A Curious Case: 1971 Selmer Mark VI with a Long Bow

A few years ago, we received a 1971 Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone in remarkable, near mint condition: original pads, minimal scratches, and absolutely no dents. At first glance, everything looked correct. But something felt... off. It took a couple of days for me to figure it out.

This horn has a long bow, which is something Selmer stopped producing five years before this horn was made.

A Bit of Selmer History

In 1966, Selmer transitioned from long bows to medium bows on their Mark VI altos. The reason? To fix intonation issues, especially with low C and C♯, which tend to play 15–20 cents flat on long bow altos. While the sound of a long bow can be big and beautiful, it’s notoriously tricky to tame those notes. No amount of embouchure adjustment or key tweaking truly fixes the pitch.

So how did this 1971 Mark VI end up with a feature Selmer phased out in 1966?

Clues in the Lacquer

When I took a closer look, I noticed that the lacquer on the bow was slightly different in hue compared to the body. My repairman and I both agreed that everything looked original — including the pads. No resoldering. No signs of aftermarket modification.

Still, it didn’t make sense: every post-1966 Mark VI alto I’ve seen has a medium bow.

Digging Deeper

I reached out to the original owner, curious if any repairs had ever been made. Their response? The horn had only been serviced once — the day it was purchased.

To cross-check, I contacted a few veteran repair techs who’ve worked on thousands of Mark VI saxophones. None had ever seen a post-1966 Mark VI with a long bow like this.

A Factory-Era Mystery

My next call was to a former Selmer employee who used to play-test every Mark VI that came through the Elkhart factory (yes, that was actually his job). After reviewing photos of the horn, he was 95% certain this was a factory modification done by Selmer themselves.

Apparently, Selmer often made quiet tweaks on a case-by-case basis, which is why cutoff dates for design changes aren’t always absolute.

So Why the Long Bow?

We’ll probably never know for sure. My best guess? The original bow on this horn may have been damaged or failed quality inspection, and a tech at Selmer simply grabbed a long bow that had been sitting on the shelf since the early ’60s.

A Time Capsule

Because of the long bow, this 1971 Mark VI plays more like an early 1960s model — rich, powerful, and full of presence. I’ll save my full thoughts on long bow Mark VI’s for another time, but I’m a fan.

This saxophone is a bit of a time machine — a rare and possibly one-of-a-kind hybrid that blends the best of two different eras of the Mark VI. And as someone who’s played and evaluated hundreds of these horns, I can confidently say this one stands out.

Thinking of Selling a Rare Mark VI?

Do You Have a Vintage Selmer Saxophone to Sell?

Have a unique Mark VI or vintage Selmer saxophone? I’m always looking for rare and interesting instruments. Whether it’s a long bow, unusual engraving, or original condition, I’d love to hear about it.

Contact me here or visit the Sell Your Saxophone page to start the process.