Mark VI woes...feeling conflicted :-\

Howdy folks, sorry in advance for the long, rambling post, but I think a bit of detail is in order so I can get some different opinions. After a 15-year "hiatus", I decided to start playing again. I started taking private lessons recently after finding a Mark VI tenor (113xxx) on e*ay. I've had an early-model Series II alto since I was in junior-high band, but always found it more difficult to play out with others. I find a tenor to be more suited for my playing style when playing out with others. The pics of the tenor showed excellent lacquer wear, probably 95% if I had to make an amateur evaluation. The description said it was newly-repadded (although probably not by a competent sax technician and only a small ding an inch under the neck strap ring the size of a sharpie head. Other than some moderate aging, the horn was described in excellent condition. I received the horn, and it looked to be in the condition described. I played it, and it played great! Now I haven't played too many MkVI's...only 2 or 3 from what I can recall. This horn blew big and easy. The lows had a nice resonance, and the highs were not shallow. The mids were rich with harmonics...the action still very nice and lively. In short, I fell in love...both with the horn and with the notion that I owned a Mark VI tenor! I took it to my local sax technician to have it setup, and they noticed immedately the neck joint had been re-soldered. There is definite lacquer discoleration there, but I didn't notice it for a prior repair. I noticed the plastic cap is hard to insert and remove, but the neck fits nicely. At this point, I'm starting to feel taken by the seller as they didn't describe a prior re-solder in the item description. I left the horn at the shop and went to contact the seller. After describing my dillema, the person I spoke to said they needed to contact their boss and would be getting back to me the next day. They did contact me the next day, only to tell me there's nothing they were going to do...CAVEAT EMPTOR. They said I waited too long to tell them (it was 20 days from the time I took delivery) and had already left possitive feedback saying the horn was as described. Now I definitely feel cheated and taken... I contact American Express and tell them I'd like to dispute the charge because the item's condition was misrepresented. They are opening an investigation, but the rep I spoke to feels strongly that it will go in my favor. But for now we wait... Meanwhile, I have my first lesson with my old sax prof. For the sake of privacy, I'll only say that he's an accomplished performer and pedagogue and well-respected for his virtuosity on the sax. He's got a nice Mark VI (83xxx) tenor that's probably as good as they get. He's also played on literally hundreds (if not thousands) of different horns...vintage and modern. He believes the Reference to be the horn of the future (he's blown on 54's but not a 36)...most of his younger students are playing them...and he thinks it's the best thing Selmer has put out in 35+ years. He looked at the horn and commented that he would not have noticed the repair either unless it was pointed out to him. Well, that made me feel better. He then tried it out...blowing overtones in true Joe Allard-fasion. He tried both his jazz rig and classical rig, and said he really loves the horn. He said it's in the upper 10% of Mark VI's he's tried and thinks with a good pro setup could be even better...rivaling his own, even! So here's the dillema: do I call AMEX and cancel the dispute, even though the used-instrument dealer (worse than used-car dealers) gets away with misrepresentation? Do I just let AMEX run their course and just go with their final decision? In today's market, I overpaid for the horn, but two years from now it will be a steal, even with the repair work. If the dispute works in my favor, I'll have enough money for a new Reference (probably 36) with a custom setup...with some cash left over. But, I do believe this Mark VI wants to be loved...and I just may be the person to love it. Thanks!

Reply To Post [Report Abuse]