1962 97,xxx Selmer Mark VI soprano saxophone. Here's a rare 5-digit Mark VI soprano that was made just months before John Coltrane's soprano (his was s/n 99626). This is an incredible soprano saxophone. It has the sound and response of a great 5-digit soprano. The sound is remarkably centered, and there's just so much personality to it. My repairman just performed a full service prior to sale, so the pads are sealing well and the response is excellent from top to bottom. The pads are still in good condition and don't need to be changed. The sax comes with a Bam Stage soprano saxophone case, which is a top of the line case that is new to market. I've used the same one professionally and love it. 

For full disclosure, I'm on the fence about the originality of the lacquer, and I sincerely don't know about this one (and I've seen hundreds of Mark VI's in my time). I don't think it matters one bit in the case of this horn whether or not it's original...the way it plays speaks for itself. The color of the lacquer is right for this vintage. The only thing that makes me scratch my head about the originality is that the engraving doesn't seem as deep as I'd expect. Other than this, the lacquer seems excellent, and I wouldn't be surprised if another seller wanted to sell this one as original. This is truly a tough call. It's priced as a relacquered sax, so either way, you're getting a great price for a prime 5-digit horn!