The Story

The Snakey Spat Band was a fantastic funk band playing in Abingdon from the mid 1970s and the first real band I played in, joining at the age of 17. Poignantly it split up in 1979 in the same week Dexies Midnight Runners reached no 1 in the singles chart. It contained great musicians, including Tim Cairns, Squirrel, Dave Ball and George Day. The horn players included Murray Powell, John WIld, Pat Kelly and his son Julian, Andy Kinch, Andy Miller and Pat Crumley – my saxophone teacher: so I was very lucky to be good enough to play with them. Shortly after the band split Tim and George started the Big Boys Blues Band, playing blues and soul music and I’m still playing in that horn section today, moving from alto to tenor over the years. In the early 1990s I decided to buy a Mark VI to play when needed. Anyone who’s read my review of my Evette and Schaeffer bari can see why I couldn’t use that one.

Having checked out potential purchases in my local shops and on the Web I discovered this one advertised relatively cheaply by Howath. This shop is in the centre of London off the Euston road, just outside the Congestion zone. It had been brought in for repair, having been damaged at the top and the owner decided it wasn’t good enough for him any more. It has a Super 80 crook and signs of an excellent repair carried out by the shop.

The Instrument

Selmer didn’t change the baritone when they changed from Mark VI to Mark VII: so, although this dates from 1970 I have no hesitation in calling it a Mark VI. It’s well finished in gold lacquer, but has a couple of places where this has been rubbed off – probably as a result of the repair. It weighs a ton, making it a challenge to hold it for a 45 minute set, especially for a sickly lad like me.

The Player

I have nothing much to compare it with as a blower, being the first and only serious baritone I’ve played. I currently use a gold-plated Otto Link open mouth piece, which makes it a real challenge to fill. However it makes a brilliant, smooth and loud sound. It’s amazing that you hear all the bass instruments in a band when you play baritone – all bass guitar and bass drum. I am thinking of buying a stand so I can continue to play this in future for the weight and a more restricted mouth piece to ease the blowing. If you’re considering getting one of these you should literally weigh-up the competition first – a lighter baritone might suit you more if you’re not that strong.

Saxifications

• Make – Selmer
• Model – Mark VI
• Serial Number – 298,830
• Date of Manufacture – 1979
• Place of Manufacture – France
• Finish – Gold Lacquer
• Weight – 12lb 5oz
• Sound – Deep, full, smooth
• Ease of Blowing – Hard – needs a lot of air with an open gold Otto Link mouth piece
• Ease of Fingering – Simple, balanced

More about Selmer Mark VI saxophones can be found currently on the Web from Sax Forte amongst many others. These are the best know saxophones in the world.
Do you own a Selmer baritone? Please let me know by commenting on this post.

Filed under: Selmer Mk VI | Tagged: baritone saxophone, Howath, Mark VI, Saximus Maximus, Selmer |