Artist: Roger Nordling
I have had a opportunity to play the System 54 Power Bell Vintage Style Superior Class tenor for a while now and I would like to share my experience with this horn.
Looks
This model has a vintage style lacquer with nice engraving on the bell and also the bow.
It looks somewhat similar to the Selmer referens 54 except the System 54 has more engraving and a bigger bell.
Feel
The horn suits my hands very well and the action and spring tension is nearly perfect except that the octave mechanism is a little sluggish when going from A2-G2. I dont think this is a big problem though since it isnt noticable in a playing situation and I think it can be fixed easily by a tech.
The action is smooth and the fingers flies easily over the keys. The horn is somewhat lighter compared to the Selmer SA II. Also i noticed that the neck has a for me different angle resulting in having the horn more far away from you when holding it before you. I liked that much because It made me feel more relaxed in my arms and hands.
Sound
This horn loves to be played! It responds great in the lower register and the altisimo. I feel so much more in control when playing the System 54. Intonation is very good including the palm keys. It has a big bore and that results in a big sound, free for the player to shape as he/she wants. All depending on how you would like to sound and express yourself. Compared to the Selmer SA II and Selmer Refrence 54 wich got a more focused sound with a little more crispness in it.
The system 54 is powerful! You can get lots of volume out of the horn without overblowing it.I have played this horn now on a daily basis for while now and I have just started to discover its potential in sound. It have not disapointed me in any way. The only downside I have found so far is the little stiff octave mechanism. Its got a big, powerful and open sound making it perfect for different kind of music such as jazz ,rythm & blues from the fifties, rock, soul..
About me
I make my living as jazz saxophone player and saxophone teacher. Established in Knivsta close to Stockholm Sweden. I have studied saxophone at SMI (Stockholms Musikpedagogiska Institut) and had great teachers such as Anders Paulsson and Fredrik Ljunkkvist. Mostly doing freelance gigs, playing at jazz clubs, pubs,and some wedding bands. Jazz, blues and funk is what I play most. Recently I am into some recording sessions for Roman Andrén a very talented piano player/composer. My main horn until now have been a Selmer Super Action 80 Series II tenor.
In the soundclips you also can hear the great Mattias Åström on piano.
Roger Nordling
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