How to put a value on a vintage VI

[Al Stevens]

Take a look at this auction, which just ended at $2750.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3757598457

I can't figure the marketplace. It would seem that this Mark VI (assuming it's as good as the seller says) would, given the prices that others have commanded recently, bring a bigger price because of its vintage.

Just curious. I have a comparable 68xxx VI (which will be for sale maybe after I kack in about 30 years) and am wondering how buyers decide what they prefer so I can place a value on it for inventory purposes.

[Dave Dolson]

Al: Maybe the re-lacquer (and the obvious condition of the finish) had something to do with the willingness of the buyer to take a lower price. DAVE

[Al Stevens]

Al: Maybe the re-lacquer (and the obvious condition of the finish) had something to do with the willingness of the buyer to take a lower price. DAVE

That makes sense and would explain the no reserve auction. But do you suppose bidders weren't interested in bidding higher only because of the finish? There were only two bids on this horn.

A fairly nice 5-digit VI sold recently for $7655. Lots of scratches, but original engraving. Two really crappy looking 5-digit VIs sold for $3500 and $4850.

Must be auction mentality at work. Or only two people this week who wanted a VI. :-)

[Mark5047]

In this case the seller may have sold himself short - there were 2 comments in his ad that pertained being able to get this at a deal that will "make your friends envious", and to "pick this up at what you would expect to pay for less than half of the horn".
He may have subconsciously sabotaged his auction. I know when I read the text it sure didn't sound too tempting for me. Plus his unwillingness to sell outside the USA makes him seem like he may be a tougher person to deal with. All bad perceptions, possibly, but keep in mind that in many cases perception is reality.
In truth, someone probably got a real nice horn for decent price

[awholley]

Maybe it's just a case of one finally selling for what they're intrinsically worth.

Sorry, but I've played plenty of Mark VIs and only one of them was a really good horn. The others were very average.

Ok, so flame me.... But not unless you promise to go vote tomorrow!

[GenericGuy]

The simple fact is all relacquered Mark VI saxophones carry a huge negative stigma. When saxophones are relacquered the care is usually not put in to retain the playing quality, but rather to make the instrument look the best. Thus, 5 or 6 coats of lacquer are often put on that serverly limit how the instrument vibrates.

Sure, there are great relacquers out there that play amazing, but odds are the relacquer has choked the sound quality.

The saxophone in this auction has several problems:
(1) Relacquer, and very worn/scratched relacquer at that.
(2) No Engraving, most likely a European mark VI. That's not a bad thing, but that will imply no serial number on the neck.
(3) Poor wording in the ad
(4) Terrible pictures
(5) Not original case

$2750 seems reasonable in this situation. If it was original lacquer it would have sold in the $3800-4200 range.