1955 Selmer MK6

Not wanting to rain on your parade - it's one very nice horn, but it looks as though it may have been re lacquered in the past. I say this because the engraving looks a little faint in the last picture and there appears to be tarnish and even finger (or hand) prints under the lacquer. Also, the engraving seems to be under the lacquer rather than through it, as it was on American finished horns.

I only mention this because it does affect the value, and if I think it my be a re lacquer then the chances are that someone else will too!

Finnerski said:

That sax appears to be a relac, so take it's value with a grain of salt.

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Beat me to it by a few minutes!

Andir said:

How do I tell if it's relaquered.

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Mike F said:

.........because the engraving looks a little faint in the last picture and there appears to be tarnish and even finger (or hand) prints under the lacquer. Also, the engraving seems to be under the lacquer rather than through it, as it was on American finished horns.

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Was I talking to myself? [rolleyes]

Andir said:

No. I took note but there must be more definative ways to tell if you have the piece in your hands. I won't be upset if it is a relaquer as it is what it is.

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It's always very difficult to say definitively from photos whether a horn has been re lacquered or not, and sometimes experts even disagree when looking at something in the flesh, but the engraving is usually the best indicator. Parts of the engraving eg some of the finest zig zag lines seem to disappear in the middle if you look NE, as it were, from the SELMER stamp. Those lines are so fine that they are easily buffed (polished) away in the re lacquering process.

Actually, very often, whether the horn has been re lacquered or not is almost irrelevant - what matters (in determining it's value) is whether most people will think it's re lacquered or not, and in the case of this horn I think they will.

Ah........ it's a pile of junk! Send it to me for environmentally safe disposal - I'll pay for the shipping. :mrgreen: