211,xxx Selmer Mark VI Soprano Saxophone, Video Demo

1973 Selmer Mark VI soprano saxophone, s/n 211895. Mark VI sopranos are capable of so much tonal exploration. There’s a reason so many great players have used this model despite its quirks. I’ll put the caveats upfront. There’s no neck strap ring, so you’ll need to get used to supporting the weight of the soprano with your right thumb. Many players have a neck strap ring soldered onto the horn, or use an Oleg adapter that allows the lyre holder to function as a neck strap attachment. The ergonomics can also take some getting used to, especially the palm keys. My very first soprano, which my parents bought me in high school, was a Mark VI, so I can tell you from personal experience that the palm key placement becomes much more natural with time. There’s also no front F key, so you’ll need to explore alternate altissimo fingerings for notes that would normally use front F. Oleg also makes an optional front F attachment if that feature is important to you. If you’re willing to put up with these inconveniences compared with a modern soprano, the payoff is an instrument capable of an incredible amount of tonal exploration and expression. There’s a depth and flexibility to the Mark VI soprano sound that continues to make these horns appealing, despite the many more modern and easier to play sopranos on the market today. This example has lost most of its lacquer and has developed a beautiful vintage patina. It has never been relacquered. The pads are on the older side, but they seal well and the sax is playing nicely. It comes in a ProTec case. Video setup: Meyer 5M mouthpiece, Vandoren Traditional 3.0 reed.