MarkVI Alto...Bright or Dark?

[Vincent]

Hi All,
I keep hearing different comments about the Mark VI. Many have said that it's a dark horn and some say that it tends to be bright. Which is it? What gives? Contemporary sax star Warren Hill plays a VI and his sound is pretty edgy and bright. Anyone care to comment.

[JL]

It's an interesting question. I can't comment on the altos, but I know the tenors vary quite a bit, and not just based on serial # range (it's been said that the 5-digit horns are darker). I have a 121xxx tenor and it is quite dark compared to some other VIs I've tried. So I suspect there is a range. Having said that, the mouthpiece can make a huge difference. I can brighten my horn up a lot (maybe too much) by using a bright mouthpiece.

[singlereed]

Yes. Both. Whatever you want. I'm not being facetious, mine has every tone colour I want and seems to work with every kind of mouthpiece. Very versatile, you could do any gig with one.

[scale_master]

This is one of the big advantages of a good MKVI: it can sound dark or bright depending on what mouthpiece/airflow/embouchure/reed combination you use.
Of course, if you play a MKVI with oversized metal resos and a paintpeeler mouthpiece it will tend to the bright side....

What is commmon though is the Selmer core sound, which has plenty of low mids (well, sound description is difficult).

[Andrew]

The Mark VI is very versatile. It can play both extremes, and in the middle. At least, with the GOOD Mark VIs. I've come across MANY VIs that couldn't play as well as my Yamaha YAS-23 on their best day. You've just got to find the right one for you.

[hornfixer]

Andrew... I am a retired piano tuner, and want to get back into playing the alto sax. I cant afford a MK 6, but would like to get something that plays like one, would you say the YAS 23 would be a good choice?

[disgruntleddave]

no. it definately does not play like one. I have both, (obviously playing the mk6 now). if you really want to get into playing sax, just rent a decent horn (a yas-23 will do), and if you want to really get into it after playing the instrument for a while, then eventually buy an intermediate or advanced model. try everything before you buy of course. i could sell you my yas-23 :lol:

[singlereed]

If you want a lower budget horn that maybe sounds something like a VI, has some of the quality build of the VI, then look at the other French makes from the same era - SML, Buffet, Leblanc Vito, Couesnon. None of these is exactly the same in sound or feel, but they do have a quality of tone and construction and this may be what you are after. Some fans of those horns actually prefer them to a VI, but the prices are not as inflated. Another idea is the early intermediate/pro Yamahas (YAS 61) or Yanagisawa A800 or earlier - these were heavily based on the VI and are quite well regarded. These, or a good US-made sax from the 50's or 60's might be your answer.

[Goin4DaTone]

Vincent, I have a friend who has 2 Marl VI altos. One is dark, one is bright.
So the answer is dependent on the horn. He perfers darker, I prefer brighter. He is a very regular player around LA and does lots of recording sessions and movies. Lots of guys who know about this backup horn, including myself, try to talk him into selling it. he just laughs.

[Goin4DaTone]

The bachkup horn being the brighter horn.