[dr. jon]

Sorry to hog the forum tonight, but I had one more question. What are folks thoughts on a relaq MK VI. I've heard that if the relac is done poorly, it can ruin the horn. But there is a relac in my area going for $3.5K and just had an overhaul. Seems like a pretty good deal if it plays well, right?

 

[milandro]

You will find ( here or elsewhere) plenty of those who will frown upon a relacquer horn. I have one, a Martin. If the job is done properly there's nothing wrong about it. Bank on the prejudism which the market shows about these horns, haggle the price down and make it a keeper (re-selling it would expose you to the same problems of low valuation)

 

[zivley]

The question is why do you want to relacqer, does it look so bad without it or is it just a question of looking cool? You can get a very fine great new looking horn for the price you want to invest on the relacquering of the Mark VI.
Besides, the problem is you won't ever know if the job did ruin the sound or not. Do you have guarantee from the relacquers that it will play the same after it? What if not?
Let's suppose they are the best relacquers in the world and the sound gets even better, can you convince the market about it when you want to sell it?
I'll do it only if I know for sure I won't be selling the horn never ever in my life...
I know Bob Mintzer's Mark VI had a relacquering job, and I think it sounds great, so I don't know how dangerous it can be...

 

[Seasax]

i think you got the wrong end of the stick zivley, he is considering buying an already relacquered Vi, not thinking of buying on and relacquering it

 

[Jim Clark]

To me, it's all about how the horn plays. If I found a great playing VI, I wouldn't care so much if it was relacquered or not. As a bonus, you can probably purchase it for less as a relacquered horn, since relacquer jobs affect the perceived (and someimtes actual!) value of the horn.

FYI, I have a MarkVI tenor which I had relacquered a few years ago. I am a working pro, it is my main horn, and I will never sell it. You can hear it if you visit my site (see sig).


Oh, don't let the MarkVI mystique get to you - not all VIs are great. Try to asses it as objectively as you can. What good is it to say you have a Mark VI, if it doesn't play great?

Good luck!

 

[Henry D]

The Selmer Mark Four is a really rare horn- snatch it up for sure. On the other hand a relaquered Mark VI? Have one myself- there are adherents of the funky worn look and given the pattern of wear sometimes the effect is pretty neat- and it plays at least as well as before the lacquering. Hard to compare since I redid pads ETC at the same time. The big deal on relaquering is usually the debate on just how much metal was taken off when it was buffed in preparation and whether that had an effect on the sax. I took the old laquer off chemically and only hand polished with a blitz cloth and Brasso in a spot where there had been flux bleeding under the old lacquer. I'd wager there's no significant metal removal in this case. I've played horns where the horn has been buffed so hard the engraving and serial number stamping have about gone and many of those played great as well. There are threads upon threads addressing the relative weighting upon sound of physical dimensions (unaffected by the relaq) vice body composition to include finish and metal weight (affected by the relaq). I'm in the dimensions are paramount school but there are many who think that finish, metal, WTC have a profound effect. Of course saying that there's a profound effect doesn't automatically mean it sounds worse. It might be a profound change in just the direction your style of playing demands. As with any horn- play the damned thing; if it suits you its a good horn. If it suits you well its a great horn- whether it says Larrupping Special or Selmer VI on the bell. Sorry for typos- can't find reading glasses this morning.

 

[Grumps]

Another thing to consider in regard to a relacquered horn is the issue of wear. Why was it relacquered? Because the finish was worn. Now if the finish was worn, what else might be worn out a bit. Best to have an uninterested (and experienced) party evaluate the horn for you before plunkiing down 3.5K. I would even say that if you shopped around, you might even find a VI alto in original condition for thereabouts.

 

[dr. jon]

Thanks everyone for the good responses. I'm probably going to try it out tonight a our jam session and my teacher [who's played a Mark VI alto for about 15 years] will be there to try it out as well.

Haduran-- you raise a good question. Is there such a thing at a Mark IV. The ad in fact said Mark IV, but I assumed it was a typo. The serial #
185xxx matches what a 1971 Mark VI should be, so I assumed they reversed the I and the V

 

[Henry D]

No IV to the best of my knowledge. Just my unfortunate sense of humor giving you a gentle nudge in the ribs. Given my appalling lack of proofing in typing these days its a really really really grungy pot calling the kettle black.

 

[jmm1713]

I have a relacquered mark vi alto and there is nothing wrong with it -- although I will have the lacquer removed soon .

 

[SaxyAcoustician]

Ask yourself this question: Do you like looking at your horn or playing your horn?