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Sax on the Web Forum Archive / Selmer saxes / SBA v MKVI

Next 20 Messages

Matt
User ID: 0283314 Jul 29th 3:19 AM
Whats the difference ? apart from the price tag ?
do the MKVI's play so much better and worth the extra money ? I have heard the SBA's are more consistent across the range where as there is less
build consistency in the MKVI range .... correct ?

Is the SBA just as good (but people tend to go for the MKVI instead cos its 'the one' to have)

I am trying to decide which one to go for, the MKVI may have that huge resale tag, but the SBA may have the sound & feel that I want ....

All comments /opinions welcome

Matt
User ID: 0283314 Jul 29th 3:20 AM
Just to make it clear I am talking about the
Super Balanced Action (SBA)

Tsax
User ID: 8534863 Jul 29th 5:01 AM
What are you looking for? Alto, tenor?

Matt
User ID: 0283314 Jul 29th 5:12 AM
Alto

Tsax
User ID: 8534863 Jul 29th 5:45 AM
Then I'd say go for the Mark VI, preferably an early model (as they are richer, beautiful balladhorn with enough power to scream and honk, if you want to). But I'm biased, as I play an early Mark VI alto. What sound are you after? The SBA is darker than the Mark VI. Some of the Mark VI-s are really bright. But they play better in tune (though there are always exceptions). The SBA is a really good choice if you are looking for a tenor, less so when you are looking for an alto (though many people will disagree with me, and in the end you'll just have to try them both...

Thomas
User ID: 0930774 Jul 29th 6:53 AM
having formerly owned multiple examples of both, the SBA sounds much better than the VI alto.of course,most anything does.

Innocent Bystander
User ID: 8325843 Jul 29th 6:59 AM
Heretic!
You'll burn for that comment boy.

Brice B.
User ID: 3027324 Jul 29th 7:01 AM
I'd take the SBA any day.

AG
User ID: 9892733 Jul 29th 7:08 AM
Pssst! Thomas, "I" thought it wuz funny. 8^D

Bootman
User ID: 1676554 Jul 29th 7:11 AM
This is what happens when you clean your ears out!

Beezer
User ID: 2261164 Jul 29th 1:44 PM
I agree with Thomas re. altos. I had a SBA which looked a real dog, but it blew the pants off any VI that I have played. It was a bit wild above top C, but what a sound. I got it off ,Dick Parry who did the Pink Floyd things, then sold it back to him about 5 years later when he begged for it back!
Cheers, Dave

Andrew D
User ID: 1076954 Jul 29th 7:42 PM
Searched many years for the right Mv1 alto played many versions including mid 140xxx series gave up after playing dozens. Then I played a sba alto...wow what a sound,It blew any MV1 I have ever played away although keywork didn't do nothing for me, but there again I've only played a couple of dozen mv1s. many of the guy's who inspired me use mv1s and I cannot figure why all the the ones I played sound "$&^ T. I prefer the v11s and sba in vintage selmer.

Andrew D
User ID: 1076954 Jul 29th 7:43 PM
Searched many years for the right Mv1 alto played many versions including mid 140xxx series gave up after playing dozens. Then I played a sba alto...wow what a sound,It blew any MV1 I have ever played away although keywork didn't do nothing for me, but there again I've only played a couple of dozen mv1s. many of the guy's who inspired me use mv1s and I cannot figure why all the the ones I played sound "$&^ T. I prefer the v11s and sba in vintage selmer.

Andrew D
User ID: 1076954 Jul 29th 7:44 PM
sorry about the double post!!

Joe
User ID: 0157524 Jul 29th 9:09 PM
It's a personal preference thing. The SBA's have a larger bore than the VI's. Because of this, the sound of the SBA's can be bigger, darker, and fuller. Or, if you're a VI fan, the SBA sound is more unfocused, stuffy, and spread.

A lot of it has to do with the player and the mouthpiece. For players that have a large oral cavity, large airstream, or large chambered mouthpiece, the SBA's will probably work better, especially if they haven't learned to voice properly. Just note that, regardless of the posts here, VI's are much preferred by most pros on alto over SBA's.

mostly alto guy
User ID: 0122954 Jul 30th 1:03 AM
SBA altos and tenors are terrible horns. Ditch 'em now while you can still can. If you have one that needs to put out of your misery, drop me a line. I'm starting a sort of retirement home for these poor, wretched old girls. BTW, VIIs and Buffets (18-20 on) are also welcome.

cdrscoot@hotmail.com

Jerry K.
User ID: 9523443 Jul 30th 9:30 AM
What compassion! I think I'm starting to tear up, excuse me...

MBushaw
User ID: 9279843 Jul 31st 10:53 AM
Joe- Where did you hear that the SBA alto has a different bore than the MkVI? As far as I know the alto bore stayed the same from the Super Sax thru the MkVII. Small changes in neck, maybe. Again for ALTO.

Joe
User ID: 9077913 Jul 31st 1:27 PM
OK, here we go again. The SBA has a much larger neck bore. It's much larger at the tip and so the taper to the neck tenon is more gradually. This makes for less resistance, less power, less brightness, and a bigger, fuller sound.

I really don't care about the body tube, because 90% of the horn's playing characteristics are determined by the neck opening and taper. Everyone I know and respect in the instrument design and repair field calls horns with a large bore neck large bore horns, regardless of what size the body tube is. You can keep argueing technicalities, and I'll keep calling it by the standard terminology that most educated individuals in the field are using.

Joe
User ID: 9077913 Jul 31st 1:55 PM
Sorry, MBUshaw, didn't mean to sound so short. Havin a bad day.

Next 20 Messages

Matt User ID: 0283314	Jul 29th 3:19 AM Whats the difference ? apart from the price tag ? do the MKVI's play so much better and worth the extra money ? I have heard the SBA's are more consistent across the range where as there is less build consistency in the MKVI range .... correct ? Is the SBA just as good (but people tend to go for the MKVI instead cos its 'the one' to have) I am trying to decide which one to go for, the MKVI may have that huge resale tag, but the SBA may have the sound & feel that I want .... All comments /opinions welcome
Matt User ID: 0283314	Jul 29th 3:20 AM Just to make it clear I am talking about the Super Balanced Action (SBA)
Tsax User ID: 8534863	Jul 29th 5:01 AM What are you looking for? Alto, tenor?
Matt User ID: 0283314	Jul 29th 5:12 AM Alto
Tsax User ID: 8534863	Jul 29th 5:45 AM Then I'd say go for the Mark VI, preferably an early model (as they are richer, beautiful balladhorn with enough power to scream and honk, if you want to). But I'm biased, as I play an early Mark VI alto. What sound are you after? The SBA is darker than the Mark VI. Some of the Mark VI-s are really bright. But they play better in tune (though there are always exceptions). The SBA is a really good choice if you are looking for a tenor, less so when you are looking for an alto (though many people will disagree with me, and in the end you'll just have to try them both...
Thomas User ID: 0930774	Jul 29th 6:53 AM having formerly owned multiple examples of both, the SBA sounds much better than the VI alto.of course,most anything does.
Innocent Bystander User ID: 8325843	Jul 29th 6:59 AM Heretic! You'll burn for that comment boy.
Brice B. User ID: 3027324	Jul 29th 7:01 AM I'd take the SBA any day.
AG User ID: 9892733	Jul 29th 7:08 AM Pssst! Thomas, "I" thought it wuz funny. 8^D
Bootman User ID: 1676554	Jul 29th 7:11 AM This is what happens when you clean your ears out!
Beezer User ID: 2261164	Jul 29th 1:44 PM I agree with Thomas re. altos. I had a SBA which looked a real dog, but it blew the pants off any VI that I have played. It was a bit wild above top C, but what a sound. I got it off ,Dick Parry who did the Pink Floyd things, then sold it back to him about 5 years later when he begged for it back! Cheers, Dave
Andrew D User ID: 1076954	Jul 29th 7:42 PM Searched many years for the right Mv1 alto played many versions including mid 140xxx series gave up after playing dozens. Then I played a sba alto...wow what a sound,It blew any MV1 I have ever played away although keywork didn't do nothing for me, but there again I've only played a couple of dozen mv1s. many of the guy's who inspired me use mv1s and I cannot figure why all the the ones I played sound "$&^ T. I prefer the v11s and sba in vintage selmer.
Andrew D User ID: 1076954	Jul 29th 7:43 PM Searched many years for the right Mv1 alto played many versions including mid 140xxx series gave up after playing dozens. Then I played a sba alto...wow what a sound,It blew any MV1 I have ever played away although keywork didn't do nothing for me, but there again I've only played a couple of dozen mv1s. many of the guy's who inspired me use mv1s and I cannot figure why all the the ones I played sound "$&^ T. I prefer the v11s and sba in vintage selmer.
Andrew D User ID: 1076954	Jul 29th 7:44 PM sorry about the double post!!
Joe User ID: 0157524	Jul 29th 9:09 PM It's a personal preference thing. The SBA's have a larger bore than the VI's. Because of this, the sound of the SBA's can be bigger, darker, and fuller. Or, if you're a VI fan, the SBA sound is more unfocused, stuffy, and spread. A lot of it has to do with the player and the mouthpiece. For players that have a large oral cavity, large airstream, or large chambered mouthpiece, the SBA's will probably work better, especially if they haven't learned to voice properly. Just note that, regardless of the posts here, VI's are much preferred by most pros on alto over SBA's.
mostly alto guy User ID: 0122954	Jul 30th 1:03 AM SBA altos and tenors are terrible horns. Ditch 'em now while you can still can. If you have one that needs to put out of your misery, drop me a line. I'm starting a sort of retirement home for these poor, wretched old girls. BTW, VIIs and Buffets (18-20 on) are also welcome. cdrscoot@hotmail.com
Jerry K. User ID: 9523443	Jul 30th 9:30 AM What compassion! I think I'm starting to tear up, excuse me...
MBushaw User ID: 9279843	Jul 31st 10:53 AM Joe- Where did you hear that the SBA alto has a different bore than the MkVI? As far as I know the alto bore stayed the same from the Super Sax thru the MkVII. Small changes in neck, maybe. Again for ALTO.
Joe User ID: 9077913	Jul 31st 1:27 PM OK, here we go again. The SBA has a much larger neck bore. It's much larger at the tip and so the taper to the neck tenon is more gradually. This makes for less resistance, less power, less brightness, and a bigger, fuller sound. I really don't care about the body tube, because 90% of the horn's playing characteristics are determined by the neck opening and taper. Everyone I know and respect in the instrument design and repair field calls horns with a large bore neck large bore horns, regardless of what size the body tube is. You can keep argueing technicalities, and I'll keep calling it by the standard terminology that most educated individuals in the field are using.
Joe User ID: 9077913	Jul 31st 1:55 PM Sorry, MBUshaw, didn't mean to sound so short. Havin a bad day.