Are Mark VII Tenors any good?
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It's not a vintage sax, it's just old.jcjames said:
Play it. If it fits you well and sounds great, see if it is a reasonable price (reasonable for you).
OK, tell us the serial number. Does it have an "M"? Is it an early Mk VII or a later one? Some like the early ones, others prefer the later ones. They are different but only you will know if it works for you. Get someone to play your horn and the Mk VII. How does it sound? Worth the price?
Like Joni Mitchell sang, "It all comes down to you..." although she may not have been talking Selmers.
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Either that or a plumber.
If the owner of the store really wants to sell it, the horn should first be in top playing condition. There is little sense for you to pay top dollar to him and then pay his store to work on it.
At those prices, there are a LOT of great horns available.
If the owner of the store really wants to sell it, the horn should first be in top playing condition. There is little sense for you to pay top dollar to him and then pay his store to work on it.
At those prices, there are a LOT of great horns available.
in reference to responce #7, i was just talking to my dad about it, (he's the one who talked to the owner and picked the sax up) and he said the owner gave it to the tech before he picked it up, so i assume that he did check out everything,
what are some of those great horns Dr G?
what are some of those great horns Dr G?
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I have been playing and enjoying my Mk VII tenor since 1981. It has worked wonerfully for me and has never let me down. It is still my favorite tenor and the one I play the most. As everyone else has told you, play it and see if it works for you. The key placement has been fine for me and compared to my Buffet and Conn it seems very close and comfortable. The serial number of mine is close to the one you are considering, M277XXX. Good luck.
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That's a whole 'nother can o' worms. What sound are you looking for?jcjames said:
In the sub $4k range, you can find a used Selmer Ref 36/54 (my favorite), new J-K SX90, B&S 2001, used Borgani Jubilee (my other tenor), used Selmer Serie III (another great horn that I played for years), most any Yamaha or Yanagisawa... Those are the new horns - modern technology in ergos, mechanics, and playability.
Similarly, you can have a field day with most any vintage marque short of a Selmer SBA or Mk VI - earlier Selmers, Bueschers, Conns, Kings...
Bottom line: At this price point, you should do some shoppin' and research.
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I have seen them sell on Ebay from $1500.00 to $2000.00 but you don't have the ability to play it before buying. For $3000-4000 you have to consider the Yamaha Custom Z and 875, both are less than $3000.00. I was looking at a Selmer Reference 54 alto today that they were asking $4200.00 brand new so a tenor shouldn't be that much more. Something to think about.
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Here's a Mark VII for much cheaper, even if it does have some crazy engraving.
Here's another one for less than 3 grand with no engraving... probably still a good horn.
Dealers intentionally price their wares significantly above market value if their clientele consists, generally, of band kids and parents. That is to say, people who, unlike many pros, don't know the going street price for vintage and modern equipment. What I'm saying is, the horn is probably as good as any given Selmer (which can be a gamble, but if you find a good Selmer, you find one of the best horns ever made, regardless of vintage), but the shop owner is definitely selling it for too much. Mark VIIs should generally go for around $2000-2500. Not that they're that much worse than Mark VIs; as I said, I'm sure there are VIIs that outplay VIs, just like there are Series IIs and IIIs that outplay them all. It's just the going market value.
It pays to do your homework!! Check ebay, check junkdude.com, robertoswinds.com, check saxquest.com, find out how much this stuff is going for before you let a dealer rip you off.
Here's another one for less than 3 grand with no engraving... probably still a good horn.
Dealers intentionally price their wares significantly above market value if their clientele consists, generally, of band kids and parents. That is to say, people who, unlike many pros, don't know the going street price for vintage and modern equipment. What I'm saying is, the horn is probably as good as any given Selmer (which can be a gamble, but if you find a good Selmer, you find one of the best horns ever made, regardless of vintage), but the shop owner is definitely selling it for too much. Mark VIIs should generally go for around $2000-2500. Not that they're that much worse than Mark VIs; as I said, I'm sure there are VIIs that outplay VIs, just like there are Series IIs and IIIs that outplay them all. It's just the going market value.
It pays to do your homework!! Check ebay, check junkdude.com, robertoswinds.com, check saxquest.com, find out how much this stuff is going for before you let a dealer rip you off.
the owner's letting me try it out for a week, so i'll have some time to get used to it and see what i think, but i've played the reference 54 a few months ago, and really liked it, do you think i'ts significantly better than the mk VII, also can a good VI be bought in this price range?
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I have bought all of my saxes off of Ebay EXCEPT the Mk VII. I always figure that the horn will need an overhaul no matter what the seller tells me and I bid accordingly. I have only really been stung once and it wasn't deception on the part of the seller, I just didn't ask the right questions. A $1500 Mk VII and another $700-1000 pro overhaul and you are still below the minimum asking price from your local dealer (if it even needs that much). I Played my brothers Yamaha 875 tenor and was amazed at how easy it was to blow throughout the whole range of the horn, just the more modern design and materials? I don't know, it just has to work for you.
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