Sax on the Web

Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Baritone Saxophone / Mark VI value help needed !

Carter
User ID: 2205324 Jan 10th 10:28 AM
Stopped by the local used horn shop yesterday, hadn't been in for a few months. They have had the same old beat-up school baris in there for a couple of years, and overpriced to boot. I asked if they had any new baris, and oh yes they did.

I was shown an immacuate 152xxx Low A Mark VI bari. At first I wasn't sure it was a VI because the bow looked literally brand new, didn't have a mark, ding, scratch, nothing. All original pads, in perfect shape. No visible dings or dents. A few scratches around the strap ring, some very minor spots/sratches etc. on the body and bell. I would say the lacquer and finish are 95%. The only thing that concerned was that a padded stand collar was still attached to the bell. I did not have time to remove and look under the collar, or to play the horn. (I'm going back asap!) But on visual inspection this one was clean with a capital C.

I was told the bari belonged to a guy who had been a retired local pro who recently passed away. The shop is selling a couple of his horns, and showed me his main axe, a 1942 10M. The Conn was in very good shape for a horn which had been played a lot, and was obviously well taken care of. Apparently, the bari was rarely played.

The shop wants $5,500 for the VI. What think ye?

BrianA
User ID: 1564944 Jan 10th 2:00 PM
I have seen them sell for both the same, less and more but as unfair as it seems, if you feel you really must play a Mark VI then $5500.00 is fair. personally I would sooner buy a new Yanigasawa 992 or a Keilwerth for the same or less money..

Cashsax
User ID: 0833354 Jan 10th 2:14 PM
That is the STEAL of the century.

Carter
User ID: 2205324 Jan 10th 2:20 PM
The sad thing is that, this horn is so clean and straight, I would be AFRAID to play it on my usual gig, which is with the classic rock/r&b band. Bar stages are tiny, and populated with lummoxes for guitar players. My 50% lacquer 10M shrugs off the dings and doinks inherent in this type playing. If I had this bari, I would be Mr. Anxiety thinking that the B-3 guy or guitar guy would accidentally brush against it. Once I had a new Series III, and babied it. Even so, after a year and a half of gigging, I was surprised at the amount of stage wear it had.

I suppose this would be more of an investment. For a player, I have been looking around for a vintage 12M, Martin, or Buescher. Heck I could probably buy all three for the same jack.

John T.
User ID: 0247944 Jan 10th 2:28 PM
I'd consider a Brand New Selmer SII Bari from Europe for around $4000.00 + Shipping and customs.

Go in and offer $4500.00 then negotiate from there.

RS
User ID: 2540134 Jan 10th 2:31 PM
$5,500 is a little pricey but for a mint low A VI it's in the ballpark. Especially if it's a real player. If I had the bread I'd take a good look at it.

Nitetimer
User ID: 2393954 Jan 10th 8:18 PM
Take a look under that stand collar. I bought a YBS-61 that had one on it and when I removed it I had an awful time removing the foam cushing without damaging the laquer. It took several hours of carefull scraping and you can still see where it was. Try to find a LaVoz stand if you can.

super20dan
User ID: 7705853 Jan 10th 8:30 PM
yes please let us know if any one has a lavoz stand for sale!

GaryL
User ID: 6138163 Jan 14th 11:33 PM
IMO there are better playing low A baris than the Mark VI. I think the price is way high, but then I don't sell saxes for a living.

Carter
User ID: 2205324 Jan 15th 3:24 PM
Aaaaargh! It's gone! I went back to the shop and the VI is gone. And the 10 M.

rats.

Cashsax
User ID: 9014973 Jan 16th 3:46 AM
$5500. was a steal..

Adam
User ID: 9572103 Jan 16th 12:39 PM
Yeah, $5500 is a bargain for a "mint", kickin' low "A" VI. About a year ago, a found a guy that had a mint (perfect - with original pads and resonators) SBA low "A" bari that was a perfect match to the horn I have now (the SN's were ten apart!). He wanted $7500 for it! I offered him six, but he was able to sell it for the full $7500 in under a month. I believe $5500 is about the going rate for a low "A" VI in New York now (in any condition).

Christian W
User ID: 1188554 Feb 1st 5:33 AM
I have a Low A MkVI bari #140***.

Lacquer aint 100% but who cares anyhow. It is a smoker...I didn't even consider the lacquer when I bought it. The sound and shape it is in is great.

anyone interested send me your email cause I was thinking of selling it. Not 100% though, but the thought is still there at times.

cwatsonsax@optushome.com.au

Carter User ID: 2205324	Jan 10th 10:28 AM Stopped by the local used horn shop yesterday, hadn't been in for a few months. They have had the same old beat-up school baris in there for a couple of years, and overpriced to boot. I asked if they had any new baris, and oh yes they did. I was shown an immacuate 152xxx Low A Mark VI bari. At first I wasn't sure it was a VI because the bow looked literally brand new, didn't have a mark, ding, scratch, nothing. All original pads, in perfect shape. No visible dings or dents. A few scratches around the strap ring, some very minor spots/sratches etc. on the body and bell. I would say the lacquer and finish are 95%. The only thing that concerned was that a padded stand collar was still attached to the bell. I did not have time to remove and look under the collar, or to play the horn. (I'm going back asap!) But on visual inspection this one was clean with a capital C. I was told the bari belonged to a guy who had been a retired local pro who recently passed away. The shop is selling a couple of his horns, and showed me his main axe, a 1942 10M. The Conn was in very good shape for a horn which had been played a lot, and was obviously well taken care of. Apparently, the bari was rarely played. The shop wants $5,500 for the VI. What think ye?
BrianA User ID: 1564944	Jan 10th 2:00 PM I have seen them sell for both the same, less and more but as unfair as it seems, if you feel you really must play a Mark VI then $5500.00 is fair. personally I would sooner buy a new Yanigasawa 992 or a Keilwerth for the same or less money..
Cashsax User ID: 0833354	Jan 10th 2:14 PM That is the STEAL of the century.
Carter User ID: 2205324	Jan 10th 2:20 PM The sad thing is that, this horn is so clean and straight, I would be AFRAID to play it on my usual gig, which is with the classic rock/r&b band. Bar stages are tiny, and populated with lummoxes for guitar players. My 50% lacquer 10M shrugs off the dings and doinks inherent in this type playing. If I had this bari, I would be Mr. Anxiety thinking that the B-3 guy or guitar guy would accidentally brush against it. Once I had a new Series III, and babied it. Even so, after a year and a half of gigging, I was surprised at the amount of stage wear it had. I suppose this would be more of an investment. For a player, I have been looking around for a vintage 12M, Martin, or Buescher. Heck I could probably buy all three for the same jack.
John T. User ID: 0247944	Jan 10th 2:28 PM I'd consider a Brand New Selmer SII Bari from Europe for around $4000.00 + Shipping and customs. Go in and offer $4500.00 then negotiate from there.
RS User ID: 2540134	Jan 10th 2:31 PM $5,500 is a little pricey but for a mint low A VI it's in the ballpark. Especially if it's a real player. If I had the bread I'd take a good look at it.
Nitetimer User ID: 2393954	Jan 10th 8:18 PM Take a look under that stand collar. I bought a YBS-61 that had one on it and when I removed it I had an awful time removing the foam cushing without damaging the laquer. It took several hours of carefull scraping and you can still see where it was. Try to find a LaVoz stand if you can.
super20dan User ID: 7705853	Jan 10th 8:30 PM yes please let us know if any one has a lavoz stand for sale!
GaryL User ID: 6138163	Jan 14th 11:33 PM IMO there are better playing low A baris than the Mark VI. I think the price is way high, but then I don't sell saxes for a living.
Carter User ID: 2205324	Jan 15th 3:24 PM Aaaaargh! It's gone! I went back to the shop and the VI is gone. And the 10 M. rats.
Cashsax User ID: 9014973	Jan 16th 3:46 AM $5500. was a steal..
Adam User ID: 9572103	Jan 16th 12:39 PM Yeah, $5500 is a bargain for a "mint", kickin' low "A" VI. About a year ago, a found a guy that had a mint (perfect - with original pads and resonators) SBA low "A" bari that was a perfect match to the horn I have now (the SN's were ten apart!). He wanted $7500 for it! I offered him six, but he was able to sell it for the full $7500 in under a month. I believe $5500 is about the going rate for a low "A" VI in New York now (in any condition).
Christian W User ID: 1188554	Feb 1st 5:33 AM I have a Low A MkVI bari #140***. Lacquer aint 100% but who cares anyhow. It is a smoker...I didn't even consider the lacquer when I bought it. The sound and shape it is in is great. anyone interested send me your email cause I was thinking of selling it. Not 100% though, but the thought is still there at times. cwatsonsax@optushome.com.au