How to tell one model form other?

[Keith]

Is there any way to identify Mk VI tenor form other models. In a photo without the obvious traces like the Mark VI stemp or serial number. I want to know how people identify horns from CD covers and poster.

[AMASAX]

easiest way to do a visual on a Mark VI compared to earlier Selmers is on the left pinky spatula setup for low notes. The one on the Mark VI is basically what they've had ever since, and is noticeably different from earlier horns. Is easy to tell from the neck, too, but since necks can be swapped, that's not always accurate.
Of course, the be combo is the above plus the serial number, altho you should be aware that Mark VI numbers overlap on the early side with SBA and on the late side with Mark VII.

Not sure what you're comparing it to, so don't know what else to say. There's other goodies, but need to know more of what's going on here.

[Hurling Frootmig]

Price :D

[Keith]

People usually can identify different players horn form a picture or a CD cover. I just want to know how it is done. You say the neck is easy to tell, but how?

[Tharruff]

Keith,

The octave key is the dead giveaway on the neck. The Mark VI neck has the 'clunky' key with the big stamped 'S' on it. SBA and earlier (back to about SSS Cigar Cutter) had the more graceful round wire type octave keys.

[Riff]

Location of bell keys and the type of key guards covering them.
As I recall the SBA has separate key guards for low B and Bb. The Mark VI has one larger key guard covering both keys.

Conns and Bueschers have the bell keys on the player's left. Both use wire key guards of varying shapes and as AMASAX said the left pinky sapatula is a dead give-away on vintage horns. Modern horns have all copied the Selmer configuration.

Engraving also helps if it's clearly visible in the picture.

[Keith]

I have seen VIs that have the "Graceful round wire" type of neck. Does that mean it's not original?

[Tharruff]

Keith,

It is often difficult to describe something in words so that another person can get a mental picture of what you mean.

I am looking at a Mark VI neck and a Balanced Action neck right now and I can tell you that the octave keys are quite different.

The Mark VI octave key is stamped from a piece of flat brass and has a large stamped letter 'S' on it kind of inside a diamond of paint right about where the pivot point is.

The B/A octave key is made of round brass wire of probably 3/16 diameter formed into sort of a flowing shape and soldered to a flat key that actually goes to the tone hole on the neck.

I can't really comment on what you have observed on the necks of horns that you have seen.

All I can really tell you is that if you study the horns enough, the features will eventually get ingrained in your mind and you will be able to spot what model a particular horn is pretty quickly. Knowledge of the approximate serial number breaks helps also.

Good luck.

[max]

Here's a Mark VI neck:
http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/selmer/mark_vi/tenor/lacquer/12843x/a.jpg

Here's a Balanced Action neck:
http://www.saxpics.com/the_gallery/selmer/balanced/tenor/lacquer/3524x/i-5_B_L.JPG

If you really want to be able to ID a saxophone, just spend a few hours browsing the different pictures at http://www.saxpics.com - sadly, I spend waay too much time there dreaming of all the vintage saxophones I could have...

[MBushaw]

Trying to ID a horn by the neck is not a good idea. Too many players found that a MkVI sounded better with their old SA (SBA) neck. Or had a custom neck made, or swapped with someone...
If you can see that the RH stack is offset from the LH stack, then you know it is a Super Action (Super Balanced Action) or newer. If you can see that the RH thumbrest is adjustable, then it is a MkVI or newer (although early MkVI's had non-adjustable thumbrests, so the lack of an adjustable thumbrest does not mean it is not a MkVI). If you can see the LH pinkey table, and see the connecting piece between the C# and Bb, then you know it is a MkVI or newer. If you can see the LH thumbrest, and it is black plastic, it is a MkVI or newer (although early MkVI's had small mother of pearl LH thumbrests). THen there are all the horns that were made before the MkVI design was fully formed- there are many Selmers in the cross-over period that have some very weird 'features'!

[SteveS]

I can tell a VI from a BA/SBA by looking at the bell brace ring. It is attached higher up the bell on the Balanced Action.

[Keith]

Thanks for the tips. Man I still have a lot to learn.

[AMASAX]

Riff, middle/late SBA tenors have the single key guard that covers both the low B & Bb...Selmer switched to this early in the SBA run... :)