[Noj the Terrible]

Hi everyone. I am thinking of replacing my MK VII tenor with a MK VI. I was looking at a late MK VI (220,000 range) on EBAY. My MK VII is in the 277,000 range. In every ones opinion does it make a big difference in the MK VI's? I have read that the six digit, early MK VI's are better but I couldn't find out why and how. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[silvin]

It depends on .... YOU!
There are no two identical horns. Try and take which one you prefere.

 

[Dr G]

Play your 10 and SDA. Sell the VII and use the money for lots of mouthpieces.

 

[milandro]

you seem to have a collection of various horns there, add the VI to the rest and keep the VII! I am selling mine because I can use the money and don't intend to became a collector but maybe I'll regret it.

However there are many other topics where you can read abouth the merits of the M7 or the supposed lack of them. Use the Search function

 

[Noj the Terrible]

thanks for the advice. I have thought about just buying more mouth pieces. I have never played a MK VI and thought it would be nice to try one. None of my sax playing friends have a MKVI that I can play to see how I like it. All the talk about the MK VI having a better action and feel. I think I just need to quit searching for something else and just play what I have.

 

[Noj the Terrible]

I do like certain aspects of each horn that I have and I would have a difficult time if I had to choose only one to keep. If that happened I think I would keep the MKVII. I have had it since 81 and it is the most familiar.

 

[Dr G]

I have had it (the Mi VII) since 81 and it is the most familiar.

Then this is NOT the time to even look at what someone else is playing. There are a lot of poor/bad Mk VIs out there. There is every reason to believe that your VII is as good as or better than many of them. Selling a horn you have known this long to buy a horn unseen from eBay would be a big mistake.

Have you thought of sending your VII in for an overhaul as a reward (to it and you) for its long service? You may be pleasantly surprised at just how well it could play in top condition.

 

[HUTMO]

Keep the VI

The serial number 220XXX of your six is in the range of two horns I have played 219XXX and a few other members on this board have. All of them have been called good players. See the threat on my new 10M that is posted in the Conn section.

The two I played were really really really good.

HUTMO

 

[Dr G]

Hut', Noj owns a Mk VII. The 220,xxx VI is an eBay item.

 

[HUTMO]

My bad...

Hut', Noj owns a Mk VII. The 220,xxx VI is an eBay item.

Sorry.

I would only go with a six unless you can play it first. Hollis and Germann Music in Pittsburgh has a 219xxx for sale. It is a really free blowing sax expertly set up by Jim Germann.

After playing my 10M I can't imagine going anywhere else at this point. Sell them all and keep the Conn.

HUTMO

 

[Dr G]

After playing my 10M I can't imagine going anywhere else at this point. Sell them all and keep the Conn.

HUTMO

That's the spirit!

 

[Noj the Terrible]

I think I will look for a MK VI in my area and then decide if I want to part with the VII or a large chunk of money. And in the meantime just keep playing and enjoying all three of my tenors. I am not a pro and just play for my personal enjoyment so as long as I like what I hear and feel that is all that matters.

Mr. G, any recommendations of a tech for an overhaul of the VII?

 

[Dr G]

Although I do not know him or his work personally, I believe HornImprovement (of SotW) is in your area. I send my horns away to Randy Jones at TenorMadness.com because I have no one local that I trust.

Enjoy your fine set of horns!

 

[Noj the Terrible]

Thanks Dr. G, I was planning on trying them the next time I need a repair. I will let you know how that goes.

 

[Noj the Terrible]

I do like certain aspects of each horn that I have and I would have a difficult time if I had to choose only one to keep. If that happened I think I would keep the MKVII. I have had it since 81 and it is the most familiar.

 

[Swampcabbage]

Ultimately, I believe that you should play a horn before investing a load of money on one. Especially something as pricey as a VI. Find a shop somewhere that has a good selection (LA or San Diego area probably have a few). And play 'em. Take your horns that you have now and compare. See how far off or close they truly are. Spend a whole day if you have to and then sleep on it. If you still want something then go back to the shop and buy it (you'll find a way to get the money if you want something that bad). You're going to end up spending that kind of money on an ebay horn anyway. (And honestly, when it comes to VI's I think the store prices are a little better when you consider all the factors). Just my opinion.

 

[qwerty]

Late VI tenors (upwards of the 200,000 serial number) can be real players. I sold a 231,xxx to SOTW'er Thomas, and he really likes it.

That said, some of the nicest sounding tenors I have played are MK VII's and it didn't matter N vs. M. Neither of them have the same body tube as the VI.
VII's however, are a handful, from the breath support needed (particularly down low) to the resistance, to the ergo's. But find a good one and I think it can be a horn for life.

The top doubler around here (and he's a freakin' monster) plays a VII tenor with a silver neck, and he sounds fabulous no matter what he's playing. Trust me, he could choose whatever horn he likes and he chooses this MKVII. He produces a big clear fat open focused sound.

Steve

 

[heath]

Forget buying horns without playing them. If you've been playing your VII for 26 years then I wouldn't risk the headaches of selling off the the VII to buy a VI.

Besides the market for VII's is pretty bad. It seems you have to pay through the nose to get a really good one and then when you sell it you can't get diddly for it. The guys on this forum who don't own VII's keep saying don't spend more than $1800 or $2000 for a mint VII. Well folks I payed $2200 years back and it was so worn out that the pearls all had to be replaced because they were dished out to the point that they were almost gone. Of course this horn played like a mofo and I knew I wanted it even with the lacquer wear and funky ergos.

Also I'm suspect with any old horn that is mint. If the horn blows and sounds great more often then not someone will play the ---- out of it.

 

[Grumps]

Here's my similar experience. I too have had a VII tenor for a long, long time (since around 1979). It did everything I needed it to do. However, about five years ago or so, I played some VI's and realized that there was just something lacking with my horn. I then went on a VI quest and played well over a dozen of them over the course of a few months. Then I had the opportunity to try a vintage Conn tenor and my quest took an immediate detour to a 10M; which I soon bought. I kept the VII though, as a back-up, but rarely played it over the next few years. Trying out a vintage King tenor (and owning a Zephyr alto), I got the itch for a Super 20 tenor to use more for rock and roll gigs, leaving my 10M for jazz, and less rowdy jobs (it is rather vintage and pristine). Before taking the plunge however, I took out my VII, made sure it was in good working order, and gave it some time. Having gotten so used to the 10M, I really hated playing the VII now. There was nothing about it I liked, and the once friendly ergos for my somewhat large hands seemed ridiculous. Why have a back-up horn I'm never going to have any other use for, I wondered. So I took an Ebay gamble on an undervalued Silversonic, figuring I could flip it if I wasn't happy with it (and it wasn't a complete mess). Once it came and I had a chance to evaluate it, off went the VII. With no regrets.

It's okay to make a change; but just make sure that change is warranted by your own experiences and not the accounts of others.

 

[AG]

exactly!