SBA v. Mark VI once again

[Noel Mac]

I am thinking about trading in my mark VI tenor for an SBA. What would be the perks of doing this? What would be the drawbacks? I know this topic is discussed a lot but what the heck.

[King Bee]

:wink:
[/b]Possible advantages (assuming you audition the SBA and the Mk VI together and like the SBA better) :
1. It has a better sound to your ears than the Mk VI and will stimulate your practice and playing.
2. If it's in great physical condtion, it will hold its value as well as a Mk VI.
3. SBAs are rarer and have a bit of a "wow" factor.

Possible disadvantages
1. You may have to deal with the SBA's intonation issues and the ergonomics of an older-style horn.
2. In the long run you may regret losing the Mk VI (is yours a great, good, average, or poor example?) If in the first two categories, you might regret trading it in later. If you have a pristine condition Mk VI and the SBA is only so-so, you may later regret losing the Mk VI, which will definitely hold its value over the years.
3. "Trades" with a retailer are often to your great disadvantage as the trade-in is greatly discounted.
4. The SBA may not be as flexible as the Mk VI in adapting to different types of music. I understand it's a darker horn.
5. The SBA may not have the projection and volume that a Mk IV has in a playing situation - check it out.
6. Is the SBA as mouthpiece friendly as the Mk VI - possibly, but perhaps not - again, check it out. You may have to invest in the search for the right mouthpiece.

The bottom line is that it's your choice, but at least you have some issues to think about.

[jd]

ive had both ba alto and mark 6 altos and i thought that the sound was similar but the intonation on my 6 was better . id play them back to back and see . dont make a rash decision. the 6 is the bigger $ horn so if you make the swap and later regret it your looking at big$$ for another that might or might not play as well. my 2 cents. all the best

[Nefertiti]

I have a SBA tenor and am in the process of buying a mint VI. I don't think I would ever sell my SBA. Lush, darker sound. Great jazz horn. The VI is louder.brighter and is better for the R&B stuff in my opinion. I would highly recommend getting a SBA and holding on to the VI for a couple months then decide. That's what I'm doing. I might keep the VI or I might sell it. Right now it's getting an overhaul so we'll see. Alot of times we have this buyers excitement and have to have this new horn but a couple of months later you might be thinking I wish I had my VI. The SBA never sounded right to me with a high baffle piece. It's like I was trying to make it something it wasn't made for. I like the links and fat darker pieces. I think the VI is better for a variety of different pieces although I haven't tried a high baffle piece on my VI yet. I'll let you know. Good Luck.

[Noel Mac]

Unfortunately I am a college student who basically has no money. I was fortunate enough to be able to have all of the horns I have. But maybe I can save up some cash and someday buy a SBA and still have my VI.

[Nefertiti]

Noel,
Do you not like your VI? What serial number range is it in? What condition?

[Noel Mac]

It is a pretty late one. 221xxx with emilio lyons keywork and pads, I would say about 99.5% original lacquer. I like it a lot, especially for big band playing. But as of late I have been trying to go for a darker sound. I am at a school where you have to play a lot of classical but I have a 58xxx VI alto which I was what I play for classical. Should I maybe try a lower serial # VI? Right now I really dig George Coleman's sound, and I know he plays a VI.

[BobD]

I've been told by a very reliable source that George Coleman like bright VI's.

[King Bee]

:shock: Holy Moly, Andy! If you can't get a great dark tone from a Mk VI, you're not trying! It's the mouthpiece and reed you should be thinking about.

[Nefertiti]

:shock: Holy Moly, Andy! If you can't get a great dark tone from a Mk VI, you're not trying! It's the mouthpiece and reed you should be thinking about.

The VI I'm trying is pretty bright if you ask me . Noel, What mouthpiece and reeds are you using?

[Noel Mac]

I use a modern STM 7 with brancher 3 1/2's. Out of all the mouthpieces I have gone through it gets me closest to the sound I want. I really actually like the mouthpiece and the reeds seem good. I might be getting a hold of a NY tone master 5* pretty soon.

[Dr G]

Morgan "L"

Lamberson "J"

To accentuate "dark", use smaller tip openings and French cut reeds (vs "American" cut).

[Balladeer]

Dr G: My Mark VI alto has been sounding rather bright to me, too. 15 months ago I started using mouthpieces more open than .085. Are you saying that given the same brand/model reed a bigger tip opening will sound brighter than with a smaller tip opening? The brightness I am hearing from my alto seems to be a function of percentage of low vs. high within each note. The upper partials are predominant. I'm not trying to be less bright, rather to get back a huge, rich bottom on which the brightness may ride. I currently using a Jody Jazz 9, and the high notes, especially, sound thin and piercing.