[matteell]

Hi, My daughter has been playing sax since 7th grade (student conn) she is now in band in college. She is wanting a new saxophone for christmas.
I dont know much about the sax (just that I love its music) Well I bought one for her good price and it is a Selmer Mark VI with the serial number 183xxx
I do not know anything about this.. I took it to the closest music shop, and they told me it was a professional series and that it probley needed around 10 pads replaced, and to pad it, it would cost $300 to $400 dollars. It is in good shape, hardly no scratches and it does have 1 small dent, and on the back of the sax there are two lower keys that are discolored alittle. it came with a hard case, looks new (says selmer) and some type of leather zip case that is over the hard case. Well anyhow, my daughter plays in band and also marches, but now football season is over she is doing concerts. They told me that this sax is not to march with. I asked about a trade on maybe a intermediate sax. They had a 2 month used Antigua a520-lg for $1095 and they said they would trade straight across for. I am not sure what to do, cause I do not know what the selmer mark VI is worth, and should I just repad the keys and make her play the student conn for marching and give her the selmer for concerts or trade for the antiqua that she can use all the time. I was just leary when in no time they told me they would trade straight across for the antiqua, which made me wonder what this Selmer is worth???
any help would be appreciated..
thank you

 

[Hernan123]

Mark VI's are worth a lot of money. Check ebay to see the prices they sell for. I would suggest not trading it before consulting with at least 2 or 3 more dealers. (Probably the regulars on this site will have a list of on-line dealers that you can contact to get an estimate of the value of your horn.)

Good luck!

 

[Michael Ward]

The short answer is your Selmer is worth a great deal more than they've offered you. You could sell it and buy a new student Yamaha or 3 and have change.

 

[MusicMedic]

Do not trade a MKVI of any vintage for an Antigua. If you have the MKVI repaired have it done at a very good shop that does pro work. If you get a different instrument and want to sell the MKVI, it will be best to sell it on Ebay. This is where MKVI's seem to sell for the most when they are sold by non-dealers.

 

[JL]

I was just leary when in no time they told me they would trade straight across for the antiqua, which made me wonder what this Selmer is worth???
any help would be appreciated..
thank you

RUN, don't walk, away from that music shop!! They are trying to RIP YOU OFF. And I can't say it strongly enough. Your Selmer is worth MUCH more than any Antigua. Go to www.saxquest.com, click on vintage horns, and see what they sell Mark VIs for. Of course they get top dollar, but you'll get the idea. At least the shop was honest enough to tell you the MKVI is not for marching (it's far too valuable). It could be you have a relacquered Selmer which lowers the value a bit, but probably has no effect on the actual sound of the horn, and it will still be worth way more than any new student horn.

You are on the right track about getting a repad on the Selmer and having her march with the student Conn. That would be the way to go, imo.

 

[harmonizerNJ]

If you have a Selmer Mark VI alto serial 183xxx, which needs $300-$400 of work, it is probably worth over $3000.

You can look at this web site (www.usahorn.com) to give you idea of what a similar horn might be worth. Granted, the prices shown there are asking prices, not the prices these horns would sell for, but I think this will give you a comfort level that your Mark VI alto 183xxx is worth a heck of a lot more than the horn the dealer offered in trade ($1095). If everything you wrote is accurate, I would be concerned about returning to that dealer again.

By the way: if this is a surprise Chistmas gift for your daughter, she should be *thrilled* with the Mark VI. This should put you firmly in the "my Dad is incredible" column - which is a pretty tough thing to do with a kid who is about 20 years old (I know that I was impossible at that age, anyway).

I am guessing that your daughter still has the Student Conn alto sax. She can continue using this for marching band. If she is a good sax player, she does not want the new horn for marching band; instead she wants it for other musical activities. I played in marching band for 4 years, and I continued to use my old student horn for marching band, even after I had bought my Selmer.

 

[Little Sax]

I agree with everything that has been said already, but I wanted to add that the recommendation you received about not marching with a Mark VI was excellent advice. The horn is far too valuable to risk in the elements. Keeping a student horn for marching is a very wise decision. Getting the Mark VI re-padded and put in top shape is also a very wise decision.

 

[Canadiain]

Holy crap, not only are they trying to fleece this gent out of his multi thousand dollar MkVI, they want $1100 for a used antigua 520!!!

Now, I like my old 520 well enough, and its ideal for marching etc, but as I recall you used to be able to buy them BRAND NEW from the kesslers for about $8 or 900, and they seldom if ever sell on ebay for more than $400 used. I got mine for $200.

Sleezebags. Run, dont walk. Talk that MkVI to a reputable tech, even if you have to drive a couple of hours to find one. Take a look at the recomendations in the relevent part of the forum if you dont know who to trust with it. I certainly would not trust the guys you have been dealing with, they have been extremely underhand.

However, under no circumstances let that MK6 anywhere near a marching gig! Use the old Conn for that... it really wont make any difference to the overall effect.

 

[ShedShark]

You should post the name of the music shop so we know who to never do biz with. They were banking on you not knowing what you had in your hands. Bastards.

 

[daigle65]

Your daughter is very lucky even tough she may not know it right now, some of us havn't owned an instrument of this quality until our mid-thirties.

DO NOT trade it for the Antigua !!!

 

[Grumps]

Also, $300-$400 can get you a near complete overhaul of a horn from a reputable repair tech. For just a few pads, that's a bit extreme. Never go to that shop again or give them any business whatsoever. They tried to play you like a fool by trading you a horn that probaby would be lucky to fetch a couple hundred bucks on Ebay. The alto you have could be worth anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000, depending up on condition and whether or not it has its original lacquer. And quite frankly, you should insure it for maximum value; especially if you're sending it off with your child to school.

You might want to let the folks here know what area you live in so they can recommend a good shop to take the horn in for repair.

 

[matteell]

I want to thank everyone for responding to my thread... You dont know how much i appreciate the info.. I am thrilled as to what I have (not knowing anything about saxophones) It makes me sad that the shop knowing what it is, to take advantage of me.. I almost did trade right then because the antiqua was nice and looked new.and I knew that she could use it for marching and concert. ( alittle tuffer..haha ) but the one I bought looks in really good shape too will have to see if i can tell if it has been relaquered.. I am asuming not, because of the small dent in the back has little tarnish around the dent, and the 2 back keys in the back has a little tarnished rusty color.. other than that it looks really nice and no finish is worn off or anything (hardly no scratches and the hard case looks new too, think it is because of the leather zipper case it has over it.. but I was hesitant because of the $300-$400 padding that need to be done to it. that is why i was going to trade.. but they evidently knew exactly what it was and to try to pull a fast one on me.. I instead told them I need to talk to my husband first. I will take it to enid instead and hopefully someone there can pad it instead and i definetly will not go back to that place.. last week I had talked to him on the phone and that same saxophone (antiqua) he told me he would take a $500 trade in for my daughters (student conn) for the antiqua and then it would just cost me $595 for the antiqua.. My daughter is going to be happy when she gets the selmer for christmas.. but now i am wondering if i shouldnt give her something like that !! haha never thought about the insurance on it also..
what is the f# keys some people are talking about??? Is there different types of selmer mark VI alto's ??? just trying to figure this out.. just like I only know that her one she has now is a student conn as to what model i have no clue.. thanks again..

 

[Martinman]

A total repad and putting of the horn into perfect playing condition should cost anywhere from $250-$400 depending on the tech. I would highly reccomend doing this if you can afford it, assuring that your daughter gets a horn in top playing condition.

I am in college now, and my horns are covered by my parents homeowner insurance, so I would just talk to your agent about that.

The high F# key is a special key that some Mark 6's (and pretty much every modern horn) have. If yours has one, it will be by the place where you put your right hand and will look like a rectangular metal bar, and it will be right above a single key with a pearl on it. There is somewhat of a controversy as to whether this key is a good thing to have or not, but I don't think it really matters that much. Many people on here will disagree with me, but whether your horn has it or not, the horn is still probably pretty good.

 

[Canadiain]

Is there different types of selmer mark VI alto's ??? just trying to figure this out.. just like I only know that her one she has now is a student conn as to what model i have no clue.. thanks again..

Not really different types, just many different options. Engraved or unengraved, high F# or no F#, low A (very rare with the high F# option too), different plating and finish options.

If you are interested this is an excellent resource...some blurb and all sorts of pictures
http://www.saxpics.com/selmer/6.htm
click on the rather marvelous looking low A horn to access the picture directories.

Some serial numbers have more cache with officianados than others...hence the focus on listing horns by finish and then by aprox serial number.

By the way the best way to tell if the horn has been relaquered is to look closely at the engraving. To relaquer the old finish is buffed of the horn, and the engraving and serial numbers lose their sharp definition as they too get buffed out. Sometimes its hard to tell, sometimes its easy. Wont stop it being a fine horn though.

 

[Swampcabbage]

Honestly, these guys are trying to fleece you on the repairs and the trade. What neck of the woods are you in? Let's see if we can't find you a reputable dealer and repairman.

Keep the VI if you don't have to sell it. Hang on to it for her and get another student horn for marching and beating around. Explain to her the value of this instrument and that if she continues to take care of it that it WILL appreciate. Unlike modern horns and older student level horns. You have purchased the equicvalent of a classic car no longer in production. And if it is in as a good a shape as you say, it sounds pretty mint. Good luck. And congrats.

 

[spinmaster]

I must say, it seems like someone made a 2nd account just to get a rise out of us!

Not that I doubt the plausibility of the story... But it just had to be a Selmer IV and not a King, Buescher, Conn, etc, etc... It seems like you would know the value of a mark iv if you recently bought it for a gift... :? Maybe it was inherited... :? Doesn't sound like it...

 

[jazzbluescat]

.......I bought one for her good price and it is a Selmer Mark VI with the serial number 183xxx
I do not know anything about this.. I took it to the closest music shop, and they told me it was a professional series and that it probley needed around 10 pads replaced, and to pad it, it would cost $300 to $400 dollars. It is in good shape, hardly no scratches and it does have 1 small dent, and on the back of the sax there are two lower keys that are discolored alittle. it came with a hard case, looks new (says selmer) and some type of leather zip case that is over the hard case. Well anyhow, my daughter plays in band and also marches, but now football season is over she is doing concerts. They told me that this sax is not to march with. I asked about a trade on maybe a intermediate sax. They had a 2 month used Antigua a520-lg for $1095 and they said they would trade straight across for. ......

Ask them for three(3) of the Antiguas for your MKVI. Seriously.

$300 is a bit exceesive for 10 pads; for another three or four hundred you should get a complete pad job, w/new corks and springs as needed.

Get her a student line horn to march with, use the MKVI for concert work.

Good luck.

I'm with everybody else, don't go back to that shop/store.

 

[JL]

I must say, it seems like someone made a 2nd account just to get a rise out of us!

Not that I doubt the plausibility of the story... But it just had to be a Selmer IV and not a King, Buescher, Conn, etc, etc... It seems like you would know the value of a mark iv if you recently bought it for a gift... :? Maybe it was inherited... :? Doesn't sound like it...

LOL, I thought of that, too. Could very well be. They would have got the same rise even if it was a King, Buescher, or Conn, of good vintage in a trade for any modern student horn!

 

[Grumps]

what is the f# keys some people are talking about???

Generally, kids are going to want that on a saxophone; and that might be the kicker for selling the Mark VI for what it's worth and buying your child a new modern saxophone. But maybe... just maybe... your child might tell you that they don't need an F# key, or better yet, they can play F# without it. Should that be the case, be sure to give them an extra kiss, and wish them well with their new prize.

 

[zxcvbnm]

Generally, kids are going to want that on a saxophone; and that might be the kicker for selling the Mark VI for what it's worth and buying your child a new modern saxophone. But maybe... just maybe... your child might tell you that they don't need an F# key, or better yet, they can play F# without it. Should that be the case, be sure to give them an extra kiss, and wish them well with their new prize.

lol she's in college