A Real Professional Neck on Your First Pro Horn
There's a certain milestone in a saxophonist's journey where the student-level gear starts to feel like a ceiling rather than a ladder. The Selmer STS711 was built with exactly that player in mind. It's the result of a genuine collaboration between Selmer USA and Henri Selmer Paris — and the part that makes players do a double-take is the neck: an actual Henri Selmer Paris neck, the same lineage as instruments used at the highest levels of the craft, fitted right here on an accessible professional horn.
The body is yellow brass throughout — body, neck, and bell — with a post-to-rib-to-body construction and drawn tone holes. Mark VI-style hand engraving on the bell gives it the look of something considerably pricier. Under the hood, Pisoni Pro leather pads with metal resonators and blued steel springs round out a mechanical package that punches well above its price point.
If you're an advancing player stepping into your first professional saxophone, or a doubler who needs a serious tenor without a Reference 54 price tag, the STS711 makes a genuinely compelling case for itself.
The Henri Selmer Paris Neck: Why It Matters
On most saxophones at this level, the neck is an afterthought — a piece of brass that connects body to mouthpiece and not much more. The STS711 is different. Its neck is manufactured by Henri Selmer Paris specifically for this instrument, which directly shapes the horn's tonal character and intonation response. Players often find that swapping a neck on a mid-tier horn is the single biggest upgrade they can make; here, Selmer has already done that work for you.
Paired with the neck is a Selmer Paris mouthpiece featuring an internal baffle and tip shape optimized for advancing players — a detail Sweetwater specifically calls out as designed to "meet the needs of the advancing player." It's not a throwaway accessory; it's part of a system designed to work together.
Keys, Pads, and Mechanical Feel
The STS711's keywork is brass, with precision action backed by blued-steel needle springs. Blued steel springs are prized for their responsiveness — they hold their tension longer and provide a more consistent feel than the stainless or bronze springs found on many instruments at this level. The result is faster, more reliable key return, which matters a lot when you're moving through difficult passages quickly.
Pisoni Pro leather pads with metal resonators provide an airtight seal across the tone holes, contributing to even response across the full range of the horn. An adjustable metal thumb rest lets you dial in your hand position for comfort during long rehearsals or gigs. The High F# key extends the standard upper range, a feature expected on any serious professional instrument.
Engraving, Finish, and the Details That Count
The Mark VI-style hand engraving on the bell isn't just cosmetic — it's a nod to the most celebrated saxophone design in history, and it signals that Selmer takes the STS711's professional positioning seriously. The standard model comes in a clear lacquer finish over yellow brass, giving it a warm, classic look. Additional finish options (matte, silver plate, black nickel) are available for players who want a different aesthetic.
The drawn tone holes — rather than soldered rings — are a construction method that contributes to a more consistent acoustic interface between pad and tone hole, a detail more commonly found on higher-tier horns.
Product Features:
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Key: Bb tenor saxophone
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Body/Neck/Bell material: Yellow brass throughout
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Neck: Genuine Henri Selmer Paris neck for tonal quality and intonation
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Mouthpiece: Henri Selmer Paris mouthpiece with optimized internal baffle and tip shape
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Pads: Pisoni Pro treated leather pads with metal resonators
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Springs: Blued steel needle springs for fast, responsive key action
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Tone holes: Drawn tone holes with post-to-rib-to-body (ribbed) mounting
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Aux keys: High F#; F vibration dampening bar
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Engraving: Mark VI-style hand engraving on bell
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Thumb rest: Adjustable metal thumb rest
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Key material: Brass
Brand: Selmer
Model: STS711
SKU: STS711
Condition: New
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