oh man my sax teachers EX wife threw his Mk VI down a flight of stairs, but the guy he took it to is an *amazing* repairman. he got the whole thing back together and straightend out the dents and stuff, and you would think nothing happened to it i mean, there is barely any lacquer from his acid hands but the thing IS a mark vi, and i think it sounds as good or even better than any other mark vi. so what im gettin to is that if you have a great horn like that go a little over the top and find a good repairman and keep it and all should be well.

That's an oldie Shark! I looked at the pictures that you emailed me. The serial number dates this one to 1919, making it an early New Wonder Series I. These are neat old horns, but they're not for everyone. It's over 86 years old, and like old people, old horns can also be tempermental. The keywork and intonation are good for a horn of that vintage. I think that if you overhauled the horn, you would find it a lot of fun to play. You paid a couple hundred dollars too much for it, but rather than take a loss, I would have it restored to playing condition and enjoy it.

Once I have it restored, do you think it will be pretty good? I e-mailed the guy at vintagesax.com and he said that it was a "C". Is that true? I've read some things and his info is conflicting. If its a Bb I'll probably get it repaired but eveer since the guy told me that I've been wondering. Thanks

Just look above the serial number and below the patent number . If it has the letter S its a Bb soprano. If it has C then its a C sop Dave

Ok, there is no S or C....

Play a "C" on the saxophone, and see if it is close to the same "C" on the piano. If so, it's a "C". If it sounds more like a "Bb" on the piano, it's a "Bb". "C"'s would be easier to use when jamming, because you wouldn't have to transpose. Also easier to play with piano or organ.

You can usually tell by the overall length. The C soprano is a little shorter. I think they're about 20 inches long. I was wondering about that Shark, because most of the New Wonder Series I Bb sopranos were curved. The C sopranos were straight. Conn sopranos are confusing! The first sopranos were curved (Wonder series). The New Invention sopranos (1912-1916) were straight. The earlier New Wonder saxophones (1917-1920?) most of them were straight. New Wonders from about 1920-1925 were curved. The New Wonder Series II and transitional sopranos were straight. Then, Conn made a few M series horns that were both straight and curved. The 2M soprano was straight, the 4M was curved. Both were only made for a few years. They were discontinued about the same time as the 14M bass, which would have been around 1940. I would definately measure that sax and compare it with another Bb soprano. If it is in fact a C soprano, I would caution you not to spend a lot of money on repairs. I have a C soprano in about the same shape as yours, only a couple years newer. I don't know how in tune it would play with my Bb soprano mouthpiece. I may get around to repadding it eventually. I have a couple others that are of more interest. Right now, I am replacing the pads on my Selmer Mark VI. Jim

The measurement of the sax is 22''. Does that make it a C? If so, I definately need to sell it so I can get a new Bb.