140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul

140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul

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1966 140,xxx Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone with approximately 90% original lacquer. This is a rare Sanborn vintage Varitone model saxophone. Selmer reportedly pulled out the best Mark VI's from their assembly line to turn into Varitone saxophones, so they have a reputation as being incredibly nice playing horns. 

The late 13x,xxx to 14x,xxx s/n range is widely considered to be the very best alto saxophones that Selmer ever produced. Greats including David Sanborn and Kenny Garrett play and collect altos in this range. Selmer experimented with various bow lengths and ultimately went to the medium bow shortly before this one was produced. The medium bow has the best combination of great intonation and excellent tone. Furthermore, this alto has the rare vertical Mark VI stamp, which is what Sanborn plays and collects. For me, the 14x,xxx altos have some extra power, focus and depth to their sound. This is a world class alto.

Selmer made the Varitone model in order to compete with the electrification of popular music of the day. Their solution at the time was to introduce a microphone pickup directly into the neck, thus being able to plug the saxophone directly into an amplifier. You can hear the effect on Sonny Stitt's "What's New" album, produced in 1966, the year that this horn was made. 

Direct amplification has mostly fallen out of style, and accordingly this horn was just overhauled by Aaron Barnard who in addition to his world class repair work, removed all of the added Varitone hardware. The result is absolutely incredible, and this horn is about as good of a Mark VI alto as you'll ever find. He installed a flush plug in the neck to remove the mic pickup. The result is a perfectly smooth and flat metal patch that hard to even see. 
Please scroll to the bottom of this page to see some before pictures of this saxophone. 
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
140,xxx Selmer Mark VI Alto Saxophone, Varitone Model, 90% Original Lacquer, SANBORN S/N, Overhaul
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