that are audibly so sophisticated and refined that deserve all the money and attention asked for. The differences are audible. Same goes for saxophones. Comments like yours are not "standard knowledge", but standard ignorance, apt for playing drunk in bars, and being listened to by half-deaf audience, but are an insult to the art of music, and to the music education.

[@zvonimirtosic6171]

​@@zabellesax And Mr McGill should be ashamed for liking such ignorant remarks such as yours; what is he then to teach students in his saxophone "school", how to be preposterous exhibitionists and tone-deaf?

[@rogersalles200]

@@zvonimirtosic6171she is right, if a saxophone changes the color of the sound the saxophone market would crash the mouthpiece market, your statement is false and poorly worded, try not to be that ignorant… just s bit.

[@marks.6656]

Thanks for the great review, Nigel! I think that the Sig and Supreme could be great to score 5-7 years from now on the used market when they depreciate quite severely. Many of the West Coast players here say they'd love to play one and sing its praises, when Selmer are ready to give them out "GRATIS", but they have no interest in purchasing one to replace their SBA/VI. Given the global gig world has crashed, the price is laughable.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Yes interesting to think who they are targeting with this pricing, though the economics of manufacturing in Europe these days plus the R and D investment they have made to produce the Supreme probably means they HAVE to charge these prices. Crazy.

[@BitSax]

The same price can buy the great mark vi。 why I need to buy the new one

[@peterolsson3662]

Didn’t see or hear something that would make me trade in my Mark VI.

[@jaleelshaw]

Can you do the altos next? 🙏🏾

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Great suggestion!

[@jerrybrown66]

I like watching just to hear Nigel randomly jamming!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Ha!

[@christophertyrrell4018]

Have you had a chance to play a Selmer Paris Jubilee? Is that a third flagship line?

[@Milton-s5i]

I like my Conn that was made in 1924

[@vncstudio]

I will take a few Bueschers and Conns for one Selmer! 😂

[@C.JFletcher]

Hello Mr. Mcgill, I'm interested in buying a Dave Guardala sax like yours. A couple questions. Is it a light or heavy horn, how is key placement. I does the action compared to some of the other non-Selmer horns you have demo before such a Yani. Yamaha, Trevor James,etc.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hi. My Guardala is a heavy sax but but I’ve played newer horns that are heavier. Key placement is very comfy. It’s a lovely sax to play (which is why I’ve stuck with it for years). Be careful though to get an original 90s Guardala sax and not one of the Chinese reissue ones. I’ve tried a couple and wasn’t impressed. Those are very different. Hope that helps.

[@tonytramonti5828]

So Selmer knowing full well the exposure they would get from a review like this send their top of the range and most expensive saxophone with leaks , I’d be surprised if they even checked it 😂

[@giobenve]

The problem with Selmer is the fact that they don't have a no high F# version. If I play altissimo with the same fingering I use on my SBA o Mark 6 they don't sound quite right on a sax with high F#. They should make a no high F# Supremr

[@gbjib3827]

They both sound great and I probably would lean towards the modern setup. But until I can start filling up larger venues on a regular basis, they probably wouldn’t be in the budget for a while with other great alternatives available for a fraction of the price. 🫠 Thanks for the demo!

[@avmack2910]

Love my yamaha 62 from 89...

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

I’ve had my 62 alto since 1987.

[@paulgeiger6177]

Yes very good but no replacement if the sax develops lacquer bleed! It’s just a rave and hipe and a lot of money!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Well nobody wants that on any new sax, especially an expensive one.

[@larryscroggins7290]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYe6gXuNitJnpsk The neck tenon on my new Selmer Supreme Tenor saxophone was defectively welded by the Selmer factory. The collar was improperly soldered and came completely loose. To have this repaired would damage the finish and result in severe cosmetic damage. Selmer has been aware of this defect since 10/24 and I’ve had zero response from them. No outreach; no apology; no concern for my ability to practice, rehearse, or perform. Update 11/7--Selmer is replacing the horn but it will take at least two weeks for the new horn to arrive. Still no apology for the inconvenience cased for a performing musician. Update 11/16--Still no replacement horn. Selmer has refused to expedite resolution and continues to seem unconcerned with their warranty responsibility.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Sorry to hear that.

[@Brycelee2006]

I play on a selmer myself but a model when selmer just took over conn. While I love it I don’t agree or support with what selmer is doing today. The prices are just way to high for a product that is honestly not better.

[@thepianokid27]

Given the price that they go for, it is unfortunate that the build quality isn’t reflective of that… heard enough stories about these horns having to visit the tech too often to have stuff fixed etc.. I could spend half or even a third of the price and get a P Mauriat, Ishimori Woodstone or even a TJ Custom RAW and I won’t be getting a saxophone that is any less in terms of build quality and tone.

[@benhostetler268]

@@thepianokid27 the biggest issue they have is how much glue is used for the pads. Selmer Paris just changed this process in the last month because they agree it’s something they needed to improve and from what I’ve seen they have.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Oh that’s interesting.

[@thepianokid27]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool Yes, hopefully Selmer addresses these issues and improve upon future batches of these otherwise exceptional horns. Undoubtedly the most expensive horns on the planet and we shouldn’t accept any less in quality as such.

[@benhostetler268]

I do not like the Signature at all, it is pretty much a series 3 with a few changes. The Supreme when they don’t have leaks play amazing and they have that Selmer thang that’s been missing for a long time now.

[@zangsax]

I have played Selmers for 53yrs and am a pro woodwind tech . Upon inspection of the signature I do not agree with your charecterization of it at all. I still own a 54K and 129K Selmer VI and Buescher Big B and Conn 10 M tenor and Silver 875 EX tenor The signaure is an excellent horn ,especially for a vintage player who doesn't care for the hyper free-blowing type of horn.

[@benhostetler268]

@@zangsax I recently donated a Selmer Series 3 I completely mechanically restored and I own a Mark VI 217XXX. The Signatures most notable difference is in the concentric neck tenon. The keywork is a little different but not much, the neck angle, body, bow and bell are the same as the series 3. If you like the signature you may as well get a series 3 for half the price. The Supreme is just as free blowing as a good Mark VI although I still love the ergonomics and action of my VI and if you want it less so just adjust the key heights to your preference.

[@SaxSith]

Kinda like the signature better😮is it a blasphemy 😊

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

It’s a lovely instrument 🎷👍

[@AlexVolkhin13]

I don't like Supreme. I don't see what to pay $8000 for here. It sounds bright and crushes with a heavy sound, it irritates the ear. I think this is a problem. For me, the Selmer saxophone has a unique quality, it's a dark sound, and a sound that can sound anywhere. Selmer Supreme, in my opinion, has lost this quality. Selmer signature is a compromise, if there is nothing then it will do.

[@marka8274]

For the price, you can buy a mark vi.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

True, but some people prefer a modern sax I guess.

[@BitSax]

Agree 。 I am also a guitar player。u know 1954 fender is amazing price

[@bobblues1158]

it amazes me how poorly set up the Selmers come out of the factory.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hopefully they aren’t all like this. I’ve also heard loads of really positive stories of brilliantly setup saxes from Selmer.

[@marka8274]

Both overpriced. You are better off with a yani or a Yamaha. At least with the Japanese horns you know what you're getting and they are consistent.

[@C.JFletcher]

Indeed. I have yrs 62 I bought in 1995. Still plays like new

[@Jaujau933]

Neither is the best - the Selmer hype just goes on 🫤

[@benhostetler268]

Have you played them both? I have and the Supreme Tenor is legit and the Signature is a good horn but just not what I want out of a Tenor.

[@rogersalles200]

I played the Signature for about 3 weeks, amazing saxophone, the reason I chose the Supreme is cause I`m a VI guy, has been for 30 years but I would be happy with any, Selmer sound is back with these horns.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

But which do you like best?

[@rogersalles200]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchoolI chose the Supreme but it was close