Many professional sax players play on Selmer Mark VI, Super Balanced Action (SBA) and Balanced Action. Why?

I would say there are two main things that make a saxophone enjoyable to play: Good sound and comfortable ergonomics.

Selmer was on the forefront in both areas back in the 1930s when they developed the Balanced Action (BA). The word “Balanced” in the model name refers to the new design of the left hand pinky table – specifically the low C# lever design which with its two levers (instead of the previous used sax design of one lever) made the low C# easier to play.

Ergonomically, the Balanced Action keyboard facilitated a higher degree of technical playing and combined with a rich, centered and projecting sound. These horns attracted many of the great players of the day.

The Super Balanced Action (which back then was actually called “Super Action”) had reworked ergonomics with the right hand tone holes and keys slightly offset. Going from the all in-line tone holes to this new layout became the standard for nearly all saxophone brands.

The Mark VI saw further updates and changes to the mechanics of the instrument, all in an effort to improve ergonomics – and resulted in a design that more or less became the blueprint for all modern saxophones.

This combination of sound and ergonomics made the BA, SBA and Mark VIses the choice of so many of the great sax players over the decades. Although there are now saxophones being made that are top quality build, good intonation, great ergonomics, etc, there is a blend of resonance, projection, comfort and overall sound in these vintage Selmers that to this day makes them the choice of so many players.