the downside to owning a repair shop...

[DaveKessler]

so a gentleman came into my shop today with his 1955 Mark VI tenor that he has had since it was new.

He had it in a gig bag.

It was in this gig bag when he...

ran over it with his car.

the body is flat. Seriously, the entire body tube is flattened and his horn is now destroyed.

Surprisingly, the neck, bell & bow are in perfect condition and were unharmed... so if anyone needs Earl vintage VI bell, bow or neck, let me know and I will put you in touch with the soon to be owner of a new horn.

[Morry]

Man, if I was him I think I'd just keep driving and go off of a bridge somewhere.

[GenericGuy]

As much as I hate to hear that story.... pictures?

[DaveKessler]

As much as I hate to hear that story.... pictures?

We had him take it to his insurance company as is with a statement from us explaining market values and the irreplacable value of such an instrument.

He may or may not bring it back in... if he does, I will snap some photos and use them as proof as to why to NEVER buy a gig bag.

[Morry]

While in HS, I actually left my YAS-61 (6 months old at the time) sitting behind a friends car while I chatted with some buddies. It took me about 30 seconds to register the fact that I heard her car start. She was backing out and my alto was just behind her rear wheel. Luckily, the case was slick enough, and tall enough, that the tire was just sliding it along the pavement.

The only damage was that the front face of case separated at the corners. That was difficult enough to explain to my folks. I can't imagine if I'd have to tell them that the new new horn they bought me was flattened.

[bruce bailey]

If the tenor is flat, tell him to push in. Being in the flute business, I get a lot of "squishies" and I have one high end flute that spent a weekend on I-95 (12 lanes) and now resides in a ziplock bag. I keep it for when a customer balks at a price on a $100 flute and asks if I have a fixer-upper. I tell him "I have your flute right here".... When I was in Minneapolis in the 60s, a guy brought in a King Zephyr Bari that was run over by a school bus (bow to neck) and still had the tread marks on it and in the case. When the guy walked down the street carrying it by the handle, it curved completely 180 degrees. Our shop fixed it!

[GT]

I think a wink after that first line would have been appropriate! :wink:

[Frank D]

Sounds like that Mark VI would make a great wall hanger.

[ving]

I had the same experience with a students' horn earlier this year--she was loading the bus for a trip and the horns they were loading under the bus were sitting alongside when a parent backed out of the spot next to them and rran right over a Yamaha 52 tenor with their pickup. Worst part, I'm told, was the crunching sound. And, the parent realized they hit something and stopped, actually positioning the truck tire centered on the case for a minute! I don't think and kind of case can stand up to that...

[Kareeser]

Yeergh!

Mark VI or not... just reading about these makes me cringe!

*hugs his sax*

[Altoholic]

DaveKessler:I seem to remember Emilio Lyons,in a column in DownBeat magazine,saying he once repaired a horn w/similar damage. You might tell this gentleman to consult w/him (unless you don't want to get his hopes up,perhaps in vain). Hope this helps.

[DaveR]

Freddie Gregory too! I've seen that man do mind boggling things to instruments. He once cut a King (?) tenor in half (laterally, literally) with a razor blade :shock: in order to re-align the action. He explained that he did it that way so as too loose as little metal as possible. I blew the horn when he had finished, it was wonderful!

[1saxman]

The horn is repairable. Might cost $2500 or more, but it can be done.

[bruce bailey]

Put it on ebay, someone will buy it! Remember the MarkVI tenor neck that sold last month for $1,300+?

[frasermanx]

Put a frame around that VI and sell it for $5000 as found art