[Dave C]

If you decide it must be a Mark VI, my advice would be to forget about serial numbers and buy the best one you can in your price range, and to play it before you buy.

My Mark VI tenor is a 228XXX, i.e. one of the last made. I went to the store fully expecting to buy an earlier example but, for me, this one seemed much better. My approach is to buy the horn I like best at this point in my life. Later on I may discover something I prefer, or it's just as likely I will stick with the one I have.

I recently had it overhauled by a guy who specialises in Mark VI's and works on little else. He rated my horn as being in the top 2 he had overhauled in the past twelve months and he offered me twice what I had paid for it.

In other words, ignore the hype and make your own decision.

 

[Dave C]

Lots of advice to try different horns. However, so much has been said and written about the Mark VI that the only way to determine fact from myth is to play as many VI's as you can and preferably to own one for a while and get to know it.

All this advice about other horns is well intended but I can understand the OP wanting to find a good Mark VI and decide for himself. If he finds a better horn later on he's unlikely to lose much, provided he buys sensibly.

I say go for it if you can.........