Take a Blindfold Test!
I sell saxophones, I import them from Taiwan, from the Gu Tai company (GT-Sax). My shop is located in upstate New York, about 40 miles north of the city.
I often wonder about the psychology of buying a new saxophone. I understand the concept of sticking with a winner and erring on the safe side, I also own a Mark VI that I bought as a young person many years ago.
But I gotta tell you, these Taiwanese horns are high quality instruments, they are made with the same pads & springs as Selmer and other long standing horns.
The Gu-Tai company makes a beautiful red bronze tenor modeled after the Mark VI and I played it and cannot tell the difference.
I would love to have someone take a blindfold test. Anyone in the New York/New Jersey/ Connecticut area that would like to come on over and spend some time with these beautiful horns just let me know. 914-523-8436