Dexter's tenor in 'Round Midnight

[Gregg W. Jackson]

I just watched the movie "'Round Midnight" and it appeared to me that Dexter Gordon's tenor was a Selmer Mark VI with silver-colored, possibly nickle-plated keys. I've seen Mark VI's with silver-colored keys and I know that Dexter played a Selmer after his Conn was stolen. Am I correct in assuming that the Mark VI with silver-colored keys was Dexter's main horn?

[Sam]

That horn's on the cover of Manhattan Symphonie (1978) but there seems to be a different lovely old Mk VI without nickel keys on the cover of Live at the Village Vanguard (1976).[/u]

[ted]

I have a MK VI with silver plated neck and silver plated keys (not nickel). I bought it in paris almost 30 years ago from a soldier in the French air force or army band. It was part of a series of horns made that way (I think specifically for the military band). It has a dark rick booming sound unlike any other MK VI I've ever played. It's great for loud gigs, it can roar like a cannon ( just what the military wants) and with the right piece it can be pretty tame. When I saw Dex play in person in the 70's he had just inherited Ben Websters horn and was amazing ( no silver keys though). - Ted

[Gregg W. Jackson]

I heard that the French Army used Mark VI's with silver colored keys. Does anyone know why they chose silver plating rather than nickel?

[HHsax]

I played on a Mark VI tenor RS 210566 with silver keys for five years, it played great, but I bought a lacquered tenor sr 86XXX wit a darker, more centered tone, better for jazz, so my other horn is up for sal, you can see it at WWW/amsterdamwinds.nl.
The horn with the silver keys however is in my opinion better for soul/pop/funky music I used to play. Much better that any other late Mwr VI I tried.