Selmer Paris Instruments at The Mighty Quinn Brass and Winds
The Selmer Paris company, formally known as Henri Selmer Paris, is one of the world’s most respected and historic makers of woodwind and brass instruments, especially saxophones and clarinets. Its story is deeply tied to the development of classical and jazz music throughout the 20th century.
Henri Selmer Paris (France), founded in 1885 by Henri Selmer, began by producing reeds and mouthpieces before expanding into clarinet and saxophone manufacturing. In 1904, Selmer’s clarinets won a Gold Medal at the St. Louis World’s Fair, cementing its international reputation.
After acquiring the Adolphe Sax company (inventor of the saxophone) in 1928, Selmer Paris inherited Sax’s patents, tooling, and legacy. The company began producing professional saxophones that became iconic, such as Model 22 and the Super Series. These models were the first to establish Selmer Paris as the premier saxophone maker.
In 1936, the Balanced Action Saxophone was launched, which introduced the now-standard right-hand bell key layout, improving ergonomics and intonation. The Balanced action was followed by the Super Balanced Action, then the Mark VI. The Mark VI is regarded as one of the greatest saxophones ever made, favored by John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, and countless others. During this era, Selmer Paris became synonymous with jazz and classical excellence.
Despite global competition, Selmer Paris has continued its legacy of handcrafted production. It remains family-owned, led by members of the Selmer family. Selmer Paris continues to build professional instruments in Mantes-la-Ville, maintaining full French production.
Discover the unmatched craftsmanship and innovation of Selmer Paris at The Mighty Quinn Brass and Winds, where we specialize in online sales of professional instruments. The Selmer sound - rich, resonant, and flexible - remains the benchmark for top-tier musicians, and our curated collection features the best that Selmer Paris has to offer. We are proud to be an Authorized Selmer Paris Dealer.

