[Svenne]

HI
I've inherited two saxes a selmer soprano SA/80 II and an old alto Selmer mark VI 1956.
I don't play the sax, but I would like to start, but only as a side instrument and for fun. (I've been playing flute for many years)
I found out after reading this forum that the alto was a valuable five digit mark VI from 1956. I went to a saxplaying friend, who after trying it out, immediately offered me around 6000$ for the sax.
The sax was in good playing condition, and ready to play.
What would you do?
My thought is that a yanagisawa a901 will meet my demands, and give me a little money on the side.
Here's some pics. of the sax.

 

[Pete Thomas]

What would you do?

Donate it to the first person to answer this thread

Seriously though:

First of all decide if it has or is likely to have some sentimental value. If you inherirted it, you may come to regret the decision.

$6000 is a lot of money for that horn though, and it's quite possible you are likely to get a better one for less than half of that.

So, if you really need the money, sell it. I have found, since selling my MKVI alto, plenty of saxophones that for me, were superior instruments. Either vintage instruments or from the new breed of Taiwanese horns.

 

[RandyJ]

Don't be in a rush to do anything. Since you are interested in learning to play give it a year or so of learning and practicing. If you decide it's not for you the value of those horns are not going to go down.

 

[JayeLID]

Can't add to that. If the $ would come in handy, sell it. If "around $6000" means $6000....the offer your friend made is a very GOOD one, IMHO, particularly in the new world economy...Pete is correct, the chances are quite good you can find something as good or better for less...significantly less.

But I would also say that consider the horn's provenance...if it has special meaning in the family...meaning which perhaps may be less, um, meaningful :| [rolleyes] to you than to someone else ....one should give some pause to that.

 

[JL]

You have two necks with that horn! Just one of those necks would sell for a pretty penny (but I wouldn't sell either one without determining which neck seems to play better--you'd have to get a good player to check that out for you). I'd probably hang onto that horn for a while, until you decide if you want to keep playing. If you sell that horn now, and really get into the sax, you might later regret letting the horn go. Unless you really need the money.

Actually what I'd do is sell the soprano. Taking it a step further, I'd sell them both and get a great tenor with the proceeds. I'm not saying you should do that, though (I'm a tenor player).

 

[Svenne]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Christopher]

Once again keep it.

 

[dubrosa22]

Actually what I'd do is sell the soprano.

Ditto.
Sell the sop & get to know the alto as an instrument. If you dig it you won't regret keeping such a fine instrument.
Otherwise, if you really don't want to play it that much just sell it for the $6000.

 

[bkobog]

$6000 is a lot of money. but not everything has a pricetag and not everything needs to be sold.
For me, it is the horn that strikes "chemistry" with me that will be my choice.

 

[Svenne]

your right. I played the horn this afternoon and it seemed easy and responsive to play, even with my limited knowledge of the sax. So I decided to keep it