Well, the one thing that's special about is the fact that it's made out of red brass, not yellow brass. That results in a warmer, darker sound. If you go onto wwbw.com and look up the LaVoix Alto, you'll get an idea of what it looks, for I have yet to see a pic of a LaVoix tenor.

Red brass? Someone's handing you a line of CRAP!!! It's a rose tinted lacquer applied to the brass. Now there is an alloy that contains copper that has a reddish tint, but there is no red copper! Many of the old Selmers had the tinted lacquer.

Uhh...nobody is handing it to me...that's what Selmer says it is. lol. Check there website. I'll double check. I do know that the brass has a 15% higher copper content than standard yellow brass (this might give it a reddish tint?). I'll look it up again. Coulda sworn it said red brass....

www.selmer.com/content/la_voix/index.php Note that in that link it will give you all the information about the LaVoix. The neck, body, bell, and bow are made of RED BRASS. Selmer says it is. I believe it's the second or third bullet down on that page. Happy saxophoning!

for once i agree with connsaxjim red brass is 85%copper 15%zinc yellow brass is 35% copper and 65% zinc the problem with red brass is it is too fragile for the complex buttressing on a sax as well as the constant tesile tension on saxophones as the keys are continually compressed against the tension of the springs Buffet made one of these and yes I had one ,,,the prestige,,, and yes it was more delicate,,, copper being softer than zinc and adjustmets did not last . So the reddish hue on the reference is due to a different laquer .If you do not believe this why then is the tribute to bird limited edition not the same hue ,,,more yellow and reminiscent of the color of that era. still don't believe read this The final stage was the finish: "We opted for a finish with a warm tint, which gives depth to the lacquer. Finally, we looked through the old plans in the Selmer factory to rediscover that superb engraved flower whose finesses and beauty enhance the instrument. SORRY IT IS JUST A PAINT JOB!!!

for once i agree with connsaxjim red brass is 85%copper 15%zinc yellow brass is 35% copper and 65% zinc the problem with red brass is it is too fragile for the complex buttressing on a sax as well as the constant tesile tension on saxophones as the keys are contin ually pressed against the tension of the springs Buffet made one of these and yes I had one ,,,the prestige,,, and yes it was more delicate,,, copper being softer than zinc and adjustmets did not last . So the reddish hue is due to a different laquer .

Yep, the Ref horns just have a different lacquer job. I got one, love it, but I'm curious how the patina will come out in a few decades...til then I'll play it and love it. BTW, I had a S80 Serie III, trust me, definitely not the same horn. Now if Selmer put together a horn with the Ref 54 alto bore (Mark VI bore dimensions supposedly) and put the Serie III keywork on it, then they'd have me happier! selmerfan

Yep, the Ref horns just have a different lacquer job. I got one, love it, but I'm curious how the patina will come out in a few decades...til then I'll play it and love it. BTW, I had a S80 Serie III, trust me, definitely not the same horn. Now if Selmer put together a horn with the Ref 54 alto bore (Mark VI bore dimensions supposedly) and put the Serie III keywork on it, then they'd have me happier! selmerfan