I think many younger players who enjoy music from yesterday; rather it be jazz, blues, bop, swing, etc., look for vintage horns in hopes of buying a piece of the "magic" behind the music. These old horns are special, and should be played and enjoyed by aspiring young musicians with the hopes of recreating the sounds of Parker, Desmond, Coltrane, Cannonball and others. I see nothing wrong with young players purchasing older vintage horns, but I would like to second Mactenor's advice. There are many great vintage horns, like the Buescher's that he mentioned. Conn 6M and 10M's, King Zephyrs and Super 20's, Martin Handcraft and Committe models, and other great vintage horns that are available for a lot less money than the ridiculous prices that the early Mark VI's are selling for. And, I can tell you kids, I own one of the first 50 Mark VI tenors ever made which I recently finished completely restoring. One of my envious friends calls it the "Holy Grail" of saxophones! I would never part with it, because in spite of the prices these horns are selling for, the sentimental value is priceless. BUT, the horn that I play 90% of the time is my 1948 Conn 10M Naked Lady. If you ever have a chance to experience the sound of a 10M, you'll understand why! Jim

I would also like to add one thing. Vintage horns, like old cars and old people, do sometimes require a little more care. They may require a few more adjustments, and need a little dab of oil here and there, now and then. Play them with pride, and take care of them. Old vintage horns are not for everyone, and some may require more work and repair than they are worth, or you might want to spend. If you have the option of trying a horn before you buy one, you are far better off to do so. Taking your chances with Ebay, you might find a nice horn for a great price, but BUYER BEWARE! The horn might need an extensive overhaul and a considerable amount of work. Educate yourself through this forum and other helpful sites. Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns. Make an educated purchase. Jim

A few posters here think that the reasons some of us may prefer vintage horns is because we want to sound like our old inspirations. That's not the reason at all, in most cases. I happen to admire Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter. However, I didn't buy a Beuscher Aristocrat or a gold-plated Selmer Mark VI to sound like either of them. I have a Conn 6M and a "The Martin" Alto, to sound like myself. However, vintage horns from Beuscher, Conn, King and Martin are also extremely well-made. They are solidly built horns, and because they have been played extensively, in most cases, the metal from the old horns achieve a resonance that comes from many years of playing. Also, I notice a difference in tone between vintage and modern horns. True, the vintage horn of today was once a new horn, and the new horn of today is tomorrow's vintage horn. However, having played and listened to so many horns in my life, I hear a distinct difference between old and modern horns. Much of it may have to do with the fact that in playing modern music, horns have to have a brighter, thinner tone in order to be heqard above all the noise of an electric band. Many young players do not play with a sense of dynamics. Old horns have more complex tonal characteristics than many modern horns in my opinion. Of course, there are modern horns that have these characteristics, but are extremely expensive. With the exceptin of a Mark VI, which I always thought was ridiculously overpriced, most top quality vintage horns can be had for half or less.

Play every sax you can get your hands on when you are looking for a vintage horn, even if some of them aren't the more popular brands. I have a 1932 Holton that I would pick over my father's vi any day. I probably couldn't sell my horn for over $300 if I tried just because nobody would give it a chance. Sad, really.

I can see why VIs are so nice they are just good horns they have the sound that people like, I mean there is a reason why poeple jack up the prices on them and thats becauses people will pay the money to get them. The people who want them mostly arnt even players, they are collectors, of course every one will pay the money to get a VI because it is a VI. Whether it be because its the best playing horn of your life or because its the feeling of having a Mark VI in your hands people will do it. And its not just mark VIs, SBA tenors can go for easily 11,000 bones to some collector in japan, but do you think and average player will pay that, no. Am I going to buy a gold plated Mark VI #86xxx, for $12,000, no.I had a Mark VI alto #114xxx that I bought and after I got it i tried a SBA alto that played so much better than it and the SBA went for $3800, about $500 less than the VI. And guess what, the SBA and BA altos are going to jump up just as high as the Mark VIs are now just becuase people are discovering them, and they are becoming fewer and fewer in numbers. I'm tring right now about the best horn 've ever played on and it's a Balanced action alto #25010 and I like it more than any other Mark VI I've ever tried. When it comes down to it I'll play on any horn, Martins, Conns, Kings, Selmers, Yamahas,Holtons,old,new, or even a Grafton. About the most expensive horn I've ever bought was a Ref 54 on WWBW for $4750 as joke just to see these things, and it was still a factory second. I've met my fare share of palyers that are my age , and I say Mark VI and they look at me like "what are you talking about?" As far as sounding like old players, I'm 17 my fav. player is Sonny Rollins, Why? Because I like his playing style and his Melodic Ideas that he puts in his solos. I could really care less about what his horn sounds like or what kind it is. I listen to the dynamics of the horn I'm playing on, I prefer a Solid center, slightly darker, and slightly more focused sound. I can get that on a Balanced action or an 82z. But i would play on a balanced action because its a better made horn. Better materials, better crasftmanship. I don't really feel like saying up long hours repadding my new sax. By and by we're not just kids who are trying to sound like every other player, or go buy some sax that is way too over priced just because Coltrane on the same one. Just like saxes we younger players are going to be old sooner or later.

I have been watching an auction on ebay recently for a 1966 VI tenor. This horn was literally brand new, still in it's original plastic wrap. I couldn't believe it when the auction ended for almost $15,000.