1959 80,xxx Selmer Mark VI Tenor Saxophone, Brecker S/N, Overhaul

1959 Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone, s/n 80865. This is one of my favorite Mark VI tenors to ever come through DC Sax. The sax received a full overhaul from Boston Sax Shop in 2023 and has been played very little since. The pads are still in new condition. It has domed rivetless metal resonators, similar in profile to the resonators the horn originally came with. The neck is original to the horn and has a matching serial number. It has never been bent down.

The lacquer is not original, but it has a gorgeous dark amber color. The body to bow brace has been soldered, which helps with overall resonance and low note stability. The sax comes in a Bam l'Etoile case in excellent condition, which retails for about $1,000 on its own.

This horn has a huge, open sound that is remarkably even from top to bottom. There is no stuffiness anywhere on the horn. The low register is effortless, and the sound has a dark, complex core.

This sax falls within the 80,xxx serial number range from 1959 that players often call the Brecker range. Michael Brecker's own Mark VI tenor was s/n 86351, made about a year after this one. The tenors from this era are known for their immediacy of response, ease of playing, and depth of tone, and they are among the most sought after Mark VI tenors made.