With this Selmer Saxophone Serial Number Chart you are able to lookup when your Selmer sax was manufactured. As you can see below there are several Saxophone models and serial number ranges listed.
Each Selmer Saxophone has it's unique sequential number, ensuring no duplication across instruments. This serial number provides a definitive link to the saxophone's manufacturing year.
Model | Start # | End # | Start Year | End Year |
Prototype & Stencil | 1 | 750 | 1904 | 1920 |
Modele 22 | 750 | 4,45 | 1922 | 1926 |
Modele 26 | 4,451 | 14 | 1926 | 1931 |
Adolphe Sax | 11,951 | 18,7 | 1928 | 1935 |
Super Series | 14 | 28 | 1931 | 1939 |
Balanced Action | 20,9 | 35,8 | 1935 | 1947 |
Padless (Selmer USA) | 27 | 30 | 1938 | 1941 |
Super (Balanced) Action | 33,401 | 55,2 | 1946 | 1954 |
Mark VI | 55,201 | 378 | 1954 | 1985 |
Mark VII | 231 | 315,5 | 1974 | 1981 |
Super Action 80 | 315,501 | 378,8 | 1981 | unknown |
Super Action 80 Series II | 378,801 | unknown | 1986 | unknown |
Reference | unknown | unknown | 2001 | unknown |
The official Henri SELMER Paris Serial Numbers List helps you determine the approximate year of production for each instrument.
However, it's important to note that this is only an estimate, given the lengthy manufacturing process of a SELMER Saxophone.
The exact moment when the body is stamped with a serial number is not explicitly defined, hence the year of production is estimated.
Because of this, the list is best used as a reference for the production year, and more accurate data can be obtained by requesting access to the SELMER Archives through the specific saxophone's serial number.
The transition between different series is also somewhat ambiguous. For example, even after the Mark 7 (Alto and Tenor) was officially introduced, the production of Mark VI models continued. This could be due to the use of remaining materials, fulfilling outstanding orders, or evaluating the market response to the new model.
I have an Selmer Mark IV from 1956 which comes into that 63001-68900 range of serial numbers. However, it's hard to tell exactly when the saxophone was manufactured as mentioned.
One thing is certain though… It's an amazing saxophone to play and I practice on it almost daily.
Fun fact: In addition to these standard models, there are occasional “transitional models” in the Selmer Saxophone Collection. These unique Selmer Saxophones blend elements from both predecessor and successor models, like the SBA/Mark VI Transitional.
It's also good to know that while the serial number list can only provide an estimated production year, determining the specific model can be done by examining the instrument's equipment features, markings, or structural details.
That's beside looking at the bell where some models are written out. To accurately interpret the Selmer Serial Number List it's worth noting that the serial number adjacent to a particular year represents the last saxophone assigned in that year.
Find out more about serial numbers and manufacture dates on other Saxophone brands:
