Is this VI tenor worth the money?

[bballmj2k]

I'm looking into getting a VI tenor for grad school and I've got a price range of up to $5,500. I just got a serial 175xxx from saxquest.com for $4,600 and it plays great. Original lacquer, about 75%, waffle-style resonators and recently repadded. Seals great, fantastic action, nice sound.

Does the price seem fair?

Also, since I have 5 days to decide if I want to exchange it for a different VI, should I? I'm tempted to just keep this but WHAT IF there's a better one out there... Of course I could send this back and it might get snapped up.

Help?

[Jazz House]

Buy it. That's not too bad a price and if it's a great horn that you think you could spend the rest of your life with, go for it. They are great instruments.

[michaelbaird]

Doesn't sound like you will find a better one for that price. If you like it, I would buy it, and you will be $800-900 under budget.

[Leon]

WHAT IF there's a better one out there...

Help?

That strikes me as very good price, and there is ALWAYS a better one out there.

[Pete Thomas]

If it plays great and you like MKVIs then why not? As MKVIs go the price may be fair (assuming you agree that prices of MKVIs in general are fair which is of course open to debate).

Some people like them others don't.

(NB: there's always a better one out there, but life is too short to worry!)

Good luck and well done finding a great horn that could last you a lifetime!

[djcuba908]

Any Mark VI tenor for under $5000 in my neck of the woods (Jersey, NYC) is a bargain. I would say don't second guess it. Original lacquer, and you love the way it plays, just go for it.

[JL]

Seals great, fantastic action, nice sound.

I think you've answered your own question. Well done!

[Horned Toad]

Whether or not it is a good price in terms of a playing instrument depends on how much you like it.

If we are talking about whether or not it is a good price in terms of the market and investment or resale value, that entirely depends on the condition, finish, etc. Can't say without seeing something.

[bballmj2k]

Thanks for the replies.

In case anyone has more advice but needs to look at it, here's the link to the saxophone's page on saxquest

http://www.saxquest.com/productDetails.asp?productcode=175004MarkVITenor

Again thanks so much! I'm leaning towards keeping it...

[selmerfan]

If you're making an investment for grad school and beyond, I would highly recommend going to the shop to play a different variety of VIs. For example, if you visit Tenor Madness and tell Randy your price range, he will bring out horns that are in your price range and let you play test and compare them side-by-side. He won't tell you price on individual horns until you decide which one you want, but they will be within your price range. But if you have a horn you really like, $4,600 is a good price.

[Horned Toad]

Judging by the photos as well, it is not a bad price.

[magical pig]

It always amazes me to see how close the pinkie table and spatula keys are on Mark VI tenors. It seems like no other horn is similar, even the modern "copies".

Victor.

[SplitTony]

Keep it and hit the shed:thumbrig:

[Blowhard2]

Keep it and hit the shed:thumbrig:

If you liked it , did you buy it? or has it "flown the nest " to another willing purchaser at that price ?

[Phil Barone]

I'm looking into getting a VI tenor for grad school and I've got a price range of up to $5,500. I just got a serial 175xxx from saxquest.com for $4,600 and it plays great. Original lacquer, about 75%, waffle-style resonators and recently repadded. Seals great, fantastic action, nice sound.

Does the price seem fair?

Also, since I have 5 days to decide if I want to exchange it for a different VI, should I? I'm tempted to just keep this but WHAT IF there's a better one out there... Of course I could send this back and it might get snapped up.

Help?

Sounds very fair. Phil Barone

[AMASAX]

If the pad job's tight and it blows well down to low Bb, I'd keep it. At that price, not much room to lose money in the long run. Also, tough to get much cheaper than that, -with- a good pad job, not to mention hassles in acquiring another horn via mail order.

Mark's usually pretty good to deal with, so I wouldn't get too uptight there.

I think you're seeing the effects of a crappy economy, as surely that's had an effect on the vintage horn biz(ebay down, etc.)

If you like it, snag it, hit the practice room...

[bballmj2k]

Thanks everyone!

Seeing as today is the last day to mail it back, and I'm not (also my 22nd birthday) I'm keeping it. Pretty nice birthday present...

[Mike F]

Thanks everyone!

Seeing as today is the last day to mail it back, and I'm not (also my 22nd birthday) I'm keeping it. Pretty nice birthday present...

Good for you! Now play it, play it, play it, and don't start worrying about the serial number or stuff like that. The best MK VI is the one you know the best. Love it and keep it forever - you'll be happy!

[Uri Ben]

...If you loves it and likes to pay for it.

[HornForHire]

Thanks everyone!

Seeing as today is the last day to mail it back, and I'm not (also my 22nd birthday) I'm keeping it. Pretty nice birthday present...
Happy Birthday!... and have fun with the Mark VI, you won't regret it! :)

[saxguy007]

Congrats!

Enjoy the sax!