[HornForHire]

I recently bought a Mark VI tenor after playing almost twenty years on a Super Action series II, and I'm amazed by the difference!

I bought the SA II new in 1988 and always thought it was a great horn. I played many, many gigs with it. It was also overhauled not too long ago, so it plays very well.

A few months ago I decided I wanted to try and maybe buy a Mark VI, after hearing all the succes stories, so I a played about ten different ones.
I have to say I liked all of them, though they were all different, but last week I played a 92,xxx Mark VI and I fell in love immediately!
The owner said I could try it out a few days and then decide if I'd like to buy it.

The sax is in pretty good shape and plays incredibly easy, I changed from Alexander DC 2.5 reeds to 3.5 and it still plays much easier (I use a Ponzol M2 120 mouthpiece, btw). The sound is amazing and the action is very fast.
Yesterday I had my first gig with it, and I loved playing this sax.

I never would have thought it would make such a huge difference!

I bought the sax, of course! It wasn't cheap, but for me it's worth every penny.

A very happy Mark VI owner,
Wim

 

[Billt4mn]

I played a 92,xxx Mark VI and I fell in love immediately!
The owner said I could try it out a few days and then decide if I'd like to buy it....The sound is amazing and the action is very fast...I bought the sax, of course! It wasn't cheap, but for me it's worth every penny.

I recently fell in love with a 91xxx and paid crazy money for it. Could you expand on what "amazing" means? What do you like about your sound with this horn?

 

[Grumps]

Oh, about five years ago I'd defend my VII tenor to the utmost against all comers. Then I tried a bunch of VI's and joined the critics...

 

[michaelH]

Hi Wim,

Where in the Netherlands did you manage to find 10 to try? (Or were they at different places or private?) I know De Saxofoon winkel in Deventer but I can't imagine they have 10.

Thanks,

- Michael

 

[HornForHire]

Hi Michael,

No, it wasn't the Saxofoon Winkel, although I go there for my sax maintenance.
They have no Mark VI at the moment.
I've tried them at different places, one of them was a collector, who had 23 saxes, among them we're 6 Mark VI's! :shock: I played them all and I prevered the oldest one (103,xxx), but he didn't want to sell it... but, the one I bought now is even better!

Wim

 

[HornForHire]

I recently fell in love with a 91xxx and paid crazy money for it. Could you expand on what "amazing" means? What do you like about your sound with this horn?

The sound is very full and quite bright, but not TOO bright.
I can whisper with it and I can play very, very loud and the sound stays consistent over the whole range.

 

[jimmitch]

Welcome to the Mark VI club HornForHire. My all your horn's be Mark VI's

 

[AG]

well, I hope you got a deal and didn't pay some ridiculous price like I've been seeing lately on ebay. my mom bought my VI alto new in '65, treypac case & all....$540, and it was just so-so, good horn but so so in comparison to the earlier 5 digits. I figured out quick that all VI's are not equal, but man do they try to keep the prices equal. yours is no doubt a nice one at 91XXX. big difference in it & those after 110XXX, not always a bad difference, just a difference....they had it right in the fifties, but they had to jack with it, change it. work on your wives, leave the horns alone...told they needed to be.

 

[A Greene]

Welcome to the 5 digit club. I have a 97,XXX and haven't found another horn that's even close. May everyone play a GOOD VI before they die.

 

[HornForHire]

Thanks guys!

The 5 digit club! Wow, I'm honored!

And yes, it wasn't cheap, but to me it's worth every penny. I love playing this horn.

Cheers,
Wim