Selmer MK VI Tenor Saxophone 87xxx 1960 Masterpiece

One of a kind 1960 tenor Mark VI, serial 87xxx in original US lacquer and engraving.  This horn is the top, as it is one of the best periods of the MK VI but is also a totally unique and special instrument of this variety as well.  There is no damage past nor present that I could find on this horn, structurally excellent and sound.  There is normal lacquer wear on the body and most is gone from the neck yet the neck is physically perfect and wonderfully responsive.

This pads are not old, and set up with what I think are original Selmer plastic resonators it plays very well, but I think the setup could be a bit better when the right player determines it is time to address. I found no solders nor dents on the this horn, but of course there going to be normal scratches and small dings perhaps, nothing that caught my eye and I am meticulous.

Now for the most important part, the sound and response: There is simply nothing like this horn, anywhere.  I have only ever played a few like this one.  It is very loud and exceptionally lively, which is different than just being loud.  It has what those in the know would call a kind of boldness to the sound, almost like a physical impact of sound.

This horn is quite edgy and cutting though it has an underlying warmth and color to the sound that makes it not what I would call excessively bright.  It has a very aggressive, colorful and complex kind of edge to it.  It is probably in the middle between dark and bright, has a mid-tone quality to the very loud cutting edge that is very hard to find along with the physically impacting fundamental bass.  I can only wonder how it would function with metal resonators.

This is a very rare and special horn, I have only ever played one or two others that came close to it.  I waiting a decade to buy it.