How Legendary Saxophones are Made

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  • Опубліковано 14 жов 2023
  • #bettersax #saxophone #selmer
    Jay Metcalf tours the Selmer saxophone factory in Paris, France to show us how these legendary musical instruments are made.
    Selmer Supreme Tenor - geni.us/WjsW8ms
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 205

  • @ZexyObserver
    @ZexyObserver 7 місяців тому +57

    Crazy. The part I thought HAD to be done by hand, the engraving, is done by the robot. And the part I thought would be done by robots is all done by hand.

  • @insaneintherainmusic
    @insaneintherainmusic 7 місяців тому +111

    Wow this is incredible to watch! Thanks for taking us on this journey Jay, and for the translation as well!

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  7 місяців тому +10

      Thanks Carlos

    • @billj4137
      @billj4137 7 місяців тому +1

      Had my interest the entire time. Video is well done.

    • @Ro-official
      @Ro-official 6 місяців тому +1

      My two favorite youtube saxophonists under one video, wasn't expecting that!

  • @jazztime4
    @jazztime4 7 місяців тому +57

    Hi Jay! As a 77-year-old pro saxophonist who played a ‘64 Mark VI alto until last last year when I sprung for a Yanagisawa Elite, I’ve got to tell you how informative and entertaining both of your factory tours were! Production methods, for the most part, are incredibly different, with the Yani’s, it seems, being more “hand-crafted” - but in the end result, these companies quite similarly create, I feel, the world’s two most impeccable saxophone brands! Thanks for all you do for saxophonists everywhere…we are all “family!” 🎷😃

  • @GetYourSaxTogether
    @GetYourSaxTogether 7 місяців тому +13

    I’m a total Selmer guy, but I was watching this awesome video with interest to find clues why there are so many complaints that brand new Selmer horns, not least Supremes, come out of the factory so badly set up. Everyone now knows you have to have your brand new Selmer checked before you use it, which I consider totally unacceptable. It was striking that Yanagisawa don’t even play test their horns! I think that says all you need to know. Having seen the Selmer process I guess their inconsistency is just down to pilot error, or maybe even bad packing for transit, I don’t know!
    Great vid Jay. I love these factory visits. So fascinating. Thanks dude. 😊

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  7 місяців тому +8

      Not knowing more than what I filmed and showed in the videos. I think it’s very interesting that Yanagisawa has stations doing each section of the instrument while Selmer has one individual assembling the entire instrument. This may be the key.

  • @kyffreggaemanstyley
    @kyffreggaemanstyley 7 місяців тому +23

    Ma mère a travaillé dans cette usine dans les années '60. Elle assemblait les ténors et les barytons. Elle a croisé des célébrités comme Manu Dibango ou Sydney Bechet. C'était une époque merveilleuse pour elle. Merci pour cette visite qui fait remonter tant de souvenirs en moi.

  • @thewarhenk
    @thewarhenk 24 дні тому

    Never gets old; I could watch these all day.

  • @TheGewidener
    @TheGewidener 7 місяців тому +12

    Nothing compares to the Yanagisawa factory. I was amazed at how small Yanagisawa was, but they still turn out a respectable volume AND DO NOT PLAY TEST THEM AND THEY ARE PERFECT. This is very cool though, but Yanagisawa wins the quality and craftsmanship award. More was done by hand at Yanagisawa, and it's really smart that the same keys stay with the instrument the whole time. They barely even have to be setup. Selmer just can't say that. They sure look pretty though. I love watching old video (somewhere on UA-cam) of the Elkhart factories when they shipped saxophones over in pieces and assembled them there, as well as built the USA models. Those old American factories had some really skilled craftsmen and more experience. I was disappointed to see the engraving being done robotically.

  • @KleinkMusic
    @KleinkMusic 7 місяців тому +3

    Sometimes I forget you live in France and fluently speak the language. It's super cool!

  • @frankzona5459
    @frankzona5459 7 місяців тому +7

    As someone who made a living in manufacturing, and now a full time saxophonist, these factory tours are absolutely fascinating. Thanks Jay for bringing these factory tours to us. Looking forward to the Yamaha tour.

  • @chillznax
    @chillznax 7 місяців тому +16

    Extremely interesting seeing the difference between Yanagisawa and Selmer manufacturing. Makes the Yanagisawa seem like an exquisitely handcrafted instrument like a Patek Philippe. The Selmer more like an Omega watch. I hear a lot about the quality issues with assembly on the Selmers but once dialed in they’re amazing. From the video it looks like the quality of assembly is very high.

  • @Simon.the.Likeable
    @Simon.the.Likeable 7 місяців тому +7

    Will you be visiting the Keilwerth factory? I hope so. I have a Yanigasawa, a Selmer and two Keilwerths. It would be good to see the full set. (It would soothe my OCD considerably.)

  • @reedhead1
    @reedhead1 7 місяців тому +11

    I love factory stuff. I've worked in a couple factories, I'm amazed at the brain power that goes into making things that make things.

    • @andrescastro8198
      @andrescastro8198 7 місяців тому

      Knowledge and tools are everything. Agreed.

  • @matthewhetzler4912
    @matthewhetzler4912 7 місяців тому +10

    Thanks Jay.
    ✅Yanagisawa Factory
    ✅Selmer Factory
    🟩Yamaha Factory
    Can’t wait!

  • @dredavis2399
    @dredavis2399 6 місяців тому +3

    That assembly department is no joke. They work so hard to make some of the greatest saxophones ever made. Great job! Love the video 👍🏾

  • @pukalo
    @pukalo 7 місяців тому +8

    My local university bought an entire set of Series II saxophones, from sopranino to bass, from Selmer a long time ago. Can't imagine how much that must've cost.

  • @mannyk6694
    @mannyk6694 7 місяців тому +10

    Been waiting for something like this for ages, thank you so much!

  • @craigbutcher8079
    @craigbutcher8079 День тому

    Truly fascinating! Thank you for this gift of a quarter hour of relief from the anguish and horror of this terrible century.

  • @loopyloumonster
    @loopyloumonster 7 місяців тому +10

    This is incredible!! The quality control is insane 🤯

  • @ThisIsToolman
    @ThisIsToolman 7 місяців тому +1

    The “pulling” operation is extraordinarily clever.

  • @totidoki05
    @totidoki05 6 місяців тому +1

    i'm so glad i got to start saxophone with a selmer, sadly it was a very old one that i rented so i don't have it anymore but i'd like to get one someday, at least when i will have relearned to play the sax properly!

  • @fredericpariset1246
    @fredericpariset1246 7 місяців тому +2

    Nice video I have had the opportunity 30 years ago to visite Selmer factory as I do not live very far from their production plant and I am now very surprised how they have improved their processes using modern equipments.
    For those who are interested another well known instrument manufacturer is also located in the same town Buffet-Crampon
    Both in Mantes la Ville
    Many thanks to make these video on Sax manufacturers help us to understand their philosophy and dedication to make premium instruments for musicians
    It also make people understand the price of these instruments when you look at the number of bits the number of steps and the time it takes to make such beautiful instruments ❤❤❤

  • @ezrashoaf9354
    @ezrashoaf9354 7 місяців тому +5

    First Yanagisawa, and now this?!

  • @HahnJames
    @HahnJames 7 місяців тому +2

    Awesome peek into the Selmer manufacturing process. It's a lot more complicated than I had imagined. I thought you were going to get into some myth busting and rumor dispelling there for a second.

  • @morosso1968
    @morosso1968 7 місяців тому +1

    i'm not a musician but how i love to sit and watch videos like this.
    thank you for uploading!

  • @Laura-wg5jk
    @Laura-wg5jk 7 місяців тому +3

    Fascinating! It's interesting how Selmer does the engraving (robot) versus what we saw with Yanagisawa (hand done). Looking very much forward to Yamaha video.

  • @AFN2750
    @AFN2750 7 місяців тому +1

    I will probably always play vintage saxophones, mostly conns, but man, this is so cool to watch as they make amazing instruments

  • @morrij01
    @morrij01 7 місяців тому +1

    I bought my Super Action Serie II right out of high school over 26 years ago and seeing how it was put together is incredible. Thank you for that.

  • @djpolymath
    @djpolymath 7 місяців тому +5

    Amazing, Jay! Thanks for the tour. Most of us would never have such a behind-the-scene opportunity.
    (I’m still most flabbergasted that Yany doesn’t play-test. Talk about confidence in the manufacturing process!)

  • @Jason-cm6uh
    @Jason-cm6uh 6 місяців тому +2

    Way cool! As a welder/ fabricator and a musician, this is pure heaven. Thanks dude!

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  6 місяців тому

      Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @borntobayan
    @borntobayan 7 місяців тому +1

    It’s amazing to watch a lot of these steps performed by complex machines and to think that 100 years ago folks probably did all of those operations somehow by hand

  • @Sn00ze
    @Sn00ze 7 місяців тому +5

    Amazing mini documentary! I don't play the saxophone and always wondered how they are made, this is incredible!

  • @nickpetrov2939
    @nickpetrov2939 7 місяців тому +2

    Thanks for this video, Jay! So interesting to look inside Selmer factory. Can't wait for Yamaha!

  • @Ybor-ld6uq
    @Ybor-ld6uq 6 місяців тому +1

    As a retired machinist loved this. Knowing that your work will go to people making music would be so rewarding.

  • @gianlucawork
    @gianlucawork 7 місяців тому +3

    These videos are precious documents to understand why the final price seems so high. It doesn't make it affordable to me, but they're more appreciated (Rigotti was also very useful to understand why reeds are so apparently expensive). Thank you Jay

  • @mikesaxclar
    @mikesaxclar 7 місяців тому +6

    absolutely incredible! Congrats on getting to experience this and thanks for taking us along!

  • @kennethvenezia4400
    @kennethvenezia4400 7 місяців тому +3

    Thanks for this video Jay. After this I started kissing 💋 my 1965 Selmer MVI

  • @billynugget1256
    @billynugget1256 7 місяців тому +2

    What an opportunity to see this, thank you Jay

  • @jojo-bt8mq
    @jojo-bt8mq 21 день тому +1

    素晴しい動画。感謝👍

  • @dougckelly
    @dougckelly 3 місяці тому

    good to know that shopping trolley's are a pivotal component in sax making.

  • @elizabethjmanzano
    @elizabethjmanzano 5 місяців тому

    Can’t wait for the Yamaha sax factory tour! I have a 62-II but I’ve been considering an upgrade and these videos are very enlightening!!

  • @HonestSaxSound-unEdited-
    @HonestSaxSound-unEdited- 7 місяців тому +2

    Selmer❤
    First I want to thank each and every one of the luthiers and workers who make it possible for these true works of art to exist (also extended to other brands). When you touch one of these, you immediately feel certain differences and you are delighted! ..and you thank God that there are still people who seek and maintain excellence! And second, I also want to congratulate the author of this excellent video!

    • @zvonimirtosic6171
      @zvonimirtosic6171 7 місяців тому

      Luthier is a maker of stringed instruments, such as violins or guitars, not woodwind instruments.

    • @HonestSaxSound-unEdited-
      @HonestSaxSound-unEdited- 7 місяців тому

      ​@@zvonimirtosic6171right friend.. but how can we call this "metal" workers from wind instruments?? ..or, a piano constructor?, it isn't a luthier too?
      Anyway they are a mixture between specfical workers and artist's.. and i would thank all them..

  • @mossygreenlog
    @mossygreenlog 5 днів тому +1

    Bro, you make excellent videos! You should be over a million subscribers. Hopefully you'll get there soon.

  • @rexpayne7836
    @rexpayne7836 6 місяців тому +2

    Great content and presentation. Great channel. 😊

  • @bobblues1158
    @bobblues1158 7 місяців тому +1

    Yeah Jay! I love these videos. Thanks!

  • @Kirktracy
    @Kirktracy 7 місяців тому +1

    Fun to watch, Jay. Thanks!

  • @smoothvelvetsinger
    @smoothvelvetsinger 7 місяців тому +2

    What an amazing video Jay👏🎷👍

  • @paoloalbano4690
    @paoloalbano4690 7 місяців тому +1

    Thank you Jay... ❤

  • @antonioarnaud8647
    @antonioarnaud8647 7 місяців тому +5

    Very good video of my favorite saxophone! Thank you for taking the time and initiative to do this and show all of us how this is done! Good Job!!! 👍👍👍

  • @musicman1341
    @musicman1341 2 місяці тому +1

    Outstanding Jay!! Thanks for sharing. 👍

  • @bborgan7611
    @bborgan7611 7 місяців тому +1

    Great Video Jay! Thank you!

  • @iwanarya4779
    @iwanarya4779 6 місяців тому

    Amazing selmer factory

  • @Dionpr1
    @Dionpr1 7 місяців тому +1

    Fabulous. Thanks Jay.

  • @mossygreenlog
    @mossygreenlog 5 днів тому +1

    Thanks!

  • @shipsahoy1793
    @shipsahoy1793 7 місяців тому +1

    Thanks Jay!
    I ❤it!!

  • @JoshuaC923
    @JoshuaC923 6 місяців тому +2

    This is amazing, always like to see how things are made. Thank you!

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  6 місяців тому

      Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @marklee1965
    @marklee1965 7 місяців тому +1

    Thanks Jay. Another very informative video. Much appreciated.

  • @FarrinD12
    @FarrinD12 7 місяців тому +3

    This is a fantastic video! Thanks Jay!
    On a side note, I just picked up a burnin tenor mouthpiece, and man I feel right at home on it! Thanks for making great gear as well as video content!

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  7 місяців тому +1

      Thank you and great to hear you dig the mouthpiece!

  • @brianclausen2344
    @brianclausen2344 7 місяців тому +3

    Fantastic vid, Jay! I had thought they were still using pitch inside of their necks, but ice?!?! Very cool! hehe. Keep up the great work enlightening us with more fun Saxophone knowledge!

  • @Invisible_Hermit
    @Invisible_Hermit 7 місяців тому +6

    This was truly amazing and captivating! Thank you so much Jay for sharing this journey into the heart of creation of such iconic saxophones. They are absolutely a thing of beauty! 🎷

  • @KennyBaik
    @KennyBaik 7 місяців тому +1

    The video is fantastic! Thank you for sharing, and I'm looking forward to more captivating videos like this.

  • @samsohrabi8029
    @samsohrabi8029 7 місяців тому +1

    Thank you for sharing.

  • @wisconsinmel
    @wisconsinmel 7 місяців тому +3

    Another great video Jay 😀🎷 A lot of work goes into getting the videos cranked out. Has to be fun touring all these great saxophone product manufacturing facilities.

  • @steveparker8723
    @steveparker8723 6 місяців тому

    Not a saxophone player but it was cool seeing some of the process of making them.

  • @mr.cocking7664
    @mr.cocking7664 7 місяців тому +2

    This is great! My main instrument is a Selmer Paris K-modified cornet from 1968. It looks a bit rough cosmetically but it plays incredibly well. Best valves of any cornet or trumpet that I've played.

  • @jonniejlo
    @jonniejlo 7 місяців тому +1

    Amazing video! Soooo cool to see inside the beast.

  • @EricTorreborre
    @EricTorreborre 7 місяців тому +1

    Love it, thanks Jay. Can't wait for Yamaha now!

  • @MytzaHandbalistu
    @MytzaHandbalistu 7 місяців тому +1

    This is pure joy to watch! I would love to visit Selmer Factory too ❤ and maybe leave with a Supreme Sax 🤪

  • @davidsunderland8063
    @davidsunderland8063 7 місяців тому +1

    Thanks, you just inspired me to make one💛

  • @miguelangelvenegasferniza3274
    @miguelangelvenegasferniza3274 7 місяців тому +1

    Greetings from Ensenada Baja California Mexico, thank you for the video 🤟

  • @MerelIbrahim
    @MerelIbrahim 7 місяців тому +1

    Estupendo tu reportaje. Felicitaciones.

  • @penguinista
    @penguinista 7 місяців тому +1

    Excellent video!

  • @woodwindfixer9248
    @woodwindfixer9248 6 місяців тому +1

    Conn New Wonder saxophones had drawn toneholes and they were begun in 1914. Perhaps they began as soldered toneholes, but pretty confident they were using drawn toneholes prior to 1922.

  • @robertzantay5923
    @robertzantay5923 7 місяців тому +1

    It is great to see where my Mark Six came from. I bought it for $250 when we were both about twelve years old in 1965. I’ve never played any other Alto Sax that sounds as good as mine does ( to me) of course I learned to play sax on this instrument 🎷 so I am so comfortable playing it.

  • @yahyangegame8756
    @yahyangegame8756 7 місяців тому +1

    Its amazing

  • @costamoreira5825
    @costamoreira5825 4 місяці тому +1

    Love this.❤.

  • @springersound1844
    @springersound1844 7 місяців тому

    Fantastic.

  • @sidneiramalho
    @sidneiramalho 7 місяців тому +1

    Great video! Even though I'm not a Selmer guy I do respect them a lot. Great work putting those saxes together. It makes me want to make my own saxophone.

  • @patrickgallagher9069
    @patrickgallagher9069 7 місяців тому

    I played on a Selmer VI tenor sax in high school!

  • @saiskanda
    @saiskanda 7 місяців тому +1

    Loved every minute! Thanks for the detailed explanation. Waiting patiently for the Yamaha one!
    If you have any spare footage you didn't use, try to upload them as well. No duration of these is too long to watch!

  • @nathancamp6584
    @nathancamp6584 7 місяців тому +1

    Very interesting to watch. I started on a selmer and then switched to Yamaha. Both great horns

  • @ABC060491
    @ABC060491 7 місяців тому

    It's amazing how vertically integrated the process is.

  • @renatrustamov5709
    @renatrustamov5709 7 місяців тому

    Super!

  • @davidlangford5383
    @davidlangford5383 7 місяців тому +1

    nice one jay awsum video

  • @dustinwalden7091
    @dustinwalden7091 6 місяців тому +1

    I had a Bundy II alto in middle school in 1995. Played it in marching season and a baritone sax in concert season (no clue what model it was). I never learned to use the octave key. I guess my mouth naturally tensed up on the higher notes and just never used it.

  • @MrSimonious
    @MrSimonious 7 місяців тому +1

    That was great. I have a Selmer Tenor… Radio Improved model, original patina. It’s a beauty

  • @alaincookykoch5994
    @alaincookykoch5994 4 місяці тому +1

    Danke!

  • @bobhoye5951
    @bobhoye5951 6 місяців тому

    Fascinating to be taken throught the process. I think someone once said: "A saxophone is an ill-wind that no one blows good". But then there is Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Coleman Hawkins and at a later period Stan Getz and Paul Desmond.

  • @TiburziusLackmeyer
    @TiburziusLackmeyer 7 місяців тому +1

    Very interesting!

  • @Kelekona_808
    @Kelekona_808 5 місяців тому +3

    It's amazing how the Selmer work spaces are so clean. This tour definitely shows where the cost of the horns come from.

  • @samloos3531
    @samloos3531 7 місяців тому

    I would have liked to see more of the machining of the small parts

  • @AndrewKennedyMusicOfficial
    @AndrewKennedyMusicOfficial 7 місяців тому +1

    I really enjoy these videos Jay. I have two Selmer Paris saxophones. I'm looking forward to the Yamaha video as my soprano is a Yamaha.

  • @krishnansrinivasan830
    @krishnansrinivasan830 5 місяців тому +1

    Awesome :)

  • @user-px2ym1kv3q
    @user-px2ym1kv3q 5 місяців тому

    Well done

  • @Bikerguy_123
    @Bikerguy_123 7 місяців тому +2

    Wow i had no idea😊

  • @josephknudson5097
    @josephknudson5097 6 місяців тому

    Quite interesting. God bless you.

  • @rosskane961
    @rosskane961 7 місяців тому +1

    Terrific video! I’m taken back to those old Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood videos showing how violins or erasers are made😄

    • @davidjung1824
      @davidjung1824 5 місяців тому

      I’m not sure which factory it was but he did one on how saxophones are made too

  • @johncamp7679
    @johncamp7679 6 місяців тому

    The Sax player for Dr. Hook used to live a few houses up from my grandmother.

  • @marcobadilla8773
    @marcobadilla8773 7 місяців тому

    Se agradece este fascinante video de Selmer, como el anterior de Yanagisawa.
    Esperaré atento el de Yamaha y ojalá algún día podamos ver una visita tuya al mítico Rampone y Cazzani . Gracias

  • @peterpham6288
    @peterpham6288 7 місяців тому +1

    12:51 Great tone!

  • @RalphBrooker-gn9iv
    @RalphBrooker-gn9iv 7 місяців тому

    My first saxophone was a Guban alto (I was 8 and had played a little ‘simple system’ clarinet’). As I understand it, the Guban alto (c.1969) was a Selmer Mk.6 copy under licence made in what was then Czechoslovakia. It was a superb instrument. Later in life a bought a Selmer Super Action 80 which I didn’t get on with. The SA80 was much vaunted at the time. I bought mine in cash from Bill Lewington’s in London. I’d love a Mk.6 alto.