Great review Jim and George! It’s so interesting to see the two saxes side by side. I enjoyed testing the SBA Tenor vs Ref 36 on my channel too.

When the Reference 54 first came out, my teacher at the time was a Selmer rep. He had his pick of 20 tenors from Selmer. I got a chance to play it and was immediately blown away with how it felt and played.

Lovely playing by George. You can tell he's more comfortable on his own horn. The reference does immediately sound brighter, but the 6 has that "6ness" which is really special. I think Stephen Howard really defines it on his review site what that Selmer sound is. It's the 6 for me.

This would be a great video: Take 5 or more 54s and play them side by side with the same set up to see if there is a difference. Then do the same with a random lot of 5 or more 6s to see what they sound like.

If this makes any sense, I think the MK VI speaks more, but the 54 sings more. He has developed much more of common sound character in his own horn, which reflects in the way he played his lines with that horn. The 54 on the other hand was like a familiar cousin to the sound of the MK VI, but just enough ignorance of the way to play it how he likes in the mix that it was again reflected in his sound.

"Do you want to hold them at the same time" "No" *Thinks: Good choice"*

I have ref 54 and I thought the Yamaha 82ZII would be better. What was I thinking? Anyway I returned the 82ZII and now appreciate the 54 the more I play it. Also I don’t like the teardrop front keys as I was so used to the 54. The more I play the 54 the more I’m settling in and really loving the feedback I get when I play.

Thank you both. Both great horns but you can’t beat the sound of a Mark 6 ! God bless you both. Bill. Uk

This is the video I've been waiting for.

I would love to see a reference 54 vs reference 36 tenor comparison!

Need to compare the Ref 54 to a '54 Mark VI for a better comparison. Case in point, I've owned 2 1954 Mark VIs, one I've had for more than 25 years. I've tried two Reference 54s, and the tone is almost identical to my Mark VI, except the Reference has a more consistent tone. Best sounding modern horn to my ears. You can compare a '71 Mark VI to a '54 Mark VI and the sound will be different, and VIs sound so variable over the years that it's hard to come to a broadbrush conclusion.

They both sound great. In this example I lean towards the 54 because I just got one. Hahaaaha. The thing is with 6s they are all different. I had a five digit that was like absolutely incredible. When you hear players like Lou Donaldson you know that the horn makes a huge difference because you can hear that same sound. (I assume Lou had 5 digit because it sounded so much like mine). It was head and shoulders above anything else. It has a steely sold core sound that I have never felt on any other horn. Then there are all the other 6s that are just really good. The 54 is different but has that same core beauty and expressiveness in the sound. Like Wayne shorter said some new horns lock you into that "nanigoat' autotuner like sound (yamaha?) but the selmer lets you express and touch the audience more. I love yamaha's too but I think people know what I mean. So bottom line there are a smaller number of super 6s out there otherwise the 54 stacks up well against the normal/average 6 in terms of artistic expression. You are blessed to have the opportunity to own or play either!

One of the biggest changes that has happened since the Mark VI is that horns are built to be more consistent now. I had a bad Mark VI, and didn't know it at the time. Don't assume that because it's a Mark VI that it's a great horn. I've been on Yamaha for 40 years, and never looked back!

Any day I love the sound of the 54

I'd like to hear the Mark VI alto compared to a Bronze Yanagisawa.

I have a 1968 Mk6 and it plays beautifully I have seen on several sites some negative comments about Mk6s and I tend to think these are from people who have never owned one .. trying to make themselves feel better about not being able to own one 😂😂 I have thought about trading mine in for a new horn several times .. but how can I possibly know if the new horn would stand the test of time. I think my kids will be selling mine after I’m dead and gone !!

Kenny G's influence kills any tone.

Thanks for the demo and sharing. It's so wonderful.

They both sound different to my ears straight away listening on monitor headphones. The Reference 54 in the first few notes sounded like a modern sax. It has the modern brightness, with a silky sound in the lower frequencies and it sounded a bit more focused to me. The Mark VI was more dense and fuller and warmer sounding.

Nice to hear such a distinct difference. After 38 years with my 1968 VI the 54 just sounds tinny to me (which is just a pejorative way of saying brighter - sorry!) I understand all reasons why Mk VI isn't as good as everyone thinks - but I have never tried a horn I would change for. May be about the subtlety of subtone possible on the VI

Both horns have a sweetness to them. There was a difference to them for sure. You can tell George has a great deal of time behind the Mark 6 and not much experience with the 54. The Reference is a fine modern horn and most likely, will get better with time.

Interested that you still prefer your Yani A901, Jim. That was my first pro horn, it was delicate and pure, but I always felt it lacked oomph. So I took a risky punt on a 1972 MkVI, untried, and I just LOVE it! There's that wonderful graininess to the sound, like smooth Devon cream fudge. The Ref 54 hasn't got that.

I like that Mark VI, it sounded powerful and sounds like a real saxophone. I notice that R 54 sang better or has better intonation, I could identify the tone quicker, However, it’s is too weak for me, no projection and sounds bland. Our of many R 54s, I’ve only heard one that was ok so I’ve pretty much removed it from my wish list.

Reference 54 has a darker sound to my ears, and is sweeter than the mark vi

As a player I have owned 6 MK VI altos and 9 MK VI tenors .as a repair tech I have set up at least a dozen ref 54 altos and tenors and of course played them.the 54,s are good horns but even though the VI,s require more of you in certain ways I feel they offer you a more complex and flexible sound. The VI,s require a good neck fitting and set up to know how they play. As a decades long Vi player, on alto i feel my serie III is closer to a VI than serie II or 54. Serie II does play a little bigger and louder . I have worked a couple time on Alto reed,s (Bob Seger Band) silver serie III tenor and it plays lights out. I dont believe in classical horn vs jazz horn. I may even buy a serie III tenor since I can get one for 1/2 the price I can get for my 54k sba. Only cause I need$

Sax players crack me up (being one I understand my own foibles), we are such tech junkies! Needing know how something plays vs something else (sax, neck, lig, mouthpiece, reed) and what everyone else is playing on. It's always great to get opinions but you will sound like you no matter what! Buy what you like and makes you comfy!

George sounds amazing on that Ref54!

I'm currently bidding on a Buescher 400 bari sax on ebay. I really want a bari sax, but I cant spend more than $1200 on it. Any suggestions on the highest price I should go on it? I'm not looking for the best, top of the line bari sax, I just want a bari sax to play. What could you tell me about it?

I'd love to see a comparison of some of the vintage Conns with some newer instruments. I just got a New Wonder II 166xxx alto a few weeks ago and I'm loving it. It's far more free blowing than any horn I've ever tried. Would love to hear your thoughts on the old Conns

Mark Vl sounds warmer to my ear, more like “singing” if you know what I mean. I guess as it is his own sax it could help him to get the best of the instrument.

Great video guys. Love the Mk6 story too. I'll pass on my '36 Aristocrat alto and '46 Holton 241 tenor to my son; hope he plays them better than me!

i have a vintage conn tenor that has a very warm sound it’s kinda falling apart (paid $300)I think y would serve me better to find a new horn i like instead of getting this one rebuilt

Omg I wanted this so much!

Send to me it's about the playability. That one can be made to sound like the other. Assuming the 54 isn't brand new. I wondered if a vintage sax wouldn't have a sound any modern version could never have because one is 60 years older.

The 54 has a more consistent and refined sound overall. Yes, VI's sound great and all, but they are NOT as refined and of the same quality that brand new, professional horns today have. Put it into perspective - even Coltrane had the newest and best horn out there during his time. He bought his Mark VI as soon as it came out. There's no reason for a saxophonist to romanticize a Mark VI today. The instrument evolved from its conception in the mid 1800's up until settling into what it is today around 1980-1990. I played on a Low A VI for a few years and hated the intonation issues it had in the upper register. High F was only in tune if I held open ONLY the palm F key. Alternate front F was 35 cents sharp. Voicing down the palm register gets old quick - that horn taught me that there is absolutely no advantage to a vintage horn (in fact, somewhat of a disadvantage).

for me the mark 6 has the edge with that full sound and that would be my preference to play.

This will be an interesting comparison.

whats the song his playing on the reference 54 btw

Parabéns pelo vídeo. Show lindo demais 👏👏 parabéns

I think that both horns sound beautiful, but each in their own slightly different ways. The VI sounded much more darker and rich in the lower resonance and tonal thickness while the Ref 54 had a much lighter brighter sound. It felt as if George could blow freer and therefore didn't have to force the sound out. They both played even across the range and would fit well in to many applications be it Jazz or Classical. I have a Series II and love it! It can be rich and mellow on ballads and loud and brackish when playing funk or bop! Good stuff!

I think its great to compare the hands on feel and sound well done guys , but the difference in any instrument is your own emotional personal connection . Keep it real, keep it emotional Happy Days .

Thanks guys for doing these comparisons and all the informative videos. I wish you would have played an 8 bar melody at a metronome setting of quarter note=48. And the same melody in at least two different octaves. And with and without vibrato. Just a request not a complaint!

There will never be another VI ...

The 54 sounded a bit thinner that the MKVI.

Not a fair comparison. Every sax is different and you should sound better on the one you play every day, compared to a different one.

One comment, I'm not sure if the mark vi tunes sharper in the upper register than the reference, but I think the comparison would be a little more fair if the saxes were tuned closer together.

Great horns!

Mark iv

Mark VI !!!

LOVELY MUSIC ALWAYS ON SAX.UK

Why not MKVI 1958?

I have a Yamaha YAS-62 Purple Logo , a Yanagisawa AWO2 UL and I have a Ref. 54 Flamingo no high F key . All three excellent horns BUT , my only 2 complaints with the Ref.54 is .... the front high F pearl key . It is TOO MUCH OF A FINGER LEAP to get to it . You can't just roll your finger up to it like the Yany AWO2 UL . My 2nd complaint is the Bis key , although it is domed , is placed too far to the left . Whereas the Yany , which isn't domed and I wish it were , sits almost in line with the B key making it a simple roll of your tip to get to it . The Ref. 54 Bis key is a bit tricky to maneuver . Nice review gentleman .

Gostaria de fazer uma parceria com vcs?? Queria colocar vídeos seus no meu canal.. tenho um canal KZfaq também. Chama variedades do Mestre...

Could tell he knew exactly how to make his Mark VI sound like he wanted. The Ref54 just doesn't have the Mark IV voice according to my ears.

You don’t want a six . We need to move on from the six . It’s our time now to explore the new line of horns. Or else we will never exceed the six.

Comments nonsense.

SBA beats both

Mark VI is better than reference 54.