I did and I thought so, he is asking where and how to find a Mark VI the cheapest possible way, regardless, answering with unrequested suggestions is a phenomenon happening with increasing frequency and it baffles me.
Mk VI for 5-6K?
I've seen a decent amount of forum posts lately talking about how its not too difficult to find a Mk VI tenor in good condition for about 5 grand.
The thing is, I'm still in high school, and though I don't have the commitment or desire to play professionally, sax is definately not something that I could see myself dropping, and it's been one of the most important things in my life for the last 6 or 7 years. Right now, a relative is offering me quite a bit of money for a tenor... and I definately don't see myself saving up for a mark VI when the expenses and debt of college comes rolling along.
Basically, I can justify (barely) allowing said relative to put up 5 or 6 grand, but the only way that I see to find a consistent list of mark VI's that I know will come in good condition is through sites like robertoswinds.com , which have them listed for up to 18k and generally no less than 8k. Ebay also seems like a viable option, but its usually impossible to have any notion of what condition the sax will be in if its listed at 5k on ebay. Plus, with the current listings, the only saxes in my price range are at really high model numbers. I'm not one to follow the myth that the quality of a mk VI depends on the model number, but when I see horns with the model number into the 200k range (first link), it makes me worried. No, I don't by any means need a sax this extravagant, but I can tell you that I do play quite a bit daily with the setup I already have, and I will definately continue for years to come (not to mention that the value of a vintage horn doesn't exactly go down as years pass).
Heres the deal. Anyone know a better place to buy a MK VI than ebay, without spending a huge amount of cash for a horn that I won't be able to play first? Does anyone have any tips for scanning sites like tenormadness and ebay for saxes, without the worry of not seeing and playing the sax in person first? I know this isnt the first thread i've posted similar to this, but I'd really be glad to have some good quality advice rather than critique of my desire for a sax that arguably would go to waste on someone like me, who isnt exactly a pro, but desires to get there someday.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Selmer-Mark...514?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43ba9c9bd2
Heres another, nicer looking mk VI. It says its from 67, looks like its a "closet horn" from my understanding of the term. The only thing is that it doesn't show the model number, so theres no way to confirm the date it was made, and like many nice horns on ebay, its up for only a small window of time.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Selmer...382?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac33401e6
The thing is, I'm still in high school, and though I don't have the commitment or desire to play professionally, sax is definately not something that I could see myself dropping, and it's been one of the most important things in my life for the last 6 or 7 years. Right now, a relative is offering me quite a bit of money for a tenor... and I definately don't see myself saving up for a mark VI when the expenses and debt of college comes rolling along.
Basically, I can justify (barely) allowing said relative to put up 5 or 6 grand, but the only way that I see to find a consistent list of mark VI's that I know will come in good condition is through sites like robertoswinds.com , which have them listed for up to 18k and generally no less than 8k. Ebay also seems like a viable option, but its usually impossible to have any notion of what condition the sax will be in if its listed at 5k on ebay. Plus, with the current listings, the only saxes in my price range are at really high model numbers. I'm not one to follow the myth that the quality of a mk VI depends on the model number, but when I see horns with the model number into the 200k range (first link), it makes me worried. No, I don't by any means need a sax this extravagant, but I can tell you that I do play quite a bit daily with the setup I already have, and I will definately continue for years to come (not to mention that the value of a vintage horn doesn't exactly go down as years pass).
Heres the deal. Anyone know a better place to buy a MK VI than ebay, without spending a huge amount of cash for a horn that I won't be able to play first? Does anyone have any tips for scanning sites like tenormadness and ebay for saxes, without the worry of not seeing and playing the sax in person first? I know this isnt the first thread i've posted similar to this, but I'd really be glad to have some good quality advice rather than critique of my desire for a sax that arguably would go to waste on someone like me, who isnt exactly a pro, but desires to get there someday.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Selmer-Mark...514?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43ba9c9bd2
Heres another, nicer looking mk VI. It says its from 67, looks like its a "closet horn" from my understanding of the term. The only thing is that it doesn't show the model number, so theres no way to confirm the date it was made, and like many nice horns on ebay, its up for only a small window of time.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Selmer...382?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac33401e6
41 - 60 of 63 Posts
Now, that's funny. And I'm a Yanagisawa fan.My yani 992 t is so amazing my friend wanted to trade me his Mark V1 I kid you not
From my experience with buying anything high-dollar, cash talks, bull****e walks. It's a buyers market now.You may have a good shot at getting a good price from an owner. Some of those shops, doubt it.
WRL: Here's another opinion; you are obviously young and did not grow up with a MK VI, so IMO you should have no need for one at this time. Later, after you've made a fortune as a sax player and can indulge yourself, you can buy as many of them as you want 
. But for the forseeable future, please forget about a MK VI. Start going around and playing new saxes until you find what you want - it's not only fun, it's very enlightening. Saxes today are not only the best they have ever been, there is also a huge selection of pro models. When I was young, there was mainly Selmer Paris, and they made the MK VI. Now Selmer makes an array of models. I would recommend a Super Action 80 Series III, but there are numerous other choices. I've always liked Yanagisawa too, and the tenor with Sterling silver neck and bell really does it for me. I mean, if you are going to get some money to buy a horn, don't waste it paying collector value for what should be a horn to play every day. The Selmer Paris horns of the MK VI era were hand-built compared to today's technology. This of course made them highly variable but also produced a small amount of exceptional examples as well as a small amount of less-responsive ones. The great majority were good horns to varying degrees. So, your chances of scoring a great MK VI tenor strictly by luck are not odds that I would put any money on. Even if you did, you're still dealing with a very old instrument that is going to drain your wallet at every turn; replacement necks are basically not available, shops jack up the price for everything associated with maintaining/repairing one, replacement clamp collars (neck receiver) and other parts are not available. I bought my last MK VI tenor in 1998, and I mean 'the last'. Nothing wrong with the horn, but I just turned 68, so who knows for how long I'll need a pro-grade sax, or any sax for that matter? But you didn't grow up with one, like I said, so really you should have no need for one. Particularly to get through hi-school and college with. Practically all saxophones in these environments suffer serious damage - this is why they sell 'student models' - less money is being risked in the hands of children.
Bottom line, if you want a better sax to play with, fine, but you probably should not even consider dragging a rare, expensive MK VI through hi-school and college.
. But for the forseeable future, please forget about a MK VI. Start going around and playing new saxes until you find what you want - it's not only fun, it's very enlightening. Saxes today are not only the best they have ever been, there is also a huge selection of pro models. When I was young, there was mainly Selmer Paris, and they made the MK VI. Now Selmer makes an array of models. I would recommend a Super Action 80 Series III, but there are numerous other choices. I've always liked Yanagisawa too, and the tenor with Sterling silver neck and bell really does it for me. I mean, if you are going to get some money to buy a horn, don't waste it paying collector value for what should be a horn to play every day. The Selmer Paris horns of the MK VI era were hand-built compared to today's technology. This of course made them highly variable but also produced a small amount of exceptional examples as well as a small amount of less-responsive ones. The great majority were good horns to varying degrees. So, your chances of scoring a great MK VI tenor strictly by luck are not odds that I would put any money on. Even if you did, you're still dealing with a very old instrument that is going to drain your wallet at every turn; replacement necks are basically not available, shops jack up the price for everything associated with maintaining/repairing one, replacement clamp collars (neck receiver) and other parts are not available. I bought my last MK VI tenor in 1998, and I mean 'the last'. Nothing wrong with the horn, but I just turned 68, so who knows for how long I'll need a pro-grade sax, or any sax for that matter? But you didn't grow up with one, like I said, so really you should have no need for one. Particularly to get through hi-school and college with. Practically all saxophones in these environments suffer serious damage - this is why they sell 'student models' - less money is being risked in the hands of children.Bottom line, if you want a better sax to play with, fine, but you probably should not even consider dragging a rare, expensive MK VI through hi-school and college.
Most people that are telling others that a MkVI is not worth it are people that have had one. Yes me too. I have two. I also have Guardala's. As much as I joke about it I really do believe that they sound/feel the most like a MkVI of the horns that I have tried. I also own King, Big B, Martin ComIII, Toneking, Cannonball, Beaugnier. I have bought enough horns and look at them constantly. I know what they sell for.
It is possible to find a good MkVI for $4500. You may have to look a bit. It may even be original lacquer. Even if its a relac who cares. 10years from now it will still be worth $4500 if you bough carefully. It may be worth more.
So you buy a new Yamaha 875 for about $4300+. Ten years later its worth $2500.
Buy a Cannonball new for $2800. Ten years later its worth 1400 maybe
Buy a Viking new for about $2100. 6 months later its worth $1600
My Guardala 10 years ago was $2600. Now worth about 2000
Clealy the best buy is a used horn. Personnaly I would rather have three used Cannonball, Viking, and Guardala. However the only horn that does not loose money is the careful purchase of a MkVI. If you dont need the MKVI ergos, than the purchase of a vintage Buescher or Martin can be a money maker!
It is possible to find a good MkVI for $4500. You may have to look a bit. It may even be original lacquer. Even if its a relac who cares. 10years from now it will still be worth $4500 if you bough carefully. It may be worth more.
So you buy a new Yamaha 875 for about $4300+. Ten years later its worth $2500.
Buy a Cannonball new for $2800. Ten years later its worth 1400 maybe
Buy a Viking new for about $2100. 6 months later its worth $1600
My Guardala 10 years ago was $2600. Now worth about 2000
Clealy the best buy is a used horn. Personnaly I would rather have three used Cannonball, Viking, and Guardala. However the only horn that does not loose money is the careful purchase of a MkVI. If you dont need the MKVI ergos, than the purchase of a vintage Buescher or Martin can be a money maker!
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.........
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.........
This just isn't true. A good tech can put a MKVI into perfect playing condition (assuming it hasn't been run over by a truck), and the VI is a very robust horn that will stay in good shape once it's been overhauled. It costs just as much to re-pad or do equivalent work on any other horn. In fact, I'd bet some techs would prefer working on a VI or other well-made horn, than a cheap, poorly built horn. Seems like the better-built horn should be less work to get into proper adjustment, etc. If you take even moderately good care of the horn, the only parts needing replacement are readily available (pads, corks, springs, etc).you're still dealing with a very old instrument that is going to drain your wallet at every turn; ....shops jack up the price for everything associated with maintaining/repairing one, replacement clamp collars (neck receiver) and other parts are not available..
I'm not saying the OP absolutely should get a VI, but if that's what he wants and if he has relatives who can afford to buy him one, I'd say go for it. Man, that horn brasscane has for sale would be 'case closed' if I was the OP. The thread title says $5-6k. So you there you have it.
Go back to Dr G's post, #26 for the link (I tried to copy it here, but it didn't work).
Disclaimer: I don't know brasscane and he's not giving me a commission or anything like that. But man, what a beautiful horn at a reasonable price (for a VI in such good condition)!
Three things.
1. When I was looking for my tenor, I could have bought a Selmer Series II (the horn I anticipated getting) sight unseen. I chose to try a slew of horns down in DC. Had I bought a Series II, a few months later, upon trying a Yamaha EX at an event, I would have found that I regretted that decision.
2. I have a friend that plays tenor professionally. He plays a MkVI. When he was looking for a tenor, he tried no fewer than eight MkVIs, and disliked the first seven. He loved number eight, but he disliked seven. Some would call it a good thing for the player, but Selmers are not known for their consistency.
3. Closet horns might have wound up as such for a reason.
Moral of the story - try it before you buy it. Just because every moderately wealthy tenor sax player and his grandmother plays a MkVI, doesn't mean they're the best sax for you.
1. When I was looking for my tenor, I could have bought a Selmer Series II (the horn I anticipated getting) sight unseen. I chose to try a slew of horns down in DC. Had I bought a Series II, a few months later, upon trying a Yamaha EX at an event, I would have found that I regretted that decision.
2. I have a friend that plays tenor professionally. He plays a MkVI. When he was looking for a tenor, he tried no fewer than eight MkVIs, and disliked the first seven. He loved number eight, but he disliked seven. Some would call it a good thing for the player, but Selmers are not known for their consistency.
3. Closet horns might have wound up as such for a reason.
Moral of the story - try it before you buy it. Just because every moderately wealthy tenor sax player and his grandmother plays a MkVI, doesn't mean they're the best sax for you.
This s how I got a player's MK VI. From my tech who took it from unplayable to 110% and charged me under $4k for it. It's possible, I know because I just did it.This just isn't true. A good tech can put a MKVI into perfect playing condition (assuming it hasn't been run over by a truck), and the VI is a very robust horn that will stay in good shape once it's been overhauled. It costs just as much to re-pad or do equivalent work on any other horn. In fact, I'd bet some techs would prefer working on a VI or other well-made horn, than a cheap, poorly built horn. Seems like the better-built horn should be less work to get into proper adjustment, etc. If you take even moderately good care of the horn, the only parts needing replacement are readily available (pads, corks, springs, etc).
I'm not saying the OP absolutely should get a VI, but if that's what he wants and if he has relatives who can afford to buy him one, I'd say go for it. Man, that horn brasscane has for sale would be 'case closed' if I was the OP. The thread title says $5-6k. So you there you have it.
Go back to Dr G's post, #26 for the link (I tried to copy it here, but it didn't work).
Disclaimer: I don't know brasscane and he's not giving me a commission or anything like that. But man, what a beautiful horn at a reasonable price (for a VI in such good condition)!
It's very possible to get a VI for about 4k-5k now a days in good shape ready to go. If you can get one in that range and have it overhauled then you will be in a good spot!!!
The last 2 VIs I bought for 3K a piece about a year ago. I just always cruise and look for good deals. When they pop up I get it and if I don't like it then I sell later. So just be patient. Although I still recommend trying everything you can get your hands on in the meantime. Good Luck.
The last 2 VIs I bought for 3K a piece about a year ago. I just always cruise and look for good deals. When they pop up I get it and if I don't like it then I sell later. So just be patient. Although I still recommend trying everything you can get your hands on in the meantime. Good Luck.
There's a grain of truth here, especially the 'closet horn' comment. I often wonder why some old horns obviously weren't played much. But then it could just be the owner(s) thought they wanted to play, then got discouraged and put the horn away.2. I have a friend that plays tenor professionally. He plays a MkVI. When he was looking for a tenor, he tried no fewer than eight MkVIs, and disliked the first seven. He loved number eight, but he disliked seven. Some would call it a good thing for the player, but Selmers are not known for their consistency.
3. Closet horns might have wound up as such for a reason.
Moral of the story - try it before you buy it. Just because every moderately wealthy tenor sax player and his grandmother plays a MkVI, doesn't mean they're the best sax for you.
As to the guy who disliked 7 out of 8 VIs he tried, that could be down to a lot reasons. Maybe they weren't all in the best playing condition (very likely), or the room he played them in was different. Also, it can take time to adjust to any given horn. And we're all different in what we prefer. No doubt there is variation among VIs, though.
A lot of moderately poor sax players (myself included) bought their VIs back when a used one could be had for $1k or so. Only the more recent buyers need to be moderately wealthy to buy one without reaching deep in their pockets.
I have a 98xxx (relac w/ recent overhaul) that will be for sale again in the near future. 6000 asking price...
Buy high, sell higher. That's how we do it.I have a 98xxx (relac w/ recent overhaul) that will be for sale again in the near future. 6000 asking price...
Well considering I've played on it as my main horn for over a year, and I originally got it by trading straight up for my replated SBA I'd hardly call it "buy high, sell higher". The lacquer is in amazing condition, and the horn has had very little in the way of repairs, so I think 6000 is a fair asking price for 5 digit 1962/63 (I forget which year) era mark VI.Buy high, sell higher. That's how we do it.
The reason I say "for sale again" is because I had it up, and decided to take it down while I'm waiting for my new horn to get it's overhaul.
You're right. That is a good price. Generally we see horns here over-priced and then slowly backed down. I'm guilty of it also. It's a buyers market now.
Buying a horn, or anything for that matter-with price as the determining criteria is too much of a compromise to end up with what one really wants. The MK VI tenor is a professional horn that requires commitment to work towards the skills this professional instrument demands. Price doesn't matter.
Thanks. That's the good thing about a market. It regulates itself generally. I feel like the Mark VI prices have been going down a bit, but I have a feeling prices will start going up again as the economy recovers...You're right. That is a good price. Generally we see horns here over-priced and then slowly backed down. I'm guilty of it also. It's a buyers market now.
This is profound. I wouldn't hand over my horn to a talking head without cash.From my experience with buying anything high-dollar, cash talks, bull****e walks.
Whenever I hear this, I wonder what is so bad about the others that it cannot be remedied. I find it hard to believe. Obviously a larger fraction of the five digit horns have something special and the design changed, but still...I have a friend that plays tenor professionally. He plays a MkVI. When he was looking for a tenor, he tried no fewer than eight MkVIs, and disliked the first seven. He loved number eight, but he disliked seven. Some would call it a good thing for the player, but Selmers are not known for their consistency.
That is Milton Freeman for saxes. Politics aren't allowed here.Thanks. That's the good thing about a market. It regulates itself generally. I feel like the Mark VI prices have been going down a bit, but I have a feeling prices will start going up again as the economy recovers...
Thank you. That was my thought too. Buy my sax and we can all move on to other threads.Man, that horn brasscane has for sale would be 'case closed' if I was the OP. The thread title says $5-6k. So you there you have it!
My mom would feel sorry for you. My so called friends would have you count your blessings.Disclaimer: I don't know brasscane...
I just got a relaq 153k in my shop that is getting checked out by my tech now. It's going to get listed for slightly over 5000.00.
I'll list it here soon, but if you want first dibs, send me a PM, and I will get you pics.
Thanks!
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
I'll list it here soon, but if you want first dibs, send me a PM, and I will get you pics.
Thanks!
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
I've owned three VIs and ended up selling all of them. There is still that late model VI that I played in college that I wish I had but oh well. I almost bought a late 50s VI that was a great player when I was at House of Woodwinds on Oakland back in the 80s. Ended up picking a new Couf instead because it fit what I was looking for at the time. These days my gigging horn of choice is an 82Z. The key here is to play as many horns as possible and pick the one that speaks to you. That means it is easy to get the sound you hear in your head out the end of the horn and really just gets out of the way.
Ahem...........Milton Freeman? ........Milton Friedman :bluewink2:
41 - 60 of 63 Posts
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