Due in no small part to these famous pairings, the Mark VI has achieved a legendary status amongst jazz aficionados and musicians. And it’s still the go-to horn for many professional players. But getting one is not as easy as it used to be. Though the Selmer company is still up and running, the Mark VI hasn’t been made since 1974. And though the number of Mark VIs the company produced during the 20 years it made the horn has kept them in wide circulation, prices have surged, often to more than $10,000. Musicians’ preferences are not a science, they are deeply personal appraisals mixed with a little bit of superstition. You need a wand to make magic; a stick won’t do. But what is it about this particular saxophone that makes it so great?