Value of Selmer Mark VI Tenor (in Toronto)???

[basse]

Can anyone give me a rough estimate of the value of my dad's sax?

It's one of the last Mark VI models (M21xxxx). Made in France... In good but not amazing condition - there some VERY minor bumps but they don't affect the tone or playability at all. Original lacquer with some rub wear, etc. It's in the original case, plays perfectly and had a tune up and the pads replaced a couple of years before he died 5 years ago. It's been sitting it's case since then.

I'd probably give it a 7 out of 10 condition.

Any thoughts? Checking around the web I see values anywhere from $3,500 to $7,500 US$...

[Neil Sharpe]

I assume that you're talking about a tenor.

Mark VI prices can be misleading because the name itself can carry such weight with some buyers. This is especially true on EBay where two VI's in the same serial range and in what appears to be the same general condition can attract winning bids that vary between $1000-$2000 dollars. It just depends on who's bidding at a particular time.

In terms of Canadian dealer prices, check out Gary Armstrong Woodwinds in Toronto
http://www.garyarmstrong.com/sale.html
that has an alto 137xxx going for $5000.00 Canadian

Brass and Woodwind in British Columbia also has a 181xxx alto for $4800.00 Canadian
http://www.brassandwoodwind.ca/saxophones.html

and a Selmer VII 275xxx tenor for $2500.00 Canadian.

For Ebay sales, again, the prices can vary significantly, and a good general rule of thumb is to assume that even with an accurate ad description, one should budget to pay $300 plus for needed adjustments.

Having said that, the relatively late model VI’s generally attract less value that the earlier models. However, as shown on EBay, that is by no means a firm rule.

By way of a very small sample, over the past three years, it appears that tenors in your serial range and what appears to be the same general condition that you have described, have attracted EBay bids of between $2500-$4100 US with a rough average of $3200-$3500 US. In the past few months, tenors in the 220xxx range had winning bids between $2700-$4200 US, while tenors in the 16xxxx range had winning bids of between $3000-$4100 US.

Again, these prices are offered only as a small example of the potential price range, and it will be interesting to hear the opinions of others far more knowledgeable than I. But, I hope that they will be of some assistance.

Cheers!

[A Greene]

If it has a high F# key it may bring in slightly more $. Generally the earlier horns Serial Numbers 60,XXX to 99,XXX bring in the big money - regardless of condition. Even though it's my understanding the later VI's can also be great player.