Keep the VII. Don't believe what everyone says about the VII it's a great horn. Much better horn than any reference horn. Take it from me. I had a Ref36,Series III and 3 VI's. This VII is the best horn I've ever played.

personally, I'd take that Ref36 over anything else, but that's just me.

Have you actually compared a Ref36 to a VII or a VI? I have played 3 ref36's and 2 Ref54's(one was totally rebuilt) and the VII is a much better horn than both. Not that the ref horns are bad but a good VII is a great horn.

I agree. I tried a VII one time and thought it was killer, as good in response as the late Ser# VI I also tried the same day. I liked the VI a tiny bit better, but the VII was half the price of that and the Ref 54 tenor, which I didn't particularily like, that I also played. I play tested a 36 at a later date and I can probably say I liked that particular 36 better than any horn I've ever tried. From what I hear, the VII's were quite inconsistant, and many found the keywork uncomfortable for smaller hands. They can either be great, or mediocre. If you find a good one, a VII can be one of the best bargain horns. Some say the earliest ones were pretty much all very good, but sporatic after the first couple years. YMMV

The reference 54 was not a copy of the mark 7. It's some what of a copy of the mark 6, but only in body tube only. The bore of the body tube is exactly like the mark 6 and the bow of the reference 54 is a bit enlarged to give it a bit bigger lower end. The reference is like the mark 6 in body tube ONLY however. Keywork, tone hole size, tone hole location is all current selmer design. The mark 7 was a great horn in it's ealier years. But for some reason as time went on they got worse and worse. There are many ideas why they got bad. In my opinion it was the factories became mordernized and good handcraftmen ship was thrown out for cheap machine work. I've played a few mark 7's and found the earlier ones are much better. I've worked on later ones and seen tone holes that look like pringles. The bore of the mark 7 is bigger than the mark 6, which gave it in my opinion a squawky lower end a whinny higher end. I own and play on a ref 54 and love it. You just have to get by on selmers outrageous pricing and poor craftmanship. When I got it I took it to the shop I work at and had it totally dissasembled and did a total over haul on it and even had to order a part that the factory didn't put on. Modern day factories just don't have good tech people to work on then anymore and the way they are build and the materials factories use today is nothing compared to what was used to make the older horns. I love my ref 54, its the best playing horn I've played on. All in all its about what you want and what feels good to you. Play on the horn before you buy it and make your own judgement for your self.

I have a '79 MK 7 and i love it, best horn i have played to date. I played a brand new, i saw them un wrap it, Ref 54 in reno, and that horn was junk. At the time, i also had a Japaneese Vito, another great great student horn, and if werent for the actual money value, i would have not traded that Vito for the Ref. 54 ever. I have heard great things about the Ref's and bad things as well. I love my 7, even thought it is supposedly a bad ser. #, 270,XXX. It is an awesome horn with great tone, intonation, and feel. 7's are a great horn for the money, way under-rated in my opinion.