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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Selmer saxes / Upgrade a Mark VI?

Steve
User ID: 1480824 Apr 6th 11:25 AM
Is it possible to join some of the mechanical advances of the newer horns with a mark VI? Does anyone offer a "kit" form of modifications? I wish my 1955 MK VI had the mechanics of the ref 54, ie., positive action vs. spring-opened, etc.

OnyxSax
User ID: 9683713 Apr 6th 11:32 AM
A Mark VI is a pretty slick horn mechanically. Oleg makes a number of modifications for the Mark VI, but they really don't change the mechanism. I imagine you could get the Mark VI resprung with heavier springs which would make the action feel faster.

Bootman
User ID: 9495963 Apr 6th 4:50 PM
Heavier springs on your mk vi would also make the instrument feel more unresponsive and cumbersome to play. You would lose the finesse you know have with the instrument. Modern keywork improvements aren't really much of an improvement. The ref 54 of mine plays fine, the mk vi's of mine play fine as does the vintage tenors. The best mechanism as far as precision and finesse is the Buescher with Norton Springs, it feels slicker, more solid and mor eprecise than any Selmer style mechanism I have ever played.

If the horn aint broke, then don't fix it. Save your money and buy another horn to experiment with instead.

Bari Martin
User ID: 7914883 Apr 7th 8:09 AM
There is no mechanical advance that needs to be made to a Mk VI. There has not been a significant improvement in saxophones since the advent of the Mk VI. If you have one, consider yourself fortunate and make every effort to maintain it in as original a condition as possible.

Steve Cars
User ID: 2386864 Apr 7th 5:31 PM
As a Mark VI owner since 1970, a have to ditto Bootman and Bari Martin. Don't mess up a good thing. If you have to have things like a positive G# opening, etc. sell the VI and get a newer horn...

Phil F
User ID: 9774843 Apr 8th 4:42 AM
Practice and extra hour a day and all the mechanical perceptions will vanish. Consensus:leave the mechanisms of the VI alone. Try a Bundy for a while, then go back to the six and practice the sh-- out of it. Best therapy available and cheap.

saxilla
User ID: 9370173 Apr 13th 11:40 PM
When I bought my VI tenor, someone had stuck those stainless springs on it. It was deader than a doornail. I asked my mech to respring it and we talked about speeding up the action. He suggested a slightly stiffer spring than normal. It was amazing the difference in response. I have tried a number of other VIs, looking for a VI in better condition. I always check the action. Most do not match the action of mine. There was one 147xxx that was pretty good, but I didn't care for the sound, so I didn't buy it.

Steve Goodson
User ID: 2003384 Apr 14th 4:24 PM
There's really a lot you can do with a VI. Take a look at the sample modifications section of my site (www.saxgourmet.com) and look at the photo tour of my personal VI tenor. I've done this to a number of horns. The results are most impressive.

Steve
User ID: 1480824 Apr 15th 11:55 AM
Thanks to all of you for your input. It looks like Steve Goodson is apart from the consensus. I'll look, but I'll take advice from pros with my horn in front of them before messing with it.

Steve Goodson
User ID: 9223993 Apr 15th 6:52 PM
You can vastly improve the action of a VI by replacing the springs with the stainless steel springs by Kraus (not Ferree!!!); polish the rods and key tube interiors and apply a synthetic lube, and line the key and flat spring cradles with teflon. You should also forego cork or felt for bumpers and use a firm synthetic material, add sorbathane to the key /body contact points to dampen key flutter; and use the firmest possible pads (I like Prestini PS220's). I would respectfully submit that there are many things that can be done to a VI to improve it, and that any player not seeking every possible equipment advantage is selling themselves short. There are, of course, keywork and neck modifications which will overcome some of the VI's notorious intonation deficiencies.

Steve
User ID: 1480824 Apr 16th 7:41 AM
Hey Steve G, I checked your site yesterday and I WILL be doing business with you. I will buy the parts you recommend that I can add myself. Somehow I will have to work out the other mods (cryo, extra action supports)---I can't let my horn go through shipping no matter how well it's packed. (I work in that business.) Maybe I can visit New Orleans some day--it's on my short list of places to see--and stop in (with an appt, of course).

Steve User ID: 1480824	Apr 6th 11:25 AM Is it possible to join some of the mechanical advances of the newer horns with a mark VI? Does anyone offer a "kit" form of modifications? I wish my 1955 MK VI had the mechanics of the ref 54, ie., positive action vs. spring-opened, etc.
OnyxSax User ID: 9683713	Apr 6th 11:32 AM A Mark VI is a pretty slick horn mechanically. Oleg makes a number of modifications for the Mark VI, but they really don't change the mechanism. I imagine you could get the Mark VI resprung with heavier springs which would make the action feel faster.
Bootman User ID: 9495963	Apr 6th 4:50 PM Heavier springs on your mk vi would also make the instrument feel more unresponsive and cumbersome to play. You would lose the finesse you know have with the instrument. Modern keywork improvements aren't really much of an improvement. The ref 54 of mine plays fine, the mk vi's of mine play fine as does the vintage tenors. The best mechanism as far as precision and finesse is the Buescher with Norton Springs, it feels slicker, more solid and mor eprecise than any Selmer style mechanism I have ever played. If the horn aint broke, then don't fix it. Save your money and buy another horn to experiment with instead.
Bari Martin User ID: 7914883	Apr 7th 8:09 AM There is no mechanical advance that needs to be made to a Mk VI. There has not been a significant improvement in saxophones since the advent of the Mk VI. If you have one, consider yourself fortunate and make every effort to maintain it in as original a condition as possible.
Steve Cars User ID: 2386864	Apr 7th 5:31 PM As a Mark VI owner since 1970, a have to ditto Bootman and Bari Martin. Don't mess up a good thing. If you have to have things like a positive G# opening, etc. sell the VI and get a newer horn...
Phil F User ID: 9774843	Apr 8th 4:42 AM Practice and extra hour a day and all the mechanical perceptions will vanish. Consensus:leave the mechanisms of the VI alone. Try a Bundy for a while, then go back to the six and practice the sh-- out of it. Best therapy available and cheap.
saxilla User ID: 9370173	Apr 13th 11:40 PM When I bought my VI tenor, someone had stuck those stainless springs on it. It was deader than a doornail. I asked my mech to respring it and we talked about speeding up the action. He suggested a slightly stiffer spring than normal. It was amazing the difference in response. I have tried a number of other VIs, looking for a VI in better condition. I always check the action. Most do not match the action of mine. There was one 147xxx that was pretty good, but I didn't care for the sound, so I didn't buy it.
Steve Goodson User ID: 2003384	Apr 14th 4:24 PM There's really a lot you can do with a VI. Take a look at the sample modifications section of my site (www.saxgourmet.com) and look at the photo tour of my personal VI tenor. I've done this to a number of horns. The results are most impressive.
Steve User ID: 1480824	Apr 15th 11:55 AM Thanks to all of you for your input. It looks like Steve Goodson is apart from the consensus. I'll look, but I'll take advice from pros with my horn in front of them before messing with it.
Steve Goodson User ID: 9223993	Apr 15th 6:52 PM You can vastly improve the action of a VI by replacing the springs with the stainless steel springs by Kraus (not Ferree!!!); polish the rods and key tube interiors and apply a synthetic lube, and line the key and flat spring cradles with teflon. You should also forego cork or felt for bumpers and use a firm synthetic material, add sorbathane to the key /body contact points to dampen key flutter; and use the firmest possible pads (I like Prestini PS220's). I would respectfully submit that there are many things that can be done to a VI to improve it, and that any player not seeking every possible equipment advantage is selling themselves short. There are, of course, keywork and neck modifications which will overcome some of the VI's notorious intonation deficiencies.
Steve User ID: 1480824	Apr 16th 7:41 AM Hey Steve G, I checked your site yesterday and I WILL be doing business with you. I will buy the parts you recommend that I can add myself. Somehow I will have to work out the other mods (cryo, extra action supports)---I can't let my horn go through shipping no matter how well it's packed. (I work in that business.) Maybe I can visit New Orleans some day--it's on my short list of places to see--and stop in (with an appt, of course).