As a fellow Nathan, I have also played a Selmer mark 6. In Jazz band, my alto was so flat, that my teacher gave me her Selmer mark 6. I was so scared to even touch it that I barely played it. It felt decent but the octave key was very stiff.
@@JK-g62 Well if that’s what you’re comfortable on and that’s how you find your sound, then good for you! I’m not here to tell anyone that what works for them is inferior to any other set ups.
Nathan, when I got my VI in 1968 I felt the same way. I had been playing for 5 years on the Martin my great uncle got used for mom in the 1930’s. After 5 years of teaching myself to play and years of effort convincing my parents to get a Selmer I finally got…. Lessons! My teacher was an L.A. studio player … so soon he agreed it was time to replace the Martin. He was able to snag me a brand new VI from a shipment just arrived off the boat… $450! I have loved and cared for this horn for 55 years now. My parents had dragged out the purchase for years hoping I would drop playing. Dad passed about 15 years ago and Mom is 94, I am still playing this same horn (178332) 54 years later. The lacquer looks almost new, no dents. Last year I let a repairman work on it… for the first time in 50 years the g# doesn’t stick… what a joy not to have to lift that pad by hand before every session! I am sure there are better horns out there, but how would I know for sure as I will only play my VI! I plan to ask my kids to find a serious young sax student to pass it on to (do you think we can get $450 for it now?) when the time comes. BTW, my original case cover looks like yours without the pocket and is a vinyl material with a broken zipper. It has protected the tray pack case. Now I use a hard shell Arline case which looks like an armored gig bag, and saves that original case. Enjoy your VI, I am looking forward to hearing you doing some serious playing on that. Terry
Ok look people always say that horns don’t really matter but they totally do! I got a Yamaha custom z recently and the difference in sound as well as just ease of use was night and day between that and my old student horn. When you played the mk 6 I wasn’t expecting a difference but it just sounded soo much better and way more pleasant to me. Sure sure the best sax players can make the worst horns sound good but there’s a reason professionals use professional horns
Totally agreed. I think the differences are very nuanced and only a nit picky artist would care, but it’s just nice to have a horn that’s been the symbol of a jazz saxophone for decades!
I think that if the saxophone is a proffesional horn everything will be a lot more easier But in chinese horns is necessary study and practice more for example embochoure to get a good sound is not impossibible make it soud fantastic but is a little more difficult in comparisson to a proffesional horn becouse that horn helps a lot at the moment of playing I say this becouse I'm from Peru and my currency is of lees value than the dollar and not everyone here can get a proffesional horn. To make you one idea of how we see it here It's like if in usa all the saxofones now don't cost 4000 or 5000 or even 7000 dollars no now is different now they cost 30000 dollars they're too expensive here in latin america and if 7000 dollars is expensive for some of you who erarn your money in dollars, just imagen what happens with us since we need almost 4 soles that is my currency to get just one dollar here in Peru Sorry if I made mistakes here english is not my native language but now I can understand it so I like whatching videos like this
Yeah I have a Yamaha student tenor sax and just bought a vintage selmer super action 80 Serie B and it sounds so much better. The technique on my vintage horn feels so much smooth and the sound is much darker. I feel like there's a slight difference for the listener, but a huge one for the player
44th US President Barack H. Obama Must be another idiotic Democ-rat trait! Hope he doesn't get Clinton to teach him. Only thing Clinton knows about it, is which end to blow and guess where he learned that? On his Har Monica which you blow and suck!
The Selmer richness of sound is nice in that horn. It will come out even more as you play it. Wait till your mouth is healed because reopening a dental socket can be very painful.
100% agreed about waiting for healing... reopening a socket definitely sucks, happened to me in the middle of a gig once and I literally couldn't finish the set.
@@Saxologic Also necks make a lot of difference (a quote from Jack Finucane). Try swapping necks with bodies and I think the mkVI neck with the 62 will sound more like a mkVI than the other combination.
Yamaha makes several necks for this purpose. The V1 neck was supposedly made to imitate the sound of the VI instead of the older necks like the M1 and G1, they even got clever with the name. I have used the V1 neck for around 10 years, very worth it.
@@sergej100qca4 Try a Mauriat tenor neck in a good Mark 6. You wouldn't believe the difference. Been asked on gigs BY OTHER TENOR PLAYERS "Hey ...Why is that neck a different colour?
@@sergej100qca4 Never tried it that way round but fitting the neck of my Mauriat PM66T to my MKVI has an astounding effect. Opens it up even further. I get asked on gigs, "Why is that 'top bit' a different colour?"
You sound great on both but the Mark VI is immediately like a vintage recording. Such a sweet sound. With that being said you also get a very nice sound on the Yamaha.
I’ve been playing for 50 years now, I’ve played many a MK VI and I never felt or heard the magic. Wound up playing a 7 tenor for a long time. I enjoy your videos.
I've got a Mark VI baritone with the low A key. I really didn't appreciate it until recently. It has a lot of sentimental value, as my parents had bought it for me new as a graduation present many years ago, but that was about it. However, my dream of a being a professional musician didn't pan out, and so the sax has been gathering dust in my basement for decades. A couple of years before everything shut down, I joined a bunch of older amateurs who got together twice a week to have some fun. When I showed up for the first time, it was as if I had arrived at a car show driving a mint vintage Ferrari. One guy gave me his business card and offered to buy it if I ever decided to sell it. I finally did some research, and have a much better idea of what I have. I don't have the skills to take full advantage of it, nor the ears to fully appreciate it's sound quality, but I am really having fun playing it again. Hopefully the band will get back together in a few months.
I bought my first Mark VI this month it is an Alto, serial number 140xxx as well, so made around 1966. I purchased it from my former band instructor. The horn smokes. It’s not just a placebo effect - listeners notice a positive difference right away. We’re very blessed to have these horns that are also historical treasures and works of art.
@@Saxologic hey man...love the dog too...but i wanted to let u know i think its awesome you got the Selmer VI....ive never played one...my ride or die is the Yamaha 62 also! Mine was a present in my senior year in high school in 1985. It replaced a Bundy II...lol! A gamechanger to say the least. Anyway...still playin sax to this day!!!! Love your channel young sir!!!
@@JK-g62 That Yamaha 62 is great! I believe Patrick Bartley plays on one. If it works for Patrick then it works just fine! Haha. Also thank you good sir I love you!
Dude. You are so humble about your playing abilities. I don't think you have EVAAAR had a video where you say "Here's what I can do". Stay humble brotha!!
I'm a guitar player, never played a saxophone in my life, but when you explained how the key travel is much smaller and the side E is much flatter, i thought "oh, obviously that's why I've been struggling so far, i just need to get that Selmer"
Oohhhh Bro! Sounds sooooo good. Congrats on that beauty! After years of playing cheap stuff, I got myself a Selmer mark VI tenor when I was about 21. I’m 35 now, never touched another tenor since! Nothing else compares imo.
Chris Fraser. Agree 100% (same applies to Otto Link Florida mouthpieces) but Mk 6s are getting lower in quantity and higher in price. Have a look at a Peter Mauriat, PM 66R. Aimed at Mk 6 would be owners. Somebody new to it will just fall for it. A Mk6 player or a nostalgic, ex Mk6 player will recognise it instantly. Any one with both, will swap comfortably between the two with the greatest of ease but will stop on the Mauriat PM 66R . R means rolled tone holes. The octave lever on the neck even says MK 6.
Now that you have this Mark VI, you need to insure it against theft and damage. Since they are rare and costly, you must get it insured, taking photos, videos of it for the insurance policy. Players spend many years searching for and trying to afford a "dream instrument" and once they find it, they need to protect it, the way you would protect an infant son or daughter. Instruments are damaged and stolen by others every day. Never let it out of your sight in a club, or concert, and never leave it near a back door or in a place where you can't watch it. When possible, keep it in a locked case, and chain or cable that case to another secure or heavy object, like a piano leg. Under the piano is always a safe place to protect it and watch it.
I have a series ii jubilee while all my friends have Yamaha’s and the key action difference is real I love my selmer and I would play a Yamaha but it’s so much more on your hands.
As someone who has owned a MK VI, I can appreciate your sense of anticipation at the mere thought of playing a MK VI. I had a MK VI tenor that I owned for 20 years, then had to part company with it because I had grown accustomed to living indoors. I was bummed for awhile, but got over it. Got out of playing for some years, then bought a German made Kohlert on eBay, sight-unseen, not tested, that I was pleasantly surprised with. Enjoy the VI kiddo, play the hell out of it. I still laugh out loud when I think of the YT vid you appeared in, playing the “classical saxophonist.” Hilarious.
Just had to say you have a great sound on both your altos. Can't believe you've only played 11yrs. Congratulations on your Mk6, I know you wont regret getting it. (I was lucky to get a 1957) We all need to hear you once you've played it in for a year. It will feel like its part of your body!! haha
About the Hercules stand: there's a nut to the side of that bottom support that can be tightened, so you don't have to keep pushing it down into place. I DON'T know if that would have prevented the failure with the sax in place, as happened here. But it's probably worth tightening that nut on any Hercules stands you may have. Oh, and what did Reynolds recommend instead?
Wanted to chime in here too. So sorry about the Yamaha! I have 2 different types of Hercules stands for gigs, and a double combo w/ a flute peg at home. You're right, they're imperfect from a design perspective, but in their defense, they're solidly built. I'm not sure there are any stands that are more robust. As yourbarista suggests, the bottom support arm can be snugged, otherwise, it can flip up when the horn is removed, and when replacing the horn, one may hear a sickening 'klink' as the bell hits the metal, vertical brace. I've written Hercules suggesting a small redesign, but I didn't hear back from them. Before you give up on them, try their DS630BB Auto Grip Ststem (AGS ), especially for the alto, as the main support doesn't fit an alto bell nearly as well as it does a tenor. The AGS snugs nicely around the alto. You are too funny my brother, and I'm glad you love your MK VI. I had a nice MK VII that I liked.
Bob Reynolds does a quick review of a K&M stand, and gives this link to Amazon: th-cam.com/users/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFpnYTBtVEhab1RCOXlqQW9EMFdrcm1CaWZRQXxBQ3Jtc0tuV2VkTmt6ejZ4d3RlZ2VXM1JoZTNueE5oVU1VYXN1Q0JQdncyV24wWXdXOEl1TlFxR2thZzdwQmRSRW80MDBuSlRhVDhyUmk3TUJrOVVhWWVYRGRzVUxlQno2dW1NeV93TmdOOEkyZ1o0dXFlb1Y5Zw&q=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F2E0Cq2e
I had a very similar experience switching from a YAS-62s to a MK VI 119XXX. I love the sound, feel and it just vibrates making you feel connected to the Saxophone. Now for a young saxophonist out there getting one of these won’t make you a better player only practice and you guessed it more practice.
In 1972 my mother got me a MKVI when I was in high school. I was playing my old Busher Aristocrat student model until then. I will never forget how I was playing unintentional grace notes with the MKVI it responded so much quicker. She paid $665 dollars for it new in 1971. I still have it today
Crazy to think, all this Seller stuff; brass, woodwind, guitar amps, drums, everything, came from an old catalog and one company from back in the day. Now it's all extremely coveted greatness that every passionate, tone chasing musician wants. Very cool. Congratulations.
Enjoy your new horn. I'm coming back to play after 13 year break. In highschool my teacher recommended me and my parents and grand parents bought me a YAS-62 (I think it's G1). I have a Meyer NY 7 mouthpiece and I think I'll stick with this setup. I understand it's more than enough for casual saxophone player and even much more. Now just working on the basics.. it's good to know that even though this YAS62 is not top of the line, it's still a great horn. Keep making content and don't cut yourself!
Great video! You really make that horn sing! But the best thing is yet to come - the vintage selmers grow on you like nothing else. You have to make a video in 2-3 years again and tell us how much you've grown into the horn. And then 20-some years in. I've been lucky enough to have had my four horns for 10 - 30 years and man do they grow to be family. The inspiration just overflows in time.
I was interviewing someone this evening for a job unrelated to music. But he mentioned he plays saxophone. And he told me he has a Selmer mark vi. (he told me the serial number is somewhere in the middle of the series but I do not recall the exact number.) so, before going to bed, I decided to look up information on the model and that brought me to your video. Now I have an idea of what he is talking about.
Congratulations bro …welcome to the club. I just got my Mark VI this year as well, played a few decided with the 178xxx serial number. It was freshly overhauled and plays beautifully.
Congrats dude, I felt the same way when I finally got a fender Rhodes Electric Piano. It just feels good to play and own the instrument you've always seen your heroes playing. Slick content.
Glad you are ecstatic over the new horn. I also own a Mark I Yamaha 62 that I love and am going between getting either an 82ZII or Selmer Mark VI, both in silver since I’ve always wanted a silver horn. I found a Mark VI from around 1972 that I’m thinking of buying/trying…we’ll see how it goes!
Was smiling throughout the whole video just waiting for your reaction playing it for the first time 😅 remembering the chills I got first time I tried my mark vi in a tiny London basement on a school trip and honestly, 12 years later I still get goosebumps thinking about it 🥇
I’m a professional bassist and I got really inspired to learn sax after gettin hip to Gary Bartz who’s one of my dopplegangers 😂 but of course Coltrane and Yussef Lateef too! Gonna buy one by the end of the year, cain’t wait to shed. Keep it up bro! Glad you got the horn you wanted 🙌🏽
Just to anyone looking at this video and thinking of buying one. You DO NOT need a vintage sax to have a vintage sound. 99.99% of your sound is you and your mouthpiece and reed setup. Imo the mark six is ridiculously overrated and I'm sure we're all aware of the inconsistencies from one mark six to another mark six. Just buy a horn and practice!
Yo it is amazing how you embody a funny, meme-loving TH-camr and a hell of a profound jazz musician - damn, your solo on that logan moore video blew me away! And your sound gets even deeper on that mark vi... Thanks a lot and keep it up! 🎷🔥🎷
8:35 The key design and the sheer ergonomics of the feel of the Mark VI fits the player's hands like a pair of fine leather gloves. For the amount of air and energy you blow into the horn, it will give you back far more music, sound and soul than other saxophones. You will realize this very quickly after playing it, because within seconds, the horn plays you.
Nathan, that VI sounds awesome. I know what you mean about selmers sounding so distinctive. When I was in grade 12 I was testing altos to get my first professional one, and I walked out with a Reference 54, the original flamingo model. Over the past 12 years I've occasionally tried other horns but have never switched. My selmer just has a tone, and resonance I can't get on a lot of horns.
I bought a 1939 Conn 10m a few months back and my parents who know nothing about saxophones said the difference was that the Conn didn't sound like a metal tube at all compared to my old horn. I think that's the difference in sound between valued vintage horns and student horns; hard to describe but you can just feel it.
I've been playing a 1926 chu berry for the last 4 years and I love it .my mark iv i played for over 30 years sits in the closet.the conn is not as ergonomically advanced as the 6 but suits my style better.
I know the feeling - back in 2008 I got the opportunity to buy a 1918 Buescher alto (yes, it's progressed from vintage to antique by now). The sound and feel of these old instruments is incredible!
Nice six can’t Waite hear you throw in a good lick on it I love my tenor mark6 1955 96 percent intact for it’s year plays like a Cadillac the difference I notice on my cannonball T5 and my six my six is light as crazy my cannonball is heavy very big difference but yes I do agree with the rest it just don’t matter what horn you give a professional to play or what you play , it’s the player that will make it play. Congratulations 🍾🎊🎉🎈 on your new 6 enjoy it.
Its a great feeling opening you first really nice instrument, espesially after growing up with the best basic model you can afford. I play flute and remember opening my new to me (used) 925 silver, hand-made in Japan Pearl flute. I dindt want to get it dirty so just looked at in the case for ages. 🤣 Hope you love this instrument its a big investment. 👍👍
I love your channel! One of my favorite sax channels on youtube. Now that you went down the rabbit hole of vintage horns, I highly reccomend a conn 10m when its time to upgrade your tenor. I started out on Yamahas but switched to a conn in college and have been playing conns for over a decade now. They are life changing!
YER TONE!! ITS SOO MUCH BETTER ON THE VI! ...I mean, it was already amazeballs, but really. I only have a SuperAction 80 sII, but I still love the tone of it over the other modern horns. Super congrats! The upper stack intonation is totally a selmer thing. I actually prefer Yamaha for its intonation....but the tone. You now get to have the ultimate in tone!
I am getting inspired to break out my horns again. When I joined the working world in 1985, I no longer had time to play, let alone people to play with. Now that I am closing in on retirement, I am thinking about things I can devote my newfound time to. I have a late model SBA alto, and a early model Mk VI tenor (5 digit #) that my dad bought for me from the family of one of his friends that played semi pro, who passed away in 1984. I also got a Getzen bari, a "Continental Colonial" tenor (I think it is either a Conn or Martin stencil horn), and finally an Artley clarinet. All are in some need of some TLC to get them back into top form. I am planning to overhaul both the Selmer's, but I haven't decided which one first. The SBA was my preferred horn since I always played alto, but the tenor is pretty tempting, too. Either way, its gonna cost some big bucks, but totally worth it. Glad you are enjoying your new alto!
@Saxologic Big congrats m’man! We’re now MkVI brothers since I’ve had a 139,000 alto for years. You’re not really an equipment geek so you may not know the difference between the various MkVI altos. They made at least 3 different versions, each with different sized bottom bows (the bottom 90degree tube). The early ones, called ‘short-bows’, apparently had some low end response issues so the factory changed to the ‘long-bows’ which ended up playing flat in the low end. I owned a 106,000 and can attest to that flatness - kind of a drag. Then they got it right with the ‘medium-bow’ models which our horns are examples of. Some folks call these “Sanborn horns” since he’s apparently such a fan of them. Your’s sounds great with a warmer tone than your Yamaha. You and the VI sound like good friends already!
You are right about the altissimo comparing the yamaha and the selmer. I also have a yamaha alto and tenor I understand. again, you are great man. Charley. I played hundreds of gigs on the selmers.
I had a Selmer Mark VI tenor back in the early 1970's. Back then, the two top saxophones were the Selmer Mark VI, and the King Super 20. Both are great horns.
VI sounds fantastic! Definitely a good one - amber lacquer Sanborn-era. It will only hold value, too, so it's a fantastic financial investment as well.
Pretty good video. I always dreamed about a mark vi as well. And of course I have one. I’m about to buy a Yamaha 875EX for a back up. But you are correct about their downfalls. Keys are not always in the right place and they’re a little harder to push down. But Yamahas do have a great intonation. I think you will find out your mark six is harder to play in tune. But as you say all keys right where they need to be and the core of it is unmatched.The yanigasawa does rival the feel of the fingers to the mark six. .
I typically don't believe the instrument makes a better sounding musician. This is definitely an exception... I started getting booked alllllll the time after I brought my m6 home. Enjoy it in good health, homes!
Great Video You sound so great on MVI. So much more colors and crispy Sound. You always sound great but this horn gives you a unique Sound and Personality. I can say for me you are going to the next level. I can’t believe. IM very happy for you . You deserve it🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷👌🏅Great Work always.
I am so happy this horn went to Nathan! I knew it would be a perfect match for him!!! Sounding beautiful, glad to have passed it on to you.
You are a good man!
Good on you getting these horns into good players hands for fair prices.
As a fellow Nathan, I have also played a Selmer mark 6. In Jazz band, my alto was so flat, that my teacher gave me her Selmer mark 6. I was so scared to even touch it that I barely played it. It felt decent but the octave key was very stiff.
The Yamaha threw itself off of the stand, it knew it couldn’t compare.
😂
I dont know about that...im a Yamaha man...been since 1985!🎷
Hail lord gonk.
jisatsu saxo!
@@JK-g62 Well if that’s what you’re comfortable on and that’s how you find your sound, then good for you! I’m not here to tell anyone that what works for them is inferior to any other set ups.
Exactly! The Mark VI wins any day over any Yamaha!
Nathan, when I got my VI in 1968 I felt the same way. I had been playing for 5 years on the Martin my great uncle got used for mom in the 1930’s. After 5 years of teaching myself to play and years of effort convincing my parents to get a Selmer I finally got…. Lessons! My teacher was an L.A. studio player … so soon he agreed it was time to replace the Martin. He was able to snag me a brand new VI from a shipment just arrived off the boat… $450!
I have loved and cared for this horn for 55 years now. My parents had dragged out the purchase for years hoping I would drop playing. Dad passed about 15 years ago and Mom is 94, I am still playing this same horn (178332) 54 years later. The lacquer looks almost new, no dents. Last year I let a repairman work on it… for the first time in 50 years the g# doesn’t stick… what a joy not to have to lift that pad by hand before every session!
I am sure there are better horns out there, but how would I know for sure as I will only play my VI!
I plan to ask my kids to find a serious young sax student to pass it on to (do you think we can get $450 for it now?) when the time comes.
BTW, my original case cover looks like yours without the pocket and is a vinyl material with a broken zipper. It has protected the tray pack case. Now I use a hard shell Arline case which looks like an armored gig bag, and saves that original case.
Enjoy your VI, I am looking forward to hearing you doing some serious playing on that.
Terry
178332 would be 1970 or 71 not 68.
I literally got chills when you started playing the mark 6 Jesus man.
M a s o n🎷
AGREED!!!
Ok look people always say that horns don’t really matter but they totally do! I got a Yamaha custom z recently and the difference in sound as well as just ease of use was night and day between that and my old student horn. When you played the mk 6 I wasn’t expecting a difference but it just sounded soo much better and way more pleasant to me. Sure sure the best sax players can make the worst horns sound good but there’s a reason professionals use professional horns
Totally agreed. I think the differences are very nuanced and only a nit picky artist would care, but it’s just nice to have a horn that’s been the symbol of a jazz saxophone for decades!
@@Saxologic yeah man I’m so happy for you the horn sounds absolutely fantastic! Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
I think that if the saxophone is a proffesional horn everything will be a lot more easier
But in chinese horns is necessary study and practice more for example embochoure to get a good sound is not impossibible make it soud fantastic but is a little more difficult in comparisson to a proffesional horn becouse that horn helps a lot at the moment of playing
I say this becouse I'm from Peru and my currency is of lees value than the dollar and not everyone here can get a proffesional horn. To make you one idea of how we see it here
It's like if in usa all the saxofones now don't cost 4000 or 5000 or even 7000 dollars no now is different now they cost 30000 dollars they're too expensive here in latin america and if 7000 dollars is expensive for some of you who erarn your money in dollars, just imagen what happens with us since we need almost 4 soles that is my currency to get just one dollar here in Peru
Sorry if I made mistakes here english is not my native language but now I can understand it so I like whatching videos like this
They matter when you have reached a certain degree of playing like at a certain point a student sax with a good mouthpiece just doesn’t cut it
Yeah I have a Yamaha student tenor sax and just bought a vintage selmer super action 80 Serie B and it sounds so much better. The technique on my vintage horn feels so much smooth and the sound is much darker. I feel like there's a slight difference for the listener, but a huge one for the player
HE DID IT
HE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED GETTING A BARI
Michelle…
44th US President Barack H. Obama
Must be another idiotic Democ-rat trait!
Hope he doesn't get Clinton to teach him.
Only thing Clinton knows about it, is which end to blow and guess where he learned that? On his Har Monica which you blow and suck!
The Selmer richness of sound is nice in that horn. It will come out even more as you play it. Wait till your mouth is healed because reopening a dental socket can be very painful.
So true about the richness of the Selmers. I feel it on my Reference.
100% agreed about waiting for healing... reopening a socket definitely sucks, happened to me in the middle of a gig once and I literally couldn't finish the set.
The mkVI is so much fuller and darker. Very beautiful tone I'm kinda jealous.
I am sure a darker mouthpiece or reed could substitute for it! No need to spend $6,500 for such a slight sound difference
@@Saxologic Also necks make a lot of difference (a quote from Jack Finucane). Try swapping necks with bodies and I think the mkVI neck with the 62 will sound more like a mkVI than the other combination.
Yamaha makes several necks for this purpose. The V1 neck was supposedly made to imitate the sound of the VI instead of the older necks like the M1 and G1, they even got clever with the name. I have used the V1 neck for around 10 years, very worth it.
@@sergej100qca4
Try a Mauriat tenor neck in a good Mark 6. You wouldn't believe the difference.
Been asked on gigs BY OTHER TENOR PLAYERS "Hey ...Why is that neck a different colour?
@@sergej100qca4 Never tried it that way round but fitting the neck of my Mauriat PM66T to my MKVI has an astounding effect. Opens it up even further. I get asked on gigs, "Why is that 'top bit' a different colour?"
I got goosebumps 8:03 😩
SOUNDS AWESOME!!
I miss u
Nice! Must've been exciting! Happy practicing!
Thank you flute goddess!
You sound great on both but the Mark VI is immediately like a vintage recording. Such a sweet sound.
With that being said you also get a very nice sound on the Yamaha.
oVErtHetArGEt
Very good point but I think that you mean Mark VI (6). I don't think that they ever made a Mark IV (4).
I’ve been playing for 50 years now, I’ve played many a MK VI and I never felt or heard the magic. Wound up playing a 7 tenor for a long time. I enjoy your videos.
I've got a Mark VI baritone with the low A key. I really didn't appreciate it until recently. It has a lot of sentimental value, as my parents had bought it for me new as a graduation present many years ago, but that was about it. However, my dream of a being a professional musician didn't pan out, and so the sax has been gathering dust in my basement for decades. A couple of years before everything shut down, I joined a bunch of older amateurs who got together twice a week to have some fun. When I showed up for the first time, it was as if I had arrived at a car show driving a mint vintage Ferrari. One guy gave me his business card and offered to buy it if I ever decided to sell it. I finally did some research, and have a much better idea of what I have. I don't have the skills to take full advantage of it, nor the ears to fully appreciate it's sound quality, but I am really having fun playing it again. Hopefully the band will get back together in a few months.
I bought my first Mark VI this month it is an Alto, serial number 140xxx as well, so made around 1966. I purchased it from my former band instructor. The horn smokes. It’s not just a placebo effect - listeners notice a positive difference right away. We’re very blessed to have these horns that are also historical treasures and works of art.
This is so cool, but I'm too focused on the fact your dog is frickin adorable.
He is a masterful dog
@@Saxologic hey man...love the dog too...but i wanted to let u know i think its awesome you got the Selmer VI....ive never played one...my ride or die is the Yamaha 62 also! Mine was a present in my senior year in high school in 1985. It replaced a Bundy II...lol! A gamechanger to say the least. Anyway...still playin sax to this day!!!! Love your channel young sir!!!
@@JK-g62 That Yamaha 62 is great! I believe Patrick Bartley plays on one. If it works for Patrick then it works just fine! Haha. Also thank you good sir I love you!
@@Saxologic thanks for the response, kind young sir! I will chime in again...as James Brown famously said...Keep it on the Good Foot! 👞 🎷😉
Dude. You are so humble about your playing abilities. I don't think you have EVAAAR had a video where you say "Here's what I can do".
Stay humble brotha!!
How can I flex when guys like Andrew Gould and Chad LB exist? Haha
I'm a guitar player, never played a saxophone in my life, but when you explained how the key travel is much smaller and the side E is much flatter, i thought "oh, obviously that's why I've been struggling so far, i just need to get that Selmer"
Oohhhh Bro! Sounds sooooo good. Congrats on that beauty!
After years of playing cheap stuff, I got myself a Selmer mark VI tenor when I was about 21. I’m 35 now, never touched another tenor since! Nothing else compares imo.
I totally see the hype now! Granted, I did get pretty lucky on scoring a good one on my first buy, thanks to trustworthy Tim Lin.
@@Saxologic 100% Big up to Tim Lin! Keep up the great work. Love the channel, my guy!
Chris Fraser.
Agree 100% (same applies to Otto Link Florida mouthpieces) but Mk 6s are getting lower in quantity and higher in price.
Have a look at a Peter Mauriat, PM 66R. Aimed at Mk 6 would be owners. Somebody new to it will just fall for it. A Mk6 player or a nostalgic, ex Mk6 player will recognise it instantly.
Any one with both, will swap comfortably between the two with the greatest of ease but will stop on the Mauriat PM 66R . R means rolled tone holes. The octave lever on the neck even says MK 6.
I got one when I was £18 for £80! I am 76 now and still got it.
Now that you have this Mark VI, you need to insure it against theft and damage. Since they are rare and costly, you must get it insured, taking photos, videos of it for the insurance policy. Players spend many years searching for and trying to afford a "dream instrument" and once they find it, they need to protect it, the way you would protect an infant son or daughter. Instruments are damaged and stolen by others every day. Never let it out of your sight in a club, or concert, and never leave it near a back door or in a place where you can't watch it. When possible, keep it in a locked case, and chain or cable that case to another secure or heavy object, like a piano leg. Under the piano is always a safe place to protect it and watch it.
Yoooooo!!! Thanks for the shoutout, and the horn sounds great! Looking forward to hearing you develop your sound on the new horn!
Thank you Sir Moore! You are the man!
started playing sax this year and even tho i understand like 10% of what you're talking about i binge watch your stuff all the time keep it up dude!!
DAMN! There's a reason why it's the GOAT. Appreciate the breakdown of the ergonomics.
I have a series ii jubilee while all my friends have Yamaha’s and the key action difference is real I love my selmer and I would play a Yamaha but it’s so much more on your hands.
As someone who has owned a MK VI, I can appreciate your sense of anticipation at the mere thought of playing a MK VI. I had a MK VI tenor that I owned for 20 years, then had to part company with it because I had grown accustomed to living indoors. I was bummed for awhile, but got over it. Got out of playing for some years, then bought a German made Kohlert on eBay, sight-unseen, not tested, that I was pleasantly surprised with. Enjoy the VI kiddo, play the hell out of it. I still laugh out loud when I think of the YT vid you appeared in, playing the “classical saxophonist.” Hilarious.
My dad has had a tenor Mk VI since he was in high school and it’s really cool to be able to play on it regularly as a sax player myself
Just had to say you have a great sound on both your altos. Can't believe you've only played 11yrs. Congratulations on your Mk6, I know you wont regret getting it. (I was lucky to get a 1957) We all need to hear you once you've played it in for a year. It will feel like its part of your body!! haha
Man congratulations! Looking forward to more videos featuring your Mark VI
these knife edits keep getting scarier, it almost makes me wonder when...
Who’s this saxologic the best saxophone TH-cam channel there is you say. Great video bro!
About the Hercules stand: there's a nut to the side of that bottom support that can be tightened, so you don't have to keep pushing it down into place. I DON'T know if that would have prevented the failure with the sax in place, as happened here. But it's probably worth tightening that nut on any Hercules stands you may have. Oh, and what did Reynolds recommend instead?
Wanted to chime in here too. So sorry about the Yamaha! I have 2 different types of Hercules stands for gigs, and a double combo w/ a flute peg at home. You're right, they're imperfect from a design perspective, but in their defense, they're solidly built. I'm not sure there are any stands that are more robust. As yourbarista suggests, the bottom support arm can be snugged, otherwise, it can flip up when the horn is removed, and when replacing the horn, one may hear a sickening 'klink' as the bell hits the metal, vertical brace. I've written Hercules suggesting a small redesign, but I didn't hear back from them. Before you give up on them, try their DS630BB Auto Grip Ststem (AGS ), especially for the alto, as the main support doesn't fit an alto bell nearly as well as it does a tenor. The AGS snugs nicely around the alto. You are too funny my brother, and I'm glad you love your MK VI. I had a nice MK VII that I liked.
Bob Reynolds does a quick review of a K&M stand, and gives this link to Amazon: th-cam.com/users/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFpnYTBtVEhab1RCOXlqQW9EMFdrcm1CaWZRQXxBQ3Jtc0tuV2VkTmt6ejZ4d3RlZ2VXM1JoZTNueE5oVU1VYXN1Q0JQdncyV24wWXdXOEl1TlFxR2thZzdwQmRSRW80MDBuSlRhVDhyUmk3TUJrOVVhWWVYRGRzVUxlQno2dW1NeV93TmdOOEkyZ1o0dXFlb1Y5Zw&q=http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F2E0Cq2e
Saxrax is my favorite. It'll never fall off unless you knock the whole thing over
I had a very similar experience switching from a YAS-62s to a MK VI 119XXX. I love the sound, feel and it just vibrates making you feel connected to the Saxophone. Now for a young saxophonist out there getting one of these won’t make you a better player only practice and you guessed it more practice.
In 1972 my mother got me a MKVI when I was in high school. I was playing my old Busher Aristocrat student model until then. I will never forget how I was playing unintentional grace notes with the MKVI it responded so much quicker. She paid $665 dollars for it new in 1971. I still have it today
Hey I also play on a 1939 buescher aristocrat model! I love the tone but might be wanting to chnage to a mark six at the end of highschool
Bro playing 2 days after wisdom teeth surgery??? You're nuts!! So stoked to see the vi though, also love that tune Chega De Saudade!
Crazy to think, all this Seller stuff; brass, woodwind, guitar amps, drums, everything, came from an old catalog and one company from back in the day. Now it's all extremely coveted greatness that every passionate, tone chasing musician wants. Very cool. Congratulations.
I haven't watched a Saxologic video in a while, but the first 5 seconds on this video already worth the whole video, what a legend
Enjoy your new horn.
I'm coming back to play after 13 year break. In highschool my teacher recommended me and my parents and grand parents bought me a YAS-62 (I think it's G1). I have a Meyer NY 7 mouthpiece and I think I'll stick with this setup. I understand it's more than enough for casual saxophone player and even much more. Now just working on the basics.. it's good to know that even though this YAS62 is not top of the line, it's still a great horn.
Keep making content and don't cut yourself!
Congrats man! That was AMAZING! The difference was astounding. I'm a trumpet player (Schilke B3L - 1978) but have always loved the Mark VI.
Again, your sound is great and your little bit you played , I can tell your are something else. have a great life playing.
Great video! You really make that horn sing! But the best thing is yet to come - the vintage selmers grow on you like nothing else. You have to make a video in 2-3 years again and tell us how much you've grown into the horn. And then 20-some years in. I've been lucky enough to have had my four horns for 10 - 30 years and man do they grow to be family. The inspiration just overflows in time.
I feel you bro! It was surreal getting the VI! When I looked at your vid, it bought so many good memories!
Nice to see this funny unboxing at the beginning and nice that you finally enjoy the Selmer that much.
I was interviewing someone this evening for a job unrelated to music. But he mentioned he plays saxophone. And he told me he has a Selmer mark vi. (he told me the serial number is somewhere in the middle of the series but I do not recall the exact number.) so, before going to bed, I decided to look up information on the model and that brought me to your video. Now I have an idea of what he is talking about.
Congratulations bro …welcome to the club. I just got my Mark VI this year as well, played a few decided with the 178xxx serial number. It was freshly overhauled and plays beautifully.
That IS an original case! :-)
Congratulations on getting your own Mark VI!!!
I have played a 1955 mk VI alto for 40 plus years. I love it.
Good unwrapping and comments. Thank you for doing it even with your recent wisdom tooth thing. Hope you feel better. Cute dog.
Always love the sound of a good mark 6
Congrats dude, I felt the same way when I finally got a fender Rhodes Electric Piano. It just feels good to play and own the instrument you've always seen your heroes playing. Slick content.
Glad you are ecstatic over the new horn. I also own a Mark I Yamaha 62 that I love and am going between getting either an 82ZII or Selmer Mark VI, both in silver since I’ve always wanted a silver horn. I found a Mark VI from around 1972 that I’m thinking of buying/trying…we’ll see how it goes!
@ZenDude thanks for asking. Bought the silver Mark VI. Best horn I’ve ever played.
Oh man. Baby... the color on that Mark VI is amazing! Holy cow!
Great horn. Such a noticeable different in the timbre from the very first note you played on the Selmer.
Congrats on joining the VI club!
Was smiling throughout the whole video just waiting for your reaction playing it for the first time 😅 remembering the chills I got first time I tried my mark vi in a tiny London basement on a school trip and honestly, 12 years later I still get goosebumps thinking about it 🥇
I’m a professional bassist and I got really inspired to learn sax after gettin hip to Gary Bartz who’s one of my dopplegangers 😂 but of course Coltrane and Yussef Lateef too! Gonna buy one by the end of the year, cain’t wait to shed. Keep it up bro! Glad you got the horn you wanted 🙌🏽
Just to anyone looking at this video and thinking of buying one.
You DO NOT need a vintage sax to have a vintage sound. 99.99% of your sound is you and your mouthpiece and reed setup.
Imo the mark six is ridiculously overrated and I'm sure we're all aware of the inconsistencies from one mark six to another mark six.
Just buy a horn and practice!
The MkVI obviously is a fantastic and iconic horn but well said, mouthpiece and reed are most of the sound.
9:24
@@Saxologic Also well said :)
@@Saxologic Do you like Vince Guaraldi's music?
I totally agree with you Kevin!!! Well said sir!
Yo it is amazing how you embody a funny, meme-loving TH-camr and a hell of a profound jazz musician - damn, your solo on that logan moore video blew me away! And your sound gets even deeper on that mark vi...
Thanks a lot and keep it up! 🎷🔥🎷
8:35 The key design and the sheer ergonomics of the feel of the Mark VI fits the player's hands like a pair of fine leather gloves. For the amount of air and energy you blow into the horn, it will give you back far more music, sound and soul than other saxophones. You will realize this very quickly after playing it, because within seconds, the horn plays you.
Nathan, that VI sounds awesome. I know what you mean about selmers sounding so distinctive. When I was in grade 12 I was testing altos to get my first professional one, and I walked out with a Reference 54, the original flamingo model. Over the past 12 years I've occasionally tried other horns but have never switched. My selmer just has a tone, and resonance I can't get on a lot of horns.
What makes the Mark VI sound so good is it doesn’t thin out in the upper register. It retains a solid core to its tone in its entirety
I bought a 1939 Conn 10m a few months back and my parents who know nothing about saxophones said the difference was that the Conn didn't sound like a metal tube at all compared to my old horn. I think that's the difference in sound between valued vintage horns and student horns; hard to describe but you can just feel it.
I've been playing a 1926 chu berry for the last 4 years and I love it .my mark iv i played for over 30 years sits in the closet.the conn is not as ergonomically advanced as the 6 but suits my style better.
I know the feeling - back in 2008 I got the opportunity to buy a 1918 Buescher alto (yes, it's progressed from vintage to antique by now). The sound and feel of these old instruments is incredible!
@@poppacapps5573 I have 1925 chu tenor it sounds amazing almost 100 years old and it plays great
Congrats man!! You really give that horn a voice!!
More importantly then acquiring the mark VI, it's the joy it brings you. Music is the international language 💥🎷🎶
Omg the leggendary Mark VI !! Many of the best saxophonist consider it the best saxophone EVER. So lucky to play it !!
Hope you enjoy man!!! I have a Mark VI tenor and love the death out of it.
Woo!! That must be great
Always supporting other music and other saxophonist!
I've been playing for 31 years and dream of holding such a Sax 🎷
congratulations Nathan.. Im very happy for you
Nice six can’t Waite hear you throw in a good lick on it I love my tenor mark6 1955 96 percent intact for it’s year plays like a Cadillac the difference I notice on my cannonball T5 and my six my six is light as crazy my cannonball is heavy very big difference but yes I do agree with the rest it just don’t matter what horn you give a professional to play or what you play , it’s the player that will make it play. Congratulations 🍾🎊🎉🎈 on your new 6 enjoy it.
Thanks Nathan of Saxologic; you are very inspiring.
Sounds amazing 🖤✨
Sounding absolutely fantastic!!
Its a great feeling opening you first really nice instrument, espesially after growing up with the best basic model you can afford.
I play flute and remember opening my new to me (used) 925 silver, hand-made in Japan Pearl flute. I dindt want to get it dirty so just looked at in the case for ages. 🤣
Hope you love this instrument its a big investment. 👍👍
I love your channel! One of my favorite sax channels on youtube. Now that you went down the rabbit hole of vintage horns, I highly reccomend a conn 10m when its time to upgrade your tenor. I started out on Yamahas but switched to a conn in college and have been playing conns for over a decade now. They are life changing!
Glad to see tou remember and have time for your dog dude
It reminds me of old school jazz, radio. Can't be beat. You
did good.
The Selmer is more centered, and has a focused core to the sound.
YER TONE!! ITS SOO MUCH BETTER ON THE VI! ...I mean, it was already amazeballs, but really. I only have a SuperAction 80 sII, but I still love the tone of it over the other modern horns. Super congrats! The upper stack intonation is totally a selmer thing. I actually prefer Yamaha for its intonation....but the tone. You now get to have the ultimate in tone!
this is exactly what I’ve been waiting for 🗿
great playing man, so good to hear someone playing with great intonation
I am getting inspired to break out my horns again. When I joined the working world in 1985, I no longer had time to play, let alone people to play with. Now that I am closing in on retirement, I am thinking about things I can devote my newfound time to. I have a late model SBA alto, and a early model Mk VI tenor (5 digit #) that my dad bought for me from the family of one of his friends that played semi pro, who passed away in 1984. I also got a Getzen bari, a "Continental Colonial" tenor (I think it is either a Conn or Martin stencil horn), and finally an Artley clarinet. All are in some need of some TLC to get them back into top form. I am planning to overhaul both the Selmer's, but I haven't decided which one first. The SBA was my preferred horn since I always played alto, but the tenor is pretty tempting, too. Either way, its gonna cost some big bucks, but totally worth it. Glad you are enjoying your new alto!
Congrats Nathan you're going to have fun making the sax work.
Phenomenal episode. I enjoy your content so much. Thank you!
Congratulations! Enjoy your new extension of you.
Congratulations! Sound wise a big step forward.
Congrats!!!! Enjoy it 🔥🔥🔥
@Saxologic
Big congrats m’man! We’re now MkVI brothers since I’ve had a 139,000 alto for years.
You’re not really an equipment geek so you may not know the difference between the various MkVI altos. They made at least 3 different versions, each with different sized bottom bows (the bottom 90degree tube). The early ones, called ‘short-bows’, apparently had some low end response issues so the factory changed to the ‘long-bows’ which ended up playing flat in the low end. I owned a 106,000 and can attest to that flatness - kind of a drag. Then they got it right with the ‘medium-bow’ models which our horns are examples of. Some folks call these “Sanborn horns” since he’s apparently such a fan of them. Your’s sounds great with a warmer tone than your Yamaha. You and the VI sound like good friends already!
You are right about the altissimo comparing the yamaha and the selmer. I also have a yamaha alto and tenor I understand. again, you are great man. Charley. I played hundreds of gigs on the selmers.
I had a Selmer Mark VI tenor back in the early 1970's. Back then, the two top saxophones were the Selmer Mark VI, and the King Super 20. Both are great horns.
congratulations!!!!!! You deserve the best of the best always.
That Mk VI sounds so clean 🎷🔥
Congratulations bro!!!! It sounds great.
OMG NICE!!!! - Mark VI sound amazing awww lucky find :) Enjoy playing it!
youre pretty good. I got my mark 6s in l966 and l968 alto and tenor) I have always loved them. I feel the love you feel Ah Right. happy for you.
VI sounds fantastic! Definitely a good one - amber lacquer Sanborn-era. It will only hold value, too, so it's a fantastic financial investment as well.
Thank you sir Sax Spy!
Congrats man that's awesome! I love dogs as well, raising a puppy is the funnest experience. Mark VI is cool too I guess.
Pretty good video. I always dreamed about a mark vi as well. And of course I have one. I’m about to buy a Yamaha 875EX for a back up. But you are correct about their downfalls. Keys are not always in the right place and they’re a little harder to push down. But Yamahas do have a great intonation. I think you will find out your mark six is harder to play in tune. But as you say all keys right where they need to be and the core of it is unmatched.The yanigasawa does rival the feel of the fingers to the mark six. .
I typically don't believe the instrument makes a better sounding musician. This is definitely an exception... I started getting booked alllllll the time after I brought my m6 home. Enjoy it in good health, homes!
I was just the other day eulogizing my brief tenure with a Selmer and now I see this. Lord have mercy please!!!!
Beautiful sound! And congratulations! 🥳
Great Video You sound so great on MVI. So much more colors and crispy Sound. You always sound great but this horn gives you a unique Sound and Personality. I can say for me you are going to the next level. I can’t believe. IM very happy for you . You deserve it🎷🎷🎷🎷🎷👌🏅Great Work always.