Once in while this topic is discussed again and again... There's so much going on BEYOND the VI-horn itself... And usually the thread got populated with the same comments. From the same SOTWers. Which gets the same readers... So, guess what, I'll probably say the same I did in others thread, ... what else
Apparently, bottomoline is, that being not rocket science to make an exact replica, and that EVERY Pro horn nowadays is supposedly Vintageyounameit, VI-like, blabla (which is marketed after the Mark VI), but that's actually not true, right? As Lance said, it's a horn with some "characteristic" sound, easy to play, and intended more for the general public wanting some "special", but not for the true professional seeking expressiveness, dept of tone, etc ...
Apparently #2, there are just a few pros out there that'll really appreciate (or "need") a Mk VI like horn... and it's not significant market share, there's not profit there, ... enough real VIs out there for that guys/gals, will be fooling the rest with horn VI-like that are nice horn, they won't notice, they'll be happy, we know...
And I forgot about #3... but well, to me is like if they could they would.
There's a lot of nonsense in this. Why every horn is marketed after a GREAT Mark VI? Because, it's well proven over the years, a GREAT Mark VI has a lot of characteristics that is difficult to part with, and when it comes to real musicians it's all about the sound.
If it is really easy, or is the same, doing a horn like a Mark VI or like a Ref 54, P. Mauriat, Cannonball, etc... Why not just do that? To me, the weekend warrior, the snob yuppie supposed target of the newer vintage like horn, he won't notice anything, and they will be targeting the players who want a REAL VI-like horn too ... (they can make a special edition for the first group, with a Naked Coltrane engraving, and a case made of Pandas skin, something fancy... or whatever... and a simple, plain unengraved, no mpc... one for the second group.
Another thing, so... if that first group is buying the fake VI like horns, and the second group is just 3 or 4 guys, who's selling/buying all the VIs ¿? ... collectors? Example, I mean, if you look on ebay you'll find more VIs than Series II, III, Ref... But Selmer knows better. Their newer horns sells for less than the VIs, and actually those listings/auctions are not moving like the VIs on ebay...
Mark VIs and their quirks... Ok, just in case it needs to be clarified, I tend to think that not at single company will copy a BAD Mark VI, right?
Mark VI no longer exists, that's the reason it's overpriced, and VI-people will always like 'that' particular serial number, etc... Well, there are a LOT of horns that aren't produced today... They're just not sough after like the VI, I don't see horns marketed after the Buescher TT... if there's just a minority that wants VIs replica... how many would want TTs replicas?
I can't think of something else right now... enough, coffee is ready.
DanPerez and some other guys, maybe we should create a Club thread... something like "I'll definitely buy a REAL replica of a great VI for 1k, I don't care how it looks, no mpc for me, no neckstrap"