[BigBen23]

I have owned a few Mark VI's and played many, many more and some are great, good or even some are bad horns. On the ones I loved they all had their own little quirks. My favorite of the group I've owned it was a bit flat on the low C#. This wasn't anything to worry about because I just adjusted to bring the note in tune. My biggest complaint would have to be how much maintenance had to be done on the horn. We love our Mark VI's otherwise we'd sell them and never buy another but even with this being true there are things about them we wish were better.

What things bother you about this horn or what would you love to see improved if at all possible?

 

[vbluesman]

My first VI that I bought new in 1973 had a S|N of 203K. I played that tenor sax for 20 plus years before it was stolen. It had plenty of pop, tone and the altissimo was sizzling. What wasn't good for me was the intonation in a section and it was very resistant below Low D. Bob Black told me that my problems with it were indicative of the Selmer saxes from that vintage. If I had to assign a letter grade to it, it would had been a solid B. I now play King tenors, a FP, Silversonic and a Zephyr.

 

[Jazzoetry]

I had found a mint VI alto in a pawn shop where it was buried in the basement for decades. It still looks like a big piece of "Sparkling Jewelry" hanging from the neck. Had to borrow money to get it. Hated the price.

 

[Tenor Mattness]

What don't I like about my Mark VI? ... the price tag, unless I sell it

 

[Jazzoetry]

Well, I had to trade a VI Soprano and some cash to get the alto. The owner new what he had. "Price Tag " is right, that's what I didn't like.

 

[BigBen23]

What don't I like about my Mark VI? ... the price tag, unless I sell it

Yeah me too lol

 

[KeithL]

My weakness as a player is in the palm keys and altissimo and I've found that it's much easier to get a fuller sound up there on the Taiwanese tenors I now play over any VI or even the good VI copies like Yamahas and Yanis. The palm key tone holes are bigger on many of the Taiwanese horns and I suspect some of the vintage American horns as well so that would be the change I'd ask for.

 

[rzzzzz]

pretty good evidence that the Soprano VI is not all that different from pre Radio/Super model. but i'm not sure just how much improvement those earlier sopranos needed. nor how much cheaper you could find those at. a left pinky tilting spatula would feel like a giant extremity, while the old tried and true feels great to me. otherwise, the mechanics are robust and perfect. and that sound...that is the sound i've always coveted. so there is nothing i don't like about my VI.

 

[StanVI]

What I don’t like about my VI’s? Not a damn thing...best horns on the planet...

 

[B Flat]

Pretty much everything.
Which is why I no longer have it.
If I die and get reincarnated as a person with small hands and fingers, I may look for another one.
Actually no I wouldn’t.

 

[Tharruff]

I have a 1963 'long bow' Alto which I have owned since 1978.

Really, my only dislike would be the low end tendency towards flatness that comes from the long bow...but obviously it hasn't bothered me enough to change to another Sax.

I did try a 1931 SSS for awhile which I liked well enough...then a 1939 Dorsey which I also liked...but after playing the VI again I came back to it as my primary Alto.

 

[musekatcher]

This is easy. The thumb hook - its too low. It opposes the wrong finger. Thumbs want to oppose the index finger ( and should line up with the F natural touch on the lower stack). My MVI hook opposes my middle finger (E touch on the lower stack). It cramps my hand after just a bit. My 615 does not.

 

[BigBen23]

Pretty much everything.
Which is why I no longer have it.
If I die and get reincarnated as a person with small hands and fingers, I may look for another one.
Actually no I wouldn't.

As a person with big hands who also hates the look of key risers, I get what your saying.

 

[BigBen23]

This is easy. The thumb hook - its too low. It opposes the wrong finger. Thumbs want to oppose the index finger ( and should line up with the F natural touch on the lower stack). My MVI hook opposes my middle finger (E touch on the lower stack). It cramps my hand after just a bit. My 615 does not.

I never experienced cramping but I have had the thumbhook adjusted to make it more comfortable and I've even seen some remove it all together, replacing it with a metal thumb rest like piece.

 

[jaysz]

The pearls are not on a bias as more modern horns, the alternate F# key is placed poorly especially for fast chromatic runs.

 

[Saxray]

The stupid ball joints of the right hand Bb and C side keys. What problem were they even supposed to fix? Also (but to a lesser degree), the slightly low left hand side keys.

/Saxray

 

[JL]

There is nothing that I don't like about my VI tenor (circa '64). I've had it since around '81 and am so used to it that it feels like part of me. I've played other tenors that I like almost as much, especially my Buescher Aristo 156, but there is something special about this VI that I can't find in any other horn.

 

[hakukani]

I have both an alto and tenor MkVI. I adjusted the palm keys on both without using key risers, so it fits my hands, which are a medium size. I don't like the balls on the side keys, either.

I just wish that me, as well as my alto and tenor were a bit younger.

 

[Mezzzz]

I don’t like the fact that I love it! It’s literally perfect (Alto)! Only problem is that it’s flawlessly perfect! Now dark gold lacquer! A long bow 1964! Totally a closet horn. The modern day mark VI is a a Yamaha Custom II Zzzzz......in my opinion and that’s what I’m using now ....Tenor, Alto, Soprano! End of story!

 

[Tranechaser]

The fact that I don’t play as good as Brecker when I pick it up.