Mk VI Tenor with Nickel Plate

hairycamel · Feb 24, 2009

Hi All,

I picked up a 1973 Selmer Mk VI tenor last night and after test playing it, I found it had great projection and excellent intonation. In fact, it sounded and played better that the 5 digit one I had last year.
The difference is that this one is Nickel plated! I have never seen a nickel plated VI before (probably an ex-army band) and was wondering if anyone else had?

Saxlicker · Feb 24, 2009

Hi,
Yeah, I've seen a few, it's not necessarily an army option. At a guess I've seen 50 MKVI's (to touch) and about 6 were nickel plated key versions. 3 silver ones and only one frosted silver one. I don't know if the frosted one was original but at the time, to my untrained eye it didn't look messed with.

steve_m · Feb 24, 2009

The ones I've seen with nickel plated keys (the rest was brass) were done in later life when the sax was relacquered.
The others I've seen have been silver plated.

rhysonsax · Feb 25, 2009

My tenor MkVI from 1962 and my alto MkVI fromearly 70s both have original nickel plated keys.

Never seen a fully nickel plated MkVI though.

Rhys

daveysaxboy · Feb 25, 2009

My last 1962 MK6 Tenor was a frosted silver body with the engraved pattern in shiney silver as were the key's,this was ex army and had a stamped code on the bell.It was a great sax.

hairycamel · Feb 25, 2009

That's what I thought. Many of you refer to the nickel plated keywork, but not the whole sax! Mine also has the serial number replicated on the bell by the brace.
Overall though', I like the finish and it's a keeper!

josh_johnson · Feb 25, 2009

How much did you pay for it, if you don't mind me asking.

Saxlicker · Feb 25, 2009

hairycamel wrote:
That's what I thought. Many of you refer to the nickel plated keywork, but not the whole sax!

Ah Yes....!!!
I think I was fooled by the title. My eyes saw :-
Mk VI Tenor with Nickel Plate keys :whistle:

Nope ...never seen one.

thomsax · Feb 25, 2009

Just curious. Is it nickel (Ni) plated? I've never seen a nickel plated Selmer Mk VI.

Thomas

hairycamel · Feb 26, 2009

Ah Josh the $64000 question!

Let's just say that I paid about half what a nice 5 digit would cost. It needs re-padding and I have just arranged with my tech to do it in Selmer Pro black pads. I thought this would look nice with the nickel plate.

old_git · Feb 27, 2009

Having researched the subject as part of my D. Phil. studies, it must be wondered if this is a genuine Selmer Paris. Sadly that annotation was used on numerous instruments including saxophones, that had never heard a French swearword, during the mid fifties to mid seventies production periods.
I suspect that it might be an early Walstein prototype codenamed 'Habitat', until Conran threatened to sue. As a later protoype proved, Walstein seems to be suffer from a furniture fixation. Any guesses? How about 'IKEA'.

josh_johnson · Feb 27, 2009

hairycamel wrote:
Ah Josh the $64000 question!

Let's just say that I paid about half what a nice 5 digit would cost. It needs re-padding and I have just arranged with my tech to do it in Selmer Pro black pads. I thought this would look nice with the nickel plate.

Worth a try. It sounds absolutely delicious. Go on...post a piccy.

hairycamel · Feb 28, 2009

Old Git, I think you may be correct about it's provenance. I have found another maker's name on the bottom. It says Winfield. (This will test your memory!) 🙂