SELMER MARK VI vs YAMAHA YTS-82Z ATELIER TENOR 

This video out four years now I still can’t make up my mind ,

Brilliant video. Loved the split screen it was brilliant. Xxx

Misterbusy thanks my experience was similar. Sold a 6 some 40 years ago and never found another one. Whether it's just a sound you have in your head from many years ago and listening to the great players of the past but that sound is unsurpassed as far as you are concerned. Beauty is in the head of the beholder! God bless thanks Dan for your blog

Great fun Dan! Take the stress test and take only the Yamaha on the gig! I have been through this same scene many times.

Hi Dan, I give the MK6 a slight edge with the lower stuff. But when you put more air in, the Yamaha is brighter. But for those of us who will never own a 6, this sounds like a good option BTW...I thought that other Dan was a decent player......

I got both right in the blind test. I preferred the Mark VI as I found the Yamaha, while good in the first part of the blind test, in the second part I found ever so slightly too bright when pushed but its quite a good sounding though.

Good test Dan. I still like that ritch dark side. Versatile horn I would say

I like what your doing with this. The Yamaha sounds so close. There is something to the body of the sound of your MK-VI but I wonder if the sound of the Yamaha will change anymore after a little more playing time.

Wow they’re both great. Thought the best was Sax 1 and I was hoping so much it was going to be the Yamaha.

Is the 82Z not brighter than the 875EX, by intention? If so, how does it compare to the Mark VI? Where would the 875EX be on the graph? Thank you!

Hey Dan-the date is October 1, 2019 . Have not heard from you for a long time. Hope all of you are good. Really miss your vlog.

I found that playing just the D side key as an alternative to the normal "break" D fingering the Yamaha 62S was very flat compared with my Mauriat 67R alto. I know this was a tenor comparison but I also found the Yamaha quite sharp at the top end of the normal range.

I liked #2 the best...rich open sound...#1 great sound more closed...or thick sounding...both great horns.

Yamaha for me on that test. By the way - Dan 2 should be a regular in the vlogs. I hate to say it, but he's funnier, more handsome and blows a mean altissimo ;-)

Hey Dan. Fantastic video as usual. Both sound nice. I was really feeling Tenor Madness! If I had to choose one it would be the classic. The MK VI gives the most flavor to my ear.

Played all top saxophones at sax and co. Yamaha tenor yss875ex topped eveything.Was hoping Keilwerth would be better but sadly no.

I have a Yamaha 62 II that I'm fine with (I'm not a pro, but I've played here & there), but if anybody offered me either one of these monsters, I sure wouldn't turn it down.

esté Yamaha tem um bom som!!!! bem próximo do Mark Vl. os dois são muito bom mesmo!!!!

The Yamaha in the blindfold test sounded better to me.

Hi guys. This is not the neck of a MARK VI ?

Although I love a mk6, I thought the Yamaha sounded much more centered.

Hi Dan,What oversized neck screw are you using on that 82Z?

Did it hurt to play the Yamaha? I know you had that custom work done on your VI which made it pain free to play

To me, it seems that Selmer got this soft tone that made Stan Getz sound so unique. And the Yamaha has this precise one. More clearly. Now it might be that it is imagination or that I am completely wrong. But to compare them is like comparing a German Mercedes S-Class with an English Bentley. Hardly ever the same. And really a question of character you want to put in your sound. As both might have massive advantages in their categories. I could not decide which one to take. But as I admit being a fan of Stan Getz, who brought me to jazz together with Dave Brubeck - I would try Selmer - even tough I played Yamaha for 20 years as a beginner and still love the precision of my Japanese doll. ;o) And the black versions of both are stunningly beautiful and sexy like hell. Fortunately, I do not have the money ... ;) But thanX for that comparison. Really nice work.

The Yamaha sounds just as good if not better and it is far more reliable. If it came down to buying either one I’d buy the Yamaha. I don’t have to worry about it suddenly not working like it normally does even and I’m gaining just as much tonal options if not more.

Weird. Preferred the Yamaha in the blindfold test, but the Mk VI was far ‘superior’ on Tenor Madness. I did miss the grey jumper but perfectly understand that it was too warm.

No contest, the Mark 6 has a more complex, thicker tone than the 82z. It would have been interesting hearing the stock 6 neck though.

Dan - What neck are you using on that VI?

que manera de meter fruta el el blues papaaaa jajajja! capo

Both saxes great sound.

C1, G1 or V1 neck?

#2 clearly the Yamaha. Louder due to the neck angle and brighter. I have both horns and it was obvious from the first notes.

Oh man I choose #2

Is the Yamaha YTS-875 EXB a different model or just a different skin? ;)

my guess before the reveal: Sax #1 is Mark VI.

Dammit that 6 just can't be beat. I want one but don't want a the hassle of a used old horn man.

IMHO the Yamaha has much better focused sound and dynamic response. I love things about the MKVi and the Yamaha. For my taste the Yamaha is a better sound for cutting through a band.

I think that you made the Yamaha sound a little bit better. I own a Mark VI, which I love to play, as it is fairly easy to get good tone through the entire range. The aspect which cannot be seen or heard in a video is the ergonomics and feel of the keys. This is where Selmer has done really well.

The neck of Mark VI is original? It looks like from SBA...

I think the guy on the right had better intonation while the guy in the left was more technically proficient. Maybe I could differentiate more consistently if they were playing the same horn. Understanding their set up was the same really added to the validity of the test and playing Maybe if they switched horns one could better tell whom the better player could be

Some "balanced" test? The Yamaha puts out much more volume in every example.

Both good but Yamaha more open sound

I picked #2, yamaha clearly better to me on this test and I play mark vi. Did you keep it?

Nice video Dan ! Much prefer the sound of the Yamaha ;)

Selmer it's better, I had one i sold it I'm kicking myself in the ass now

Yami all the way. I was surprised.

mark 6 defantly better if you dont have a mark 6 i can understand why you would have a yamaha but if you have mark 6 i dont see the point great volg alot of fun thumbs up

Selmer to the bone

Yamaha much brighter, better sound for me.

The Mark VI sounds better.

Yamaha is a better instrument. Sure the MK VI has this cult following it does have a great sound but there are far more bad MK VI than good ones. Their age also requires them to have more maintenance.

Yamaha has superior intonation by far. Selmer has irritating left stack C/B /A/G interval spacings which are so obvious --get a tuner on it and hear. Or learn to play the fiddle to develop real listening . Or Hilary Hahn for a lesson in perfect pitch .

Love your videos, and your playing, and optimistic attitude. But, I say the opposite about the Mark VI; Selmer Mark VI is an overpriced piece of old tin, that hardly ever worked consistently, even when new. It got its undeserved fame on false premises and common ignorance: very dedicated musicians worked their arses off to make that unreliable, inert, flawed, leaking, highly resisting, always in need of a repairman horn to sound interesting. Because they had no Yamahas back then - if they had, Selmers would fly through the window. And now, when we have far superior instruments, we tend to ignore them and ignore more honest offers because they are 'not there yet' when compared to the old Mark VI buckets.

I think your Mark vi is an inferior one. Sorry but this is not what I remember as the Mark vi tone.