FS: Vintage Selmer Alto Trombone SOLD

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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow » (edited 2023-01-04 10:31 p.m.)

I have a Selmer alto trombone, my guess on the age is between late 60's and mid 70's. I bought it from a collector in France, where the horn probably floated around its life. Very interesting horn, has the curved brace like the tenor models, and reminiscent of the Bach type build. 7 inch one piece red brass bell, slide has yellow outer slides and a yellow brass crook and has a single .468 bore. I'm a bass trombone player, so this gets almost no use besides getting to play duets with some woodwind friends. I cant comment too much on the playability as I am no alto trombone player, but the harmonic series is pretty standard, nothing crazy out of tune and I could pick the horn up and not sound like a beginner. Trying to clear out some unnecessary things, including this. The horn is in pretty good shape, original mouthpiece/case which is really nice to have, i think the mouthpiece is the best fit compared to anything else ive tried on it. Slide is in great shape, 8/10 bell has a couple small dents and scars from a previous crease but still looks good.

Looking for $850 plus shipping, or trades open to anything
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kfey
Posts: 16
Joined: May 29, 2022

by kfey »

Why are you selling a horn that you got back in February, based on your posts on this forum?
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

[quote="kfey"]Why are you selling a horn that you got back in February, based on your posts on this forum?[/quote]

I don't use this, except for the rare occasion i want to take a gamble reading alto clef. If you analyze all my other posts you can see that I don't keep many horns for very long.
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kfey
Posts: 16
Joined: May 29, 2022

by kfey »

[quote="Elow"]<QUOTE author="kfey" post_id="197221" time="1672075160" user_id="15239">
Why are you selling a horn that you got back in February, based on your posts on this forum?[/quote]

I don't use this, except for the rare occasion i want to take a gamble reading alto clef. If you analyze all my other posts you can see that I don't keep many horns for very long.
</QUOTE>

Yes, and you sometimes sell them for a lot more than you paid for them.
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

[quote="kfey"]

Yes, and you sometimes sell them for a lot more than you paid for them.[/quote]

I do, I'm not alone though.
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Matt_K
Posts: 4809
Joined: Mar 21, 2018

by Matt_K »

I don’t know anyone who does that
<ATTACHMENT filename="54108119-82A9-4CC2-83A9-B5778D2177E2.png" index="0">[attachment=0]54108119-82A9-4CC2-83A9-B5778D2177E2.png</ATTACHMENT>

There’s nothing wrong with buying something for a price someone asks and then later selling it at a price that is higher. Let’s leave the responses to questions about the horn itself.
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

Thanks Matt for keeping it Trombonechat and not “Financial Advice Chat”. Here’s some pictures

Let me know if you have any questions about the instrument.
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kfey
Posts: 16
Joined: May 29, 2022

by kfey »

I don't see why it's unreasonable to raise an eyebrow at a horn that's being sold for higher than it went for mere months prior. It is indeed relevant to the instrument. For example, was it improved upon?

This user tried to sell me an instrument that he bought for $900 for $1500 several months later, and that struck me as odd. I did not purchase the horn. Someone else did, so that is good for all involved.

If you take my skepticism as unsolicited financial advice, that is your own application.
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Matt_K
Posts: 4809
Joined: Mar 21, 2018

by Matt_K »

If people are publicly shamed about their prices, others will stop posting their sales here. If you don't want to buy the horn, don't buy the horn. If you want to contact the person privately and negotiate a lower price, go for it.
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MStarke
Posts: 1031
Joined: Jan 01, 2019

by MStarke »

As long as the seller is openly answering questions about qualities and potential limitations with a trombone, he/she can totally choose the price that is being asked. What is odd about it? Maybe it just was a good deal initially or the original seller just wanted to sell quickly. The question has a strange implication in it.

Nice looking alto! I like the purely visual proportions. Can imagine it is a good horn - had a Selmer Bolero that was great, just not my personal favorite.

I really enjoy going through the classifieds because there are so many interesting horns.

(i already have too many altos myself)
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Bach5G
Posts: 2874
Joined: Apr 07, 2018

by Bach5G »

Buy low, sell high.
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hyperbolica
Posts: 3990
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by hyperbolica »

Very often listed prices get negotiated down, so to get back what you paid, you almost have to list it high. He might have haggled with the guy he bought it from. Theres no shame in listing something high. The price comes down until someone buys. No one is forced to buy at any price. $800 is a pretty reasonable price for an oddball alto.
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

[quote="kfey"]I don't see why it's unreasonable to raise an eyebrow at a horn that's being sold for higher than it went for mere months prior. It is indeed relevant to the instrument. For example, was it improved upon?[/quote]

I don't know what I should say to you without being rude, please stop trying to spoil me on my own post. Go do something, find a good deal on an alto as I did.
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kfey
Posts: 16
Joined: May 29, 2022

by kfey »

[quote="Matt K"]If people are publicly shamed about their prices, others will stop posting their sales here. If you don't want to buy the horn, don't buy the horn. If you want to contact the person privately and negotiate a lower price, go for it.[/quote]

This is what I did. I have not publically shamed anyone.
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jbeatenbough
Posts: 338
Joined: Dec 13, 2019

by jbeatenbough »

I've bought from Elow and everything was just as pictured/described...I found his prices reasonable and negotiable. I would not hesitate to buy again (I wish I needed an Alto - I would be interested in this one).
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Jpechroer
Posts: 268
Joined: Mar 19, 2020

by Jpechroer »

I’ve got a 6h I’d trade you
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

[quote="Jpechroer"]I’ve got a 6h I’d trade you[/quote]

With valve section? Send me some pics
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stewbones43
Posts: 333
Joined: Oct 25, 2018

by stewbones43 »

The Henri Selmer alto is interesting but I am more curious about the mouthpiece. What is the marking on it?

I recently got 2 Henri Selmer small shank mouthpieces which have similar outer shape as yours. They are both marked 40 but one is a size 5 and the other a size 2; according to a Selmer mouthpiece leaflet I have, they are 25mm and 23.5 mm cup diameter respectively. I also have a large shank mouthpiece marked 44 which is size 4, 24.5mm cup diameter. That is about a 12C for a large bore horn but it seems that the Selmer mouthpieces are generally smaller than the norm these days. I guess that they are from the 1960s-70s but information on Henri Selmer trombones is very difficult to get.

Cheers

Stewbones43
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

[quote="stewbones43"]The Henri Selmer alto is interesting but I am more curious about the mouthpiece. What is the marking on it?

I recently got 2 Henri Selmer small shank mouthpieces which have similar outer shape as yours. They are both marked 40 but one is a size 5 and the other a size 2; according to a Selmer mouthpiece leaflet I have, they are 25mm and 23.5 mm cup diameter respectively. I also have a large shank mouthpiece marked 44 which is size 4, 24.5mm cup diameter. That is about a 12C for a large bore horn but it seems that the Selmer mouthpieces are generally smaller than the norm these days. I guess that they are from the 1960s-70s but information on Henri Selmer trombones is very difficult to get.

i’ll

Cheers

Stewbones43[/quote]

Yes, i have found it very hard to get any information about this horn and mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is very shallow, more so than my 12C. The rim is a little wider and lrge in diameter than a 12C, comfortable for me but very small throat and cup.

The mouthpiece reads

Made in Paris

40

4

Henri Selmer Paris
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deanmccarty
Posts: 224
Joined: May 01, 2018

by deanmccarty »

[quote="kfey"]<QUOTE author="Matt K" post_id="197354" time="1672171273" user_id="48">
If people are publicly shamed about their prices, others will stop posting their sales here. If you don't want to buy the horn, don't buy the horn. If you want to contact the person privately and negotiate a lower price, go for it.[/quote]

This is what I did. I have not publically shamed anyone.
</QUOTE>

#1 - there’s nothing wrong with flipping a horn. I’ve done it many times.

#2 - the price is not unreasonable

#3 - your definition of “publicly shamed” is skewed

#4 - if you’re not interested in the horn, don’t comment.

#5 - I would buy it, but I just purchased a new alto a few months ago… now I have 2.
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Jpechroer
Posts: 268
Joined: Mar 19, 2020

by Jpechroer »

[quote="Elow"]<QUOTE author="Jpechroer" post_id="197427" time="1672246835" user_id="8830">
I’ve got a 6h I’d trade you[/quote]

With valve section? Send me some pics
</QUOTE>

No valve section
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Stustang05
Posts: 17
Joined: Mar 10, 2022

by Stustang05 »

I happily purchased this horn today for the full asking price plus shipping. I’m glad that it’s on the way and my interactions with Elow were cordial. I agree with everything deanmccarty stated in his post. Thank you, Elow, for making this horn available.
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spencercarran
Posts: 689
Joined: Oct 17, 2020

by spencercarran »

I also recently sold an alto trombone for more than I paid for it after only a few months owning it, for much the same reasons as Elow; I'm primarily a bass trombonist, had little realistic use for it, and happened to pick it up cheaper than it was worth. Happy to see this one is on the way to a new owner who will enjoy it.
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Elow
Posts: 1924
Joined: Mar 02, 2020

by Elow »

This has sold, thank you everyone for the kind words.
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kfey
Posts: 16
Joined: May 29, 2022

by kfey »

[quote="deanmccarty"]<QUOTE author="kfey" post_id="197418" time="1672238933" user_id="15239">

This is what I did. I have not publically shamed anyone.[/quote]

#1 - there’s nothing wrong with flipping a horn. I’ve done it many times.

#2 - the price is not unreasonable

#3 - your definition of “publicly shamed” is skewed

#4 - if you’re not interested in the horn, don’t comment.

#5 - I would buy it, but I just purchased a new alto a few months ago… now I have 2.
</QUOTE>

To your points:

1: I never suggested there is anything wrong with flipping. But I don't find it unreasonable to ask about the circumstances. "Flipping," at least in the colloquial definition, connotes that improvements were made, as a house.

2: it is not.

3: asking about the circumstances is not publicly shaming. If I suggested this seller was unscrupulous, that would be shaming. I said that this seller tried to sell me an instrument at a 67% markup (I could publicly find on the forum that the seller bought the instrument for $900) at $1500. I countered with a lower price, because I found that markup unreasonable. I have a right to that opinion. The seller sold to another buyer. Good for the seller to find a horn at a deal and sell it to someone for a big profit.

I asked why the seller was selling the instrument. The seller responded with their rationale. Others then jumped in the convo suggesting I was providing "financial advice" or "shaming" when I was interested in the instrument but wary. Again, these are others' applications.

But if you want to suggest that I'm "publicly shaming" the poster for selling the instrument at a markup, consider that some—particularly students, of which there are many searching for horns—may not have the financial resources to 1) outbid others, 2) purchase instruments new, and 3) might not feel comfortable paying more for an instrument that sold cheaper months earlier.

It's great that some have the financial resources to buy and sell instruments for profit or leisure. Not all are in that position. These people deserve fairness.

4. I was interested in the horn, which is why I commented.

5. good for you. So why are you commenting?