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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Selmer saxes / Mark 7 Alto

Next 20 Messages

Isaac Armstrong
User ID: 0240854 Nov 27th 4:54 PM
Just thought I'd be the first to post! One more week (Dec 8) and I get my Mark 7! Can't wait!

Sam
User ID: 3111364 Nov 28th 9:20 AM
Hey, have fun. There's still a week to build up your left pinky . . .

Randy M.
User ID: 7259523 Nov 28th 10:40 PM
Just got my Mark VII alto back from an overhau;. Big sounding horn. Have big hands, so the LH pinkey is no problem.

Also play a Yamaha Custom 875 (alto). Good horns-different sound.

Alan
User ID: 9892733 Nov 29th 11:16 PM
I have a custom set of weights for my left pinky.....no seriously it's not a problem for me either as I have large hands too. Try a silver neck on your Mark VII.....it does wonders. Put a sterling silver neck on my 7 alto, and it did wonders. Really sings.

Isaac Armstrong
User ID: 0240854 Dec 7th 10:52 PM
Well, picked it up on Thurs.! Great sounding horn, but yeah, it'll take getting used the left pinky table. The "A" is kinda stuffy though. But other than that, it's great! I have the serial number and more info posted on the "Alto Sax" section.

Isaac Armstrong
User ID: 0240854 Dec 7th 11:13 PM
What brand of sterling silver neck? Where di you order it? How much was it?

Alan
User ID: 9892733 Dec 7th 11:26 PM
It's a sterling silver Ser. III millenium neck. Think it's a copy of the Mark VI neck, but you can get a Mark VI neck and have it silver plated. I bought it from a guy here on SOTW thru Ebay. New they are about $400. Used they are a little less. The Selmer alto necks seem to all interchange easily.

Isaac Armstrong
User ID: 0240854 Dec 10th 8:33 PM
Thanx.

SteveS
User ID: 2442714 Dec 17th 9:11 PM
For what it's worth, my VII alto came with a VI neck. (Has the little globe thingie on it, not the M7 logo!) It plays very very well! I've never tried an actual M7 neck on it...

Alan
User ID: 9892733 Dec 17th 11:51 PM
I mainly use the silver Ser. III neck on my 7, but I do occassionally use the orig.. With the original and a screamer mp I can almost peel the lacquer of the trumpet player's horn.

danm
User ID: 0993624 Jan 26th 8:11 AM
Like Isaac I too will be getting my VII next week. I bought a 258xxx silver alto and can’t wait to play it. I have a YAS62 now that is ok but seems to lack the character that I was looking for. I also have a Conn New Wonder alto that I play but the key work drives me crazy especially the G# LH pinky key that my finger slips off of all the time. What can I expect from this horn? I have never played a Selmer before. I play a JJ 8 now is that a good piece for this horn? I will let you all know when I get the horn and how it plays.

Alan
User ID: 9892733 Jan 26th 8:50 AM
See Mark VII alto set ups. The spatula keys will take a little getting use to, but the horn will sound great if it's set up and regulated right. Love mine....255xxx. Keep us posted.

Cashsax
User ID: 9014973 Jan 26th 7:06 PM
Dan I've had #262xxx VII Silver-plate Alto over 10 yrs now.It's a fantastic Horn..Mucho Character..! Congrats, Cash

Cashsax
User ID: 9014973 Jan 26th 7:09 PM
I fo-got, I got a screamin' JJ9 on mine. Your #8 JJ should be GREAT.

danm
User ID: 0993624 Jan 26th 7:41 PM
I really can't wait to get it. I have heard some positive and some negative about the MK Vll. I just decided to make up my own mind on the subject. I mainly play tenor and anything that will get me excited over an alto is a good thing. I will keep you posted when I get the horn which should be later this week.

Cashsax
User ID: 9014973 Jan 26th 10:06 PM
Doc..I warn you..! You're gonna Love it! I had my first VII Alto yrs. ago bought it as a beginning ALTO player.(I'm an experienced tenorman.) It was brand new out of the box, Silver w/no engraving..had it 5 yrs.& still couldn't get a true Alto tone with it (It was me, not the horn), so I sold it. Then sometime after that I tried a Guy's Selmer Alto w/ a GOOD HR Lakey on it and Bingo..! Tone up the wazooo. Bought the VII have now from an old time West Coast Sax Dealer(Goldie)about 12 yrs ago. It looked a little beat, but I've restored it over the years and It's pretty as a Baby's Butt now. The horn is factory Silver-plated,engraved and beautifully overhauled recently. This Horn now makes ME sound like an Altoman. Due to the forum, the Ol' standby HR Lakey has given way to a hot-rod Dukoff and JJ custom that take me anywhere I want to go with it..Mild or Wild. Btw I keep reading these horns were very much like a VI. Prices will probably keep going up on them too.

Cashsax
User ID: 9014973 Jan 26th 10:08 PM
PArdone,please....Danm, didn't mean to call you "Doc" LOL

Alan
User ID: 9892733 Jan 27th 4:03 AM
For what it's worth during a recent conversation with Ralph Morgan (who worked for Selmer back in those days) he said the 7 was made with the VI body and bore. That the bigger bore of the VII was simply not so.....just different keywork and neck. I assume he knows what he's talking about even though I had always heard the VII had a bigger bore. I got mine "new" at an old music store in E. Texas (Selmer dealer). They had one left....2nd yr. production 1976. Dark honey gold lacquer, American flower engraving....not a scratch anywhere, and this was not quite 2 yrs. ago. I've had a lot of compliments on the tone, even from brass players.

danm
User ID: 0993624 Jan 27th 3:34 PM
Cash, I have been called worse than Doc believe me. I also play more tenor and I have learned after many years to blow through the tenor to produce a BIG sound that I like. I have not yet learned to do that on alto for some reason. I also have a feeling that the price and interest in the MK Vll is in the increase now and I wanted to buy one before I could not afford it. I have never owned a Lakey mouthpiece before but I am sure the JJ will work just fine.

Cashsax
User ID: 9014973 Jan 28th 1:28 AM
Dan' the HR Lakey Alto is a great all around Jazz, big band, concert type mpc. The JJ turns the horn into a great Rock/Pop 'piece, tremendous edge and volume when needed. Also the JJ whispers and subtones very easily. I predict you will like it, but I hope control won't be an issue, my 9JJ was a little scary at first. Whereas the Lakey while seeming to me easier to control, doen't have quite the sound edge of the JJ.BTW If the JJ doesn't feel right I would suggest a Lakey HR on your Alto. A lot of top guys seem to like and use them...Let us know,Cash

Next 20 Messages

Isaac Armstrong User ID: 0240854	Nov 27th 4:54 PM Just thought I'd be the first to post! One more week (Dec 8) and I get my Mark 7! Can't wait!
Sam User ID: 3111364	Nov 28th 9:20 AM Hey, have fun. There's still a week to build up your left pinky . . .
Randy M. User ID: 7259523	Nov 28th 10:40 PM Just got my Mark VII alto back from an overhau;. Big sounding horn. Have big hands, so the LH pinkey is no problem. Also play a Yamaha Custom 875 (alto). Good horns-different sound.
Alan User ID: 9892733	Nov 29th 11:16 PM I have a custom set of weights for my left pinky.....no seriously it's not a problem for me either as I have large hands too. Try a silver neck on your Mark VII.....it does wonders. Put a sterling silver neck on my 7 alto, and it did wonders. Really sings.
Isaac Armstrong User ID: 0240854	Dec 7th 10:52 PM Well, picked it up on Thurs.! Great sounding horn, but yeah, it'll take getting used the left pinky table. The "A" is kinda stuffy though. But other than that, it's great! I have the serial number and more info posted on the "Alto Sax" section.
Isaac Armstrong User ID: 0240854	Dec 7th 11:13 PM What brand of sterling silver neck? Where di you order it? How much was it?
Alan User ID: 9892733	Dec 7th 11:26 PM It's a sterling silver Ser. III millenium neck. Think it's a copy of the Mark VI neck, but you can get a Mark VI neck and have it silver plated. I bought it from a guy here on SOTW thru Ebay. New they are about $400. Used they are a little less. The Selmer alto necks seem to all interchange easily.
Isaac Armstrong User ID: 0240854	Dec 10th 8:33 PM Thanx.
SteveS User ID: 2442714	Dec 17th 9:11 PM For what it's worth, my VII alto came with a VI neck. (Has the little globe thingie on it, not the M7 logo!) It plays very very well! I've never tried an actual M7 neck on it...
Alan User ID: 9892733	Dec 17th 11:51 PM I mainly use the silver Ser. III neck on my 7, but I do occassionally use the orig.. With the original and a screamer mp I can almost peel the lacquer of the trumpet player's horn.
danm User ID: 0993624	Jan 26th 8:11 AM Like Isaac I too will be getting my VII next week. I bought a 258xxx silver alto and can’t wait to play it. I have a YAS62 now that is ok but seems to lack the character that I was looking for. I also have a Conn New Wonder alto that I play but the key work drives me crazy especially the G# LH pinky key that my finger slips off of all the time. What can I expect from this horn? I have never played a Selmer before. I play a JJ 8 now is that a good piece for this horn? I will let you all know when I get the horn and how it plays.
Alan User ID: 9892733	Jan 26th 8:50 AM See Mark VII alto set ups. The spatula keys will take a little getting use to, but the horn will sound great if it's set up and regulated right. Love mine....255xxx. Keep us posted.
Cashsax User ID: 9014973	Jan 26th 7:06 PM Dan I've had #262xxx VII Silver-plate Alto over 10 yrs now.It's a fantastic Horn..Mucho Character..! Congrats, Cash
Cashsax User ID: 9014973	Jan 26th 7:09 PM I fo-got, I got a screamin' JJ9 on mine. Your #8 JJ should be GREAT.
danm User ID: 0993624	Jan 26th 7:41 PM I really can't wait to get it. I have heard some positive and some negative about the MK Vll. I just decided to make up my own mind on the subject. I mainly play tenor and anything that will get me excited over an alto is a good thing. I will keep you posted when I get the horn which should be later this week.
Cashsax User ID: 9014973	Jan 26th 10:06 PM Doc..I warn you..! You're gonna Love it! I had my first VII Alto yrs. ago bought it as a beginning ALTO player.(I'm an experienced tenorman.) It was brand new out of the box, Silver w/no engraving..had it 5 yrs.& still couldn't get a true Alto tone with it (It was me, not the horn), so I sold it. Then sometime after that I tried a Guy's Selmer Alto w/ a GOOD HR Lakey on it and Bingo..! Tone up the wazooo. Bought the VII have now from an old time West Coast Sax Dealer(Goldie)about 12 yrs ago. It looked a little beat, but I've restored it over the years and It's pretty as a Baby's Butt now. The horn is factory Silver-plated,engraved and beautifully overhauled recently. This Horn now makes ME sound like an Altoman. Due to the forum, the Ol' standby HR Lakey has given way to a hot-rod Dukoff and JJ custom that take me anywhere I want to go with it..Mild or Wild. Btw I keep reading these horns were very much like a VI. Prices will probably keep going up on them too.
Cashsax User ID: 9014973	Jan 26th 10:08 PM PArdone,please....Danm, didn't mean to call you "Doc" LOL
Alan User ID: 9892733	Jan 27th 4:03 AM For what it's worth during a recent conversation with Ralph Morgan (who worked for Selmer back in those days) he said the 7 was made with the VI body and bore. That the bigger bore of the VII was simply not so.....just different keywork and neck. I assume he knows what he's talking about even though I had always heard the VII had a bigger bore. I got mine "new" at an old music store in E. Texas (Selmer dealer). They had one left....2nd yr. production 1976. Dark honey gold lacquer, American flower engraving....not a scratch anywhere, and this was not quite 2 yrs. ago. I've had a lot of compliments on the tone, even from brass players.
danm User ID: 0993624	Jan 27th 3:34 PM Cash, I have been called worse than Doc believe me. I also play more tenor and I have learned after many years to blow through the tenor to produce a BIG sound that I like. I have not yet learned to do that on alto for some reason. I also have a feeling that the price and interest in the MK Vll is in the increase now and I wanted to buy one before I could not afford it. I have never owned a Lakey mouthpiece before but I am sure the JJ will work just fine.
Cashsax User ID: 9014973	Jan 28th 1:28 AM Dan' the HR Lakey Alto is a great all around Jazz, big band, concert type mpc. The JJ turns the horn into a great Rock/Pop 'piece, tremendous edge and volume when needed. Also the JJ whispers and subtones very easily. I predict you will like it, but I hope control won't be an issue, my 9JJ was a little scary at first. Whereas the Lakey while seeming to me easier to control, doen't have quite the sound edge of the JJ.BTW If the JJ doesn't feel right I would suggest a Lakey HR on your Alto. A lot of top guys seem to like and use them...Let us know,Cash