selmer omega alto sax

Answer 1

There is a person, named Tami, on the "Saxophone People" website. She said that she paid ~$1250 for hers and is selling it for $800. I own one that Bobby Black said was worth ~$1400 back in 2004. I bought it online and got 2 mouthpieces (one is a Meyer 5), a hard case, and a gig case - all for $860. It's a bit 'dinged up' but plays well. It's considered an intermediate or semi-pro model.

Here's a blurb I wrote about it on another blog site --

Will let you know once I 'get up to speed' on mine. I just bought one (a 1984 - serial #

821900) It has an oval pearl high F# key. I have no clue if that was an orderable

option or what. The guy on eBay set a reserve at 700. I was high bidder at $860,

but the 'extras' made it a real deal. It came with a perfect Meyer #5 mouthpiece

(one of which I already own - bought around 1970). It also came with an ARBEX

4*S mouthpiece (haven't tried it yet), and a couple of ligatures - not my favorites -

I prefer a reverse s***w Bonade. It's hard case is almost perfect and the gig-bag he

sent with it IS PERFECT. Let's see, ... I paid $35 for shipping and handling.

I have a few minor skills with instrument repair, so I spent about 4 hours taking the whole

thing apart, cleaning all the metal with Liquid Wrench, re-oiled everthing and even

swabbed all the pads with aloe vera to keep them flexible and supple. I still couldn't

get everything perfect, so I took it into the SaxShop in Skokie, IL - Bobby Black's

place (I went to NU with him and he studied with Fred Hemke). For around $175,

one of his technicians got the rest of the 'kinks' out. It does have a couple of minor

dings near the bottow of the bell and on the bell edge and the laquer is about 90%.

I'm getting a nice 'fat' sound throughout all registers. Even the altissimo doesn't seem

to thin out much, either. My major instrument is clarinet, so I'll have to ask another

sax player how it sounds to him/her.