A Deep Dive Into the Selmer Balanced Action Saxophone

Introduction

In my opinion, a scholar is a writer who uses the scientific method to do research to write fact-based articles about a topic, or set of topics, that he or she is interested in. The scholar gains knowledge through that rigorous research, and he or she then shares the results of the research with the world so that other people can learn from it.

I have long been fascinated by the Henri Selmer Paris company because they have survived for more than a century in the very competitive field of musical instrument manufacturing. For example, the Selmer Supreme saxophone model was released a few years ago, and it is widely acclaimed by professional saxophonists around the world as one of the best saxophone models ever designed and produced.

From my limited initial understanding it appeared to me that the Selmer Balanced Action was the model that really launched Selmer into the stratosphere. It was such a novel saxophone design that it was almost immediately adopted by some of the world’s greatest saxophonists in 1935, such as the legendary tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.

My purpose for researching and writing this article was extremely simple: to learn more about the Selmer Balanced Action, and to learn why it became such a popular and beloved saxophone model.

I hope that you enjoy this article as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.

Credits  

Mistral, running on Open WebUI, and HuggingChat were my research assistants for this article.  

1935 The Birth of the Selmer Balanced Action  

In 1935 the French saxophone manufacturer Henri Selmer Paris unveiled the Balanced Action saxophone, a groundbreaking design that redefined the instrument’s structural and ergonomic standards. This innovation surpassed prior models from every manufacturer, including Selmer’s own earlier instruments, by introducing transformative adjustments that became foundational to modern saxophone construction.  

The Problem the Selmer Balanced Action Was Designed to Solve  

The Selmer Balanced Action saxophone was designed to address two critical limitations in saxophone design during the early twentieth century: poor ergonomics and mechanical inefficiency. Prior models, including Selmer’s own earlier instruments, suffered from awkward key layouts and uneven weight distribution which hindered technical agility and caused physical strain for players. The low B♭ and B keys for instance were originally positioned on the left side of the bell creating an imbalance in the instrument’s center of gravity, and forcing players to adopt unnatural hand positions. Additionally the keywork lacked precision in action making rapid passages and complex fingerings cumbersome.  

By repositioning the low B♭ and B keys to the right side of the bell and refining the linkage mechanisms Selmer achieved a more balanced distribution of weight and smoother key transitions. This overhaul improved playability, and also set a new standard for mechanical reliability and ergonomic designm directly solving the practical challenges faced by saxophonists in both classical and emerging jazz contexts.  

Famous Saxophonists Who Played the Selmer Balanced Action  

The Selmer Balanced Action saxophonem while not as widely name-checked as its successor the Mark VI, was played by several notable saxophonists who benefited from its groundbreaking design. Marcel Mule, the French classical virtuoso who helped to elevate the saxophone to legitimacy in Western art music, is among the most significant figures associated with Selmer instruments during this era. Though Mule is often linked to the Mark VI, he began his career when the Balanced Action was in production, and he likely used it during the 1930s and 1940s. His collaboration with Selmer ensured that their instruments became synonymous with classical precision and reliability.  

In the jazz world, the Selmer Balanced Action gained traction among professional musicians during its production period (1935–1947). While direct records of individual artists using the model are limited, Selmer saxophones were widely adopted in big bands and dance orchestras of the 1930s and 1940s due to their durability and mechanical reliability. Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, two influential saxophonists active during this era, played various instruments throughout their careers, including Selmer models. The Balanced Action’s redesigned keywork and improved ergonomics contributed to the broader trend of enhanced playability in professional saxophones, which likely benefited touring musicians in demanding performance settings.  

Chris Potter, a contemporary jazz saxophonist, is known to use a Selmer Balanced Action tenor saxophone with serial number 34128 (as noted in a 2019 Jazz Times interview). His choice reflects a niche preference among modern players for the model’s distinct tonal characteristics and mechanical design. Potter’s use of the Balanced Action, alongside his work with other Selmer models like the Mark VI, highlights ongoing interest in vintage saxophones for their historical and acoustic properties. However, such preferences remain individualized, with most professional saxophonists favoring instruments from later Selmer iterations or other brands.

While the Balanced Action was phased out in 1947 its influence persists. The Super Balanced Action from 1947 to 1955 was a transitional saxophone model that bridged the Selmer Balanced Action and the Selmer Mark VI saxophone models. Many jazz and classical musicians who transitioned to the Mark VI or other models still benefited from the ergonomic foundations established by the Balanced Action. Its repositioned low B♭/B keys and refined key mechanics became industry standards indirectly shaping the experience of nearly every saxophonist who followed. For contemporary players like Potter the Balanced Action remains a testament to Selmer’s revolutionary approach to instrument design.  

An Analysis of Selmer Balanced Action Saxophones for Sale on Ebay  

To gain a better understanding of how Selmer Balanced Actions are sold, I looked at the Selmer Balanced Action listings on Ebay.  

The most popular Balanced Action saxophone voices for sale were alto and tenor saxophones. For example, the first search result on Ebay for Selmer Balanced Action was a silver-plated alto saxophone with a 30xxx serial number. The asking price was 4725 dollars or best offer. The listing did not give any year of manufacture but based on the serial number it was probably manufactured in 1941 or 1942.  

Another Selmer Balanced Action alto saxophone from 1951 had an asking price of 5250 dollars or best offer. It had a 44xxx serial number. A 1935 Selmer Balanced Action Tenor in beautiful condition had an asking price of 4000 dollars or best offer.  

Conclusions  

The Selmer Balanced Action saxophones are fantastic saxophones, and they appear to be one of the first saxophone models that can truly be called modern. The ergonomics are modern enough that many exceptional saxophonists, such as Chris Potter, play Selmer Balanced Actions. Chris Potter is a big Selmer fan and, according to a 2019 interview with Jazz Times, his primary tenor saxophone is a Selmer Balanced Action with serial number 34128. This serial number would correspond to a likely production date in 1947.  

The Selmer Balanced Action saxophones hold their value very well selling for the price of a modern professional saxophone even though they are typically more than seventy years old. The fact that SBAs are still popular today among saxophone players shows that they must have really been ahead of their time when they were first introduced in 1935.  

Thank you for reading this article!