'The French Triumph on American Soil'

Why Selmer Beat Competition from American Manufacturers in the Last Century

Today, if you ask a professional saxophonist which brand tops their list, chances are you’ll hear “Selmer.” But that wasn’t always a given. In the early 20th century, some of the most sought-after saxophones came from the United States, from iconic manufacturers like Conn, Buescher, and Martin. So how did France’s Selmer achieve such dominance—and maintain it to this day?

The rise of Selmer Paris

Henri Selmer, himself a clarinetist and a graduate of the Conservatoire de Paris, began building mouthpieces and clarinets in 1885. In 1922, Selmer launched his first saxophone. The quality was immediately high — but they were far from the standard.

That changed quickly in 1931 when the Balanced Action series was introduced. This model revolutionized sax design: better ergonomics, better mechanics and a fuller tone. Selmer began to attract the attention of professional players worldwide.

The American Giants: Conn, Buescher and Martin

In the first half of the 20th century, American brands dominated the market. Conn's 6M “Naked Lady” was legendary in the jazz scene. Buescher's True Tone series was beloved by classical players. And Martin's Handcraft was known for its robust sound.

However, these brands had one major drawback: they continued to stick to old designs, even when musicians wanted more playing comfort, intonation precision and modern construction techniques.

Buescher "Big B" example

Watch a short video about the iconic Buescher Big B sax here:

Selmer's big breakthrough: Mark VI

In 1954, Selmer introduced the legendary Mark VI — and it changed everything. The Mark VI had:

• Unprecedented intonation
• Smooth ergonomics
• Flexible, rich tone that lent itself to both jazz and classical
• And a stylish finish

Saxophonists such as John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and later Michael Brecker and Kenny Garrett all played a Selmer Mark VI. The sound we now associate with “the perfect sax” is Selmer.

What happened to the American brands?

At the same time that Selmer was building its masterpieces, American brands were in trouble:

• Factories closed or were bought up
• The focus shifted to student models
• Quality deteriorated due to cost cutting
• Innovation was lacking

While Selmer continued to develop — with the Mark VII, Super Action 80 and Reference 54 among others — American competitors lagged behind.

The result: Selmer as the world standard

By the end of the 20th century, Selmer was not only the market leader, but the gold standard. Today, the brand continues to lead the professional segment, with modern models such as the Supreme and Reference.

Conclusion: French finesse trumps American nostalgia

Selmer won the battle with American brands by:

• Technical innovation
• Listening to the wishes of top musicians
• Quality over quantity
• And the ability to reinvent oneself over and over again

In a world where nostalgia is strong among musicians, Selmer has proven that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand. That makes them — to this day — the brand par excellence for the saxophonist with ambition.

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